{"id":378107,"date":"2026-08-22T04:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T04:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/378107\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T04:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T04:58:15","slug":"inside-the-bahlow-familys-historic-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/378107\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Bahlow Family\u2019s Historic Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

BUILDER: Restoration Construction Team, LLC<\/a><\/p>\n

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Melanie Turner Interiors<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTOGRAPHER:\u00a0 Mali Azima\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Andrew Lynch<\/p>\n

CABINETRY: Natalia Makarova, Karpaty Cabinets<\/a><\/p>\n

STONE & MARBLE: Mylena Feiertag, Excel Marble & Granite<\/a><\/p>\n

ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING: Tom Mikula, A-Z Electric<\/a><\/p>\n

PAINTING & DECORATIVE FINISHES: George Gaffney, Precision Painting Group<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Originally built in 1909 by architect Francis J. Kinnard, this Hyde Park home captured Jessica Bahlow\u2019s heart with an exterior reminiscent of the grand Southern estates in her hometown of New Orleans. Inside, however, the home takes a vibrant turn, with colorful walls, bold patterns and inviting spaces designed for both family gatherings and entertaining.<\/p>\n

In the midst of designing what she thought would be her forever home, Jessica Bahlow often found herself gazing out the kitchen window at the historic house next door. The grand Hyde Park residence reminded her of the stately Southern homes in New Orleans, where she grew up.<\/p>\n

Jessica moved to Tampa after Hurricane Katrina looking for a fresh start. It was here that she met her husband, Randy, who returned to the city after years building and leading East Coast divisions for a national staffing company before founding SkyBridge Resources. Together, the blended family of eight built a life centered on cooking, entertaining and spending time outdoors.<\/p>\n

Yet Jessica couldn\u2019t stop thinking about the neighboring home. When she learned the owners were planning to sell, she thought her dream might finally come true. The couple toured the house and immediately fell in love, but the asking price put it out of reach.<\/p>\n

\"\"A custom ombr\u00e9 stair runner from Miami Circle Floor Coverings<\/a> sets the tone in the entryway, where a vintage chandelier, Randolph & Hein<\/a> entry table, Interlude Home<\/a> ottomans and a Julian Mayor<\/a> mirror console from Twenty First Gallery<\/a> create a warm, welcoming first impression.<\/p>\n

As Randy\u2019s business continued to grow following the pandemic and the housing market shifted, what once seemed impossible gradually became attainable. Soon, the home Jessica had admired from afar was theirs.<\/p>\n

Built in 1909, the Queen Anne-style home had already undergone a thoughtful restoration before the couple purchased it. Rather than reinventing the residence, the Bahlows focused on preserving its architectural character while adapting it for their family.<\/p>\n

Jessica, who works for Alfonso Architects<\/a>, partnered with Atlanta-based interior designer Melanie Turner of Melanie Turner Interiors, whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest, to bring the interiors to life.<\/p>\n

\"\"A House of Hackney<\/a> sofa, Lee Industries<\/a> chairs and an Urban Outfitters<\/a> coffee table create a cozy kids\u2019 lounge.<\/p>\n

Renovations began in 2022 and were completed in 2024. The original layout remained intact, with oversized pocket doors connecting rooms and soaring 14-foot ceilings softened by graceful curves where the walls meet the ceiling.<\/p>\n

Original stained-glass windows, decorative millwork, wainscoting and fireplaces were carefully maintained. The original windows were restored to working order, while updates included a renovated kitchen, redesigned primary closet and refinished floors with a lighter, more natural finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonoring the home\u2019s architectural soul, we blended heritage and modernity \u2014 preserving character while introducing bold, contemporary expression,\u201d Turner says. \u201cThe entry sets the tone with its original stained-glass windows and ombr\u00e9 stair runner, establishing a palette of rich color and quiet drama that flows gracefully throughout the home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A Martin Mass\u00e9<\/a> table for Kolkhoze anchors the dining room, surrounded by West Out East Romby<\/a> dining chairs. Custom Christopher Boots and Rhughes<\/a> chandeliers and an Aurum buffet by Taracea<\/a> complete the space.<\/p>\n

