Welcome to our comprehensive before & after tour of our 1,400 square foot Florida home, a project born from a desire for a simpler, more pared-down lifestyle. Purchased in May 2020, this Northwest Florida house underwent a swift yet extensive three-month renovation, transforming it from its original state into a functional, beautiful, and efficient family home. Our journey to embracing a minimalist living approach and finding this perfect spot for our family is detailed here and here, offering insights into our decision to downsize and how it has reshaped our daily lives. Now, let’s dive into the dramatic transformations that have made this small house feel incredibly spacious and perfectly tailored to our needs.
As you explore our home, you might spot furniture, accessories, or paint colors that catch your eye. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a dedicated Shop Our House page where you can find all the details and sources for items featured in our Florida renovation. This tour stands as a chronological snapshot of our progress, a testament to how thoughtful design can maximize space and comfort in a smaller footprint.
The Exterior: A Coastal Transformation
When we first acquired the house in February 2020, its exterior presented a classic Florida aesthetic, complete with cedar siding, black metal windows, original exterior doors, and a durable metal roof. These foundational elements were well-preserved and contributed to the home’s inherent charm, which we were keen to maintain while injecting a fresh, modern coastal vibe.
Our renovation focused on strategic updates to enhance curb appeal and functionality. We revitalized the decking, replaced the railings with a sleek, modern design, rebuilt the front steps, and applied a crisp coat of white paint across the entire exterior. This single change dramatically brightened the home and created a cohesive, inviting façade. For a deeper dive into the specific details and more photos of this exterior transformation, you can visit our dedicated post on the Florida house exterior renovation.
Following the structural and cosmetic upgrades, we embarked on layering in lush tropical landscaping. This evolving process has transformed the outdoor spaces into verdant havens, complementing the home’s refreshed appearance. The vibrant greenery adds depth, texture, and an undeniable sense of place, truly embodying the Florida lifestyle. We’re continuously refining these spaces and plan to share an updated blog post with more photos of our mature landscaping soon.
The side of the house, as depicted when we initially purchased it in February 2020, showcased a rustic charm but also highlighted areas ripe for enhancement, particularly concerning safety and modern aesthetics.
Our improvements included a fresh coat of white paint, mirroring the front of the house, and the installation of new horizontal railings on the second-floor deck. A significant change involved removing the steeply pitched steps that previously led to the upper deck, a decision that instantly enhanced our sense of security and privacy. Even minor adjustments, such as removing the guard rails that bisected the wide steps on the ground level (while retaining the outer railings for safety), contributed to a cleaner, more expansive feel. These thoughtful modifications not only elevated the home’s aesthetic but also addressed practical considerations for comfortable and secure living.
Beyond these visible changes, this area also saw the addition of new fencing for enhanced privacy, an abundance of ferns to create a lush, natural border, and a charming firepit area, establishing a perfect outdoor retreat. While there’s much more to explore outside, let’s step inside for a closer look at the interior transformations before circling back to more exterior delights later in our tour.
The Kitchen: From Dated to Dynamic Hub
Our kitchen renovation was a blend of significant structural changes and clever, budget-friendly updates, culminating in its current highly functional and inviting state. Here’s a glimpse of where we began, a space that clearly needed a modern touch and improved efficiency.
The initial phase involved crucial groundwork: we meticulously repaired and lightened the existing pine floors, which breathed new life into the entire space. The removal of the oppressive soffit immediately raised the ceiling height, while additional lighting fixtures were installed to banish shadows and brighten the room. Replacing the old drywall also meant bidding a fond farewell to the dreaded popcorn ceiling, creating a smooth, modern surface. You can follow the detailed progress of these projects in this renovation update and specifically the kitchen’s early stages in this three-week check-in.
With the foundational work complete, we moved to more visible transformations. We gradually updated the room with several affordable yet impactful changes, such as installing new lighting and crafting DIY shelves, which added both style and storage. A fresh coat of paint in a sophisticated mauve hue completely revitalized the existing cabinets, complemented by the installation of hidden hinges for a seamless look, as documented here. For a comprehensive look at how we organized this compact space, explore our small kitchen storage tour. Our biggest score came with finding fantastic deals on secondhand appliances, which prompted us to tweak the room’s layout. Later, we further enhanced functionality by integrating an Ikea pantry, custom-built around the fridge after relocating it to the opposite wall. This strategic shift was a game-changer for maximizing storage and flow, with a detailed post about it coming soon!
