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The founders of Citra stripped away drab wallpaper, carpeting, and curtains—and took on demolition, painting, and carpentry—to give their 1955 home a DIY revival.
"This renovation was about unearthing beauty," says Rachel Gant, recalling the hidden gems she and her husband, Andrew Deming, discovered as they redesigned their family home in St. Augustine, Florida. When they purchased it in 2021, the midcentury-modern house still had its clean lines, durable materials, and high-quality construction, having been well-built and well-maintained over the years. However, it had fallen into a rather somber state, with dated wallpaper, bulky curtains, and grungy carpeting, as its previous owners entered old age.
Before: Exterior
Before: "The house was obviously in disrepair," says designer and homeowner Rachel Gant.
Photo: Rachel Gant
Before: "We felt confident that once we got some of the surface-level grime off, we’d find a solid house that was well cared for," Rachel adds.
Photo: Rachel Gant
It wasn’t Rachel and Andrew’s first home renovation—they run the design practice Citra, and in the past they cofounded the housewares brand Yield—and they were eager to strip back the layers of paint, carpeting, and wallpaper. Upon peeling up a small section of the carpet, Andrew was excited to discover the original terrazzo floors, which were in excellent condition, along with a concrete block wall that had been concealed beneath it. "Someone had put a lot of care and intent into the design in the first place, even though it had fallen into a dark, dreary state," Andrew says.
After: Exterior
A dramatic gable caps one of the home’s entrances.
Photo: Rachel Gant
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: With $240K, a Design Duo Returned Their Florida Midcentury to Its Former Glory
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By: Bridget Goldberg
Title: Budget Breakdown: With $240K, a Design Duo Returned Their Florida Midcentury to Its Former Glory
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-saratoga-house-renovation-citra-st-augustine-florida-39ac51b2
Published Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:04:52 GMT
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