South Florida – This is my hobby.

A Dreamy Pool Cabana with a Functional, Multipurpose Design

Blaire Davidson, professional organizer and owner of Neat Method in Jupiter, Florida, knew when she purchased her family home that eventually she’d build something in the back yard.

That patch of grass stared back at her over the years as her family grew, and she plotted and planned.

The children got older, bigger, and their social lives expanded, prompting Blaire to finally convert that patch of grass into something, but not just any old thing.

Her dream pool cabana.

And by dream cabana, I mean truly dreamy: a multipurpose, highly functional space that serves each member of the family differently, and even welcomes guests.

Sounds like something a professional organizer would do, right?

Blaire designed a space where her kids could host sleepovers and gaming sessions, her husband could watch a football game on an oversized screen, quiet homework sessions could take place, guests could crash, and even business meetings could be conducted.

She accomplished this by outfitting a tiny space with all the essentials needed for each of these activities.

Pretty impressive.

You’ll have to watch her cabana tour to get all the tips on how she’s accomplished this using a combination of convertible, modern pieces and family heirlooms that bring in the cozy feels.

After touring this space, I almost asked for a staycation to get the full Davidson cabana experience.

The cabana is a master class in intentional living — a space designed not just to look beautiful, but to support the everyday needs of the people who use it.

Tour Heidi Ferguson’s Colorful, Completely Thrifted Lantana Apartment

I’ve known Heidi Ferguson, thrift maven and Lake Worth Beach vintage boutique owner, for about seven years.

Our boys were elementary school friends, and her son was one of the few kids my kid was allowed to have sleepovers with.

A clear indication that she’s always had high marks in my book.

I stumbled over her cozy little shop back when it was called Stitches and Rust and was located on North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.

I was instantly drawn to her sense of style and impeccable eye for curation — every corner of her shop was filled with the most unique secondhand and vintage treasures I’d seen.

Her prices were were fantastic and the atmosphere a total vibe, so I came back over the years to purchase items here and there for my home.

Her shop location has changed several times, and her style has evolved, but the constant has always been the way she’s able to source and layer patterns, texture, and color masterfully.

When I filmed her home tour, I wasn’t surprised to learn that every item in her Lantana apartment is secondhand — no exaggeration!

Heidi’s passion for thrifting started young. She stole away to thrift stores as often as she could, rearranging her room and bringing in new pieces to revamp and style.

She was never the cool kid in school — that was her brother. When he would throw parties while their parents were out of town, Heidi had to make herself scarce; she wasn’t invited.

But, she’d come home to find that all the cool girls liked hanging out in her room.

Like I said, she has an impeccable eye for curation.

In a world that often feels chaotic, having a beautiful, collected space has always brought Heidi peace.

Her ability to style feels innate — not necessarily informed by a specific moment, but rather the seasons of her life.

Where she’s living and how she’s feeling bring out different angles in her design eye, and it always naturally flows. A true gift.

This home tour highlighted a sense of style that is fearless, unconcerned with trends, and deeply personal.

After you watch her episode, you’ll understand why people have always gravitated toward the spaces she creates, whether it was her childhood bedroom or an iteration of her vintage shop.

Heidi has a gift for making spaces where people want to linger.

Inside a Lake Worth Beach Jewel Box of Art, Color, and Thrifted Finds

Some of the best pieces in Liz Schoettel’s Lake Worth Beach home were found at Goodwill or on the side of the road.

Liz and her family discovered the cozy, artsy, coastal town of Lake Worth Beach during the pandemic, when they were looking to escape the Chicago suburbs to sunny South Florida and discovered almost everywhere else was booked up.

This town wasn’t their first choice but quickly became one of their favorite places in the world.

They rented a house on M street and completely fell in love with the community — the neighborly feel, proximity to the water, delicious food, and iconic Lake Worth Beach cottages.

Liz was bidding on houses on their flight back home.

She wound up making offers on at least 20 homes, flying back and forth from Chicago only to lose out again and again before finding her current house in a stunning historic neighborhood.

The yard was overgrown, the fences were falling down, the a/c and roof needed replacing, and the property just hadn’t been loved in a long time.

Liz and her friend Alicia, a former coworker from her retail days in New York, collaborated on redesigning and styling the house into the beautiful jewel box it is today.

They drove a truck around to different thrift stores and on Facebook Marketplace runs — sometimes finding pieces on the side of the road.

Liz refurbished and repainted, giving each piece new life and creating high end designs with materials that were anything but.

The house has become so beloved by Liz’s entire family that her daughter chose to get married in Florida and wedding festivities were hosted in the backyard.

Artifacts from that special day can be found throughout the house, many created by Liz (did I mention she’s an artist?) — the watercolor guest list hangs in a bedroom, a massive painted flamingo in the garage, and little pink touches here and there were all part of the celebration.

This Lake Worth Beach house tells several stories: of Liz and Alicia’s friendship, of a daughter’s wedding, and of an escape from daily life in Chicago to a tropical dream.

I love that this home represents Liz’s journey from knowing nothing about my community to becoming a Lake Worth Beach resident. It’s a place where friendships have deepened, family milestones are celebrated, and new roots are planted.

There are many more stories for that house to come.

Diana’s Coastal Chic Home in Hypoluxo, FL

I have incredible admiration for people who can look at a space and, in their mind, knock down walls, lay down floors, paint walls, and see a clear vision for its transformation.

I do not have this skill.