The relocation of the refrigerator was a strategic decision that opened up the space dramatically. By shifting it to the other side of the room, the side window, once almost entirely obscured, now contributes to the kitchen’s abundant natural light. This move not only improved the visual openness but also allowed us to incorporate an entire pantry’s worth of built-in storage around the newly positioned fridge, a true win-win for both aesthetics and practicality.
To create a cozy sitting area within this versatile space, we chose to close off a wide doorway. This modification allowed us to define the sitting area, providing a more intimate and functional zone. The adjacent room, our bedroom, remains accessible via a standard door next to the loveseat, making the extra-wide kitchen doorway unnecessary. You can delve deeper into the creation of this charming kitchen sitting area here. We’re currently preparing an updated post showcasing the full impact of the newly added pantry, so stay tuned for more details on that!
This kitchen, deceptively large, offers more than just cooking and dining space. It now boasts a casual bonus hangout spot, perfect for gathering when someone is cooking, enjoying coffee with friends, or having a quiet drink. This secondary common area is invaluable, especially since our main family room with the TV is upstairs. It provides a distinct zone for relaxation, reading, or conversation, away from the potential noise of the television. Having two common areas that are not open to each other is a key strategy for “living large in a smaller footprint.” The separation of sound allows for different activities to occur simultaneously – one child can do homework downstairs while another watches cartoons upstairs, for example. We’ve found that this thoughtful layout prevents any feeling of being cramped or on top of each other, making our 1400 sq ft home feel much more expansive and adaptable to our family’s varied needs.
The Stairs: Functional & Stylish Ascent
The staircase leading to our upstairs family room and second-floor deck possessed appealing vertical planking and benefited from abundant natural light courtesy of a window situated above it in the family room. However, the wooden treads suffered from finish issues after a previous refinishing, and their appearance didn’t quite harmonize with the lighter wood floors downstairs. This presented both an aesthetic and practical challenge for our family, including our beloved dog, Burger.
Our solution was to install a beautiful, highly textured stair runner. This addition not only provided much-needed traction for Burger but also cleverly addressed the underlying finish imperfections on the treads, which we painted for a cohesive look. We chose a durable indoor/outdoor rug for the runner, ensuring it could withstand heavy family traffic and pet activity, as detailed in our DIY sisal stair runner installation post. The result is a staircase that is not only safer and more functional but also aesthetically complements the home’s overall design. Please note, this photo provides a glimpse into the kitchen before the pantry addition, and we anticipate sharing updated images that reflect all current changes soon.
The Family Room: A Multifunctional Upstairs Retreat
Our entire upstairs is dedicated to this generously sized, multi-purpose family room. It functions as our primary TV and movie viewing area, a home office, and a dedicated crafting zone for the kids – a space that notably served as a virtual-learning hub during the pandemic. This is, by far, the largest room in our 1,400 sq ft home, comfortably accommodating two 8 x 10 rugs without touching, making it an incredible asset for our family’s diverse activities. It truly embodies the idea of maximizing space in a smaller home. Here’s how it looked when we first purchased the house, complete with tell-tale signs of mildew along the ceiling that needed addressing.
More recently, after some simple yet effective floor refinishing and a refreshing coat of paint, the room has been completely transformed. The inherent charm of the large windows and cool wood paneling, which were original features, now shine through. This space is a testament to how foundational updates can elevate existing character. You can explore more photos and details of this room’s early transformation in this post, and discover additional updates we implemented later here. We’ve continued to refine this versatile space, and new photos and a video showcasing all the latest changes are definitely on our to-do list for an upcoming blog post!
The other half of the room, captured during a rainy day before our renovation, appears dark and somewhat constricted, with foggy windows obscuring the view outside. This “before” perspective makes it challenging to grasp the true dimensions and potential of the space.
