900 sq. ft., reimagined without adding a single foot.

Open living area with tan leather sofa and wood floors beneath a vaulted ceiling with the kitchen wall behind

Living area looking toward a wood front door with a transom window above and warm pine floors underfoot

Compact kitchen wall with pale wood cabinetry a patterned black and white tile backsplash and an apron sink

Round marble dining table and bentwood chairs sit beside tall windows just off the compact kitchen run

Paired wood doors with frosted glass panels open onto a passage lined with built in storage cabinets

King bed framed by brass sconces with a doorway at right revealing the freestanding soaking tub beyond

Bedside view toward wood framed french doors that open onto the deck and pool area outside

Bedroom corner showing framed line drawings a small writing vanity and doors leading out to the deck

Spa style bath pairing a freestanding soaking tub with a glass shower and hexagon mosaic tile flooring

Wood deck with bistro seating and a shade umbrella overlooking the long private pool below

Teal patio chairs line the raised deck beside the pool with a curtained cabana at the far end

Long swimming pool bordered by palms and flowering tropical plantings in the private courtyard

Cushioned chaise loungers rest under a curtained cabana on the paver patio beside the pool

Rear elevation of the white clapboard house seen across the pool with its deck and open bedroom door

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Design-build structural transformation: M&M Homes developed the design, floor plan and construction drawings and coordinated the structural engineering needed to remove interior partitions and create a 15-foot cathedral ceiling.
Open-concept living: Replaced a dark, compartmentalized layout with an open, light-filled kitchen, dining and living space that keeps the character of the original structure intact.
Spa-inspired primary suite: Added a bathroom with a freestanding soaking tub, oversized rainfall shower and classic mosaic flooring that nods to the home’s period.
Indoor-outdoor retreat: Connected the primary bedroom directly to a private tropical courtyard and swimming pool.
Smart-home integration: Installed remote-controlled lighting, electronic locks, security and automation for day-to-day management as a short-term rental.

This 1914 shotgun house had been empty long enough that its problems had become the block’s, including vandalism, trespassing and the slow damage that follows both. Its new owners saw something different in it: an intimate retreat, small on purpose, that could also earn its keep as a high-end short-term rental. In the way stood 900 sq. ft. of small, disconnected rooms, a narrow hallway and low ceilings.

M&M Homes led the project from concept through construction. We developed the design, floor plan and construction drawings in-house and coordinated the structural engineering required to take out the interior partitions and open the ceiling to fifteen feet. In a renovation that touched every room, the original floors were uncovered and restored, and salvaged antique doors and period-appropriate trim replaced what could not be saved, so the new work reads as part of the house rather than a correction to it.

The property now operates as a private-pool couples’ retreat in Historic Springfield, a few minutes north of downtown Jacksonville, and has been recognized by Airbnb as a Guest Favorite, its designation for the top 5% of eligible listings.

Specifications

Location: Historic Springfield, Jacksonville, FL

Neighborhood: Historic Springfield

Service: Renovation (design-build)

Type of Project: Total home renovation with structural modifications

Architectural Style: Shotgun

Time of Completion: 7 months

FAQS

Can you open up a shotgun house without adding square footage?

Yes. The gain comes from volume and sightlines rather than floor area. On this 900-square-foot Springfield house, removing the interior partitions and opening the ceiling to fifteen feet produced a home that lives far larger than its footprint, with the original exterior untouched.

Does M&M Homes handle design as well as construction?

On this project we developed the design, floor plan and construction drawings in-house and coordinated the structural engineering, then built it. One team from concept through completion means fewer handoffs, fewer surprises, and one party accountable for the result.

Can a historic home work as a short-term rental?

This one does, with smart locks, automated lighting and security built in from the start rather than added afterward. Zoning, permitting and HOA rules vary by property and by neighborhood, so we identify what applies to your address before design begins.