Synopsis
Mikael'an and Jeff O'Keefe share a passion for the Craftsman bungalows dotting Laurel Park, a charming and popular historic district within walking distance of downtown Sarasota, Florida. They snapped up cottages in the area
as vacation rentals and kept their eyes peeled for that special one that Mikeal'an an could call home.Eventually, they came across a 1924 bungalow that fit all their requirements. 'The thing that attracted us most,' Jeff says, 'is that nothing had been done to it. It was basically original, so we didn't have to undo any messed-up remodeling. Our vision was to restore it and keep it as true and original as possible.'
Adhering to that vision sometimes meant going beyond the extra mile to ensure that any new details matched the old. Floors were refinished and windows repaired. Doorknobs throughout were removed and sent away for refurbishing. The hunt for a proper fireplace mantel took two years, and the list goes on. While honoring the home's past was important, giving it fresh personality also ranked high on Mikeal'an and Jeff's priority list. 'When you walk in,' he says, 'we want you to know that it's a Craftsman bungalow brought into the modern age.'
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