Viewing the room from the same angle more recently offers a dramatic contrast. This “after” shot beautifully illustrates the power of furniture placement in accurately conveying a room’s scale and proportion. The “before” image made the room appear significantly narrower, with seemingly minimal space between the windows on the right wall. However, the reality is a generous 70+ inches, perfectly accommodating a wide bookshelf with four spacious drawers. It’s truly remarkable how strategic furnishing and thoughtful design can transform the perception of space, making our smaller footprint home feel much more expansive and functional.
The Upper Deck: Our Elevated Outdoor Living Room
Directly accessible from the family room is a spacious upstairs deck, which we’ve transformed into a true extension of our indoor living area. This outdoor space was significantly improved by replacing the original rotting deck boards, revamping the railings, and removing a rickety pergola that detracted from its potential. These structural changes were essential for safety and to unlock the deck’s full potential as a gathering spot.
The upper deck now boasts new, durable decking and modern railings, instantly elevating its aesthetic and safety. A major improvement was the removal of a large chimney that intruded into the middle of the space, where our generous 8-person dining table now comfortably sits. A fresh application of white paint throughout has brightened and unified the area. We’ve since furnished it with comfortable seating, a dedicated dining zone, and charming string lights, making it one of our absolute favorite places to relax and entertain. This space truly feels like an outdoor room, enhancing our home’s living capacity. All the details of this low-maintenance outdoor haven can be found right here.
Another compelling before & after perspective of this upstairs deck highlights the immense benefit of removing the enormous chimney that previously jutted through the decking. This chimney was not only an eyesore but also caused significant leaks into the bedroom below when we bought the house, posing a structural and maintenance headache.
The after shot from that same vantage point now reveals a beautifully open and inviting space. This is undoubtedly one of our favorite areas in the entire house, perfect for sharing pizza with friends, hosting family game nights nestled among the trees, or simply enjoying the peaceful Florida evenings. The string lights add a magical ambiance, creating a truly cozy atmosphere that makes our home feel significantly larger by offering this expansive and versatile outdoor living room.
Our Bedroom: A Private Downstairs Sanctuary
Here’s how our bedroom appeared when we first purchased the house. Intriguingly, this property was initially listed as a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home, as it had only one room with a functional, closable door. We cleverly converted this light-filled space into our primary bedroom by sealing off a large, unnecessary doorway that previously led directly into the kitchen. This strategic modification was crucial for creating a private and enclosed sleeping area, a key element for comfortable downsizing.
To transform it into a welcoming retreat, we started by refinishing the floors to a bright, airy finish and applying a fresh coat of soothing paint. The room’s transformation was then completed with the addition of comfortable furnishings, including elegant curtains for privacy and light control, a selection of functional furniture pieces, and a plush, cozy rug that anchors the space. These elements collectively create a serene and inviting atmosphere, perfectly suited for relaxation after a busy day.
For a clearer illustration of the change, here’s a dedicated before and after view focusing on the bed wall, which might be harder to discern in the broader “after” photo above.
Our bedroom renovation was meticulously planned to maximize both comfort and storage, a critical consideration in any downsized home. We significantly boosted the room’s storage capacity by incorporating IKEA Besta units, which blend seamlessly into the space. We also rearranged the room’s layout and took the bold step of closing off two of the original eight exterior doors. Yes, this room remarkably featured eight exterior access points, hence the removal of the two on the bed wall in the “before” picture; despite this, the room remains wonderfully flooded with natural light. A truly transformative addition was a dedicated closet, providing glorious storage that was sorely missed, as detailed in this update. This structural change genuinely elevated the room’s functionality and comfort, proving to be an absolute game-changer for our family.
Looking ahead, we envision creating an attached bathroom within an existing, underutilized corner of the room. You can learn more about this future plan in the same blog post. Interestingly, sharing a single bathroom has proven far less challenging than we initially anticipated, so we’re not rushing into this next phase of the renovation.
Here’s another ‘before’ perspective of our bedroom when we first acquired the Florida house, offering a different angle of its original state.
