My Houzz: Beach-Chic Style for a Florida Bungalow

Jeff and Kristina Young had moved 15 times in 23 years, thanks to a military career. When they returned home to Tampa, Florida, they were ready to look past the array of dark woods and dated details in a 1938 bungalow and turn it into their ‘forever’ home. “We began remodeling right away,” says Kristina, an interior designer, who oversaw the project with input from Jeff, a financial analyst. “My goal was to stay true to the age of the house, maintain a coastal chic look and stay on budget.” The couple tore down walls, removed unnecessary columns, remodeled the kitchen, replaced fixtures and refinished the original wood floors. The result is an inviting home that has a cheery, coastal palette of blues, tans and whites.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeff and Kristina Young; their children, Macey, 18, and Greyson, 16; and their cat, Puffy
Location: Tampa, Florida
Size: 3,423 square feet (318 square meters); 5 bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Year built: 1939

The family room, along with the adjacent kitchen, is where the family spends most of their time. The neutral color on the walls helps lighten the space and create a more open and airier feel.

Sectional: Carlisle slipcovered 2-piece chaise, Pottery Barn; coffee table: Marshalls; Rope Orb pendant: RH Baby & Child; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


The connection between the family room and the kitchen also gives the family a conversation-friendly environment.


The home’s original wood floors were sanded, refinished and stained from what Kristina describes as an “an orangey oak” to a dark walnut hue that’s more in keeping with their beach style.

Printmaker’s sideboard: Restoration Hardware; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


“Our biggest project was remodeling the kitchen,” Kristina says. The project took the kitchen from a brown and black color palette to one with light colors and textures that make the most of the natural light. “The entire project took nine long months,” she says.

They replaced all of the kitchen cabinets. “We also found amazing slabs of Vermont Danby marble and decided on a 3-inch mitered edge on our island and a 9-inch overhang,” she says. They found Ramos Marble and Granite to do exactly what they wanted.

Kitchen island: Tarpon Marble and Mont Krest; marble fabrication: Ramos Marble and Granite; cabinets: Designers Choice Cabinetry; herringbone marble tile: Allen + Roth, Lowe’s; stools: eBay; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


The end result is a mix of new and old. The couple found the refrigerator on Craigslist and had the wooden shelves custom made by local designer Karen Fraley of Wilamina’s Custom Furniture.

The outer wall, which houses the refrigerator, sink and stove, is completely tiled in a herringbone pattern. Kristina says, “I think bringing the herringbone tile all the way up makes a statement and gives the room an added sense of space.”


“When we bought the house, there was actually no place to sit and eat in the kitchen,” Kristina says. “That was high on my priorities list, because we love to have family dinners on a regular basis.” The couple removed a half wall that separated the breakfast nook area from the main kitchen to create a larger space. They also added a custom banquette for additional seating.

Coventry corner bench banquette: Ballard Designs; curtains: Ikea (discontinued); chandelier: Z Gallerie (discontinued); table: Summer House Marketplace; mirror: HomeGoods; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


The couple transformed the home’s dark dining room with a cheerful blue and white palette that contrasts with the neutral grass cloth wallpaper. They hired Jack Hilden of Tampa Wallpaper Hanger to help with adding the wallpaper. “The artwork on the wall is just an old painting that I put fabric over. I change the fabric according to the season, and it creates a new piece of artwork,” Kristina says. The dining table is a sentimental piece. It was purchased in honor of Kristina’s late father, “who loved my cooking,” she says.

Chandelier: Elena, Pottery Barn (discontinued); side buffet and mirror: HomeGoods; dining table and chairs: Restoration Hardware; area rug: Rugs USA; Scribble Lattice curtains: West Elm; wall trim: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; wallpaper: gray metallic grass cloth, Sherwin-Williams


The couple’s 18-year-old daughter, Macey, had lots of input in the design choices for her bedroom. “She worked for a local Lilly Pulitzer store and has a keen eye for design as a result,” Kristina says. “She even repainted the side table lamps herself.”

Side lamps, chandelier and Pop Dot Duvet Cover: PBteen; area rug: Rugs USA (discontinued)


Macey’s clean and cheerful room has pops of pink and green throughout.


The couple’s master bedroom has a calm palette of grays and whites. “I found two rolls of wallpaper at my local Anthropologie on sale and just knew exactly where I’d put it,” Kristina says.

Dresser: Z Gallerie (discontinued); nightstands: Lexington (discontinued); Julien chandelier: RH Baby & Kids; Pearl embroidered duvet cover: Pottery Barn; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


In the upstairs bath, Kristina added a curtain to cover up the sliding glass shower door and tie in with the flooring. The decorative mirror is custom made to fit the design of the room.

Homespun Moroccan Trellis rug: Rugs USA


The guest room’s design is minimalist and serene, in keeping with the home’s recurring color scheme of blues, tans and whites.

Nightstand: vintage; wall paint: Gravity, Valspar


Puffy the cat relaxes in the guest room. “We adopted him as a kitten, and he’s always only had one eye. We love him very much,” Kristina says.


An earthy vignette table from HomeGoods greets guests in the entryway. The round capiz mirror plays off the driftwood ball that sits below it, creating a sense of order and symmetry.

Table, lamps and driftwood ball: HomeGoods; capiz mirror: Z Gallerie (discontinued); gray metallic grass cloth wallpaper and Pure White trim paint: Sherwin-Williams


The entry and living room are done in neutral tones with pops of blue throughout to maintain the beachy theme and blend in with the rest of the home. Just off the living room is Kristina’s home office.

Sofa, chair and ottoman: Crate & Barrel; area rug: Rugs USA


Kristina often meets with clients in her home office, which is inviting and has plenty of open space. The overall look blends with that of the adjacent living room, while a color scheme that combines grays, yellows and mixed woods adds interest.

Media cabinet: Restoration Hardware; mirror: HomeGoods; settee and ottoman: Summer House Marketplace; desk: Cost Plus World Market; desk chair: Pottery Barn (discontinued)


Kristina hung blue and white paper lanterns along the edge of the porch for added visual interest. “We also painted the exterior of the house from the greenish yellow that it was when we bought it,” she says.


Rocking chairs and a swing are ideal for a relaxed family evening spent outside on a breezy Florida evening.


The Young family — from left to right: Macey, Jeff, Kristina and Greyson — are happy to have finally found their forever home.

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