Closing next week on our 1st condo purchase!

[drsvelte]

Congratulations, too

Our first property was in condition alot like yours. Pastel "beach" colors, worn carpets, dated furniture. I think the biggest bang for the buck is paint. This can make a big difference in up-dating the look. We took our time and completely redid it in about three years.

Destin has several consignment furniture stores that you might check out. Friends of ours purchased a nearly new leather sectional for about half-price from Upscale Resale on Airport road.

There will be a brand new Target opening in Destin this fall.

 

[Mermaid]

This is wonderful! I am SO relieved that rattan can be painted. My friend has already offered to lend us her sprayer so I think we will bring it down with us. I'm afraid we're not really "pastel" people so the thoughts of that pale rattan was giving me the heebie-jeebies. Even more than the couch I'm having issues with! I like the idea of giving it a new color.

From all the posts I've read (I was the world's biggest lurker before buying our condo) it seems to be a real "catch 22" about furnishing a condo/cottage that you intend to rent.

On the one hand, you want to do it up nicely but on the other hand you don't want things to walk away because they're too nice! I'm already wondering if I should bring my nice Pottery Barn coasters to the beach or keep them up here in Indianapolis. I could say they were only a $14 investment, but what if they didn't last through the first ten renters that came to our place? Ah, decisions, decisions. I have the feeling we're embarking on an interesting phase of our lives!

 

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks for the welcome and the suggestions! We'd love to put in tile but have only one week to tear the condo apart and re-do it. My husband has laid tile floors before and it's fairly labor intensive. That's why we thought we'd do the laminate flooring. It's not likely that sand will be dragged in because the condo is across the road, so I don't think that's a worry. Any other ideas if not laminate or tile (and not carpet; that's what we're removing)?

Do most of you go to Destin or PCB for your shopping at places like Target? We're bringing a lot of stuff down with us but we always forget something! Which place is more convenient for quick runs? In all our years of visiting, we've limited our shopping to the cute little boutiques and the grocery and liquor stores. Never any place practical like Target. :laughing1

I never go beyond Lake Powell to the east and the Discount Stores to the west from Memorial Day through Labor Day, unless it is 7:00am. I would rather do without something than to sit in that traffic.

"It's not likely that sand will be dragged in because the condo is across the road, so I don't think that's a worry."

You may want to reconsider that. Beach sand sticks to everything in heavy doses. You can walk around all day with it stuck to your body after going to the beach. It gets in beach towels and beach toys and will eventually be on your floors. Even if your home was in Freeport, if you went to the beach, you will track sand back into your house. Just be aware. That sand acts like sandpaper on your wooden floors when people walk on them.

 

[Rita]

"It's not likely that sand will be dragged in because the condo is across the road, so I don't think that's a worry."

You may want to reconsider that. Beach sand sticks to everything in heavy doses. You can walk around all day with it stuck to your body after going to the beach. It gets in beach towels and beach toys and will eventually be on your floors.

Mermaid, There's a whole thread on where the sand ends up! Do a search. Funny stuff. :laughing1

 

[SGB]

I agee with Smiling JOe and others about the sand. Every day I am grateful that our first floor is tiled. I wish our 2nd and 3rd floors were too! The sand travels everywhere and really does a number on the wood or lamanite floors. Especially with renters!

 

[Mermaid]

It looks like we might have to rethink the floor, doesn't it? I'd never have thought the sand would travel over the road the way it apparently does!

 

[Rita]

Mermaid, There's a whole thread on where the sand ends up! Do a search. Funny stuff. :laughing1

I can't find the thread re where all the sand ends up. It's been a while back. Maybe someone else can remember.

 

[BeachDreamer]

I love the colors and general feel of the West Indies style. I have my livingroom decorated this way, and the whole house is done in bombay Mahogany stained wood. It feels so warm and inviting to me.

Here are a couple of websites for refinishing rattan. Have FUN!

http://www.refinishfurniture.com/refinishwicker.htm

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/preview/0,21863,1057748-4,00.html

 

[Mermaid]

Very good website! Especially the one from Real Simple. I think I could paint EVERYthing in that condo... Rita, maybe that post about where sand goes will turn up. I bet it's a hoot.

Here is a photo of the offending couch and another of the whitey-pinkey outdated rattan that needs a good camoflage job done on it. My husband fondly calls these the "before" photos. (He has big plans!)

 

[BeachDreamer]

Oh yeah, look at all of that potential! You're going to have a blast redoing it.