712 South Newport Avenue

This family with teenage boys moved to Hyde Park from Chicago three years ago—though the wife resisted coming. But once she walked into this house with over-the-top charm, her mind began changing. Previous owners hired Soleil Design Build to bring everything down to the studs and then re-built it perfectly to replicate its original iteration in 1910. From the ornate copper and tin ceilings to the quarter sawn oak floors and exquisite trim, this house is brand new. It was first built by a man from Tennessee named F. T. Overton who came to Tampa with his wife and small daughter. At the time, this area had been newly cleared of orange groves. By 1946, it was listed for sale for $13,500. In 1954, the Tampa Tribune reported that it had been sold at auction to pay a lawsuit against the homeowner at the time, Wilhemina McDonald, for $350 that she owed an attorney. She paid $17K for the home and it sold at auction for a mere $2,001. The current family's main contribution to the home was refurbishing the front porch with Epay wood—a tropical wood that does not decompose easily and repels insects. The porch leads you into the receiving room where the family welcomes guests. The wife once owned an art gallery and the first piece of art that she bought for it, hangs here above the velvet sofa. It is a notable piece by the popular folk artist, Theresa Disney, from St. Louis, Missouri. Passing the elegant library, guests enter the kitchen which sits at the heart of the home. The dazzling countertops are made of Brazilian granite and the farmhouse sink is copper. Moving through the cozy family room, guests feel pulled out to the porch. The family installed specialized screening around this back porch to create an indoor/outdoor living area. An artist from the Florida Keys designed the fireplace and surround especially for this home. Green palms decorate it to match the foliage behind it outside. A favorite spot in the house is the breakfast room and window seat area. They finished this room first. The husband comes from France and the family lived there for a while. While there, they picked up French art and posters that enliven the walls. Cigar boxes from the Tampa History Center are also displayed here. The wife spends her mornings in this room drinking coffee and reading. When guests come, everyone starts with drinks in the front room, then moves to the dining room for dinner, and always ends on the back porch sitting around the fireplace and enjoying the beautiful space. You might see hidden doors in the rooms as you go. The family says they still find them! Added note: the artwork in dining room is from Shawna Pickering, an artist in the neighborhood.