A Florida Beach Bungalow Rescued from the Rubble

One couple saw beyond the ravages of a Florida hurricane to rescue and restore this cottage in danger of being demolished.

The term “hurricane damage” is often the kiss of death when it comes to homes that have been ravaged by tropical storms. But for Worth Turner and Zach Neumann, a visionary couple seeking a Florida beach bungalow to spend weekends boating and enjoying the South Ponte Vedra Beach, those two words weren’t enough to scare them away—not when they could see the historic charm built into the bones of the battered Floridian beauty.

“The home was in horrible disrepair and close to being completely condemned,” says Worth, founder of Hollingsworth & Soaptique.com. “Anyone else would have probably leveled the house and started fresh, but we were drawn to the old Florida character that the cottage exuded and wanted to preserve the structure.”

The Florida beach bungalow’s great ceiling height, vaulted wood paneled ceiling and many windows facing the ocean spoke of something special and worth preserving. “Even in its horrible disrepair, I saw the potential of what it could become, never realizing I had absolutely no idea how perfect it would turn out,” says Zach, a veterinary medical oncologist and medical director. Fast forward to the present: The bungalow is now dubbed “Cane Cottage” and is completely renovated with a beachy European elegance that retains the character that first drew the couple to it.

hanging chair, fireplace and cane coffee table in Florida beach bungalow — room revision. Previously, this area was where you entered the bathroom and the old kitchen to the left of the fireplace. Worth and Zach closed off that wall and matched the existing brick of the original fireplace and set the new brick wall back half-a-brick width to accent the fireplace and its original cypress mantel. “The hanging swing chair is an homage to my grandparents’ beach house about a mile down the beach. As kids, we loved swinging in a nearly identical chair,” Worth says.

Two Views on the Florida Beach Bungalow

Marriage is a beautiful thing because it sometimes helps you see things in a different light. When Zach saw the cottage, he describes his reaction as “love at first sight.” When Worth saw it, he recalls, “I was immediately terrified of all the work needing to be done.” It was a unique role reversal: Usually, Worth is the risk taker and dreamer between the two. But the opposing reactions ended up being just what was needed. Zach helped Worth see the potential in the bungalow, while Worth helped Zach see the realistic side of the project. “I kept saying, ‘Are you sure?’ and was still slightly terrified after we bought the home and were popping champagne while standing in the rubble of an old concrete-block cottage,” Worth says.

front exterior of renovated Florida beach bungalow previously hurricane damaged — What’s in a Name. The moniker Cane Cottage came about from a fun spin on the word “hurricane.” It’s the homeowners’ homage to the cottage enduring a hurricane, but it’s also humorous because it eliminated “hurri” from the name—something that proved true since the project took a while, making it seem as though there wasn’t much “hurrying” happening. It was also perfect because they decorated the cottage with cane furniture in honor of its old Floridian history.

Surveying the Land

As the couple started to plan the renovation, they took their direction from the landscape in two ways: They wanted the views to steal the show, so they kept their designs edited while reflecting the ocean and state park the cottage faces and then worked to ensure everything was as weatherproof as possible. “Rust is always a problem when you are close to salt, so choosing items like ceramic outdoor sconces, teak furniture, etc., was important,” Worth says.

exposed shelves with miniature sail boats and ships — Shelfie. A built-in space was necessary to display precious objects from both sides of the family. “Together, we have several meaningful heirlooms and objects from our families, and this was the perfect spot to showcase them, seen once you take the second step into the cottage,” Zach says.

They removed a door at the back of the house and relocated it to the side of the kitchen. Ocean-facing windows first drew them to the home, so they kept them and added more to expand the view. Limestone flooring was chosen because hardwood flooring is easily damaged by water. The kitchen was previously small and compact, but it is now a large, open airy space with incredible views of the waves and ocean. It has one-of-a-kind features like two oversized antique brass pendants taken off a ship in England, which coordinates with a distressed brass kitchen faucet from Worth’s studio as well as with several other finishes.

“The kitchen was an impressive feat and a fan favorite,” Zach says. They converted the former garage into a primary suite and added an en suite bathroom—they kept the bathrooms large for a smaller house, so those private areas feel very elevated and inviting. In the en suite, they added a transom window that overlooks Guana State Park and offers incredible views while showering. There’s also handmade ceramic tile with a heavy glaze variation reminiscent of the water and a mosaic niche that also mirrors the shape of waves.

white coastal kitchen with exposed wood shelves — Spectacular Seascape. The ocean steals the show in the kitchen and, as Worth says, “We knew we couldn’t compete with the beauty of the beach. Keeping the kitchen simple and functional were the only goals we had.” They also made sure to recess an area in the kitchen to accommodate the refrigerator and coffee bar.

Family Time

The Florida beach bungalow’s renovation was extensive, but the couple had the pleasure of working on it with their families. “It was a beautiful thing to see the bond formed by our extended family coming together to restore the house and fix all the hurricane damage,” says Worth. Zach adds, “Looking back, I am beyond grateful we took this huge risk, as the memories we created will last a lifetime. My dad helped us, which was so significant. Unfortunately, he passed away a year and a half later, making the memories even more meaningful.”

Life on the beach is beautiful and, with the cottage saved from being torn down, it’s a unique peek into the Floridian architecture of the past and a living photo album of family memories for the present and future.

pastry cutting board with lemons and limes on white kitchen counter — Baba Boards. The pastry cutting board in the kitchen, the open shelves and the coffee bar were all designed and built by Zach and his dad. The pastry-board design came from a board his father made for his grandmother, Baba. Worth says, “When I saw a similar board made by Zach’s dad, I said, ‘I could sell these in my store.’” The encouraging comment led to the creation of Baba Boards. Sadly, Zach’s father passed away during the renovation of the cottage and his brothers helped him complete the last Baba Boards project for the cottage: the Baba coffee bar. “I’ve since carried on the company with their help,” Zach says.

