Meet our newest project:
This announcement may (or may not?) come as a surprise, but it has been months in the making. We started actively searching (and putting in offers) on houses in January and it has been a rollercoaster ride with this crazy market. But everything happens for a reason! I couldn’t be happier about where we ended up—we officially closed on the property April 19th and renovations are already underway.
The home was built in 2008 (which means less chances of unwanted surprises and repairs, yay!) and we purchased it as a cosmetic “flip” from the second owner. It’s a spacious 3 bedroom, 3 bath with ~2450 square feet and two en-suites. The biggest selling point for me was that it’s near our home, which means we won’t have a long commute (I’ve experienced longer-distance renovations twice and it makes everything much more challenging!)
The plan is to turn the property into a vacation rental (if you’re new here, we also have the Riverside Retreat and Poolside Palms) and it will sleep up to 14 guests after we add a fourth bedroom. This will be a complete renovation and we’ll be DIYing as much of it as possible, so I’m expecting it to take us at least a year. Here’s the floor plan (after the fourth bedroom addition):
I’m embracing the Spanish-style architecture but adding in my own unique flair. I’ve been obsessing over this design style for a long time and finally have the opportunity to bring my ideas to life! Picture Amber Interiors meets Moroccan riad meets colorful Mediterranean with a taste of Florida:
via Amber Interiors 
via Casa Lecanda 
via Savvy Interiors 
via Intimate Living Interiors
I’ve spent hours upon hours saving inspiration to a dedicated board on Pinterest, if you’re curious to get a sense of my vision. While I plan to stay within these general styles, each room will have its own look and vibe (similar to the Riverside Retreat).
Without further ado, let’s take a tour and I’ll share a few ideas and plans I have for each space:
Jump to:
Front + backyard
There’s no mistaking this distinct Spanish/mediterranean influence of the exterior, and I’ll be adding even more of those details to enhance the experience.
The biggest transformation and largest chunk of our budget will be spent in the backyard.
We plan to add a pool, decking, a pergola, pavers and gravel, grill, tile on the patio, a new fence and lush greenery.
This backyard oasis will be the main attraction for guests, so it has to be a show stopper and that requires a little splurging.
Dining room
This is the first room you see when you walk in the front door, to your left. I’ll hang a large statement chandelier and two dining tables to seat 12-14 guests. One of my favorite features of this home is the vaulted ceiling in the main living space.
My least favorite? The obnoxious overly-textured walls. Skim coating the entire house is not an expense we can justify, so it is what it is.
Kitchen
Oh man, this before is pretty bad. Nothing like adding two partial walls in an open room with a vaulted ceiling.
Fortunately, these walls and everything in it are now gone and we have a blank slate to work with.
The focal point of the kitchen will be an extra long custom range hood enclosure (which we’ll DIY) and an island with additional seating.
Living Room
There won’t be a lot of space to work with in here after we add the kitchen island, but the big change in here will be a plaster-style built in fireplace we plan to DIY.
The living room/kitchen/dining room will be open to each other and form one big “great room”, and the most dramatic change will be dark wood beams and planks covering the ceiling. We plan to tackle this ourselves and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the most intense and longest and possibly most regretted DIY of our lives.
Bedroom 4
This area is currently unused/open space when you walk into the house on the right side (across from the dining room). It’s the perfect spot to add a small fourth bedroom—just large enough for two twin trundle beds against the wall.
Bedroom 1
This is the largest bedroom, measuring 16’5” x 16’11”. It has an entrance to the patio, a large walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. It also has this super awkward off-center window slit above where the bed will go. What on earth am I supposed to do with that?! Replacing the windows is most definitely not in the budget, so I’ll have to come up with a budget solution. Any ideas?
The other dilemma is this octagonal tray ceiling, found in all three bedrooms. I can’t decide how I feel about this, and I’m not sure if I want to leave it as is. Whatever we do, it has to be budget friendly and DIY-able. Please give me all your suggestions!
Ensuite Bathroom 1
This is a pretty large bathroom, with a separate toilet room and enclosed shower.
There is so much potential here, but it would add up quickly to gut everything and start from scratch, so we will have to work with the existing floorpan (including another dang skinny window).
