Welcome back to our duplex renovation journey! Last month, we celebrated a monumental achievement: the refinishing of the floors, a milestone that truly marked a significant turning point in a project that has consumed us for over a year. Can you even believe what it looked like before? Moving past the dusty, laborious stages of demolition and reconstruction, we’ve finally entered what we lovingly call “the fun part!” This is where the magic truly happens – the phase of bringing in rugs, selecting captivating light fixtures, arranging furniture, and adding those perfect accessories that transform a mere construction site into a warm, inviting home. It’s an incredibly rewarding feeling, especially after countless months and substantial investments poured into essential yet often unseen improvements, such as critical plumbing and electrical upgrades, which disappear behind freshly installed drywall. The satisfaction of seeing our vision materialize, layer by layer, is immeasurable as we navigate this exciting transition from a house under construction to a home brimming with character and comfort.
Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the latest transformations. First up, feast your eyes on this stunning wall in the main bedroom of the left side of the duplex. This entire section was practically rebuilt from the ground up, demanding meticulous attention to detail and a vision for its future elegance. The journey to this point has been long, but the results are beginning to speak for themselves, showcasing the blend of functionality and style we aimed for.
You might recognize that beautiful rug! It’s actually a piece we initially purchased for the living room of our previous “pink house” (you can catch a glimpse of it there). However, when paired with our darker sectional, it often felt a bit too heavy for that space. Here, in this bright and airy bedroom, with a plush white bed destined to sit atop it, we believe it will appear significantly lighter and more vibrant. This is especially true when combined with the soft hue of our pretty pink closet doors and that exquisite capiz chandelier, which we carefully positioned between them. Interestingly, this chandelier also hails from the pink house, where it once graced our dining table – a switcheroo we detailed more in this post. It’s all about finding the perfect home for each beloved piece!
The addition of these two closets was a deliberate design decision made during the framing stage. While this was the largest room in the original layout, it surprisingly lacked any built-in storage. To remedy this, and to maximize both utility and aesthetic appeal, we opted to flank the window with these custom closets. This approach offers abundant storage solutions, crucial for any main bedroom, while also introducing a sense of perfect symmetry and balance to the room. A single closet, in contrast, would have felt lopsided and might have awkwardly encroached on a corner, disrupting the serene harmony we aimed to create. The thoughtful placement of these closets not only enhances the room’s functionality but also elevates its overall design, making it feel intentionally designed and beautifully resolved.
Continuing our tour of the left-side main bedroom, this image presents a captivating view as you step through the doorway. Our eyes are immediately drawn to that charming little chimney nook, an architectural gem we were thrilled to expose during the renovation. This unique feature, once hidden, now beckons for personalization. We’re incredibly excited to install some thick, rustic wooden shelves within this nook. Imagine it adorned with curated books, cherished decorative items, or even a small collection of plants, adding both warmth and character to the space. It’s these thoughtful touches that transform a functional room into a truly special sanctuary, celebrating the home’s original structure while infusing it with modern elegance and practicality.
To truly appreciate the transformation, let’s take a moment to look back. The image below offers a stark contrast, showcasing a similar view of this very bedroom when we first acquired the house. It was, quite frankly, a bland and uninspiring box. The most notable (and concerning) feature was a saggy drop ceiling, hastily installed to conceal a significant amount of mold and rot that was unfortunately rampant above it. Seeing the “before” state underscores the magnitude of work involved in stripping away the neglect and rebuilding with intention. It highlights the extensive journey from a problematic, characterless space to the bright, inviting, and architecturally rich room it is becoming today, a testament to the power of thoughtful renovation and dedicated effort.
Now, let’s shift our attention to the back bedroom on the *other side* – the right side of the duplex – and marvel at its current state. Here, we made a conscious decision to salvage and reuse the only set of original doors that were in suitable condition. These are truly special: charming, skinny little pine doors, complete with their authentic, original hardware. Their preservation was a priority, not just for their inherent beauty, but for the history and character they bring to the updated space. It’s a subtle nod to the duplex’s past, allowing a piece of its original charm to live on in its newly revitalized form, blending seamlessly with the modern design elements while adding an undeniable sense of uniqueness and warmth.
These salvaged pine doors captivated us from the moment we first laid eyes on them. They feature tiny, intricate latches on each side that immediately stole our hearts, alongside charming faux drawers at the bottom adorned with antique cup pulls. These aren’t just doors; they’re pieces of history, imbued with so much undeniable quirk and character that simply couldn’t be replicated with new materials. Their non-standard height, being notably shorter than typical interior doors, presented a unique design opportunity rather than a challenge. We embraced this distinctive feature by adding cute little cubbies above them, perfectly sized to complement their vintage charm. We absolutely adore how the curved woven baskets, strategically placed within these cubbies, introduce delightful texture and softness, providing a beautiful counterpoint to the many straight lines and rectangular forms throughout the room. The curved chandelier further enhances this effect, creating a harmonious balance that feels both thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing.
