Beach House Renovation Milestone: Our First Overnight Stay!

For those of you who keep up with our journey on Instagram or Facebook, you’ve likely already heard the thrilling news: our beloved beach house has officially welcomed its first pieces of furniture! And even more exciting, we finally got to spend not just one, but two nights there this past weekend! This marks a truly monumental step in our year-long renovation adventure, transforming a construction zone into a burgeoning home away from home. After months of tireless work, planning, and anticipation, stepping across the threshold with a couch and actual beds felt like a dream come true.

From Raw Space to Cozy Retreat: Celebrating Every Step of the Renovation

While we’re incredibly excited about this progress, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the beach house is still a considerable distance from being “done.” Our to-do list remains extensive, featuring many essential furniture items yet to acquire – think cozy nightstands, functional dressers, inviting headboards, and a proper top for our coffee table. Beyond the larger pieces, a myriad of decor items are still missing, including vibrant rugs, captivating art, and stylish lamps to illuminate each corner. Moreover, significant structural tasks lie ahead, such as the full installation of the kitchen, the creative addition of built-in bunk beds upstairs to maximize sleeping space, and the construction of charming bench seating in the breakfast nook area. These larger projects will undoubtedly further define the character and functionality of the home.

Despite these remaining challenges, the mere presence of foundational furniture – a comfortable couch, actual beds to sleep on, and, perhaps most importantly, flushing toilets and fully functional showers – feels like an immense achievement. This transformation is especially poignant when we reflect on the property’s initial state last October when we first purchased it. The contrast between then and now is stark, highlighting just how far we’ve come through sheer determination and hard work. What once was a bare shell is slowly but surely evolving into a welcoming sanctuary.

A Comprehensive Look: Our Beach House Progress Video Tour

During our recent weekend stay, we dedicated a couple of days to the satisfying tasks of unpacking, arranging existing items, and meticulously compiling lists of what still needs to be moved or purchased. Amidst the productive chaos, I managed to carve out a few precious minutes on our way out to capture a truly comprehensive video tour of our progress. This isn’t a short video, but I genuinely wanted to take you through every nook and cranny of the house – including one space I haven’t revealed before, which many of you have eagerly requested to see! In the video, I not only showcase the physical progress but also elaborate on our extensive to-do list, explain the rationale behind some of our design choices, and provide a general overview of the plans for each room. While this post will delve into some details through photographs, the video offers all the juicy, in-depth explanations you crave. So, if you’re unable to watch it right now, it’s definitely worth circling back to catch later for the full story. Note: If you’re accessing this content through a reader, you might need to click through to our website to view the embedded video player.

UPDATE: For your convenience, the video is also available directly on YouTube here.

The Grand Unveiling: Moving Day and Initial Setup

The journey to this first overnight stay began the previous Sunday when we meticulously loaded a 15-foot U-Haul. This massive truck was packed to the brim with an assortment of furniture, all of our flat-packed Ikea kitchen boxes, and, prominently, our charming pink stove! These items had been patiently (or perhaps impatiently!) occupying valuable space in our own home for several months, so the feeling of finally packing them into the truck and transporting them to their rightful place at the beach house was incredibly satisfying. The cargo was a delightful mix: some carefully selected new purchases, a treasure trove of unique thrifted finds, and even a few beloved pieces repurposed from our previous rooms. It was a sweet reunion with our green office chairs from our second house, for instance! (You can hear my specific ideas for their new role in the video.)

The following Monday, after the U-Haul was packed, we made the drive to Cape Charles. We spent several intensive hours unloading and strategically arranging everything. However, it wasn’t until we returned this past weekend for our inaugural two-night stay that the true sense of progress really began to sink in. Among the spaces, the entryway has arguably achieved the most “settled” and inviting feel so far. We intentionally prioritized this area, recognizing that a beautifully appointed entrance would immediately set a welcoming tone for the entire house. Visitors are now greeted by a lovely sight from the front door, including a stylish mirror that we proudly hung.

