We’ve shared snippets about our beach house progress on social channels, but it’s long past time for a full, photo-rich update outlining everything we’ve done so far — including our latest (and likely final) floor plans.
The house looks dramatically different now compared with the “before” photos and video tour we posted when we bought it. This renovation has followed the familiar rule: sometimes it gets a lot uglier before it can get prettier.
As you can see in the photo above, we demoed the interior walls down to the studs. The big “LEAVE” marked on that curved wall was a note from the contractor to avoid removing the lath — leaving it intact makes it easier to bend new drywall around the curve later.
The decision to gut the plaster and some drywall and expose the framing came down to two main reasons:
1. Condition. We could have tried to patch the cracked and missing plaster, but the tedious repairs and the extra time trades would spend working around damaged walls would have driven costs and timeline up. Starting fresh was ultimately more time- and cost-efficient.
2. Hidden problems. We found visible mold on plaster and significant termite damage to some exposed studs, so opening the walls was the safest way to identify and repair structural issues. Once the walls were removed, we discovered additional termite damage and warped framing that would have continued to cause problems if left alone.
Although it’s always hard to take a house apart, finding and fixing these issues now gives us confidence that the structure will be stable and less prone to cracking and settling in the future. We’ll add reinforcements where needed so the new walls stay square for decades.
Stripping the interiors also confirmed our decision to replace the exterior siding. Opening the walls revealed many gaps between the siding and inner plaster, and no housewrap or insulation. That meant cold air would have been able to blow through and cause heat loss in winter. If we had only patched the siding and plaster, we would have missed these insulation and air-sealing problems. Catching them now will make the house far easier and less expensive to heat and cool over time.
We’re pleased we can preserve salvageable original features — the heart pine floors, stair railings and treads, original doors and doorknobs, and much of the trim — and reinstall them after repairs are complete.
Removing interior finishes produced some pleasant surprises as well, like a brick chimney stack hidden behind a faux mantle in the living room that runs up through the front bedroom. The brick has a few holes that need repair, but we hope to expose and keep it as a character feature in both rooms.
We even staged a goofy “punching” photo, which produced some hilariously blurred outtakes when we first tried “kicking” instead. The things you do while the contractor’s back is turned…
Most of the heavy demo and hazardous-material handling (mold, lead paint, possible asbestos) was subcontracted to our contractor. We cleared trash and started some demo on our visits, but the scale of the work and the health risks made hiring professionals the prudent choice.
Seeing the house stripped to the studs also changed our perception of the space, prompting adjustments to our original floor plan ideas. But before getting into the new layout, there’s another major development to cover.
The biggest project wasn’t the interior demo — it was rebuilding a rotted side of the house. Someone had enclosed a once-open side porch many years ago using wood that wasn’t suitable for exterior use. Over time the siding decayed and the foundation on that side had been set on sand, not proper footings, so it was literally sinking and separating from the rest of the house.
The most sensible approach was to remove that entire section and rebuild. We initially considered sistering new beams to the old ones, but so much of the wood was rotten or termite-damaged (and the siding included asbestos shingles) that engineers, the inspector, and our contractor all recommended a complete rebuild.
The photos above show the failing porch areas and how much of the framing and ceilings had rotted. Even the bathrooms that sat behind the enclosed porches were compromised by water and settling.
This was the old bathroom that had suffered from years of exposure and shifting foundations — a good example of what can happen when structural and weatherproofing problems go unaddressed for a long time.
After the interior demo was complete, we approved reconstruction of that entire side of the house. The rebuilt section was removed and replaced, the foundation was reset on proper footings, and the new framing raised the floor level to match the rest of the house.
It was surreal to pull up one morning and see a whole chunk of the house gone, but the cleared view brought in great light and made the rebuild feel optimistic. We even moved a clawfoot tub into the bedroom temporarily while work progressed.
Within about a week the contractor’s crew had almost finished the new foundation and rebuilt framing. Because the house sits in a historic district, we matched the original window and door placements so the exterior will look authentic when finished.
Seeing the rebuilt bathroom area and the now-solid porch was hugely satisfying. Where we used to tiptoe because the floors slanted and felt unsafe, everything is now steady and square.
From the top of the stairs you can see the rebuilt area and how we’re dividing the new space. Downstairs, the foyer view shows the reclaimed space now standing solid where it had previously sagged and sunk.
All of this construction led us to rethink the floor plan. When we stood in the new wing we realized how long the space actually is. Originally we planned a mudroom and a bathroom there, but the layout would have resulted in an overly long mudroom. Instead we converted half of that area into a bathroom and repurposed the original bathroom footprint into a cozy eat-in breakfast nook.
This breakfast nook will serve as an extra gathering spot — perfect for kids, games, or a quieter alternative to the main dining table. To make it work, we shifted the kitchen back toward the rear of the house so the nook sits conveniently adjacent to the cooking area.
We used a kitchen-planning tool to explore cabinet layouts and flow — not for exact finishes, but to confirm the general circulation and spacing. We’re considering open shelves or tile along the triangle wall by the back door and stools at the island rather than full cabinetry on the island’s back side.
Upstairs, the layout changes are modest: we borrowed a bit of space from the middle bedroom to add functional closets to both the middle and front bedrooms. The main bedroom and its attached bath at the back of the house benefit most from the new framing and light.
We also rethought a previous door at the top of the back stairs. Building code and safety concerns mean a door on a step is no longer acceptable, and visually Sherry preferred leaving the stair visible. To preserve privacy while keeping light, we plan to install double pocket or barn-style doors with glass panels (possibly frosted). The glass will let daylight through while the pocket mechanism avoids a swing radius.
Interior framing is in progress and the new painted siding is ready to be installed. We’re excited to see the next stage and will share more photos when the siding goes up. No more photoshopping the exterior pink!
If you want the full story from the beginning, we’ve documented the purchase, the original tour and floor plans, our decorating inspiration, and how we chose the new siding color in earlier posts and updates. For now, we’re relieved and excited to be past the most destructive phases of the project — the next steps will be about rebuilding, insulating, and making this beach house comfortable, efficient, and full of character.