The Duplex Backside Makeover: Before, After, and What’s Next

Earlier this month we shared the front porch makeover of the duplex, and now we’re bringing you around to the back to show the full transformation. You can finally see the diamond-pattern doors in all their glory, along with the little metal awnings we added, the new back steps, and the outdoor shower stalls (hidden beneath a long metal awning for privacy). I admit I have a thing for awnings—cute and practical.

There’s a lot happening in the backyard right now—sheds, patios, and fencing are currently in progress—so I’m glad we grabbed these photos before the area turned into a full construction zone. Otherwise, you’d be seeing sawhorses and wheelbarrows everywhere. Once the landscaping and hardscaping are finished we’ll share a full post with lots of photos, but for today I want to focus on the back of the house itself and how dramatically it has changed. It’s nearly unrecognizable.

When we bought the duplex, the rear façade showed its age: rotten siding, unstable railings, cinderblock steps, odd vents and exposed wiring, and broken HVAC units where the new outdoor showers now sit. Each side had lower-level bump-outs where the old kitchens once stood—one side even had a toilet sitting right next to the back door with no enclosure, only a couple of steps from the sink.

One major architectural change was extending those lower bump-outs up to the second story. After approval from the historic review board, we added small second-level additions so each rear bedroom could receive an en suite bathroom. That explains why the upper windows aren’t full height—there’s now a dedicated bathroom space behind them.

With the two new en suites and the powder rooms tucked beneath each staircase, each side of the duplex went from having one full bath to two and a half bathrooms. Technically, one side previously had a full bath plus that odd kitchen toilet, so the upgrade is a huge improvement in both comfort and functionality.

My favorite details are the ones that add character and architectural interest: the corbels that line the roofline and wrap around to the front, the diamond-pattern doors that echo the diamond windows on the front, and the mint-painted doors that match the front shutters. These small touches make the house feel cohesive and thoughtfully updated.

We kept the diamond motif at the back and painted the doors the same soft mint color used on the front shutters (Sherwin-Williams Pale Patina). The contrast with the rest of the exterior makes those doors fun and welcoming—far better than the 1990s metal doors that had been installed at some point.

To maintain visual consistency, we installed the same style of lanterns at the back that we used at the front. We also chose durable, low-maintenance materials—Azek, vinyl, and other no-rot materials—for the back porches, stairs, railings, and shower stalls. After spending days staining wood stairs at another property, we decided that investing a bit more up front for maintenance-free materials was worth it; over time the cost and effort of upkeep would surpass the one-time premium for durable materials.

Keeping the duplex low-maintenance and resilient is a practical choice. I do miss the charm of painted wood steps at times, but with vacation rentals, durability and fewer ongoing chores win out. At least the front steps are brick, which balances things nicely.

The awnings are simple stock metal pieces we ordered online in a bronze finish with a 36″ depth. We started with the two smaller awnings above the doors, then added a larger awning over the outdoor showers when we realized the showers were partially visible from the windows above. That added privacy and ended up becoming an attractive, cohesive element across the back elevation. The central awning helps the middle section read as intentional instead of a dented-in afterthought.

Because the duplex functions as two separate vacation rental units, we’re installing a dividing fence that follows the line where the outdoor showers meet. To provide flexibility, we’re incorporating a large six-foot gated section so renters can open the gate to combine the yards when a single group rents both units, or keep them closed for privacy when the units are rented separately. The original property had a dividing fence, but it lacked the large, operable gate that makes shared use easy.

We’ll also add two paver patios and sheds, along with landscaping, furniture, and final fencing. Looking back at the before photo makes me excited for everything to be completed and for the lawn and plantings to start filling in—the flowering trees and green grass in that old photo show how much charm lush greenery can bring.

We expect the full yard makeover—landscaping, fencing, patios, furniture, and sheds—to be finished in the next month or so. Renters should be able to enjoy the space this coming summer. Our goal is to list the duplex for weekly vacation bookings soon, so it should be available on Airbnb when the yard work is complete; we’ll announce it when the listing goes live.

I’ll admit I’m a little jealous that the duplex outdoor shower stalls are finished before ours at the beach house—we’ve had an open-air outdoor shower since last year, but no enclosed stall for privacy yet. Fingers crossed we’ll wrap ours up soon.

P.S. If you want to follow along with everything we’ve done to the duplex—from purchase and layout planning to interior updates like tile and kitchens—there’s a whole category of posts that covers it all. We also have a separate series documenting updates at our beach house.

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