Houzz Tour: Island Grove Estate

by Barn Light Electric Company

Visiting the Guyton family compound on central Florida’s Merritt Island is like taking a step back in time -- back to the early 20th century when the Florida citrus industry was booming and cracker style houses were the norm. In its heyday, the family property, located on the Intracoastal Waterway, included a 50-acre citrus grove with cottages for the workers. While the main home was sold in the 1970s, this historic property has remained in the family and become a utopian retreat for four generations.

A designer with clients in south Florida and the Bahamas, Suzanne Guyton and her husband Thomas would often visit the family homestead which was originally purchased by Thomas’s grandfather back in the 1930s. Several years ago, the couple finally decided to follow their hearts and moved from Miami back to Merritt Island into one of the 800-square-foot cottages.

“It was romantic and charming,” describes Suzanne, “but we had to add on when the kids came. We were bursting at the seams!” Thus began a renovation process of the old wood frame structure. Florida’s original architectural statement – the cracker style – is characterized by metal roofs, raised floors, high board-and-batten ceilings, plenty of windows to let in the breezes, and wraparound porches that protect the home from summer heat and seasonal rains.

“We definitely wanted to keep the architectural vernacular,” explains Suzanne noting that they salvaged a lot of the doors and architectural elements. Her relaxed sense of style carries through in her remodeled home which now features old Florida pine floors, board-and-batten walls, a tin roof, and exposed beams in the family room. Suzanne chose a palette of sea glass colors that work beautifully with the Florida sunshine. The home grew from its original tiny footprint to more than 2,500 square feet.

Suzanne chose barn style lighting for the home because it matched the time period so perfectly.

“Barn lights are exactly the look I love,” she says. “They belong here and have a timeless, utilitarian appeal. The galvanized details on the lights are a natural with the tin roof and all the exposed hinges.” After the renovation, Suzanne declared her favorite aspect to be that most people don’t know it was renovated.

“I like things that have a past and an interesting story to tell,” Suzanne notes. “Nothing should look like it’s trying too hard but simply be unassuming and beautiful. I love that this place is soulful and has such history. We have had four generations living on this property at one time or another so it’s definitely a family compound. It’s full of life, yet still pretty humble.”