Cue the demo dust! After more than five years in this house, we’re finally starting a renovation—naturally over the holidays. We’ve tackled big projects in the past few years, like adding a pool in 2021, gutting and rebuilding our kitchen in 2022, and swapping in hurricane-grade windows and doors two years ago. But this is the first time we’re removing walls and changing room layouts since we moved in.
The photo above is from early 2020, but those open walls preview the new sightlines we’ll create between the kitchen, living area, and pool. We’re very excited.
I’ll share a renovation overview here—much of this is already on Instagram in my Reno 2025 highlight if you want the quick visual updates.
Why this renovation, and why now?
When we moved in we assumed we’d need a second bathroom. After five years—one of which was mostly spent at home during COVID—one bathroom has actually worked fine for our family (we also have an outdoor shower, which helps). Instead, two other things have been nudging at us more than adding another bath.
First, our son needs more space as he grows. His room used to be a laundry room: it’s cute but small. He and his friends can hang out there for hours, but it’s a tight fit and won’t suit him forever. We always knew we’d want to give him a larger room down the line.
Second, the pool feels detached from the house. You access it down a long hallway, and you can’t see it from any main living spaces. It’s a beautiful view we want to enjoy from the kitchen or a sitting area instead of feeling disconnected from it.
After years of thinking, one afternoon John had the idea that solved both problems. Three hours of sketching and taping things out on the floor convinced us it would work, so we contacted a recommended contractor for a quote.
Without sharing detailed floor plans, the gist is that to give our son a bigger room and to connect the main living area to the pool we’ll finish the covered section of the front porch. Many nearby homes have done this to gain interior space. We still have plenty of outdoor areas (a side porch, an upper deck, and the uncovered portion of the front porch), so converting the covered porch into interior space makes sense for our family.
That change will transform the house from its current footprint to one with a more balanced facade and new interior square footage:
Converting the porch will give our son a larger bedroom, create an L-shaped kitchen and lounge area that opens to the pool, and allow us to add an ensuite bathroom to our bedroom—small comforts like fewer midnight walks to the bathroom matter. And yes, I’m excited about picking tile, a sink vanity, and even the toilet—details matter.
How will the living area expand?
John’s solution was straightforward: enclose the covered porch, move our daughter’s room there (the new bedroom will be slightly larger but similar), then remove the wall that currently backs her old room and contains the laundry closet. That creates one big L-shaped kitchen and family room. We’ll relocate her windows and add a large glass door to the new lounge space facing the pool.
This rearrangement shifts the current corner sitting area into a light-filled lounge by the pool and opens the kitchen in several meaningful ways:
- More shared first-floor space for the family
- Significantly more natural light from the left side of the kitchen
- Increased cabinetry space because the current sitting area is repurposed
- Space for more chairs around a floating dining table and a proper chandelier
- Possibility of a small work island
- Sightlines from the kitchen directly to the pool
Removing roughly a 10-foot expanse of wall will flood the kitchen with light and expose the pool view from the moment you enter the front door. A large glass sliding door will sit where the porch/hallway is now, creating a vaulted, light-filled lounge with room for a TV on one wall and seating on the other—a layout similar to a previous living room we loved, but with a glass wall to the pool.
The kids are excited about having a TV on the first floor, so the new lounge will probably host family movie nights and casual hangouts without crowding other living areas.
How does your son’s room get bigger?
Once framed and shifted, his room will absorb the hallway to the pool and gain vaulted ceiling height. The existing pool door will become a large window and space behind the current photo vantage point will become part of his bedroom, including some hidden closet area. The result is roughly a 30% increase in size, making his room nearly as large as his sister’s—a meaningful upgrade.
Where will the second bathroom go?
We’ll take a corner of our large L-shaped primary bedroom and convert it into an ensuite. The bedroom will remain a generous rectangle after the change. To plan the layout we worked with our contractor using CAD and by taping the proposed floor plan directly on the floor. That physical taping step was incredibly helpful—like a DIY version of a professional “walk your plans” tool—and it led to adjustments that maximize the bathroom’s function without sacrificing closet space.
We’ll share more about the exact layout as the project progresses.
What about the laundry and other details?
Questions about where the laundry will go and other specifics are natural. Some answers are easier to show once the project is underway, so we’ll reveal those details as things progress. Rest assured, we’re not renovating away the place to do laundry.
How will the exterior look from the pool?
We considered the view from every angle—especially from the pool—so I did a quick mock-up to visualize how the new window proportions would relate to the second-floor window. The glass doors on the right of that mock-up will open into the new lounge area that connects to the kitchen and dining space.
We intentionally chose window proportions that tie the front and back of the house together for a cohesive exterior appearance.
Why this plan and not something else?
Over five years we explored many options—adding rooms above the kids’ rooms, reworking the roofline, enclosing the upper deck—and none felt as sensible or as aligned with how our family uses this house. This plan addresses the two things that mattered most to us: a better connection to the pool and more appropriate bedroom sizes for our kids. It’s relatively straightforward, improves daily living, and—surprisingly—came in under our initial budget estimate.
What if it takes longer or costs more?
We expect some bumps. Renovations often include timeline delays, unexpected costs, and disagreements, so we prepared for that by saving 20–30% more than our estimate to reduce stress. We’ve had years to save and refine the plan, which helps a lot.
Do big projects feel scary at the start?
Absolutely. Renovations involve money, time, and tearing apart your home. Right now we’re in the excited “possibility” phase. Later will come the messy middle, and finally the elation of being finished. We feel fortunate to have a functioning kitchen and bath to rely on during construction, which makes the process more manageable.
How long will it take?
The contractor estimates 3–4 months of work, with holiday breaks and the usual curveballs likely extending the schedule. Much of the porch finishing work can be done from the outside before it ties into the house, which helps. We’re hoping for substantial completion by my birthday in March, but anticipate the work may stretch closer to the end of April.
How will the home’s square footage change?
Our house is about 1,400 square feet now and should be roughly 1,500 square feet after converting the covered porch to living space. That extra 100 square feet feels like the right balance: more function for our growing kids while keeping the house manageable to maintain. It still feels like a significant downsize from the 3,150-square-foot house we once had, but perfectly suited to our lifestyle and the great outdoor living our climate allows.
When does it start?
We should receive the permit any day and expect work to start the week after Thanksgiving. We’ll keep sharing updates—Instagram Stories are the fastest way to follow progress, and we’ll post more complete updates on the blog as the project unfolds. Thanks for following along on this renovation adventure with us.
Other posts you might enjoy
If you want to read more about our journey with this house, check out previous posts on topics like why we downsized, a before tour, earlier renovations, exterior makeovers, and the pool project.