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Home renovations are certainly a trend, as anyone who watches HGTV, Hulu or Netflix can attest. The craze that began more than 30 years ago with Bob Vila’s soothing presence on “This Old House,” has morphed into a multi-billion dollar industry that has influence in several economic sectors, including television, print media and merchandise. While those shows – and even wandering the aisles of your local big-box home improvement store are great for finding ideas, the real inspo comes from having a look at actual houses that have received total makeovers.

Renovating a house with upgraded flooring, appliances and mechanical systems all increases a home’s value. While nothing is constant, in general, buying a home is one of the most significant investments people make towards their future.

But it’s not only that. It’s often been said, “a man’s home is his castle.” While that phrase is a tad outdated, it is true that for most people, their home is their sanctuary. It provides respite from a chaotic world, workspace for remote employees and a place where people can simply be themselves.

With the growing desire to be at home, design tastes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, no matter the price point. People get their ideas from all sorts of places, but movies and television shows are a popular points of reference for design inspiration these days – and as far as beach cottage inspo goes, does anyone recall Diane Keaton’s beach house in “Something’s Gotta Give?”

We spoke to some area Realtors and learned about some beach cottage-style houses that have currently been renovated and either are on the market or recently sold.

photos by George Ingram Photography

This 3,300-sq. ft. home features a pool, beautifully landscaped yard, a guest house and an outbuilding for storage. It has recently undergone extensive renovations.

Initial changes: “When someone buys an older home, they need to upgrade plumbing, electrical, the roof, HVAC, windows, doors, kitchen – counter, boxes, appliances – bathrooms, scrape ceilings, install new ceilings, rearrange traffic flow, etc.”, said Hoaster.

Required renovations: According to the National Association of Home Buildiners (NAHB), the kitchen is the most popular room to be remodeled, neck-in-neck with bathrooms. “You’ll need to consider the costs for plumbing, tiles, new countertops, appliances, fixtures, sinks, a new tub and shower, and so on,” she said.

Homeowners’ choice: This couple started from scratch. Hoaster said they ripped the entire house back to the studs, replaced the plumbing, mechanical systems, and the roof and added a tankless water heater. The bathrooms were completely remodeled, and the kitchen received all new appliances, cabinets and countertops.

“They added a master en suite with a fabulous step-in shower,” she said.

The design aesthetic is calming, with white walls and a light-colored engineered hardwood floor.

This couple, however, didn’t limit the renovations to the inside of the house.

“On the outside, they installed a new saltwater pool and decking, extensive landscaping, and a privacy fence,” Hoaster said. “Additionally, they built a new guest house complete with two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen and washer and dryer.”

The result is a home that’s comfortable for those who live there, and perfect for entertaining as well.

Retaining the charm: Many homes that date from the pre-World War II years through the Vietnam War era, especially those built from 1940-1970 have a certain charm. Perhaps it’s because many of us grew up in homes from this period, or vacationed in beach cottages constructed around the same time.

“During the remodel, the (couple) left several of the small pull-out closet drawers, original to the home, to create little nooks,” said Hoaster. “Also, they retained the huge picture window on the front of the house so they could enjoy the view of the park.”

These homeowners, she said, spared no expense on their remodel. They added five-panel wood doors throughout and timeless white subway tile in the hall bath.

“The home has two master bedroom suites,” she said. “The original on one side and the brand new suite on the other side of the home.

The addition of the half-bath which can be accessed from the pool area makes alfresco entertaining convenient.”

Hoaster doesn’t recommend going overboard when remodeling older homes, but she does have some sage advice.

“Simple, clean lines are the best,” she said. “717 Page Court is a fine example of this. It’s just comfortable.”

photos by Joe Loehle Photography

Micki Mims Carter, a Realtor with DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty, on St. Simons Island, recently sold a 1955-vintage Sea Island beach cottage that had been brought up-to-date before its new owners purchased it, and was further upgraded post purchase.

Initial changes: Carter says renovations should begin with the not-so-glamorous parts.

“When purchasing an older home, you have to consider what you may run into behind the walls as you consider the costs of new floors, kitchens and bathrooms,” she said, while recommending hiring a qualified contractor to talk through the renovation process in advance is helpful to determine whether the homeowner’s vision is attainable on budget.

A new roof or AC can put a big dent in any renovation budget, she said. “Great looking new countertops and shiny new appliances are the fun part.”

It’s ideal to buy a home with the least possible amount of deferred maintenance, but Carter says it’s crucial to be informed on the front end.

“It’s more fun to spend your budget changing up the cosmetics, beginning with key areas like doors, windows, roof, electrical panels, etc.,” she said. “Be prepared for surprises. Older homes tend to be as full of surprises as they are character.”

After the important items are handled, the owner must consider the use of the property.

“The changes an owner would make for a full-time residence may not be the same as they would for a vacation rental,” she said. “That really nice, expensive wallpaper may not be good in a rental home.”

New owner of the cottage, Heather Buffkin, agrees.

“Our cottage was built in 1955,” she explained. “We replaced all electrical, plumbing and HVAC, septic, roof and insulation.

Required renovations: Like Hoaster, Carter says the most commonly renovated rooms are kitchens and bathrooms.

“They are typically the most expensive and the most important to home buyers or potential renters,” she said, adding that this is where creativity comes in because in older homes, kitchens and bathrooms are usually smaller than those in newer homes. “I have seen a great designer make a small bath or kitchen appear twice its original size.”

Other fairly common renovations include opening up walls to integrate the kitchen in the living space. Most people, Carter said, want a more open-concept floor plan.