And now, the same angle reveals a cozy and functional space. A clever “life hack” we’ve embraced is the inclusion of a puzzle table by the fireplace, an unexpected but delightful addition if space allows in your bedroom. This keeps our kitchen table clear for meals and provides a perfect, quiet spot for decompression whenever the mood strikes. John, in particular, has become quite the puzzle enthusiast, spending more time here than I ever imagined! It’s these small, personalized touches that truly make a downsized home feel expansive and uniquely yours.
Speaking of the fireplace, we undertook a significant update to ours, transforming it into a modern and inviting focal point. The details of this project are shared across this post and this DIY guide. A fireplace in the bedroom offers an unparalleled sense of coziness and luxury, making it one of our most cherished features.
***A Note on Downsizing and Layout Choices:*** A frequent question we receive is why we didn’t convert the large upstairs family room into our bedroom. While it was considered, we ultimately decided against it for several compelling reasons, offering valuable insights for anyone considering downsizing:
- **Shared Living Space Preference:** Our family prefers to sleep on the same floor, fostering a sense of togetherness in our compact home.
- **Maximizing Shared Amenities:** The upstairs room is nearly twice the size of any other room and is the largest in our house. We felt it was far more beneficial to dedicate this expansive space to shared family activities rather than reserving it solely for ourselves.
- **Guest Access and Privacy:** Utilizing the upstairs deck for entertaining would mean all guests would have to traverse our private bedroom to access it, compromising privacy and flow.
- **Cost-Effective Bathroom Addition:** There’s no existing plumbing upstairs, making the addition of an en-suite bathroom considerably more expensive than our planned downstairs solution.
- **The Power of Divided Common Areas:** This is crucial for small home living. Having two distinct common areas that are not directly adjoined significantly enhances the feeling of spaciousness. The separation of sound allows for simultaneous, undisturbed activities – someone can be on a Zoom call upstairs while another works at the kitchen table or reads in the sitting area downstairs. This setup is invaluable when friends and their children visit; the kids gravitate upstairs to play, leaving the adults to chat and relax downstairs without interruption. It prevents the feeling of being cramped and truly allows a smaller home to live large.
For more layout tips specifically designed for smaller homes and general advice on the downsizing experience, you can find a wealth of information right here in this comprehensive post. Now, let’s continue our tour!
The Bathroom: From Non-Functional to Fabulous
Our Florida home originally came with only one bathroom, and it was far from functional upon purchase! The sink and vanity had been completely removed, hidden leaks were festering behind the drywall and tile, and the toilet was unusable due to a complete absence of a sewer line connection. It was, in essence, a shell of a bathroom, requiring a full overhaul. Here’s a look at its rather dire state back then:
Before we could even consider moving in, we undertook a complete renovation, replacing virtually everything except for the window. This extensive work was necessary to make the space not just aesthetically pleasing but, more importantly, fully functional. While we absolutely adore the vibrant floor tile and the cheerful accessories we’ve added, we can unequivocally say that a toilet that actually flushes is, hands down, the best feature of any bathroom! This renovation transformed a problem area into a bright, clean, and entirely usable space. You can delve deeper into the full before & after story of our only bathroom in this detailed post.
The Laundry Closet: Maximizing a Small Space
We ingeniously transformed a somewhat peculiar, double-sided closet located right off our front door into an incredibly efficient laundry closet. This setup actually brings a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the compact laundry nook we designed in our very first house. It’s a testament to how creative spatial planning can make even the smallest areas highly productive, especially when downsizing.
Beyond installing new, energy-efficient appliances, we focused on maximizing every inch of this compact space. We built custom deep shelves from plywood, providing ample storage for laundry essentials and household items. The addition of numerous hooks further enhances its functionality, offering dedicated spots for hanging clothes, bags, and other necessities. This thoughtful design ensures our laundry closet is not only efficient but also remarkably hardworking, proving that even a small area can be transformed into a highly organized and productive zone in a small home.
Our Daughter’s Bedroom: Vaulted Ceilings and Vibrant Hues
Among our most cherished transformations in this house are our children’s bedrooms. A key design strategy for both rooms involved vaulting the ceilings, a structural change that wasn’t overly complex as the roof already had the necessary slope. This modification dramatically enhanced the sense of space and light, making these rooms feel significantly larger and brighter than their original configuration, a brilliant solution for maximizing comfort in a downsized home.
