A strong single mama who’s faced many challenges enlists her designer friend to turn a dated ranch home into a Florida Regency-inspired bungalow.

WRITTEN BY AUTUMN KRAUSE

 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MURIEL SILVA

BEFORE

A strong and courageous single mom named Casey wanted a colorful, serene home for herself, two beloved family dogs and her two children, one of which has special needs and another of whom was diagnosed at 3 years old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For designer Janet Thomasson of Thomasson Interiors, the project was personal, particularly because she’s a close friend of the client.

“Casey has been my doubles partner in tennis and my dear friend for years,” Janet says. “I was so happy when the time came for her to create a home that worked better for her family, who’s endured many struggles. It was a no-brainer that I would help her.”

ABOUT FACE. The home was built in 1984 and nothing had been updated since then. Now, the home is light years from the drab, brown, single-story it had once been. “Adding the second story, new paint, the light-blue door and black-and-white awnings gave the home a completely new look and its own distinct style,” Janet says. “When you see it from the street, you have a sense of Casey’s personality even at a glance.”