Our kitchen progress is another source of immense excitement for us! Over the recent holiday break, we dedicated ourselves to assembling cabinets for both sides of the duplex. While it wasn’t without its challenges and a few unexpected hiccups (you can hear the full story here), we’re incredibly relieved and happy to be mostly past that demanding hump. The major structural work is complete, and we can almost taste the delicious meals that will be prepared here! With the appliances now on their way and our countertops scheduled for templating and installation before the end of the month, the finish line feels tantalizingly close. Of course, we still have the exciting tasks of adding shelves, selecting hardware, and installing a bold patterned backsplash – elements that will truly define the character of each kitchen. But the overwhelming feeling is one of nearing completion, a significant step forward from where we began.
That image above gives you a glimpse into the bright and functional kitchen on the right side of the duplex. Adjacent to it, you’ll find the dedicated mudroom and laundry room – a space designed with practicality and efficiency in mind. We’re currently awaiting the installation of the stacked washer and dryer before we can proceed with building in the custom storage cabinet that will anchor this room. The beautiful painted pocket doors, finished in Sherwin Williams’ tranquil Oyster Bay, lead directly into the kitchen. While these doors will likely remain open most of the time to promote an open flow, their inclusion serves a thoughtful purpose: they offer the option to shut out any noise when the laundry is running, ensuring peace and quiet in the main living areas. And, let’s be honest, they’re also just so incredibly charming and visually appealing, adding a touch of understated elegance to this highly functional space.
This mudroom is truly set to be a powerhouse of functionality. Beyond its laundry capabilities, we have extensive plans to incorporate abundant storage solutions. Imagine hooks galore for coats and bags, along with a variety of baskets perfectly sized for shoes, swimming suits, beach towels, and all the essential gear for a seaside lifestyle. This strategic design is particularly pertinent given its proximity: the outdoor showers are just a few steps away from the back door that opens directly into this room. This thoughtful layout ensures that sandy feet, wet swimsuits, and damp towels have a designated, easily accessible space, making this area an indispensable workhorse for active beach living, keeping the rest of the duplex tidy and organized.
Now, let’s pivot and take a sneak peek at the kitchen on the left side of the duplex. For this particular unit, we decided to embrace a more distinctive aesthetic, opting for cabinets in a captivating moody blue-green-gray hue. However, as you’ll notice in the initial photograph, they currently appear quite bright blue. Don’t let that fool you; wait for the full reveal, and you’ll see the true magic unfold as the protective film comes off. This color choice is deliberate, aiming to create a unique atmosphere that subtly differentiates this side from its counterpart, while still maintaining a cohesive beach house vibe.
As you can clearly see, these cabinets are still protected by a temporary film, which we’ll keep in place until after the appliances and counters are fully installed. This protective layer ensures their pristine condition during the final stages of construction. However, thanks to John’s helpful demonstration in the image below, holding up a sample piece, you can get a true sense of their underlying color. They are, in fact, significantly grayer and greener than they appear with the film on – a sophisticated, moody blue-green-gray. We absolutely adore this particular shade for a beach house setting. It strikes the perfect balance, feeling wonderfully playful and evocative of coastal serenity, yet remaining refined and not overtly bold. It’s a color that promises to infuse the kitchen with a calming yet lively energy, perfectly encapsulating the relaxed elegance of a modern beach retreat.
Directly off this kitchen is the mudroom for the left side of the duplex. Here, we implemented a floor tile pattern similar in design to the one in the other mudroom, but intentionally chose a completely distinct color scheme. This decision perfectly embodies our overarching design philosophy for the duplex: ensuring each side feels distinctly related to the other, yet never identical. They’re like cousins, sharing a family resemblance and a common DNA, but each boasting its own unique personality and charm, rather than being mere twins. This approach allows for individual character while maintaining a harmonious overall aesthetic. We still need to install the quarter-round trim in this room, a final touch that brings a polished finish. We deliberately held off on this particular step as we plan to incorporate a few built-ins here first, ensuring a seamless and precise installation once those elements are in place.
These are just a handful of the spaces within the duplex that have already undergone such incredible transformations, looking immeasurably better even before the grand arrival of our massive truckload of furniture. Yes, you read that right – we’re renting a giant box truck and personally driving all our treasures down in less than a week! The anticipation is palpable. But even without all the beds, tables, sofas, and chairs that are soon to fill these rooms, we are absolutely reveling in this palpable progress, this beautiful, steady march towards completion. Every renovated corner, every newly painted wall, and every carefully chosen fixture fills us with immense satisfaction and renewed energy. And you know we’re eagerly counting down the days until we can share even more photos, complete with all the furnishings, the carefully hung curtains, the inspiring art, and every last thoughtful detail that will bring these spaces to their full, vibrant life!
P.S. For those who want to follow our duplex progress from the very beginning, click here to explore around a dozen comprehensive posts. They cover a vast array of topics, detailing every step of our journey, from the initial excitement of acquiring the property and meticulous designing the layouts, to the intensive process of structural reconstruction, intricate tile installations, and of course, the stunning floor transformations. It’s a full chronicle of our ambitious project!
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