Beach house progress, both large and small, has been moving so fast it’s been hard to document everything — but I did walk through the entire house yesterday and made a video tour that brings you fully up to date. So forgive the limited number of photos here; we have thousands more on our phones, but with the holidays right around the corner there wasn’t time to upload and explain them all.
Starting at the front door: we hung a simple wreath and placed battery-powered LED candles with timers in the windows so the house looks lived-in even when we’re away. It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference. The landscaping still needs attention and the front door needs sanding and staining, and I still want to paint the white blocks behind the lanterns to match the siding — someday, right?
lanterns / wreath / house numbers / doormat / siding: SW Mellow Coral / ceiling: SW Breaktime / trim: SW Pure White
It’s wild to compare now to how the house looked a year ago. That photo from almost exactly one year prior is a vivid reminder that wrinkly curtains and an unfinished pantry are tiny problems compared to having an entire side of the house torn off and rebuilt — which is exactly what we had to do. Looking back makes the progress feel even sweeter.
It’s so satisfying to see how much improved the place looks now. The energy of a big demo and rebuild is oddly addictive — that planning and dreaming phase is almost as fun as the finished rooms. We’re excited to share progress on the duplex once our plans are approved and permits are pulled. Back at the pink house, I walked through every room in a short video tour — if you can’t view it in your reader, check it on our blog or YouTube for the full walkthrough.
If you can’t watch the video right now, I recommend coming back to it when you have a moment — a video is worth a thousand photos, and I cover every nook and explain details that don’t fit into captions.
One recent decision was to paint the railing. The vertical balusters had already been painted SW Stone Isle, but the top rail and end post were still bare wood — at least they looked like wood. The finish underneath was a gummy brown stain that hid the grain and was covered in paint splatters and damage. After sanding, we discovered the wood’s undertone was redder than the heart pine floors, so matching stain wasn’t possible. Painting the rail with a deeper gray, SW Perpetual Gray, provided a neat, even finish that complements the trim without competing with the stained glass windows.
We weren’t short on wood tones in the house — original heart pine floors and doors were stripped and clear-sealed where possible, so the home still feels warm and wood-forward even after painting that one railing.
In the living room we added a wall-mounted bookcase that immediately made the space feel lived-in, and we hung washable white curtains (I pre-wash to pre-shrink and remove the top tabs) that still need steaming and hemming. A secondhand brass grasshopper tabletop lamp is a favorite little character in the room. We also bought a vintage rug that looks perfectly at home in a rental living room — the colors and wear make it forgiving for sand and spilled snacks.
bookcase / blue pillow / curtains / rods / brass grasshopper
We also swapped the old light for a taller, modern chandelier that balances nicely with a decorative ceiling medallion. Exposing an old brick chimney behind the wall ended up being one of my favorite features in the room, especially paired with the oversized windows — the room’s 9-foot ceilings make the windows feel grand.
The kitchen has come a long way: the quartz island went in (Pearl Jasmine by Silestone) and the sink is working — music to our ears. We saved money on our quartz installation in a couple of ways and discussed that on our podcast. The backsplash is still pending; we plan to install shelves on either side of the stove under the sconces, then tile afterward.
stools / quartz / butcher block / cabinets / range / trim: SW Stone Isle / walls: SW White Heron
The back door briefly lived as blue, but we painted it to match the trim so the pink stove remains the room’s star. Sometimes less contrast lets the special pieces shine.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are taking shape with art, layered bedding, and headboards. Curtains still need hanging, which will perfect the look. The largest front bedroom pairs exposed brick with a stunning Craigslist inlay piece I scored at a steal — a find I’ll share more about soon.
rug / large art / lamp / side table / striped blanket / headboard / fan
One practical weekend project was building a built-in dresser in the nook behind the pocket doors at the top of the back stairs. An Ikea Malm chest fit the space perfectly; we removed, reinstalled molding, added filler trim, and placed butcher block on top for a built-in look. We still need to finish trim, caulk, and add leather pulls, but it already makes the nook much more functional.
dresser / mirror / wood top / door color: SW Riverway
The en-suite bathroom remains my favorite room — that deep clawfoot tub is perfect for soaking after a long day of DIY. I had a slow start getting it right, but now it’s one of the best parts of staying at the house. The hall bath is a close second thanks to a favorite vanity with a marble-tiled top that reads like furniture and saves us time and effort while still looking polished.
marble table / floor tile / accent floor tile / wall hooks / blinds / tub color: SW Riverway
We haven’t finished the wall-to-wall bunkbeds in the kids’ room yet, but getting art up on the walls felt like progress. A colorful painting by a friend brings the room personality, and a “Mermaids Welcome” sign was a kid-approved addition that made us smile.
So that’s the tour as of yesterday. If you want the full experience, watch the video — it includes far more detail than pictures and short captions can capture. Wishing you a happy holiday filled with family, delicious food, and whatever mermaid-themed decor sparks joy. And if you have a bathtub deep enough to fully submerge, know that I’m deeply, delightfully jealous.
P.S. For the complete series of beach house updates — planning, demo, tiling, and floors — check the full category of beach house posts on our site.
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