Bungalow at the Beach

I’m back from the beach where thankfully there was no oil. We were able to enjoy beautiful white beaches and mostly gorgeous weather. For years we have rented a three bedroom condo on the beach---a bedroom for us, and girls’ bedroom and boys’ bedroom to accommodate our children and the friends they took. With the addition of a son in law to the family and the need for more room, we tried something new this year. We move several miles down the beach to a quaint community called Seaside, Florida..

Seaside is an idyllic community designed in 1979 with easy walking and bicycle access to diverse shopping, restaurants, and cultural events. We felt more like guests than tourists! To top it off, we rented a totally unexpected treasure that was perfect for our needs.

We found this craftsman bungalow amid all the pastel “beachy” architecture. All on one level it was a perfect fit for our crew which included me, Beloved, three children, a husband, a girlfriend, and a boyfriend. We had three regular bedrooms and one bunk-style room.

The kitchen was a dream! Concrete countertops, heart pine floors, top of the line appliances, and well-equipped open shelves. We are a family of cookers and eaters, so this gave us lots of room.

The kitchen was open to a large dining area and a breakfast bar. The tall ceilings and open rafters are just so unexpected in a beach house! We ate several meals and played lots of board games at this table with great wicker chairs.

Look at this gorgeous fireplace. We’ve already decided it would be a great place to spend Thanksgiving!

Now, take a look to the left and you’ll see one of my favorite parts of the house. These doors open completely to almost double the living space.

This was everyone’s favorite spot. If I were building a house, I would certainly incorporate this into the plan. The living area opens into this covered loggia—the perfect place for morning coffee or waiting out a rain shower.

The loggia was two steps up from this beautiful salt water pool, deck and grill area. My job was to rescue the small frogs I found swimming every morning.

Now this porch off the master bedroom was my private oasis. I have a tendency to wake up very early and this is where I had my tea and read every morning. I watched the sun come up and begin peaking through the shutters. It was a perfect vacation in a perfect house for us!

***We found this home on VRBO and I do not know the owner or property manager. I just thought you might enjoy the tour :). I’ll be back later in the week to give you a walking tour of Seaside and some of the other homes and architecture!

I missed you and I’m glad to be back home! Thanks for stopping by—leave me a note :)!