Modern The

History & travel combine to create a luxurious Airbnb

by Kelly Oden Photography by Keyside Visuals

Situated in the heart of downtown Pensacola's historic district, 425 East Zaragoza has a rich history dating back to the late 1800s. Affectionately named “The Modern,” this unique historic property has been transformed into a modern, elegant and stylish two-bedroom, two-bath apartment, which can now be rented through Airbnb. Current owners, Michele Fortin and Bill Lay, purchased the property in 2011 and undertook a significant renovation project to restore the home's original charm and character.

“While there are some records suggesting the house goes back to the 1850s, it is more likely that it was built in the latter part of the 1800s. The design is what is known as a camelback. The main building was added to several times over the years and the cottage was added in the 1980s,” Fortin explained.

According to historical records, the house originally served as a sawmill, which was eventually replaced by a private residence. During the early 1900s, the house was believed to have been a bordello, and later, it was rented out as a makeshift apartment building.

“When those businesses were finally forced to shutter during WWII. The space was rented as cheap, makeshift apartments with the downstairs petitioned off into three, one-room units sharing a kitchen and bathroom. A write-up from 1970 that was found in the historical archives of the Hilton-Green Research Center of Historic Pensacola, described the tenants as “living in squalor” and remarked that the home had “no historical architectural value what- so ever,”’ Fortin said.

In the 80s, the house was extensively renovated inside and out to include an apartment on the upper floor and a retail space on the ground floor. The Clothes Horse was the first shop in the space, followed by The Mole Hole, which remained there until 2021.

Fortin and Lay decided to transform the property into an Airbnb after the closure of The Mole Hole. To accomplish this, they hired Chris Bruner with WCB CAD & Graphics to create a new layout for the apartment. The design preserved the original floor plan of the home, including the fifteen floor-to-ceiling windows and exterior façade. Bucco Construction was brought in to carry out the renovation project, which took almost a year to complete.

The home was likely built in the latter part of the 1800s in an architectural style known as a camelback. During the first half of the 1900s, the house is rumored to have been a bordello. Later, the space became was rented as cheap, makeshift apartments with the downstairs petitioned off into three, one-room units sharing a kitchen and bathroom.

For many years, the building housed the popular Pensacola gift shop, The Mole Hole, which closed in 2021.

The renovations involved stripping the interior of the apartment down to the studs and replacing the ceilings, walls, and floors. New insulation was added, and new plumbing, wiring and HVAC were installed to accommodate the new floor plan. The original divided-light windows with their vintage hardware were left in place as a hint to the building’s age. The molding and trim, heating vents on the floor, custom interior and exterior doors and gaslights on the front porch also reference the turn-of-the-century style. The 9-foot tall interior doors are solid wood to minimize noise and complement the 11-foot high ceilings. The brass and white globe chandelier lighting add a midcentury modern vibe, as does the vintage 1960s curved rosewood sofa in the living room and reproduction bucket seat dining chairs.

The kitchen is outfitted with a suite of Thermador professional-grade appliances, including a built-in refrigerator and freezer columns that blend seamlessly with the custom-built cabinets. The cabinets in the kitchen and baths are painted with Benjamin Moore Black Magic and fitted with solid brass hardware. The 11-foot long island features weathered magnetar granite, which anchors the space and provides seating for four.

The apartment is beautifully furnished with a mix of new and vintage items that reflect the owners' travels around the world. The wooden chests with brass inlays in the living room, entry, and main bedroom were handmade in Lahore, Pakistan, while the teak dining table and benches on the back porch were purchased when the owners were living in Dubai. The antique window frame and shutters leaning behind the dining table were purchased in Marrakech, Morocco. The large carpets are from China and the two small rugs in the entry are hand-woven with yarn on jute from India.

While there are some records suggesting the house goes back to the 1850s, it is more likely that it was built in the latter part of the 1800s. The design is what is known as a camelback. The main building was added to several times over the years and the cottage was added in the 1980s.”

A bronze Buddha statue in the living room is an antique from Bangkok, Thailand. The mudra (hand gesture) is the "abhaya mudra" and it signifies protection and blessing. Artwork displayed throughout the apartment includes photographs from Cambodia, Oman, and Dubai, and calligraphy from Abu Dhabi.

The owners' meticulous renovation work and attention to detail have resulted in an apartment full of character and charm The combination of vintage and modern furnishings and artwork from around the world makes this Airbnb a unique adventure for those seeking an unforgettable travel experience.

The hand-carved antique window frame and shutters were purchased in Marrakech, Morocco. The brass and white globe chandelier lighting adds a mid-century modern vibe to the dining area.

The silver-rimmed glassware in the bar area was made by Dorothy Thorpe in the 1950s and collected by the owner over the years. The round roly-poly glasses had a resurgence in popularity after they were featured on the TV show "Mad Men."

The two small paintings in the main bedroom are from Bali and depict the Barong, a Balinese mythological creature, and his enemy, the demon queen, Rangda. Their epic battles are often the subject of the choreography of a traditional dance.

The wooden chest with brass inlays is one of three in the home. They were hand-made in Lahore, Pakistan in the early 1960s.

The replicas of Pensacola houses and monuments in the guest bedroom were purchased on Etsy from CatsMeowVillage. Replicas include Fountain Park, the Pensacola Lighthouse, Old Christ Church, Barkley House and the Lear Rocheblave House.

The vintage Pensacola map reprint from 1885 is from Etsy vendor 8RedFishCreator. This version is in inverted blue and it was framed by Aiken Picture Frames in Pensacola.

Renovation Sources

Pensacola Vendors

• Eastburn Woodworks –kitchen and bathroom custom cabinets

• Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting – kitchen appliances and installation and bathroom fixtures

• Superior Granite – countertops for kitchen and bath

• Southeastern Door and Sash – custum interior and exterior doors and hardware, crown molding, mop boards and window trim

• Stone Age Custom Flooring – bathroom and kitchen tiles (the tile on the bathroom floors is Stream Black Hex and the kitchen backsplash sChex from the MSI Dermo Collection)

• Gene’s Floor (Aragonne Forest Oak)

• Urban objects – gas lights (CopperSmith, Austin Collection – 2 large lanterns in the front are gas and the matching lights on the side are electric)

• Duh – various furniture

• House of Hue - gold pedestal bowl on dining table

Online Vendors

• Koehler – kitchen sink and faucet

• Pacific Register – black powder coated, laser cut steel vent floor registers (Napoli pattern)

• Alabama Sawyer – custom pedestal dining table with a reclaimed pecan wood top and cast iron Amicalola base

• Loll Designs – front porch table and chairs made from highdensity polyethylene using partially recycled materials (Lollygagger lounge chair and side table)

• Forge Hardware Studio –cabinet hardware (Knurled texture in satin brass finish)

• Linge Roset – bar stools

• Various outlets: Wayfair, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Tuesday Morning, World Market, Amazon, Etsy and Ebay