It was love at first click for Kim Levell and Ken Becker. “Kim and I met online 15 years ago,” Ken recalls fondly. “I was living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Kim was here in St. Pete on Central Avenue. We were fortunate enough to meet online.”

For eight months, they navigated a long-distance relationship—Ken flying down every weekend to soak up the sunshine and energy of St. Pete. “We’d do all kinds of fun things together,” he says. But then came the big decision: where would they start their life together?

Both were deeply rooted in their careers—Ken with a bustling dermatology practice in Chapel Hill, and Kim flourishing in high-end design-build, crafting luxurious outdoor living spaces. But they also knew they wanted a family. “I was 40 at the time, and Kim was 38,” Ken says. “We wanted children.”

So Kim moved to Chapel Hill. But her heart never left Florida.

“I’m from Tampa, and my family is here—my mom, my brother, my sister,” Kim explains. “And I missed St. Pete.” Eventually, the couple made the leap back. “I was adamant,” Ken says with a laugh, “that if we were coming back, we had to live in St. Pete. There’s just something different about the lifestyle here—people are more easygoing, more real. You can be yourself.”

Kim already owned a house near downtown on 5th and 2nd. She transformed it into a themed vacation rental called Florida Girl, designed to take visitors on a visual journey through Florida’s past. Think 1920s bungalow meets roadside art and citrus label nostalgia. “That house is like taking a trip through time in St. Pete,” Kim says.

Design is Kim’s language of emotion—and she speaks it fluently. “I believe through design, you can evoke emotion and joy,” she says. That passion led her to create a second home on 6th Street, lovingly called Urban Farmgirl. Complete with vegetable and flower gardens, butterfly gardens, chicken coop, and coral accents, the space invites curiosity and connection. “I don’t think a single person walks by without stopping to say something kind. I like to ask people if it makes them happy because that’s my goal. And they say yes.” Kim considers the front curb appeal and garden an active way to participate in contributing to the touristic charm of St. Pete.

Kim and Ken now live in Old Northeast, fully invested in their community and the city they love. “We believe in walkability, location, and the beauty of having access to your city without needing a car,” says Kim. “We want our legacy to be homes that reflect how special this area really is.”

The two are now working on their dream project—a sustainable, non-toxic home on 9th Avenue, something rarely done in Florida. It’s part of Kim’s larger vision through her businesses: Kim Levell Design and Levell Homes, a new venture focused on environmentally positive and emotionally resonant living spaces.

As for Ken, he gave up a dermatology practice in Chapel Hill that had been named best in the Triangle 14 years in a row to support their new life in Florida. “It was hard,” Kim admits. “That practice meant a lot to the community.” But Ken has found his footing again, working in St. Pete and Clearwater in a more relaxed, patient-focused environment. “He spends 30 minutes getting to know people,” Kim says. “He truly listens. That’s just who he is.”

Their children, Owen (9) and Katie (8), are thriving. They love the St. Pete Pier. “It’s their park,” Kim says. The kids bike and skate along the long sidewalks by the water, explore museums, shop at local markets, and participate in summer camps with Tampa Bay Watch. “They’ve dissected lionfish and squid,” Ken adds proudly.

The family belongs to multiple museums and treasures monthly family days and downtown art walks. “There’s so much here,” Ken says. “St. Pete is an incredible city for families.” 

Living with Impact 

For the Becker-Levell family, there’s truly no place they’d rather be than right here in St. Pete. Whether through design, wellness, or simply walking the sidewalks of Old Northeast, the Becker-Levell family is leaving a meaningful mark on the city they proudly call home. Surrounded by sunshine, good people, and the city they love, it doesn’t get any better than that.