Jessica wanted the interiors to reflect the family\u2019s personality.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted the house to feel collected, unexpected and full of personality. I love oddities, interesting antiques, furniture with character, insects, patterns and pieces that spark conversation,\u201d she says. \u201cAt the same time, I wanted it to feel timeless and not overly feminine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each room was approached individually, allowing every space to have its own identity while maintaining a cohesive flow throughout the home. Adding another layer of complexity were the original fireplace tiles, which remained intact in nearly every room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose tiles became the starting point for the design,\u201d Jessica says. \u201cThey weren\u2019t always the easiest colors to work with, but preserving them was important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The kitchen serves as the heart of the home, where a Lacanche<\/a> range, Viola Antic countertops and striking Adolf Loos pendants create a gathering space designed for cooking, conversation and connection. (Photography by Gabriel Burgos)<\/p>\n

Marble, wood and brass became the foundation of the material palette, while saturated colors, vintage furnishings and collected artwork added personality and warmth.<\/p>\n

While the interiors are striking, the home was ultimately designed around family life.<\/p>\n

Among the home\u2019s standout spaces is the Bar Lounge, where a hand-painted mural envelops the walls and ceiling, anchored by a fluted Calacatta Viola marble bar designed for both lively entertaining and intimate retreat. On the third floor, a once-challenging space was transformed into a whimsical kids\u2019 hangout filled with custom furnishings and saturated color.<\/p>\n

The kitchen and dining room, however, remain the heart of daily life, centered around a generous island designed for cooking, conversation and everyday gatherings.<\/p>\n

\"\"A Kyle Bunting<\/a> rug anchors the living room, where Highland House<\/a> swivel chairs invite conversation around an antique coffee table. A House of Hackney lamp, a chest from Bennett Galleries<\/a> and carefully curated vintage accessories add warmth, texture and a collected feel.<\/p>\n

The dining table in particular came with its own story. After an exhaustive search, Jessica fell in love with an all-marble table handcrafted in France. Before installation, the home\u2019s floor structure had to be reinforced to support its 1.2-ton weight. Once the piece arrived in Tampa, a crane lifted it onto the porch while a team of 10 movers maneuvered it through the doorway and into the dining room.<\/p>\n

Life at the Bahlows\u2019 home also extends well beyond its thoughtfully designed interiors. The oversized property allows the family to keep chickens, tend gardens and maintain Randy\u2019s beehives \u2014 a combination that feels more like country living than one of Tampa\u2019s most walkable neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Today, the Bahlows say their favorite thing about the home isn\u2019t any particular room or design feature.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the feeling.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jessica and Randy Bahlow gather with four of their six blended-family children, creating memories in the home they share. (Photography by Gabriel Burgos)<\/p>\n

\u201cOur vision was simple,\u201d Jessica says. \u201cWe wanted to create a home that made our bodies relax the moment we walked through the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s hosting holiday gatherings with fireplaces lit and windows open, watching guests discover unexpected details throughout the house or simply sharing a meal around the kitchen island, the home has become exactly what Jessica imagined years ago while looking out a kitchen window next door.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s honestly a pinch-me moment,\u201d she says. \u201cThe greatest reward is seeing our family and friends enjoy it with us. That\u2019s what makes it feel like home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Want more inspo? Check out our Home & Garden<\/a> section for more. Or if you\u2019re interested in advertising, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BUILDER: Restoration Construction Team, LLC INTERIOR DESIGNER: Melanie Turner Interiors PHOTOGRAPHER:\u00a0 Mali Azima\u00a0 GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Andrew Lynch CABINETRY:…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":378108,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[56060,76621,152072,152073,135,137,18552,136],"class_list":["post-378107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-historic-homes","tag-historic-homes-in-tampa","tag-homes-in-tampa","tag-preserved-history","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-history","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=378107"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378107\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/378108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=378107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=378107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=378107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}