Bedroom 2
This is the second largest bedroom, measuring 15’8” by 13’8”. It has a large walk-in closet and ensuite.
It also has an unnecessary door that leads to the side of the house and is stuck shut. I would love to get rid of it but I don’t think removing it and patching the wall is in the budget.
This room unfortunately has no windows/natural lighting, and it also has the octaganal tray ceiling.
Ensuite Bathroom 2
A decent sized bathroom with another enclosed shower (and another unfortunate window slit).
No plans as of now to change the floorpan, but sometimes I get carried away with my big ideas so we shall see…
Bedroom 3
This is the smaller of the three main bedrooms, but still a decent size at ~13.5 x 12.5’. Fortunately, the ceilings in this house are 9’4” so that makes everything feel more spacious.
The biggest challenge in this room is that awkward off-center window that is way too low (the 4th bedroom and dining room have the same window issue).
Bathroom 3
Your typical bathroom size and layout. Minus that dang window slit that follows me everywhere!
Laundry Room
This space will likely end up as the forgotten child. I don’t think it’s worth dedicating a lot of time and budget towards (heck, we still have the subfloor in our own laundry room!) so who knows what will become of it.
So, what do you think?! We certainly have our work cut out for us with this one! I’m honestly just as excited about this renovation as I was when we built our own home. I have so many fun projects lined up and this is a chance to really get creative and experiment with new ideas. I also want your input! We have a big blank canvas to work with and so many possibilities. This project also presents new design challenges I’ve never faced, and I’d love to hear your suggestions. Here are a few questions that are top of mind right now…
- If you were staying as a group of 14, would you rather have a sleeper sofa in the living room and 2 of the 4 bedrooms sleep one couple each, or sleeper sofas in the two ensuite bedrooms and only one bedroom that sleeps two?
- DIY ideas for the tray ceilings in the bedrooms?
- What would you do with the arched windows that are off center and too low, and the off center skinny window in Bedroom 1?
- What should we name this place? I love alliterations (i.e. Riverside Retreat, Poolside Palms) and want to stick with the Spanish/Mediterranean theme. Currently entertaining Hidden Hacienda or Hacienda Hideaway… any others?
If anyone comes up with the winning name or a genius problem-solving idea, there will be a reward involved ?
What’s first on the to-do list? So far we’ve removed the flooring throughout the entire house (both the laminate and original tile underneath), completely demo’d the kitchen, and Lucas is finishing the new bedroom framing.
I’m anxious to share allll the details with you in the coming months! Get ready for a whole lotta room design plans, new DIY projects, product sourcing and budget breakdowns.
Next week I’ll be sharing the budget-friendly high end dupes I’ve been sourcing for the house. You can also take a tour of our current progress tomorrow in my Instagram stories, so make sure you’re following me there for all of the behind the scenes action. A very happy May to everyone!
Angie says
I am so excited to see what you do with this fabulous house. For those tray ceilings, The Thrifty Decor Chick did a DIY that turned out nicely. You could do something similar and add a stencil to the center part. Here is the line to her blog post. https://www.thriftydecorchick.com/2018/11/cozy-tray-ceiling-makeover-in-master.html
Jenna Sue says
Thank you for that link! I do love the idea of adding wood in some form to the tray ceilings.
Andrea says
What a great house. So jealous of the many different style houses you have in America. Being from New Zealand our houses are all very similar.
I would prefer more of the rooms to sleep 2 than less. So sofa bed in the living room
In regard to the tray ceilings I would maybe add some architraves to it (not sure if that is the name you call them in the US) and maybe either paint the middle darker or use some fancy wallpaper in it. Or you could paint it all white and paint the architraves a darker colour.
The skinny window I would hang curtains centred to give the illusion of a centred window particularly if it is behind the bed.
The arched windows I would add some kind of feature over them to give the impression of height, and then drape curtains from the top of that.
Good luck with it all. Can’t wait to see the progression.
Jenna Sue says
Thank you Andrea!
