In Gainesville, a Renovated 1920s Home Goes for Bold—and $584K

In the city’s historic Duckpond neighborhood, two artist-designers brought Scandinavian maximalism, custom millwork, and whimsical color to a French Eclectic house.

Location: 521 Northeast 6th Street, Gainesville, Florida
Price: $575,000
Year Built: 1920
Renovation Date: 2023
Renovation Designer: Studio Blinky
Footprint: 1,962 Square Feet (3 Bed, 2 Bath)
Lot Size: 2 Acres
From the Agent: "Built in the early 1900s in Gainesville’s historic Duckpond neighborhood, this home reflects more than a century of change. In its most recent renovation, two artist-designers embraced those layers of history rather than restoring the house to any single period. Original French Eclectic details remain untouched, while Scandinavian maximalism, custom millwork, and bold color add something new. A custom wooden garden arch and blossoming landscaping frame the approach to the house. Inside, an original limestone and marble fireplace anchors the living room, while a bright blue staircase adds a pop of color. On the ground floor, a series of newly added archways connect the living room, screened sun porch, dining room, kitchen, and playroom, echoing the home’s original arched dormers. Throughout, built-ins add storage, display, and bursts of color. A tucked-away room offers flexible space for play, work, or reading. Considered updates—including skim-coated walls, refinished original floors, trimless lighting, and microcement surfaces—add contemporary notes alongside the home’s historic details. The renovated kitchen pairs Reform oak cabinetry with green countertops designed by Müller Van Severen, combining natural materials with a more playful sensibility. Three upstairs bedrooms and a shared bath sit beneath angled ceilings and dormer windows that bring light deep into the home. Built-in bookcases, a yellow stair-landing library, and lighting from Raw Color, HAY, Gubi, and others extend the design language into the home’s more private spaces."

The front walkway is framed by a custom wooden garden arch.
Photo by BlueHour Media Co.

The limestone-and-marble fireplace in the living room is original to the house.
Photo by David George

New archways on the ground floor connect the living room, screened sun porch, dining room, kitchen, and playroom, while nodding to the home’s original arched dormers.
Photo by David George

Photo by David George

The whimsical kitchen renovation added Reform oak cabinetry, green HDPE countertops designed by Müller Van Severen, and a checkerboard cement-tile floor.
Photo by David George

Photo by David George

A tucked-away flex space off the main living areas is currently used as a playroom, but it could also be an office, studio, or reading room.
Photo by David George

Photo by David George

A view from the living room into the enclosed sun porch.
Photo by David George

Photo by David George

Dormer windows bring sunlight into the main bedroom.
Photo by David George

The blue staircase pops next to a yellow bookshelf on the second-floor landing.
Photo by David George

The second bedroom.
Photo by David George

Colorful built-ins throughout the home add storage and display space.
Photo by David George

The smallest of the three bedrooms is currently used as a nursery.
Photo by David George

Photo by BlueHour Media Co.

The designers wanted to build on the home’s original French Eclectic details without overwriting its historic charm.
Photo by BlueHour Media Co.
521 Northeast 6th Street, Gainesville, Florida, is currently listed for $575,000 by Jonathan Mills and Sheila Blanco of Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners.
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