A residential house with a lawn and trees, sunlight shining through the trees, and a clear sky.

a space created for real life.

Paloma House was created from lived experience, not a trend, a business plan, or a perfectly polished idea.

It began with a feeling many women know well: wanting connection, support, and space to breathe, but not finding anywhere that truly fit real life.

A woman with blonde hair holding a smiling toddler with short light hair outdoors on a grassy area, with trees and modern buildings in the background during daylight.

why PALOMA HOUSE exists

After becoming a first‑time mom, founder Sophie Moenter found herself in a season of transition. Life felt fuller and more meaningful, but also more isolating.

The spaces available didn’t quite work. Coworking environments felt rigid and corporate. Fitness studios felt intimidating and performance‑driven. Community spaces often felt like you had to already belong before walking through the door.

What was missing was a place that allowed women to show up as they were, without pressure, explanation, or expectation.

Paloma House exists to fill that gap.

OUR SPACE

The heart behind Paloma House was inspired by our honeymoon and the feeling of togetherness we experienced while traveling through Greece & Italy.
Our mediterranean honeymoon was filled with slow mornings talking over coffee, open-air dinners under market lights and bougainvillea, and time spent taking in communities, culture and the slow, relaxed pace of life on the med. There was such an ease to it; spaces designed for conversation, laughter, and togetherness; and Paloma House was imagined as a way to bring that same feeling home.

The Inspiration

My husband and I had always dreamt of owning a wedding venue, to combine my love of hosting & my career as a photographer-but neither of us could have imagined the community we would be able to build in the process. We are so excited to share what we love about bringing people together, in a space built to feel like home.

A smiling couple standing close together on a white wall in front of white buildings with blue shutters, typical of a Greek island.
A smiling couple stands on a rocky beach at sunset, with the ocean and a setting sun in the background. The man wears a red- and white striped shirt and navy shorts, while the woman wears a pink floral dress.
A couple happily embracing and touching noses in front of a white wall decorated with pink bougainvillea flowers.
A couple smiling, standing outdoors on a sunny day, with pink flowers and palm trees in the background, wearing summer clothing and sunglasses.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

A space to belong.

Paloma House is intentionally not:

  • A traditional gym

  • A corporate coworking space

  • A performative social club

Instead, it’s a women‑centered environment built around ease.

Here, you don’t have to:

  • Look a certain way

  • Commit to everything

  • Know anyone before you arrive

  • Be in a specific season of life

You simply show up — and that’s enough.

Located in North St. Petersburg, Paloma House is an intentionally designed, women‑centered hub that blends:

  • Warm social and co‑working spaces

  • A wellness studio focused on care, not performance

  • On‑site play care that allows parents to stay close

  • Indoor and outdoor gathering areas meant for conversation, not crowds

Every element of the space was created to feel grounding, lived‑in, and welcoming ; more like a home than a facility.

A fitness or yoga studio with a large potted plant, a rack of white dumbbells, and beige mats on the floor near a patterned wall and window.
A dining or meeting area with a large wooden table surrounded by six light gray upholstered chairs. A patterned rug is underneath the table. In the background, there is a wooden bookshelf, a plant on top, and a sitting area with two light-colored chairs and a side table. The room has large windows with sunlight coming through and a door leading outside.
Outdoor patio with a wooden dining table, four chairs with white cushions, decorated with pink bougainvillea flowers hanging along a wooden trellis.

Meet the owner & founder

Hi, I’m Sophie, first-time mom, & owner and founder of PALOMA HOUSE. I’m a self-proclaimed collector of best friends who loves bringing women together. I’m a thirty something, two time graduate of the University of Florida, a former educator, full time photographer, and have called St. Pete my home for over 25 years.

My husband Travis and I have a son named Remy, and 3 fur babies-Gracie, Koda + Blue, who keep us busy, when we aren’t spending time traveling and knocking things off our bucket list.

I own Sophie Natalie Photography, and have been a St. Pete wedding, motherhood and family photographer for over 3 years and I love the art of storytelling through photographs, because it gives you a time capsule of the most precious moments in your life.

When I became a mom last March, I realized how essential community is; and how hard it is to find one that feels real, welcoming, and inspiring. So I built it. But I didn’t build it alone. This community has come together because of so many incredible women who supported this vision along the way, and I truly couldn’t have done it without any of them! Paloma House was built to give women all over Tampa Bay a safe space to call their home away from home, and I am truly grateful for each of you who have chosen to walk through our doors.

I cannot wait to continue to grow this community, and to welcome so many more women to Paloma House.

A woman standing against a white wall, smiling, wearing a blue pantsuit and beige platform shoes.
A happy family with a man, woman, and infant outdoors in a yard with grass and trees, smiling and laughing while holding the baby.

Meet our Founding Director

Melissa Darr is a St. Pete native, connector, and first-time mom who loves bringing people together. She’s married to Ryan, mom to Liam, and one of three sisters; so community has always been part of her life.

Melissa built a career in HR, helping people find jobs where they could truly feel at home. Motherhood made her even more passionate about creating real connection and support for women, which led her to help build Paloma House from the very beginning. Melissa has been a part of the creating Paloma House alongside Sophie every step of the way.

At Paloma House, Melissa brings her love of people, her welcoming energy, and her knack for thoughtful experiences—from community events to friendly conversations over good coffee. She believes moms deserve a place that feels easy, supportive, and fun.

Family of three sitting on a picnic blanket outdoors, a man with a child on his shoulders, a woman sitting next to them, all smiling, large tree in the background.
A woman with red hair wearing a blue and white striped shirt, smiling, sitting next to green leafy plants against a plain white background.
A woman and a young child sit on the ground next to a tree outside. The woman is embracing the child, who is resting their head on her shoulder. The setting is a park with trees and sunlight in the background.

come as you are.

If you’ve been watching from afar, unsure if this place is for you; it is.

You don’t need to commit. You don’t need to know anyone. You don’t need to arrive with confidence.

You just need a place to land.

Paloma House will be here when you’re ready.