Carly says
Love the house potential. I have had 16+ homes, 12 states, 27 moves. I built or remodeled and staged all, including staging for realtors. I currently purchased a high end home 50 miles south from you. Keep the octagon tray ceilings and enhance them with wood on small perimeter either stained or painted white OR alot of builders are ship lapping the interior of it with/without trim either painted or stained. They also are gridding out space with larger wood beams. Also would consider if it were me, grass cloth textured heavy wallpaper with or without a smaller wood grid over top wallpaper. I can’t tell you how many high end builders in FL do this octagon shape all the time in builds right now. I don’t get it, but must be a FL thing. I can tell you east to west coast they are not doing this. On the bathroom, keep tile but replace and neutralize the vanity tops with light linen/ off white? color and do all accessories, paint neutral to draw eye away from rusts. Maybe bring in wood look handles, or heavy style handles, to play up that feel. I don’t think tile is bad to deal with. Window issues. In master play up small window as art with a wood insert grid in the glass. Leave others alone because again FL builder thing, I have them too, but bigger size and I find once you put furniture, shower curtain, etc. less noticeable. Another thing I have done with window imbalance is get an antique piece carved or designed wood same length or close and put it over window to widen size and make it look intentional. I have even done in my current Colorado house another antique narrow window with interesting wood design and replaced glass with mirror and placed that piece above window. Looks great and takes eye away from narrow window below. No to any sleeper in living room. Hate to sit in living room on them and if you have kiddo better to have sleeper in bedroom suites. Careful on pool costs. Spent on ours $115,000/with pool cage and it’s nice but keep it simple and you can cut cost of it considerably. Can especially save on size of pool really makes a difference cost. Also be very, very careful in FL on pool builders they are bad in the state in terms of quality and delivery. So really go with a great reputation and stands behind work. At $115,00 with great reputation and lots of review and builds, we still had issues and so did many of our neighbors. I could go on for days on suggestions for house but your great in what you and hubby do and have a beautiful eye, it will turn out wonderful. Looking forward to seeing what you do.
Jenna Sue says
Thank you so much for the great input, Carly!
Pam says
Can’t wait to see what you do with the place.
Cathryn says
OK, a foreigner’s thoughts, should you wish to cater for tourists from overseas. The master bedroom slit window will look totally appropriate once the bed is placed in front of it, if you install a high bed head. Please don’t take the natural light sources out of the room. Florida means sunshine to me and I would be expecting well-lit rooms. When we travel en masse as a family, sex just isn’t a thing – so the need for private bedrooms isn’t a consideration. Children of all ages bunking in with parents is totally acceptable, so a single day bed and trundle would be fine additions in the large bedrooms. Day beds instead of pull-out couches, mean the children don’t have to share, which can be tricky. Bunk bed room 3 and I like your ideas for room 4. Then 16 can fit in, or 14 if room 4 ends up with just a couple using it – great place for Grandma and Grandpa.
Given that children often retire earlier at night than the adults, it can be very inconvenient having them sleeping in the living areas on couches. And any adults sleeping on pullouts in the living areas definitely draw the short straw when Uncle Bill gets up for his early morning tea and toast.
Good luck with the rest of your new house’s quirks! 🙂
Jenna Sue says
Thanks so much for the great feedback, Cathryn!
Izabela says
For the tray ceiling, maybe take the idea from this old beauty and replicate it on the cheap with a stencil. It would help the lights to blend in. Love the color combo, too! https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-coffered-ceiling-16th-century-national-sculpture-museum-valladolid-37460823.html
Jenna Sue says
Interesting idea! I bet I can find some cool molding to replicate it in some way…
Nadine says
This is great – Going to love following this project. There should be one bedroom that sleeps two. For the tray ceilings – Octagonal plywood/shiplap box within a box (You can stain or paint depending on the style you have in the room). Arched windows that are off centered – Add trim to the window and cover the half circle with wood/plywood (paint the back cover the same color as the exterior). As for names, since you are embracing the Spanish style architecture – “La Hacienda.”
Sabrina S. says
Hi Jenna! Chris loves Julia did a really pretty Spanish inspired peel and stick tile in their girls bathroom that would be fun inside the trey ceiling and then framed out. Not sure its been done on a ceiling, but there is a first for everything. So excited to see whatever you do. Im sure it will be beautiful. For the name, Casa Lejos which means home away in Spanish.