Please excuse the wooden railing, which still patiently awaits some much-needed attention to remove lingering marks. Our comprehensive to-do list currently rivals Santa’s toy list in length, but we are diligently chipping away at each item. One such satisfying accomplishment, proudly reflected in that new mirror, is the addition of our house number to the transom window – a story we’ll elaborate on in just a moment. These small victories collectively fuel our motivation for the larger projects ahead.

Kitchen Dreams: A Glimpse into the Heart of the Home

Just beyond the foyer, the kitchen area currently presents a rather chaotic scene. The kitchen cabinets, countertops, and even the sink and microwave are all neatly packaged within approximately 243 boxes, eagerly awaiting their assembly and installation. Consequently, what you see now is essentially a small mountain of cardboard, strategically hidden behind my delightful “chorus line” of stools. I must confess, I took immense pleasure in lining them up perfectly, purely to envision them sitting happily at the island that will someday anchor this space. One significant triumph, however, is that our iconic pink stove is already in place and fully installed, bringing a vibrant pop of color and a promise of future culinary adventures.

As anticipated, moving the stove proved to be quite a formidable task. Back in Richmond, it required the combined efforts of John, myself, a few generous neighbors, a sturdy dolly, and a ramp to get it onto the truck. Upon our arrival in Cape Charles, our contractor graciously arranged for a couple of his team members to assist us in maneuvering it into the house. Looking at this picture now fills me with an intense desire to finally start building those cabinets – the anticipation is almost unbearable!

Sleeping Soundly: The Bedroom Transformations

The most substantial progress upstairs involved the arrival of glorious beds! Our first night at the beach house was spent on air mattresses, so when the truck laden with mattresses, boxsprings, and frames pulled up the following morning, the prospect of sleeping in actual beds for the second night felt incredibly legitimate and luxurious. We sourced three queen mattresses and two twin extra-long mattresses (specifically for the future bunk room) from The Original Mattress Factory. This is the same reputable company where we purchased our own guest room mattress and our daughter’s mattress, both of which have garnered consistent compliments over the years (our guest room bed is six years old and still feels fantastic!). We often find ourselves piling into our daughter’s bed, and it remains wonderfully comfortable even with all four of us. The consistent quality and durability of their products have made them our trusted choice.

We were pleasantly surprised by the total cost to furnish the beach house with beds: just $1,800 for all five mattresses, including two boxsprings, two frames, and delivery! When the price was quoted over the phone, I was convinced they had made a mathematical error, as I had anticipated paying at least $500 per bed, totaling upwards of $2,500 before additional fees. However, The Original Mattress Factory simply offers exceptionally affordable, high-quality mattresses. Their products feature robust inner springs, undergo rigorous durability testing, and are designed for longevity. A significant advantage is that they are rotatable (a feature surprisingly absent in many new mattresses), which we believe will help us maximize their lifespan and maintain comfort for years to come.

In this middle bedroom (pictured above), we’re utilizing our trusty Ed the Bed, which means the mattress rests directly on a wooden platform – a practical and space-saving solution for now. The other two bedrooms, however, received the full treatment with traditional frames and boxsprings, providing classic comfort. For the bunk room, the twin extra-long mattresses will eventually be integrated into a clever, built-in bunk bed system that will span wall-to-wall along the left side of the room. Our kids are particularly excited about this future addition! For us, the immediate relief was confirming that our measurements were perfectly accurate and the mattresses fit precisely into their designated spaces. Phew!

Master Retreat: Comfort Amidst the Chaos

The most cohesive and “put-together” bedroom to date is undoubtedly the master bedroom, located at the back of the house, where John and I comfortably slept both nights. We arrived armed with fresh bedding, and on our first morning, we meticulously assembled the nightstands and even hung some art to add a touch of personality. We’ll be sure to provide sources for all these items at the bottom of this post, so keep scrolling for those details. Naturally, there’s still plenty to accomplish in this room; a headboard, a cozy rug, and a dresser are on our wish list. We also plan to raise the bed’s height, as it’s currently a bit too low for the nightstands. Despite these pending tasks, it was remarkably relaxing to settle into this space, even in its semi-finished state. The mere presence of a comfortable bed and curated pieces made a significant difference.