This truly is the same room, viewed from the exact same angle – a testament to the incredible impact of that ceiling transformation! We essentially removed a drop drywall ceiling, added insulation, and then followed the natural slope of the roof with new planked ceilings. The difference in openness and light is quite astonishing. You can click here for more photos and a DIY tutorial for the channel tufted headboard we created. Since these photos were taken, we’ve further personalized the space by updating the side tables and adding a dedicated desk, making it even more functional for our daughter. We look forward to sharing updated photos that capture these latest enhancements soon.
This room, in particular, boasted a rather colorful past, as evidenced by its vibrant “before” state. We chose to embrace this playful history, reinterpreting it with a modern and artistic approach to personalizing the space for our daughter.
To celebrate its vibrant potential, we hand-painted a large, abstract mural on the newly vaulted wall directly opposite our daughter’s bed. This colorful feature not only serves as a stunning focal point but also enhances the room’s character and injects a sense of playful creativity into her personal sanctuary. It’s a wonderful example of how personalized art can transform a space, making it uniquely suited to its occupant.
Our Son’s Room: Character and Creativity
Similar to our daughter’s room, we extended the vaulted ceiling treatment to our son’s bedroom, carefully following the roof’s natural slope. This immediately added a significant sense of openness. To further enhance the room’s character and dimension, we incorporated additional planking and exposed beams on the ceiling, introducing architectural interest that belies the room’s modest footprint. Here’s how the room looked before these thoughtful design elements were implemented.
And here’s the inviting transformation it boasts today. The vaulted ceilings, combined with the planking and beams, create a unique and cozy atmosphere, making the room feel both expansive and intimately comforting. It’s a perfect example of how architectural details can add significant value and personality to a smaller space, elevating the entire living experience.
This super cozy room has become one of our kids’ favorite spots to hang out together, echoing their fondness for the intimate bunk room at our beach house. They truly appreciate quiet time in a small, well-designed space. We ingeniously built in the bed by creating a simple DIY wraparound headboard, which functions almost like a daybed, providing a comfortable and versatile lounging area.
To offer another perspective of the transformation, here’s a “before” shot taken with the camera angled more towards the right wall of the room, revealing its original, unadorned state.
And here’s the identical angle of the room as it appears now, showcasing a vibrant and organized space. Every inch truly matters in smaller rooms like this. The built-in bookshelf we crafted is incredibly functional, making that foot of floor space along the wall work significantly harder for us now, providing essential storage without encroaching on the room’s footprint. You’ll also notice the addition of horizontal planking along that side wall, which we painted in a delightful gradient of fun colors. You can find all the details on how we executed this colorful planked wall treatment here. Furthermore, we’ve since added custom shelves to the closet and built in a desk, continuing to optimize the room’s functionality. Naturally, this means new photos and an updated blog post are on the horizon to share all these latest enhancements!
The Outdoor Shower: A Beloved Al Fresco Oasis
When we first encountered this outdoor space, it was far from appealing. Grime and neglect gave it a rather “grody” appearance, leaving us uncertain of its potential. It certainly didn’t inspire thoughts of relaxation or luxury, but rather of a space that desperately needed attention.
However, with a good dose of elbow grease and thoughtful design, this area has been utterly transformed into one of our absolute favorite spots. After thorough pressure washing, resealing the beautiful cedar with protective teak oil, and adding strategically placed lights, lush plants, and new shower fixtures, it has become an inviting outdoor oasis. In fact, our entire family now prefers this outdoor shower to our indoor one – a true testament to its refreshing appeal! You can see more of its initial transformation in this post, and as you’ll notice in the updated photo below, we’ve continued to enhance its natural beauty by adding even more plants, creating a truly lush and tranquil environment.
While discussing the outdoor shower, it’s worth highlighting the covered side porch that leads to it. This area also underwent a remarkable transformation from its original appearance, which was largely defined by mildewed screening and a generally unkempt look.