Retaining the charm: Do your homework before lifting the first hammer or prying the first board loose. Carter said it’s important to understand the original architecture and design elements that were prevalent during the era in which the home was built – it has a dramatic effect in maintaining charm.

“The homeowners of Cottage 149 embraced the original design,” she said. “It is a 1955 ranch-style house – embrace the mid-century architecture.”

The new owners kept many of the key original elements such as brick floors, but managed to make updates that were important to their family.

Carter said the kitchen was made more open by taking out a portion of a wall, but its location remains original.

“The master bath layout was changed to a ‘wet room’ to allow for a soaking tub in the smaller available space,” she said. “They also repurposed some of the rattan furniture from the previous owner.”

The interior sliding glass doors were a point of debate, Carter said. In the end, she explained, the decision to keep them was the correct one because they’re both functional and great conversation starters.

“The most fun of purchasing an older home is trying to figure out the ‘why’ behind some of the quirkier elements or rooms,” she said. “Embrace the quirks.”

“The most important part of any renovation is to be committed and prepared for it to take more time and money than expected.”

The new homeowners wanted to do what they could to get the cottage back to its original glory, which began with a fresh coat of paint. The difference, she said, was amazing.

“We purchased the cottage as-is and the previous owner left all of the furnishings,” Buffkin said. “I was able to re-purpose the furniture by painting and reupholstering it. The majority of the pieces were rattan from the ‘80s, and that is really popular right now. “

The previous owners also left some prints by local artists that Buffkin reframed, and she was able to find art and accessories from Sea Island and The Cloister from over the years in local consignment, thrift and antique shops, and also on eBay.

“I came down here for the first time back in the late ‘70s,” she said. “These special touches bring back so many memories from our vacations in the Golden Isles.”

The finished product, Buffkin said, turned out better than she imagined.

“I am so happy we kept the integrity of one of the older cottages and did not tear it down and start over,” she said. “We were able to keep the charm and laid back feel.”

“Our family looks forward to making many more memories in this special place.”

Page Aiken, broker/owner of Page Aiken Partners Real Estate, has three examples of the potential beach cottages have for retaining their inherent charm while keeping up with contemporary requirements. The first, at 116+112 Florence Street, in the King City neighborhood, features a 1930s dwelling. The second, the home of Susie and John Julian, is another 1930s beach cottage at 1121 Ocean Blvd., and the third is the a stately oceanfront estate at 103 Frazier, also in King City.

116 +112 Florence St. King City | SSI

This beach cottage can be found at the corner of Butler Ave and Florence Street in the King City neighborhood and steps from the Pier and the Atlantic Ocean. This historic 1930s beach cottage was added to and reimagined in 2004, combining the historic Palmetto Cottage, a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom beach cottage featuring a large screened-in porch with the 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Tree House.

Over the years, the rear porch was closed in and used to extend the kitchen and living area. A side porch later became a small sitting area off the primary bedroom.

“At 116 Florence, when Ms. Ramsaur removed the old drywall in the Palmetto Cottage, she found beautiful tongue-and-groove paneling that she was careful to preserve.”

“Susie’s beach cottage passion began (when she was) a child with fond memories of family beach vacations and a love of St. Simons was further inspired by the writings of Eugenia Price,” said Aiken. Sunny Brook Cottage is the ultimate beach cottage, and filled with Susie’s personality, he said. Aiken said the renovations were extensive and included refinished hardwood floors, exposed beams, tongue-and-groove ceilings, quartz countertops, a full chef’s kitchen and fully refinished bathrooms.

Sunny Brook Cottage has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and a swimming pool and is directly across from the beach access at Myrtle Street.

“(It is) everything you would dream of having in the ideal St. Simons Beach Cottage,” Aiken said. “(The renovations) give the Sunny Brook Cottage a unique blend of historic finishes with modern amenities.”

103 Frazier St. | St. Simons Island

When Franklin Aiken built his oceanfront home in 1927, in King City, he used lumber from a lumber mill he owned.

“He built 103 Frazier Street, ‘Sea Marge,’ using on the best cuts of indigenous quality hard oaks for beams, framing and floors,” Aiken said.

When Joy Corti and her husband purchased the home in 2015, Brent Anderson, a local builder, invited Aiken to tour the renovation.

“He pointed out how my great-grandfather Franklin Aiken had used the best quality materials, evidenced by the craftsmanship and how well the wood had maintained its integrity over the years.”

Aiken later toured the home, post-renovations, with Joy Corti who shared how their renovation modernized the home by opening up rooms, and in some instances, raising the ceiling height where there was attic space above.

Mrs. Corti also added a new chef’s kitchen by expanding the old kitchen into an older, unusable TV room, and expanding the footprint to accommodate new gas appliances, center island seating with quartz countertops, finely crafted soft cabinetry and completely upgraded electrical and plumbing systems, along with bathrooms.

“In all this was a major renovation, and both she and Brent highlighted where they sought to compliment the original structure in every way possible,” he said.

Required renovations: At this beach cottage, screened-in porches and kitchens are the most renovated areas.

“Prior to … air conditioning, beach cottages were designed with multiple porches to capture air flow of cool ocean breezes in the heat of the summer,” Aiken explained. “Over the years, it has been convenient to turn these areas into much-needed additional living space.”

In the older beach cottages, he explained, kitchens were typically placed apart from living space and often at the rear of the home.

“Modernizing and opening the kitchen to the main living areas has been the most common challenge to a beach cottage renovation,” he said.

Retaining the charm: Aiken advises looking for elements that may have been masked during previous renovations.

“Past renovations have covered up original tongue-and-groove paneling,” he said. “When restoring walls or floors, look for indications of existing materials before demolition.