I’ll openly admit that both of us held our breath a little when it came to this room’s layout. We harbored concerns that the bed might feel cramped or too close to the elegant pocket doors – a worry that, thankfully, proved unfounded as it feels perfectly spacious! We also wondered if having pocket doors in front of the back stairs might create an awkward flow, but they ultimately turned out to be incredibly charming and functional, adding character rather than hindrance. This room has occasioned many collective sighs of relief. It’s incredibly challenging to fully visualize a space when it’s merely framed out, and even with drywall in place, it’s often difficult to ascertain if something feels cramped or oddly proportioned until the furniture is actually moved in, and everything suddenly falls into clear perspective. This experience has reinforced the importance of patience and trusting the design process.

The Realities of Renovation: Our “Glamping” Experience

Our initial stay, however, was far from flawless – a testament to the ongoing nature of any major renovation. None of the interior door latches are installed yet, which meant no internal doors could stay completely closed, offering a constant (and sometimes chilly!) open-plan experience. We wisely remembered to pack shower curtains and their liners, but, in an oversight, completely forgot the hooks! Consequently, we all showered without the curtain, which wasn’t ideal but, fortunately, didn’t result in too much splashing. Additionally, we quickly realized that the upstairs blinds we had purchased weren’t to our liking. Our resourceful solution for nighttime privacy? Relying on scrap cardboard to cover the windows, secured with painter’s tape – truly embracing the DIY spirit! It really felt a bit like camping, albeit a rather luxurious form of “glamping,” given that we enjoyed the comforts of running water and actual mattresses. These minor inconveniences only added to the adventure and gave us a few good laughs.

During our overnight stay, I found myself constantly noticing and admiring the beautiful old character embedded in the wood floors, like the detail pictured above. Each glimpse made my heart swell with excitement. Early in the renovation, we worried that rebuilding so much of this historic house might inadvertently strip away a lot of its original charm. However, the opportunity to lovingly refinish the old pine floors, carefully reuse the original molding, and restore the authentic doors has been an absolute treat. All those exquisite 1920s features – from the graceful back staircase and the intricate stained-glass windows to the elegant curved wall in the foyer – genuinely infuse this house with a profound sense of age and unique specialness. These elements are the soul of the home, and we are committed to preserving their beauty.

Small Steps, Big Milestones: House Numbers and Future Weekends

We anticipate many more weekends like this one in our future: a perfect blend of diligently tackling items on our renovation to-do list while also carving out time for some much-needed family fun. This recent trip was particularly special as it was warm enough to head to the beach and even enjoy a refreshing swim! Beyond the leisure, we achieved several satisfying tasks. We trimmed down a slightly too-tall door in the bunk room, strategically added a bunch of door stops behind various doors to prevent them from banging against our freshly painted walls and trim, and proudly installed those aforementioned house numbers in the transom window. That last task, in particular, felt like a super momentous milestone – a true symbol of the house officially becoming a home.

To hang these charming vintage-looking decals we ordered online, John employed some clever techniques. He created precise guides using green painter’s tape on the inside of the glass, marking the center and establishing a level baseline. This allowed us to follow his meticulous guides while carefully applying the decals from the outside, smoothing them out with a credit card as we worked our way from bottom to top. These decals weren’t easily repositionable, so both of us held our breath throughout the delicate application process, but the final result is truly fantastic. For months, we’ve been giving people directions like “it’s the pink house with the dumpster out front” or whatever peculiar description suited the moment. Now, we could finally tell the mattress delivery team, “it’s 119” – because IT FINALLY HAD HOUSE NUMBERS! This seemingly small detail brought an immense sense of official completion and pride.

