Perhaps it had been the dune and the beach leading to the gulf. Perhaps it had been the warm gulf breezes. Perhaps it was just one of those beautiful Florida days with heavy blue skies and puffy white clouds. Whatever it was, I immediately fell in love with this wonderfully renovated bungalow on the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly part of my passion for this home comes in the narrative of its renovation.
Recently bought by only its fourth owner in the century since it was built, the house, now called Idlewild Cottage, had dropped into quite a lot of disrepair. Let’s face it, a century on Florida’s gulf coast can be demanding for any construction, particularly 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 witnessed 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 the home as a child, one of them couldn’t wait to undertake the renovation. And it would have been much cheaper to have torn down the house and built new. But renovating the old residence and keeping those memories alive was the right thing to do. As Ed and Julie, the owners, have said, people walk by and thank them for saving the house. Surely a cost can’t be placed on that — particularly as so several of these wonderful Florida bungalows have contributed to much bigger homes 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 maintaining Idlewild Cottage secure for future generations to enjoy from the beach nearby.
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
The renovated porch is a great location for relaxing and enjoying the noises, scents and sights of the beach and the gulf waters. Having a salvaged brick floor and a tongue and groove timber ceiling, the porch is in keeping with the historic nature of the house. Electronically controlled roll-down displays keep this a fantastic spot for hanging out just about every single day of the year. And you can find speakers for when the party moves outside.
A large sliding glass door attracts light and views to the inside, and also the glass not only is impact resistant to withstand hurricanes, but it’s also turtle friendly. You seethis glass has a unique treatment that prevents the turtles from getting confused when they are migrating to put their eggs.
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
In the beach side of the house it’s apparent the remodeled home is a party of the Florida lifestyle. In the huge patio with an integrated spa to the porch area to stay from sunlight and rain, the home provides a range of outdoor spaces.
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
The rebuilt entry side shows off a number of the job’s sustainable features, from deep overhangs to shade the windows in the Florida sun to fiber cement siding to barrels to capture rainwater for irrigation. Actually, renovating the house to add 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 may see two of those sides ). With all those windows and the view from the gulf, the room is like an airplane cockpit, says Julie.
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
Just because it’s an old house doesn’t mean it has to live old. Several inside walls were eliminated, and an entirely new structure was installed to create an open living room. This wasn’t all that simple to perform. That gorgeous floor is the first timber, 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.
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
With built-in appliances, custom cabinetry and a glass tile backsplash, this kitchen is all about convenience and fashion. My favorite aspect of this kitchen other than the wine cooler, of course — is your colour palette. Soft grays and blues echo the sand and water just outside.
Before Photo
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
The house stays exactly the exact same dimensions and appears much as it did before the remodel. But don’t let that fool you. New siding, windows, roofing and a great deal of new framing create for a brand-new old residence.
Click photos for larger views
Before Photo
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
The original structure had sagging beams, rotted timber and termite damage and has been almost completely replaced.
Before Photo
J. S. Perry & Co., Inc..
The inside had a different kind of 3-D result: dark, damaged and obsolete. Now the inside is a celebration of light and relaxation.
Tall ceilings enable tall windows, which makes this room a excellent location for kicking off shoes, catching a drink and watching the gulf waters.
