My Houzz: Bright Island Style for a Florida Vacation Home

Virginia Devlin and Kurt Baldassari loved to escape from their Chicago condo to the sunny beaches of South Florida, so they decided to look for a permanent vacation home there. Their search brought them to a midcentury house dubbed Barefoot Lane on Hypoluxo Island.

Many viewed it as a teardown, but Devlin and Baldassari saw a rare gem that needed to be restored to its original glory and could also reflect their casual, fun-loving style.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Virginia Devlin, president of Current Lifestyle Marketing; Kurt Baldassari, vice president at Shotfarm; and their daughter, Ava Devlin Baldassari (age 9)
Location: Hypoluxo Island, Florida
Size: 1,708 square feet (159 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1956; designed by Palm Beach architect Byron Simonson

New windows, freshly painted brick walls and polished terrazzo floors (found underneath the old carpet) transformed the living room. “The home had not truly been lived in for at least 10 years, and many of its original features, like the jalousie windows, concrete brickwork and exposed wood beam ceilings, remained intact but required some TLC or replacing,” says Devlin.

Floor polishing and restoration: Terrazzo Care Restoration; wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; sofa pillows, beanbag: custom, Jacki Mallick Designs; coffee table: Arthur Court; prints: Slim Aarons


When Devlin and Baldassari bought the house, they went to work with architect and contractor Jeffrey Silberstein to reconfigure the layout, putting the living room and kitchen in the back of the house and the bedrooms at the front. This included converting the original master bedroom, seen here, into their new living room.


AFTER: Framed prints by Slim Aarons adorn the living room wall and set the tone for the space’s color palette of cool blues, yellows, grays and mint greens.

Interior designer Jacki Mallick also helped bring their vision to life. “When we hired Jacki, we simply wanted her help to refinish a few pieces of left-behind furniture,” says Devlin. “Instead we embarked on a collaborative partnership that resulted in a modern, colorful interior that respects the home’s architecture and reflects the relaxed vibe of life in South Florida while also letting our personalities shine through.”

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; sofa pillows: custom, Jacki Mallick Designs; coffee table: Arthur Court


The home came with furniture that had been left behind by the previous owners. “We got rid of most items left behind but kept some found treasures,” Devlin says. This chair, one of a pair, was among the treasures. The couple had their cushions reupholstered to give them a fresh look.

“Our biggest investment was replacing the jalousie windows with energy-efficient floor-to-ceiling windows that meet hurricane standards,” she says. The total cost of replacing all of the windows was $80,000.


The living room is kept clutter free with plenty of storage. “I loved the pattern on the entertainment center and knew I wanted it somewhere in the house,” says Devlin. The custom-made piece stores cable boxes, remote controls and odds and ends.

The kitchen, off the living room, was formerly the carport. It opens to the living room; the change in flooring from terrazzo to sealed concrete marks the transition.

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; entertainment center: designed by Jacki Mallick Designs; dining chairs: Illuminaire; Dining table: vintage, Lucite


In the foyer a vintage photograph of Hypoluxo Island, found through the Florida Archives, was blown up and turned into wallpaper that’s the first thing you see when you enter the home. “We thought it would make a nice conversation piece and add an interesting element to the space,” explains Devlin.


Against the crisp white backdrop of the foyer’s floors and walls, a Lucite bench gives the illusion of added space, while a turquoise basket stores the family’s shoes while they’re inside. “Kurt and I both appreciate midcentury and modern design,” says Devlin. “We enjoy a clean and modern space brought to life by pops of color and personalized by family heirlooms, travel souvenirs and playful touches.”

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; bench: Jacki Mallick Designs; throw pillows: Jonathan Adler; brass urchin wall art: C. Jere; runner: Target; turquoise basket: Target (no longer available)


The former kitchen and dining area were transformed into Ava’s bedroom, with new tile flooring, freshly painted walls, new doors, updated windows and an adjacent bathroom.


AFTER: A turquoise barn door adds an element of fun. A vintage map in the same whimsical hues as the door and bedspread is displayed on the wall.

Bright colors set against the light, neutral palette of the exposed wood beams, ceiling, walls and floors keep Ava’s bedroom hip and fresh. The Lucite curtain rod was designed to disappear.

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; area rug: Target; headboard: vintage; bed frame: West Elm; bedding: Pottery Barn Teen


The former homeowners left these perfectly intact rattan chairs behind. The couple brought them back to life with custom seat cushions and throw pillows from Target. Mallick gave Ava the vintage Florida scarf that hangs on the wall above them.