We absolutely adore how the house numbers turned out. However, in true “us” fashion, we’re actually considering ordering another “9” to potentially place it ever so slightly more to the right. This is our advertising-years-instilled obsession with tracking and kerning kicking in! Even though they are technically spaced equally, we perceive the “9” as looking a little too close because it’s a “fuller” number compared to the “1,” which naturally has more white space on either side of its serif. We’re fully aware that we’re probably being a bit obsessive, but we embrace and accept this ingrained quirk for meticulous letter and number spacing that was instilled in us many years ago. It’s all part of our dedication to perfection, even in the smallest details.

Dive Deeper: Video Tours, Social Media, and Comprehensive Sourcing Details

Once again, if you’re eager to witness much more of our renovation progress, I highly recommend scrolling back up to watch the video tour. It offers an immersive experience, essentially allowing you to walk through every cranny of the house while hearing our detailed plans for future changes and additions. Things are moving at such a rapid pace lately that we’re truly enjoying using Instagram (and particularly Instagram Stories) to share real-time updates whenever possible. Of course, the blog remains the ultimate destination for super meaty information, direct links to products, and comprehensive videos, such as the in-depth walk-through tour featured in today’s post. So, if you’re not an Instagram enthusiast, rest assured that all the critical details, along with much more in-depth content, will eventually make their way here.

Given the influx of sourcing questions we’ve received as we share these exciting sneak peeks, we’ve compiled a quick round-up below of all the identifiable items featured in the video and these photographs. Please note that this list naturally excludes items that are secondhand, as we cannot provide direct links for those (such as the charming wood dresser in the foyer shown above), or products that have unfortunately been discontinued (like our beloved Ikea Karlstad sectional in the living room). We strive to provide as much detail as possible to help you with your own home projects!

1. Living Room Art / 2. Kitchen Stool (similar) / 3. Chair Version of Kitchen Stools / 4. Front Bedroom Art / 5. Walls (SW White Heron) / 6. Downstairs Trim (SW Stone Isle) / 7. Upstairs Trim (SW Pure White) / 8. Tub & Pocket Doors (SW Riverway) / 9. Foyer Mirror / 10. Hall Bath Tile / 11. Hall Bath Vanity / 12. Downstairs Bath Mirror / 13. Downstairs Bath Vanity / 14. Master Bath Mirror / 15. Hall Bedding / 16. Master Bedside Lamps / 17. Master Bedroom Art / 18.Master Bath Tile / 19. Master Bath Accent Tile / 20. Master Nightstands / 21. Master Bedding

And here’s a refreshed lighting round-up from a few posts ago, for anyone curious about those specific links and sources. As a quick update: we absolutely love the fans! Sleeping with the fan on low in that back bedroom was incredibly refreshing and contributed to a perfectly comfortable night’s sleep. The selections are proving to be both stylish and highly functional.

1. Front Porch Light / 2. Downstairs Bath Fixture / 3. Kitchen Island Pendant / 4. Porch Numbers (custom) / 5. Foyer Pendant (similar) / 6. Bedroom Ceiling Fans / 7. Kitchen Sconces / 8. Living & Master Bath Semi-Flush Mount / 9. Mudroom Pendant / 10. Clear, Soft White LED Bulbs / 11. Dining Room Chandelier / 12. Master Bath Vanity Light / 13. Hall Bath Vanity Light / 14. Hallway & Small Upstairs Room Flush Mounts / 15. Under Stairs (no link available)

The Evolving Dream of Our Beach House: What A Time To Be Alive!

So there it is – a deep dive into the exciting progress and joyful moments from our evolving beach house. We are brimming with anticipation to continue sharing these rooms as they gradually transform and take on their final form. Just imagine: a kitchen bustling with beautifully installed cabinets, a bedroom made extra cozy with a stylish headboard and a plush, expansive rug underfoot, and a shower that features a proper curtain and an elegant window treatment, replacing our current temporary rectangle of cardboard! The thought alone fills us with immense joy and excitement. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE, witnessing this dream home come to life piece by piece!

Psst – To catch up on all the previous beach house posts, chronicling this project that has been over a year in the making, you can find a comprehensive archive full of posts & pics here! Enjoy the full journey!

*This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through our links.*