Mixing Business with Pleasure

The homeowners are passionate about their careers and personal interests. They’ve each forged successful businesses predicated on the things they love: animals, design and architecture. In addition, they each have companies inspired by life’s luxuries: high-end soaps and body-care products and beautiful boards for baths, charcuterie boards and other uses.

homeowners Worth and Zach in their renovated Florida beach bungalow — Compliments to the Chefs. Worth and Zach love to cook for their family and friends. One of their favorite recipes is Worth’s grandmother’s Turner Tuna Salad—always made with fresh tuna caught by Worth’s dad.

wall vignette with anchor as hanger for Turkish towel and beach hat — Palm Before the Storm. Being across from Guana State Park gives the couple access to a constant source of native palms, which they love to decorate with. Nothing ties their décor into the local plant life more than these palms! They give the spaces a tropical Florida vibe.

bar cart with view to the kitchen in renovated Florida home — Happy Hour. The bamboo bar cart is always stocked with some of the couple’s favorite liquors. Zach opts for a nice bourbon and Worth enjoys drinking aged rums from his treasured collection of tiki mugs.

seashell vignette on dining table with pale blue chipped paint — Out of the Shell. One of the perks of beach-cottage living is that the homeowners are constantly walking along the beach and collecting unique shells and shark’s teeth. The collection has grown so much that they have started putting the shells in the surrounding palm trees.

serving tray with drinking glasses with blue swirls — Raise Your Glasses. Glassware, ceramics—any type of drinking vessel with a subtle beach aesthetic speaks to the couple and doubles as décor in their cottage.

coffee nook with decorative blue heron — Deja Brew. Worth and Zach saved a nook next to the refrigerator specifically for a coffee bar. The dream was to have a waterfall continuous wood-grain board for the space, which they accomplished with magnificent results. Zach recalls, “I remember sitting at my parents’ house and designing this on paper with Worth and my dad to make sure we had space for coffee mugs, décor and a coffee maker. There is even a hidden outlet in the wood.”

master bedroom in Florida beach bungalow with grasscloth wallpaper and cane bedframe and headboard — Serene Scene. The couple felt like the primary bed needed to have caning on the bedframe to keep with the coastal vibe and namesake of the cottage. The bed is from Serena & Lily with Schumacher blue and white palm wallpaper behind it. Coral sconces on either side of the bed create beautiful shadows at night.

blue ceramic tile half wall and two vintage pedestal style sinks — Sink-182. Two pedestal sinks from Devon & Devon add a vintage romance to the primary bathroom along with handmade blue ceramic tiles and a beautiful stone mosaic. “It reminds us of the ocean every time we step inside,” Worth says.

shiplap walls, bunk beds and large framed US flag in renovated Florida beach bungalow — Bunk Down. A bunk room was inspired by Zach’s large family needing a space to stay when they come to visit. During Zach’s childhood, his father built bunk beds for him and his three brothers, so it was especially nostalgic when he came down to Florida to help build these bunks for the next generation of grandkids. They are three XL twin beds and one queen bed for a lucky parent.

hexagonal tile on bathroom floor of coastal home — Completely Coastal. The bunk-room bath was the space where Worth and Zach fully embraced the coastal aesthetic. A dual-sink basin, porthole mirror, rattan pendant, and blue and white mosaic floor are testaments to their going all-in on casual coastal design. “In keeping with the theme, we even sourced an old piece of cypress as a nod to the original fireplace mantel to be used as a step up for the nieces and nephews,” Zach says.

bunk beds and shiplap walls in guest room of Florida beach bungalow — Ship’s Ahoy! Shiplap adds a subtle background design element so the bunk beds can take center stage.

pergola with white woven chairs and landscaping — Plants for the Pergola. An outdoor pergola facing the state park was original to the home. “To complete it, we added the outdoor limestone pavers,” Worth says. “We’ve also been busy gardening, so one day we will have a fully covered green canopy of native plants.”

closeup of card table with woven serving tray — Know When to Fold ‘Em. This classic card table was refinished by Zach’s mother. They placed it in the entry living room, away from the sun to protect the fabric surface. Zach, Worth and their guests enjoy cards after a long day on the beach.

backyard of beachfront Florida home with simple partial fence for propping up a surfboard — Steps from the Surf. “Simple is the keyword for this outdoor space,” Zach says. It’s just steps away from the beach and is meant to encourage throwing a surfboard up against the house before jumping in the hammock or using the outdoor shower.

outdoor shower with teal shower head and mat — Beach Bums. While the beach is public, the couple’s portion is very private. “Our hammock area, which is anchored by the palm tree, is the perfect place to read a book or unwind after a long day,” Worth says.

rear exterior of white Florida beach bungalow — Look on the Beachside. There’s nothing like living on the beach. “It’s hard to be stressed when you wake up here,” Worth says. “Unless, of course, a hurricane is coming. Otherwise, waking up and walking out onto the sand gives you a complete sense of calm.” He and Zach love to swim and hunt for shark’s teeth and interesting items that wash ashore. They also try to clean up any litter or debris.

enjoying beachfront yard in a hammock and playing with dog — Showering en Plein Aire. It was important to Worth and Zach to have an outdoor shower that has hot and cold water because showering outside at night in warm water while looking up at the stars with the waves in the background is heaven. “We selected a Sonoma Forge copper shower system cause we knew anything ocean facing would patina and we love the green color that copper turns over time,” Zach says.

If you loved the story of this Florida beach bungalow, find more coastal cottage inspiration by reading Colorful Coastal Cottages, A Sophisticated Beach Bungalow, A Charismatic & Colorful Beach Cottage. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!