This is the vacation home for three generations of an extended family
Location: Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island in Florida
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); two bedrooms plus sleeping loft, one bathroom
Designer: Traction Architecture
The architects helped the family navigate flood zone regulations, expand the house from 750 square feet to 1,200 square feet, make it storm-resilient and add modern comforts, all while preserving the ramshackle beach house character of the original Anna Maria Island home. The new house is well under the maximum proportions allowed. “We were not trying to make the biggest house possible,” Beck says. “We were trying to design a space that fit in with the smaller-scale Old Florida-style beach bungalows.”
Exterior. All the livable space had to be raised. At ground level is a shower for post-beach rinses; a porch swing; storage space for bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards and tools; and covered parking.
The house is within the 100-year flood zone. The architects elevated the living space to 12 feet 8 inches above the ground via concrete pile foundations, bringing it to 18 feet above sea level.
Storm surges will wash beneath the house, while the strength of the piers will prevent it from being swept away. Though the home’s style was inspired by the Florida ramshackle beach vernacular, the house is strong and sturdy. Fiber cement siding, impact windows, aluminum railings and 5V crimp metal roofing are designed to stand up to extreme weather events.
Florida’s brilliant sunsets inspired the pops of orange used throughout the home. The board-and-batten siding, accent shingles, simple windows, barn lighting and metal roof preserve the beach shack feel.
Living spaces. “We saw the new house as a modern take on the traditional beach bungalow with clean lines, exposed materials and modern furniture,” Beck says. The architects exposed the roof trusses to keep an open, airy feel within the public spaces. Sliding doors provide big views to the Gulf of Mexico and the public beach. The left side of the house contains the bedrooms and bathroom and access to the sleeping loft.
The floors are digitally printed porcelain tiles that resemble wood planks. This is a warm and practical choice — the tile will stand up to wet feet, and sand is easy to sweep up.
Along the back wall, a long, low, built-in console provides storage space and extra seating as a bench. Over the dining table, a knotted pendant light recalls the look of fishing nets.
The designers salvaged interior doors and other architectural elements from the original home and incorporated them into the new space. These familiar items keep the memories of the bygone shack alive. They chose colors inspired by the sea and the sunsets, which stand out against the white shiplap walls.
Here’s a view of the space from the sleeping loft. The wood on the dining table is reminiscent of a casual beach-shack picnic table, while the metal base makes the table more modern and practical.
A captain’s ladder and built-in wood cabinetry nod to ship interiors. “The built-ins are made of cypress, a wood species that is native to Florida and is resistant to termites and mold,” Beck says. The family fills the built-ins with beloved heirlooms that have always been a part of their beach house. These include the record player, albums, old family photos and knickknacks.
Kitchen. A BlueStar range also brings in a big burst of orange. The perimeter countertops are quartz and the island countertop is butcher block. The kitchen has a simple, clean look that fits into the open plan with ease.
Bathroom. Beadboard salvaged from the original house creates a charming accent wall in the home’s only bathroom. Cleat drawer pulls add a nautical touch.
Sleeping loft. Built-ins provide storage and seating in the sleeping loft, which has three beds.
Deck. A wraparound deck provides circulation for entry and additional living space with the best views of the water — from this side the family can also view Anna Maria Sound down the street, as well as the Gulf of Mexico across it. The metal railings keep the views open.
