5981 Emerald Harbor Drive: Yahn home

Laurie and Mark Yahn have owned their Emerald Harbor home since New Year’s Eve 1992, when they wanted a better place to keep their boat. The part-time Longboaters also live in the Orlando area and make use of their home on the weekends and with guests.

The home is two bedrooms, but the Yahns plan to add a third while they make incremental changes to the home. 

When they moved in, Laurie Yahn said, the home’s decor was dated, and they made changes over the years. In the back corner of the backyard, which also has a pool and entry to the Yahn’s dock, is a summer kitchen with a grill and TV.

“My husband loves this,” she said. “He used to have to grill in the dark or the rain. Now we have the summer kitchen, and it’s covered.”

Within the house are light and shaded rooms that balance each other out and are accented with several pieces of local art. 

The kitchen area leads into a seating area and a pool table, while off the kitchen is a darker room that the Yahns like to use for movies.