This side porch has truly come a long way. We began by removing the unsightly, mildewed screening, replaced the rotten floorboards, and rebuilt the railing with a sleek, modern horizontal design that mirrors the upper deck. A fresh coat of white paint unified the space, making it feel bright and inviting. For anyone wondering how we enjoy this outdoor space without screens, our secret is the ceiling fan we installed! Mosquitoes famously dislike flying into moving air, so flipping on the fan keeps them at bay, allowing us to relax undisturbed. You can read more about our side porch update here and find the detailed guide on how we built the comfortable hanging daybed here, which has become a family favorite.
We also have a covered porch on the other side of the house, which presented a similar challenge and opportunity for transformation when we purchased the property.
Now, thanks to generous applications of paint and the addition of a delightful hanging swing, this porch has become another cherished outdoor lounging spot. Both the kids and we adults love unwinding here. The transformation speaks to the power of simple yet impactful changes in creating inviting outdoor extensions of our living space. You can discover more details about this particular space’s update here.
To further enhance our outdoor living experience, we strategically added a fence to create a more private courtyard area. This allowed us to carve out a cozy firepit zone from what was previously an unused space, feeling overly exposed to the street. Here’s a look at its rather uninspired “before” state:
And here’s the inviting transformation now, defined by the new fence that establishes a lovely, private courtyard. This once-neglected space has been revitalized into a functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor retreat, perfect for relaxation and gathering.
Here’s another angle from before we undertook the major exterior changes: painting the house, redoing the railings, and installing the fence that would eventually define this wonderful new outdoor space for our family.
What used to be a completely ignored area now sees constant use. Accessible through a gate near our front porch or directly from the wall of glass doors in our bedroom, it offers a serene spot to unwind. We love making s’mores with the kids here at night or enjoying a cold beverage outdoors after they’re tucked into bed. This transformation truly highlights how strategic landscaping and structural additions can unlock the hidden potential of a yard, creating valuable extensions of living space, even in a downsized home.
In one of our most extensive and time-consuming updates to date – a project that spanned approximately a year from permit application to completion – we added a beautiful pool to what was once a weed-riddled section of our yard. It was a significant undertaking, but one that has dramatically enhanced our outdoor living experience. Here’s the best “before” picture we could find, taken just after the fence on the right was installed, but prior to any painting or further landscaping.
And here’s the breathtaking result: a backyard oasis. We’ve painted all the fences to match, creating a cohesive backdrop for the stunning pool. The pool itself features a retaining wall and three elegant fountains, whose soothing sounds now provide a more tranquil ambiance than any white noise machine. We’ve also designed a spacious pool deck with various lounging spots and carefully planted lush, leafy landscaping that will mature beautifully over the coming years. Adding more substantial plants to the large bed behind the retaining wall is next on our list, further enhancing this vibrant outdoor retreat. This transformation truly speaks to the potential for creating luxurious amenities even within a smaller property, making our downsized Florida house feel like a resort.
This concludes our progress tour, approximately a year and a few months into living in and continually enhancing our Florida home. We are incredibly excited to capture updated photos and share the ongoing evolution of this house as it continues to adapt and grow with our family’s needs and lifestyle. Our journey in this 1,400 sq ft home has been a testament to thoughtful design, strategic renovations, and the joy of creating a deeply personalized and efficient living space while embracing the benefits of downsizing.
In the meantime, we invite you to explore these related pages for even more in-depth information, specific project tutorials, and additional insights:
- If you’re curious about specific paint colors we’ve used or where we sourced a particular piece of furniture, curtain, or planter pot, our dedicated Shop Our House page has all that information readily available.
- For a candid look at our experience with significantly downsizing and the valuable lessons we’ve learned along the way, read our detailed post: What It’s Like to Downsize.
- To see our Florida home beautifully adorned for the holidays, explore our festive decorations in this photo-rich post from 2020.
- And for a glimpse into our previous renovation projects, discover the before & after transformations of our last home on this dedicated page. You can also visit the before & after page for our beach house, as well as the complete renovation journey of the duplex we transformed.
P.S. To follow the entire makeover of our current Florida house in chronological order, this category page is your ultimate guide, detailing every step of our renovation journey from start to finish!