As promised, here are a bunch of photos and ideas that are inspiring us as we plan our new house in Florida. You could call this “beachy vibes”—it honestly feels like we’ve been preparing for this move for years. Many readers have pointed out little hints over time, like our coastal-themed artwork (including an anniversary painting and aerial beach photos) and decor pieces that feel like foreshadowing. It’s funny to trace that thread through our homes and see how it’s led us here.
Some followers even noticed details from our very first house—light blue and sand-colored walls, woven rugs, bamboo blinds and capiz chandeliers—that hinted at a love of the beach long before we moved here. Other small treasures, like a clamshell-shaped bowl that migrated from a coffee table to a planter, make us smile because they now feel perfectly at home in this new chapter.
We’ll be sharing before photos and a video walk-through soon, along with a floor plan post showing how we’ll tweak the layout for our family. For now, this post dives into the inspiration for different areas of the house and highlights some items we’ve already purchased. Let’s jump in.
The Exterior
We’ve always been drawn to white houses—our painted white brick cemented that preference—so this Florida house will be white, too. Its silhouette is more modern than previous homes we’ve owned, and we’re inspired by clean, crisp exteriors with horizontal railings and exposed rafters. One of the nicer existing features is a recently installed metal roof, which pairs well with the modern-but-coastal look we’re aiming for.
Although the lot is small (about a tenth of an acre), it offers many outdoor “rooms” that we’ll use year-round. The compact yard actually feels generous because of thoughtful outdoor spaces that extend the living area.
Outdoor Spaces
Right outside the front door there’s a covered dining area that’s perfect for al fresco meals—just imagine string lights and casual gatherings. Upstairs, a spacious deck will become a lounge area, possibly with a hanging chair or porch swing, shaded and overlooking magnolias and live oaks.
What was listed as a formal living room will become our bedroom, since it opens directly outdoors through several glass doors. We picture a private patio with chairs for reading or relaxing after the kids go to bed. From past experience with a small but lush yard at another beach house, we know how much we’ll cherish a cozy outdoor escape.
There’s also space beside the house for a small pool and the tiny guest casita John’s always wanted. We’re envisioning a pool big enough for oversized flamingo and pineapple floats, plus a hot tub for the cold-averse among us. The guest building would likely be a compact one- or two-room structure with a small bathroom for visiting family and friends.
We’re excited to make the most of the outdoor spaces so they feel like intentional extensions of the home.
The Interior
Inside, the house has original painted wood paneling and vertical wall planking up the stairs. The pine floors are being patched and will be sanded and sealed with a clear water-based finish to keep the tones warm without too much orange.
We love white walls, warm wood floors, light wood furniture, woven textures and lots of plants. Lighting and finishes will lean into brass accents and woven materials for that relaxed coastal feel. We plan to add a few statement brass flush mounts and weave in brass hardware throughout the house, balanced by plenty of natural texture.
The Kitchen
The main floor has a large, flexible space that will serve as kitchen, dining and a casual sitting area. Instead of an island plus a dining table, we’re leaning toward a single, multi-functional dining table as the primary eating spot. We’ll keep the existing cabinets initially and do a Phase 2 kitchen refresh later, but we’re considering non-white cabinet tones to provide contrast against the white-planked walls and ceilings.
We loved the idea of hiding the dishwasher behind a cabinet panel in the duplex, so we’ll likely do something similar eventually. For now, we’ll make modest updates and live with the space to understand what improvements will best suit our family.
Upstairs Loft / Living
The upstairs loft is a large, open room with a high, sloped ceiling and tons of light. We’re calling it the loft because it’s airy and bright—even though it’s not open to the floor below. It will accommodate a main living area with a TV and sofa, a sunny office corner and a kids’ art space.
Putting living and working spaces upstairs keeps bedrooms quieter at night and offers a great connection to the large deck outside. Many pieces from our current living room will work here, but we’ll add a lightweight, beachy media cabinet and a few other new items that provide storage and a relaxed aesthetic.
Our Bedroom
The room we instantly claimed as our bedroom was originally a second living room and has six glass doors that open to the outdoors. We’ll convert the fireplace to gas and create a relaxed, airy bedroom that feels like a retreat. Light wood furniture, a slatted or woven headboard, and brass lamps are the direction we’re leaning toward—something casual and storage-friendly to suit downsized living.
We’re also excited to install brass hardware, including lever doorknobs and matching hinges, and to keep door styles simple and modern with five-panel solid wood doors. The brass details will show up in curtain rods, hooks and small accents to give a cohesive, warm metallic note throughout the home.
Kids Bedrooms
The kids’ rooms are modest in size but will feel spacious by comparison to some of the small spaces they’ve happily shared. We’ll maximize function with built-ins, smart storage and playful treatments like murals or accent walls. Originally the ceilings were flat, but we were able to vault and plank them for a much more open feel—photos of those changes are coming soon.
We’re debating between bunks, daybeds or storage beds depending on what fits best in each room. Our son is excited about drawers, so storage-friendly options may win out. We might choose different bed styles for each child to suit their needs and the layout of each bedroom.
The Bathrooms
The house currently has one shared bathroom, and we plan to add an en-suite to our bedroom by converting a covered porch. We also had an unexpected leak in the existing bathroom that required the contractor to gut and redo the space before we moved in, so we’ll be arriving to a fully finished main bathroom.
Our bathroom design leans into white walls, light wood finishes, brass accents and plenty of plants. We chose a playful, durable porcelain patterned floor tile and a light wood vanity with a thick white sink top—an intentional splurge that feels right for this small house. Other elements are simple and affordable: white subway tile for the shower walls, a basic tub and a mirror we already own.
That gives you a clear sense of the direction we’re taking: bright white interiors, warm wood tones, woven textures, brass finishes and lots of greenery. We’re planning a before-photo post and a video walk-through next week, followed by a floor plan breakdown the week after. There’s so much to share, and we can’t wait to show you the transformation as it unfolds.
(Yes, I’m still just as excited at the end of this post as I was at the start. Thank you for indulging me.)