Jenna Sue says
Thanks Sabrina! I saw that project and LOVE the idea. I think peel and stick would be a great budget-friendly option to use somewhere in the house!
Jane says
Will be following closely to what you plan on doing with those octagonal tray ceilings as I have that in my entryway AND master bath! Hate.
Ruby L. says
Congratulations! I’m excited to see how it progresses. Maybe wallpaper in the cove ceiling such as a sky/cloud print or wooden planks with beams to match the design in the great room area. I have two alliterations, Calypso Casa and Holiday Hacienda, and two others, Casa del Sol and Casa Feliz.
Jenna Sue says
Ooh I like Holiday Hacienda, thank you for the great suggestions!
Michele M. says
OMGosh I love that house! I’d move into it as a dream home practically as is!
I’d do anything to be able to even renovate our kitchen and put in a screened porch in back of our house.
I am so happy (and jealous) of you guys! This home will be freaking amazing. I absolutely love that style.
Best wishes and good luck!!
Abbie P says
Not sure where you are in Florida – but my vote is Casa Coastal! Excited to see what you do with this project.
Jenna Sue says
Thanks Abby!
Melissa A MacGregor says
I think if I was going to fix one more thing, I would fix the bedroom windows. Once you have that pool out there, I feel like you are going to want more views. For the 2nd bedroom (without a window), could you add a window to the door? My parents actually did this with their front door. They called a local door company and the ordered the window and my dad cut the hole and dropped it in. Feels like a whole new door. It’s amazingly easy on a steel door. I get very nervous not being able to see daylight from bedrooms! I would also consider changing out those other windows. Keep an eye out at Habitat Restore because they often get windows that were mis-ordered! VERY excited to see what you do with this one.
Rebecca Olson says
Hi Jenna!
Congrats on the new home! I spent way more time than expected thinking about possible solutions to all the challenges you mentioned. But, that’s the fun part!
Question 1: Sleeper in living room for less picky sleepers and those who can sleep through anything. We recently looked at airbnbs for a Bachelorette party and found that rooms that sleep 2 were preferred, even for non-couples who are fine sharing a bed. If any guestrooms fit a king, that might be nice too!
Question 2: The shape of the tray ceiling is what distracts me the most. If possible, I’d square off the corners. And then depending on the vibe or theme of each room – love a bamboo ceiling (Bali vibe), a mural or fun wallpaper.
Question 3 A: For the tiny slit window in the bedroom – if this is where the bed goes, I would do a simple canopy bed that frames the window. I think this would help with scale. If a bed doesn’t go here I would do something similar with art/framing or shelving where it’s not the sole focal point.
Question 3 B: For the low arched window, I would install a woven/bamboo roll up shade higher up (same line as sliding door) and then pull it down just over the arched section so that it looks like it matches the height of the door.
Question 4: Names! I love Hacienda Hideaway and also thought of one other alliteration – Spanish Sanctuary.
Jenna Sue says
Thank you Rebecca! So fun to hear everyone’s ideas. I’m wondering how much of a pain it would be to square off the tray ceiling corners too, that would give us more options for sure!
Hannah says
I would keep it so that the en-suites can have one couple each and do bunk beds in the remaining rooms and a sleeper sofa in the great room.
As far as the off centered windows maybe do some mounding around them to trick the eye to make them look centered, possible covered the first bottom panel with dry wall to raise it up? Or put a bench in front of it perhaps?
And for the ceiling I would either fill in the corners to round it out, and put in a base medallion for a pretty light fixture, you could square them off but I think rounding them out would compliment the round arches in the home better.
For the skinny windows I’d probably leave the bathroom one alone but for the bedrooms but one long shelf a little below or above and fill with plants. I think below would be better 1. So the plants get better light. 2. It give the illusion that the plants are maybe cover the bottom half of the window when really the top of the plants are just touching the bottom of the window sill.
For a name I kinda like what you have already but to add to it maybe Spanish Sanctuary?
Jenna Sue says
Thank you Hannah! A few people mentioned Spanish Sanctuary, it does have a nice ring to it!