When Vince and I were house hunting, I got the major ick walking into some spaces.

If a place is dated, dark, ugly or — God forbid — smelly, I have a hard time seeing past that to the grand possibilities.

That takes a special skill, and homeowner and interior designer Diana Pierre-Louis has it.

She purchased her home in Hypoluxo, Florida with a vision to transform it into a quietly coastal haven for her family.

When you watch her home tour, you’ll hear all about her design choices, DIY tips, and bargain finds, but what you won’t hear about is what first sparked her interest in home design.

Diana grew up in her father’s carpet shop. She remembers being five years old and playing hide-and-go-seek with her cousins between the carpet rolls in the warehouse.

She observed her father work with interior designers, and realized at a young age what most kids probably don’t notice — there are lots of choices for what goes on a floor.

As she got older, she’d spend her summers helping in the shop and deepening her love for design.

As an adult, Diana always styled her interiors with intention, but she didn’t pursue it professionally until the age of 40 — during the COVID-19 pandemic, with two kids and a husband.

She was able to tell her father that she graduated from her program before he passed away, an accomplishment they could proudly share.

Diana’s kitchen when she and her husband first purchased the house.

Diana’s kitchen post transformation.

I’m amazed by the before and after photos of Diana’s home — seeing the transformation and her incredible talent.

But what felt even more amazing was learning more about her, and understanding that her bond with her family is at the root of who she is as a designer.

That family bond is what cultivated her interests, which developed into a passion.

Now, Diana is creating a beautiful home for her own children, carrying forward her father’s legacy.

When you walk through her home, you see beautiful finishes, creative DIY projects, and a designer’s eye for detail.

But underneath all of that is something even more enduring: a daughter’s love and a father’s influence.

And it all started in a carpet shop.

A photo of Diana and her father at her wedding is displayed on a kitchen shelf.

This cabinet had to be repaired and repainted after one of her boys rode his skateboard into the side, creating a large hole. Diana often repaints pieces to give them new life.

The bar area is Diana’s husband’s pride and joy. The couple repurposed kitchen cabinets to create this space.

The turf and tile was also a DIY project, and the fence covering was ordered on Amazon.

This sign in Diana’s living room reminds her of the dreams she’s accomplished, and of the importance of continuing to dream.

>> Watch Diana’s full home tour on YouTube.

The Making of Styled in South Florida: Lessons Learned

After dreaming and scheming for many months, it’s surreal to finally share Styled in South Florida Home Tours (SISF) with you.

I knew this project would involve lots of trial and error, which is uncomfortable for me at times, because I want to make everything I touch perfect.

I’ve been a communications professional for a long time, and I’ve collaborated on many video projects, but I’m no videographer.

Every SISF episode is shot on my iphone, and I’ve discovered more to tweak in my process with each tour.

So far, each host has been beyond gracious, talented, and lovely — but Diana Pierre-Louis, the host and designer featured in episode one, could not have been a more perfect first tour.

Aside from her fantastic sense of style — a relaxed yet elevated coastal vibe, unfussy yet chic — her presence, ease in front of the camera, and DIY genius made for perfect home tour content.

This should come as no surprise because she’s a marketing professional in addition to being a design guru.

I’m dying for her to have me back to show more of her space, not only because you’ll love to see it, but also because I have a more polished process.

Things I’ve learned so far:

–Mic placement makes a huge difference in quality. The audio in my pilot episode taught me this.

–I’d rather have the host sit alone for the interview portion. While Diana and I had a great conversation, I realized the strongest edit keeps the spotlight on the homeowner and their story. Making the host front and center became the priority for future episodes.

–Bring a printed checklist to each tour — there are tons of different shots to remember to get, and I’ve forgotten ones I didn’t think I could.

I know I’ll continue learning and refining as I go. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey, and accepting this project for each imperfection and inspiration it offers.

The first episode is being viewed far more times than I anticipated within the first two days — I am grateful.

Thank you for being here at the beginning. Stay tuned for more.

xoxo

Vanessa

Introducing Styled in South Florida Home Tours

Having this platform to express my creativity through writing sparked a desire for me to create something new.

In the chaos of modern living, I’ve found the most peace and self-care in my hobbies of thrifting, decorating, and admiring home design content.

So, I decided to create Styled in South Florida Home Tours, a YouTube series inspired by the same elements that drive the This is My Hobby blog – documenting style, spaces, and the personality behind creative, inspiring home design.

So far, I’ve filmed a five episode season, which I’ll launch this Sunday, June 7th — Eeee! I can’t believe it!

Each episode opens the doors to one of my stylish South Florida neighbors, who leads the viewer through the thoughtfully curated spaces in their house, highlighting design choices, style hacks, and sourcing details.

This is wholesome, feel-good, inspirational content for your screen.

An easy 15-minute watch on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and your favorite home design magazine.

A look inside that cute house you pass on your evening walk and wonder about.

I hope you’ll subscribe to the channel and tune in!

Styled in South Florida Home Tours: Season 1 Dates

June 7 – Tour a Colorful Coastal Home in Hypoluxo, Florida
June 14 – Inside a Collected Lake Worth Beach Home Full of Creativity and Charm
June 21 – Inside a Stylish Lantana, Florida Apartment Filled with Thrifted Finds
June 28 – Inside a Stunning South Florida Pool Cabana Designed by a Professional Organizer
July 5 – Tour a Pink Lilly Pulitzer-Inspired Home in West Palm Beach, Florida