We’ve been racing to finish rooms in the duplex so we can open up weeklong summer rentals on Airbnb. There’s still work left—two kitchens, two living rooms, two laundry rooms, and a couple more bedrooms and baths—but it feels huge to be completely done with the four rooms featured in this post. Imagine every celebratory emoji right here.
Below is a tour of the two bedrooms and two bathrooms that are finished and photographed. Cue the happy dance.
This is the main bedroom on the right side of the duplex. Measurements and challenges vary slightly between the two sides, and this bed wall was a bit narrower than its counterpart, so accordion sconces were the perfect choice—they save space and flip on or off from the bed. We planned outlets so they sit beside each nightstand instead of hidden behind the bed, making phone charging easy for guests.
Function guided a lot of our decisions, but character mattered too. We exposed the original brick chimney hidden behind the wall and added a window above the bed to brighten the room. That window required approval from the historic review board, but the light and personality it gives the space made it worth the effort. Here’s a photo from the framing stage when the window went in—such a transformation.
We actually like a bed in front of a window—as long as the bed feels light and allows the light to pass through. A metal bed frame works well because it feels integrated into the room instead of blocking the window.
We added a small full bathroom off this room to make it a true primary suite, another change that needed review board permission. The addition significantly improved the function and back view of the house and was one of the best decisions for both livability and value.
We’ll take a few more photos or a short video tour when we have time because the bathroom is small and a video might show it best. The space feels airy thanks to tonal tile and the greeny-gray doors (Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams) that coordinate with the crisp Spare White walls used throughout the duplex.
Bathrooms are the most labor-intensive rooms because we tiled all the floors ourselves. Tile and plumbing take time and effort, but the final decorating stage is quick and fun—small bathrooms come together in a day once the heavy work is done. We added a mirror, towel hooks, a long white shower curtain, our go-to toilet paper holder, leather vanity pulls, a few framed prints, and called it complete.
Finding a mirror solution when a window sits above the sink was a challenge, but a hinged chrome mirror worked perfectly. It’s functional and still allows natural light from behind, and we frosted that window so guests feel private while still enjoying daylight.
All the doors on this side are painted Oyster Bay except for a pair of quirky original doors we saved. Many doors and fixtures had been replaced over the years, so preserving these shorter original doors allowed us to create two built-in closets flanking the window and retain a bit of priceless character.
We added cubbies above the original doors to balance the proportions and provide extra storage. Inside each closet there’s hanging space, room for suitcases, and additional shelf storage. We also placed a luggage rack and quality wood hangers in each closet for guests.
A dresser sits across from the bed with a large mirror for more storage and a place to get ready. The rug adds a beachy, calming touch without demanding attention—perfect for a serene guest room.
Walking into the finished room still feels surreal. When we bought the place it had plastic paneling over moldy walls, a drop ceiling hiding rot, worn carpeting, and nonfunctional baseboard heating. We replaced the heating and cooling, updated electrical and plumbing, and stripped and rebuilt where rot existed. This before shot shows how far the room has come.
The window in that before photo marks where we placed the door to the new bathroom addition; the new window behind the bed is further toward the chimney. Below is another view of the finished bed wall.
Now for the front bedroom on the other side of the duplex. Originally it was covered in drop ceilings and plastic faux-paneling; a closet had been cut off from light by drywall that covered a window. We exposed that diamond-grilled window and opened up the closet so light floods into the space. Lighter walls and refinished floors make the room feel fresh and airy.
This front bedroom sits on the opposite side of the duplex, so its doors are painted White Truffle by Sherwin Williams and the trim is Extra White, keeping each side distinct but cohesive.
Deep renovations often require stripping things back before rebuilding, and this house was no exception. There was extensive rot and damage that demanded removal and reconstruction to create a safe, long-lasting home.
In the front bedroom we placed a cozy Ikea bed and flanked it with soft greeny-gray nightstands with gold hardware that coordinate with wall-mounted accordion lights. We only had two sets of those particular lights—one set per side—so they happen to appear in both bedrooms shown here.
The nightstands are a great value and bring a subtle pop of color while offering three drawers for storage. They also nod to the greeny-gray doors on the other side—mint to be, perhaps.
That front bedroom includes a small closet with a dresser for folded clothes. The bedroom with the diamond-grilled window is fully redone too, though we haven’t finished photographing every angle yet.
Next, the hall bathroom on the right side features one of my favorite tile patterns, natural accents like leather vanity pulls and a floating wood shelf, an extra-long white shower curtain, a round gold mirror, a simple white vanity, and beachy artwork. Tile installation was time-consuming, but the final result feels warm and layered.
Originally each side had one full bathroom. Now the upstairs of each side has two full baths plus a powder room downstairs, which is a big upgrade. The before photos show how vinyl and sheet flooring had been used to hide moisture problems—another reason we stripped things down and rebuilt correctly.
The left-side hall bathroom is the fourth completed room. It uses different floor tile but shares the same vanity and accents, offering a slightly different personality—John prefers the bolder blue floor while I favor the pink-and-green hex pattern. Maybe we’ll let readers vote on favorites when the whole duplex is finished.
People always ask which side is my favorite. I genuinely can’t choose—each side has special elements I love. The left kitchen’s pink tile and blue cabinets slightly edge out the wood-and-blue option for me, but my favorite twin bedroom by a sliver is the one with the orange accents on the right. I won’t be made to choose.
P.S. You can follow the entire duplex renovation process—from the purchase and planning to setbacks and triumphs—through our project posts and photo updates. This post contains affiliate links.