Florida’s 12 Home Designs That Could Be History In The Next Decade

Florida’s architectural landscape is as wild and wonderful as its wildlife and weather. Where else can you find pastel-pink flamingo mailboxes perched proudly next to Mediterranean Revival mansions, or tiki huts nestled beside sleek Art Deco gems?

But times are changing… Rising seas, shifting design tastes, and hurricane season are starting to challenge the charm (and structural integrity) of some of Florida’s most iconic looks. The stucco may crack, the terra cotta may fade, but Florida flair never goes down without a fight.

So grab your sunglasses, sip that piña colada, and join us as we take a tour through the past, present, and maybe-soon-past-again of Florida home design.

1. Concrete Block Ranches: The Fading Workhorses

Remember when these boxy beauties dominated every Florida suburb? Built en masse during the post-war boom, concrete block ranches offered affordable, hurricane-resistant housing for thousands of families.

Their simple, sprawling layouts suited Florida’s horizontal landscape perfectly. However, their inefficient use of space and dated aesthetics make them prime candidates for teardowns.

Modern buyers want open concepts and vertical living, not compartmentalized rooms that require constant air conditioning.

2. Mediterranean Revival Homes: Faux-European Fantasy

Those terracotta roofs and stucco exteriors once represented the height of Florida luxury! Mediterranean Revival homes swept across the state in the 1920s, bringing a taste of European elegance to America’s playground.

Though undeniably charming, these homes face extinction due to their maintenance nightmares. Barrel tiles crack, stucco cracks, and those ornate details collect mildew faster than a tourist collects seashells.

Rising sea levels also threaten many historic Mediterranean beauties built in vulnerable coastal areas.

3. Early 2000s McMansions: Supersized Suburban Mistakes

Nothing screams “housing bubble” louder than these architectural monstrosities! McMansions proliferated across Florida during the early 2000s, offering massive square footage but questionable design choices.

Their mismatched windows, random roof lines, and cavernous foyers waste energy and space. Young homebuyers now mock these homes’ grandiose columns and faux-luxury finishes on social media.

With prohibitive cooling costs and changing tastes favoring quality over quantity, these homes may soon face the wrecking ball.

4. Tropical Modern Hybrids: Identity Crisis Houses

What happens when developers try mixing Mid-Century Modern with Caribbean influences? You get these confused creations that never quite commit to either style!

Tropical Modern hybrids emerged in the 2010s as architects attempted to create something uniquely “Florida.” Unfortunately, their mashup of flat roofs, random wood accents, and token tropical plants often results in disjointed designs.

As more authentic architectural styles make a comeback, these neither-here-nor-there homes will likely disappear.

5. Overbuilt Stucco Boxes: Cookie-Cutter Catastrophes

Drive through any Florida subdivision built between 1990-2010 and you’ll spot hundreds of these beige blunders. Developers maximized profits by building nearly identical stucco boxes with minimal character.

Their generic designs feature the same arched windows, beige/tan color schemes, and predictable layouts. Climate change has exposed their poor construction quality, with many suffering water intrusion during increasingly severe storms.

As Florida’s housing market evolves toward sustainability and character, these forgettable homes face an uncertain future.

6. Tiki-Themed Bungalows: Tropical Kitsch Retreats

Oh, the glorious tackiness of Florida’s tiki bungalows. These playful homes embraced island-inspired details like bamboo trim, thatched accents, and tropical motifs with unabashed enthusiasm.

Popular in coastal areas during the mid-20th century, they captured Florida’s fun-loving spirit. Sadly, their wood elements don’t fare well in Florida’s humidity, and their kitschy aesthetics often feel dated rather than charmingly retro.

Many have already been demolished for larger, more contemporary beach houses that maximize water views.

7. Pink Flamingo Motif Homes: Pastel Paradise Lost

Nothing says “Florida” quite like homes adorned with flamingo pink color schemes and actual flamingo decorations. These whimsical dwellings celebrate Florida’s unofficial mascot through pastel exteriors, flamingo mailboxes, and tropical landscaping.

While utterly charming, their bold aesthetic has fallen from favor as minimalist and neutral palettes dominate current design trends. Homeowners associations increasingly restrict such exuberant expressions.

Though tourists adore them, locals increasingly view these homes as outdated relics of Florida kitsch.

8. Oversized Screened-In Lanais: Bug-Free Behemoths

Florida homeowners’ obsession with massive screened enclosures has reached comical proportions. These enormous cage-like structures often dwarf the homes they’re attached to, creating bizarre proportions visible from satellite images.

While practical for bug-free outdoor living and pool protection, these lanais consume enormous amounts of space and materials. Their metal frames frequently fail during hurricanes, creating dangerous projectiles.

Newer, retractable screening systems and improved mosquito control methods may render these dinosaurs extinct.

9. Raised Pier Beach Houses: Stilted Survivors

Perched on wooden stilts like long-legged shore birds, these coastal classics have defied hurricanes for decades. Raised pier homes emerged as practical solutions for building on Florida’s barrier islands and flood-prone areas.

Their elevated living spaces maximize views while minimizing flood damage. Unfortunately, rising insurance costs, stricter building codes, and maintenance challenges threaten their future.

Many original pier homes have already been replaced with concrete-piered structures or modern elevated designs that better withstand today’s intensifying storms.

10. Spanish Colonial Revival: Conquistador Chic

Ever dream of living in a Spanish Colonial home, like stepping into a vintage postcard with red tile roofs, white stucco walls, and swoon-worthy wrought iron? These old-world beauties bring serious olé charm to Florida’s neighborhoods.

But behind the romance lies some high-maintenance reality. Finding craftspeople to restore historic details is like hunting for architectural unicorns, and the costs can leave your wallet saying ¡ay caramba!

Worse, many were built in coastal areas now threatened by rising seas and stronger storms. So while they’re stunning, Spanish Colonials today are less siesta, more stress-a.

11. 1960s Mid-Century Concrete Homes: Retro Bunkers

Bold geometric forms and experimental concrete construction defined Florida’s mid-century modern movement. These architectural statements feature dramatic rooflines, terrazzo floors, and indoor-outdoor living spaces that captured the optimism of the Space Age.

Though experiencing a resurgence among design enthusiasts, many face demolition threats. Their modest square footage and unusual layouts don’t match contemporary expectations.

Preservation efforts struggle against developers eager to replace these artistic homes with larger, more conventional structures that maximize lot values.

12. Over-Landscaped Suburban Yards: Botanical Battlegrounds

Florida’s suburban landscapes often resemble botanical warfare zones. Homeowners compete with increasingly elaborate displays of non-native palms, perfectly manicured hedges, and water-guzzling tropical plants arranged in artificial-looking compositions.

These high-maintenance yards require constant chemical treatments, excessive irrigation, and frequent trimming. Water restrictions, rising awareness of native ecosystems, and changing climate patterns make these yards increasingly impractical.

The future favors Florida-friendly landscaping that works with, rather than against, the state’s natural environment.