We’ve been living in our “beach house” for several months now, and I realized I hadn’t shared an official before-photo tour of the house. These images were taken before we moved in, so they show the rooms as we first saw them.
You may have seen pieces of the house in other posts, but I found additional photos—especially of the upstairs—that I haven’t shared before. We purchased the house furnished, so you’ll notice some items that aren’t ours (a few pieces were given to our son and future son-in-law). You’ll also see protective plastic still on the carpet from the open house.
These before photos help show the flow of the house and how the spaces relate to one another. They’re not meant to suggest the rooms were unattractive—just that they’ll naturally evolve as we make the house our own.
One of the first things we noticed was how clean and well cared for the house was. It already felt charming and very livable, and we already love calling it home. Of course, we have plans to personalize many areas—some projects will begin right away.
We’re planning a small main-floor primary suite off the back of the house for my parents. While adding that, it makes sense to remodel the kitchen and install new hardwood floors throughout the main living areas. As we live here, more ideas and updates will come to life.
If you’re new to these posts, I recently wrote about our first six months in the house and the story behind finding it. Enjoy the full before tour below.
At the top of the stairs is a room that instantly sold us on the house—the view, built-ins, and the distinctive ceiling make it feel special. Photos don’t fully capture the way the room feels in person, but the shape and light hinted at its potential right away.
We plan to install hardwood floors and add personal touches, but the built-ins already made the space feel like home—perfect for my books—and the dogs adore the window seat.
From that upstairs room you can head down to the entry, living room and kitchen, or continue up toward the primary suite, the small laundry closet, and a guest bedroom and bath. We removed the plastic from the carpet after moving in and are excited to replace it with hardwoods and a runner.
I’m already thinking about updates for the stairwell and hallway—new light fixtures, paint, and possibly paneling will make these spaces feel more personal.
Our laundry is a compact closet at the top of the stairs, which works well for the two of us. We’ll provide a separate washer and dryer downstairs for my parents when their suite is built. This hallway will be lovely with hardwoods and updated lighting.
The hallway leads to the guest room and bathroom. The house is compact—two bedrooms plus the bonus room—but it feels cozy and comfortable. The guest room gets light from windows on three sides and even offers a peek of water if you look from the right angle. Currently my parents use this room until their main-floor suite is ready.
The guest bathroom will be a fun spot to update later on. For now it works well and reflects the home’s existing charm.
Our bedroom sits down the hall. The first time we walked in, the view stopped us in our tracks—and it still delights us daily. We often pause to watch the ferry go by; it’s a simple pleasure that never gets old.
This bedroom matches a design we had imagined previously—lots of natural light and the possibility of French doors leading to a small patio. It felt like a dream come true when we found it here, and the view exceeded our expectations. I’ve shared simple updates we’ve made in another post.
The main bathroom is one of my favorite rooms—still full of potential, and we already placed an antique chinoiserie cabinet that feels right at home. The photos below were taken before we moved in, but they show the room’s bones clearly.
Heading back downstairs, the stairwell and small nooks are places I’m excited to personalize with art, fixtures, and hardwood floors. These before photos will be fun to compare to the finished spaces later.
You may recall some downstairs details from past posts. We updated the entry light to a lantern and added a basket and paint details at the door. The built-ins and a small bench create a cozy spot to enjoy the view and provide extra seating and storage.
We installed a brass wall sconce on one built-in for added interest and light without hardwiring. The living room’s high ceilings and French doors are lovely. We’ve only touched this room with accessories so far; once we install consistent flooring and add more of our furniture, it will feel even more like us.
One of the biggest changes planned is the kitchen and dining layout. We’ll remove the peninsulas, relocate the kitchen to the back of the house, and create a dining area between the living room and the new kitchen. This will open the space and create better flow for family gatherings.
The existing kitchen is charming, and its current space will become the new dining room—possibly with added windows along the far wall. We plan to pass on usable kitchen pieces so they won’t go to waste.
A small mudroom between the kitchen and garage will likely serve as pantry and extra storage for dishes and small appliances once the addition is complete. The little powder room features whimsical whale wallpaper that felt like a welcome sign when we moved in.
Outside, the backyard and the back of the house will evolve with the addition, new windows, and French doors. We’re excited to add gardening touches, fences, and gates as part of the transformation.
Thank you for following along as we make this house our forever home. We feel so grateful to have found this little beach house and look forward to sharing each step of our remodel and addition with you.