We Purchased a Beach House

We purchased a beach house! For years, Chris and I dreamed of purchasing a home along 30a, the scenic coastal highway nestled along the panhandle of Florida, lined by white sand beaches and emerald green water.

Chris and I first visited 30a when I was pregnant with Adalyn. We fell in love with quiet curated streets, proximity to the beach, walkability and ease of Seaside. The girls loved playing in the calm surf, seeing various sea life through the seasons, building sandcastles, and bonfires on the beach.

They also loved biking through the streets and down paths to neighboring communities, the playground, playing tennis and of course, the heated pools in the off season. Most of all, they loved the all of the options…just steps away! I can still hear the whispers and giggles as they planned where they wanted to have breakfast each day! Much of that is true today, though the seasons of life have changed.

Gentle waves rolling onto a white sand beach under a pale, overcast sky.

We walk to the town center together and Isla may venture the Meltdown on 30a for an amazing grilled cheese, Adalyn to Pickle’s for their irresistible truffle fries, Ani and I to Bud & Alley’s Tacos and Chris to the Shrimp Shack, and then we all convene to enjoy together. It’s the best of both worlds.

A little reprieve and a welcome dose of Vitamin D is just a short flight to the Panama City Beach or Destin Fort Walton Airport, making it the perfect destination for 3 or 4 day weekends and holiday breaks.

While we have always gravitated to the West side of 30a, we have also stayed and played on the East side, in Rosemary and Seacrest Beach. Each community is unique in aesthetic, access, amenities, events, design and feel.

We spent the last few years carefully considering the best area to purchase and are excited to have a home in Watercolor. We were drawn to the proximity to the beach, Watercolor’s coveted Beach Club with heated pools, lake, trails, tennis courts and restaurants. It is conveniently located next to Seaside which offers an abundance of restaurants, boutiques and outdoor activities! It is literally steps away from everything we love, inspiring the name, Steps Away on 30a!

Ready for a sneak peek?

This may surprise you, but our home is on Rainbow Row known for colorful cottages painted in vibrant hues selected from a carefully curated color palette. While the bold exterior deviates from my usual taste, it is charming. Native tree lined paths and pine needles soften the exterior. The stairs feel like open arms which welcome you to the oversized porch, perfect for gathering.

A teal one-story house with a front porch, dark window shutters, and a metal roof, framed by trees and palmettos.

Just inside is an open entry, living room, kitchen and dining room which encourages family and friends to congregate.

A living room with a white sofa and two blue armchairs arranged around a round wicker coffee table topped with a bowl of flowers.

The living room is surrounded by doors and windows which floods the room with natural light.

A living room with white slipcovered sofas, two blue armchairs, a round wicker coffee table, and hardwood floors.

The dining room is shared with the entry to your right.

Dining area with a round marble-topped table, four gray chairs, a geometric pendant light, and a bar cart on a large area rug.

Modern white kitchen with a long marble-topped island, brass faucet, and four cushioned bar stools.

I love an open kitchen that allows everyone to connect while preparing meals. The large island is perfect for cocktails and added seating.

A kitchen island with five stools, opening into a hallway with wooden floors.

One of the things we love most about our lake house is that it has everything you need – and nothing we don’t. This kitchen embraces that – ample room and amenities to prepare meals, without excess.

White kitchen with a large island, stone countertops, gold hardware, and a palm leaf centerpiece.

Down the hall, there is a door that separates living space to provide peace and privacy. To the far left is a laundry closet (not shown) and utility closet.

A bright hallway with white paneled walls, a louvered door on the left, and a gray runner on the hardwood floor leading toward a doorway at the end.

To the right, a Jack and Jill bath connects to both a bunk bedroom and hallway.

Bathroom with a marble-topped vanity and a tub-shower combination featuring white tiles with black star patterns.

The bunk bedroom is boasts 4 twin beds and a large custom built cabinet to the right.

Two navy blue bunk beds in a room with light blue walls, hardwood floors, and a rug with colorful letters.

The ensuite guest bedroom offers a lot of flexibility for families who want to share a home, adult children, friends, etc. (PS I can’t wait to share my updates!)

A bedroom with blue walls, a white bed with built-in storage drawers, a wooden-framed mirror, and two white doors.

The guest bath makes a statement with tile.

A bathroom vanity with a white marble countertop, oval sink, and white cabinets, featuring a large mirror and window with plantation shutters.

The primary bedroom is also an ensuite, with an oversized bathroom including a large shower and jacuzzi tub and double vanity. I have been dreaming about ways to best utilize this space.

Bathroom with a jetted soaking tub in a wood-paneled surround, a glass-enclosed shower, and light blue walls.

The primary bedroom opens to the screened in porch. The doors add a lot of natural light.

Bedroom with a platform bed, two nightstands with lamps, and glass doors opening to a patio.

The screened in porch is accessible by the primary bedroom and the hallway. It offers another place to relax, read a book, or gather with friends and family and a beach storage closet for chairs, umbrellas, cooler and toys.

A screened-in porch with a round wooden table, four cushioned chairs, and a small bench, overlooking a wooded area.

Step down to the paver patio to barbecue, bike or go on a walk.

A one-story mint green cottage with a screened-in front porch, a gray metal roof, and a paved driveway.

Thank you SO much for joining me on this journey! I cannot wait to share my design plans with you! I have spent the past 6 weeks carefully planning every detail to bring this beach cottage to life!

See you soon! Until then, follow along behind the scenes on Facebook and Instagram!