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An Old Florida Bungalow Gets Brand-New Polish
Childhood memories and neighborhood nostalgia live on, as a bungalow on the Gulf Coast gets a gentle update for a new generation
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
Perhaps it was the dune and the beach leading to the gulf. Perhaps it was the warm gulf breezes. Perhaps it was just one of those beautiful Florida days with deep blue skies and puffy white clouds. Whatever it was, I instantly fell in love with this wonderfully renovated bungalow on the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly part of my love for this home comes from the story of its renovation.
Recently purchased by only its fourth owner in the century since it was built, the house, now called Idlewild Cottage, had fallen into quite a bit of disrepair. Let's face it, a century on Florida's gulf coast can be rough for any building, especially after the likes of the Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921 came barreling through. In fact, since it was first built by Angel Cuesta (of Cuesta-Rey cigars) in 1919, Idlewild Cottage has seen its share of hurricanes.
But the home's less-than-perfect condition didn't deter the new owners. Having played on the beach in front of this home as a child, one of them couldn't wait to undertake the renovation. And yes, it would have been far cheaper to have torn the house down and built new. But renovating the old home and keeping those memories alive was the right thing to do. As Ed and Julie, the new owners, have said, people walk by and thank them for saving the house. Surely a price can't be placed on that — especially as so many of these wonderful Florida bungalows have given way to much larger houses and condominium buildings.
So thanks to Ed, Julie, architect Andy Dohmen of Design Styles Architecture and builder Steve Perry of J.S. Perry & Co. for keeping Idlewild Cottage safe for future generations to enjoy from the beach nearby.
Recently purchased by only its fourth owner in the century since it was built, the house, now called Idlewild Cottage, had fallen into quite a bit of disrepair. Let's face it, a century on Florida's gulf coast can be rough for any building, especially after the likes of the Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921 came barreling through. In fact, since it was first built by Angel Cuesta (of Cuesta-Rey cigars) in 1919, Idlewild Cottage has seen its share of hurricanes.
But the home's less-than-perfect condition didn't deter the new owners. Having played on the beach in front of this home as a child, one of them couldn't wait to undertake the renovation. And yes, it would have been far cheaper to have torn the house down and built new. But renovating the old home and keeping those memories alive was the right thing to do. As Ed and Julie, the new owners, have said, people walk by and thank them for saving the house. Surely a price can't be placed on that — especially as so many of these wonderful Florida bungalows have given way to much larger houses and condominium buildings.
So thanks to Ed, Julie, architect Andy Dohmen of Design Styles Architecture and builder Steve Perry of J.S. Perry & Co. for keeping Idlewild Cottage safe for future generations to enjoy from the beach nearby.
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| The restored porch is a great place for relaxing and enjoying the sounds, smells and sights of the beach and the gulf waters. With a salvaged brick floor and a tongue and groove wood ceiling, the porch is in keeping with the historic nature of the house. Electronically controlled roll-down screens keep this a great spot for hanging out just about every day of the year. And there are speakers for when the party moves outdoors. A big sliding glass door brings light and views into the interior, and the glass not only is impact resistant to withstand hurricanes, but it's also turtle friendly. You see, this glass has a special treatment that prevents the turtles from getting confused when they're migrating to lay their eggs. |
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| From the beach side of the house it's clear that the renovated home is a celebration of the Florida lifestyle. From the large patio with a built-in spa to the porch area to stay out of the sun and rain, the home offers a range of outdoor spaces. |
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The rebuilt entry side shows off some of the project's sustainable features, from deep overhangs to shade the windows from the Florida sun to fiber cement siding to barrels to catch rainwater for irrigation. In fact, renovating the house to incorporate sustainability was one of Ed and Julie's requirements.
The upstairs master bedroom is a small room, just 12 feet square, with windows on three sides (you can see two of those sides here). With all those windows and the view out to the gulf, the room is like an airplane cockpit, says Julie.
The upstairs master bedroom is a small room, just 12 feet square, with windows on three sides (you can see two of those sides here). With all those windows and the view out to the gulf, the room is like an airplane cockpit, says Julie.
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| Just because it's an old house doesn't mean it has to live old. Several interior walls were removed, and a totally new structure was installed to make an open living area. This wasn't all that easy to do. That beautiful floor is the original wood, but the structure supporting it had to be rebuilt. Builder Steve Perry and his crew pulled up the flooring and rebuilt the structure, then relaid and refinished the flooring. |
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| With built-in appliances, custom cabinetry and a glass tile backsplash, this kitchen is all about convenience and style. My favorite feature of this kitchen — other than the wine cooler, of course — is the color palette. Soft grays and blues echo the sand and water just outside. |
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The house remains the same size and looks much as it did before the remodel. But don't let that fool you. New siding, windows, roofing and a whole lot of new framing make for a brand-new old house.
Click photos for larger views
Click photos for larger views
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The original structure had sagging beams, rotted lumber and termite damage and was almost entirely replaced.
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The interior had a different kind of 3-D effect: dark, dated and damaged. Now the interior is a celebration of light and comfort.
Tall ceilings allow for tall windows, making this room a great place for kicking off shoes, grabbing a drink and watching the gulf waters.
Tall ceilings allow for tall windows, making this room a great place for kicking off shoes, grabbing a drink and watching the gulf waters.
Ideabook updated on Sept. 5, 2012.
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I have just bought a 1924 cottage on the beach in North Florida - antique heart pine floors and dark peke(?) cypress on the walls and ceiling. Any ideas would be very welcome!
Get a good contractor and architect. I love your house and it has great potential. The high dunes keep it safe from storm surges. Keep the hard pine or yellow pine floors. Show photos of the interior wood walls.
Julie from Idlewild Cottage
Check out my website that covers the complete construction project and a few (million) sunset shots http://www.idlewildcottage.com/