Floor lamp: Zuo


Ava’s bathroom also functions as a guest bath; its doors open to her bedroom and also to the living room. The Wetstyle vanity is mounted off the ground to give a sense of additional space.

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; vanity mirror: A-Christian Glass; vanity lights: Boyd Lighting; showerhead, faucets: Lacava; tile flooring: Bisazza


The original carport, seen here, had been remodeled into a second bedroom by previous owners. The couple converted it into the current kitchen and dining area.


AFTER: White cabinetry and a matching island give the kitchen a cool and clean feel that’s ideal in the Florida heat. The refrigerator and wine coolers are kept behind cabinet-style doors to blend into the rest of the kitchen. Opening the windows on a nice spring Florida day lets a cool breeze into the home.

Island, countertops, appliances: Kitchen Center Miami; wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore


Stackable sliding glass doors look out into the Florida room. The doors can be completely opened to create a larger kitchen.

Bird artwork: Barbara Uhl; chairs: Illuminaire; table: vintage; kitchen cabinetry: Kitchen Center Miami


When the doors are open, the space is perfect for entertaining guests. Baldassari loves to serve up drinks in the outside bar. The rattan bar stools, once belonging to Baldassari’s grandparents, were given a new look with white paint and new turquoise upholstery.

Cabinetry: Kitchen Center Miami


The room also serves as an area to entertain guests alongside the pool. “We enjoy relaxed family time together and have a blast when family and friends come to visit,” says Devlin. The vintage seating belonged to Baldassari’s grandparents and was updated with new custom cushions that are a perfect match for the family’s Florida lifestyle. Above the outside seating, prints by Slim Aarons with a pool motif add a quirky design element.

Prints: Slim Aarons; furnishings: vintage; upholstery: Jacki Mallick Designs


The original living room became the couple’s master bedroom.


AFTER: The nightstands and wingback chair were left in the home. The couple gave them a new look by painting the tables white and reupholstering the chair an elegant blue.

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; Min Bed with Wood Headboard: Design Within Reach; Teak Stool: Design Within Reach; Dioscuri Table Lamp: Artemide; bedding: Bloomingdale’s Home; art: “White Sand Dollars,” Natural Curiosities


Polished terrazzo floors, energy-efficient windows and a freshly painted ceiling give the master bedroom a clean palette that’s ideal for playing with lots of color. “When I first saw this wallpaper by Creative Matters, I knew I had to have it,” says Devlin.

The low, modern bed contrasts with the high ceilings, giving the room an airy feel.

Wallpaper: Creative Matters; Teak Stool: Design Within Reach


The Bisazza tile flooring, in a turquoise blue, repeats in the master bathroom.

Wall paint: Snowfall, Benjamin Moore; curtain panels: A-Christian Glass


The tile flooring continues up the walls and into the shower for a visually clean effect that is also easy to maintain. The stand-up mirror is a vintage piece that once belonged to Baldassari’s grandparents.

Tile: Bisazza; vase: La Bohéme, Kartell


“With respect to the landscaping, the yard was literally a jungle, hiding the home from view but primarily made up of invasive plants,” says Devlin.


AFTER: The family enlisted the help of landscaper Joaquin Cortada to remove the invasive plant species from the yard and add new palm trees and sod.


The outside patio area was transformed with updated windows and pavers.

Patio furniture: Mama Green; fire pit: Talenti


The outdoor poufs and a vintage “Beach” sign are fun details in the pool area.


The midcentury planter outside Ava’s new bedroom was another treasure left behind from the previous owners.

Acapulco Modern Steel Lounge Chair: The Common Project


“We had a landscaper come out and clean up the mangrove tree out front,” says Devlin, referring to the tree seen to the left in this photo. The exterior was painted white to give it a modern look that matched the interior.


“We feel lucky to call this place our own and appreciate what a special home Byron Simonson designed in 1956, and think he would approve of how we’ve modernized his original design,” says Devlin, seen here with Baldassari and Ava. “Waking up to sunlight streaming through the windows, looking out to appreciate a lush, tropical locale and enjoying the warmth of South Florida is a big contrast to city living in Chicago. We are grateful for every day we get to spend at Barefoot Lane.”

Architect and contractor: Jeffrey Silberstein
Interior designer: Jacki Mallick

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