Closing next week on our 1st condo purchase!

[Mermaid]

Hello everyone. The very first time my husband and I ever visited the beaches of South Walton was sixteen years ago, with a six-month old and a two year old, and it was love at first sight! We've just returned to our home in Indianapolis after a glorious week with our now sixteen year old (and friend) and eighteen year old (bringing girlfriend). We all loved it just as much as we ever have.

So much so that we bought a condo while we were down at the beach. It's very modest--a 500 square foot studio at Hidden Beach Villas in Seagrove Beach--but we're very excited about it and happy to get our foot in the door in this little bit of paradise.

We're planning on renting it out because until our youngest goes off to college in two years, the liklihood of our making impromptu trips down to the beach is slim (sigh, sigh).

Our studio is very dated. The couch's colors are teal, pink, and taupe in an exhuberant Florida pattern, just to give you an idea! The recliner is classic Barko-lounger. It's in decent shape, though. My inclination is to toss everything and start fresh, but what with a new mortgage and college tuition, we're going to have to pace ourselves.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to gently (as in gentle on the wallet) bring our condo into the modern world? I am creative and my husband is an engineer who can do anything and build everything. This is what we have planned so far:

- pulling up the old carpet and putting down Pergo
- replacing kitchen and bath faucets and installing new brushed nickel bathroom hardware like towel bars, etc.
- stocking kitchen with good dishes and cutlery, pots and pans
- buying new bed linens and pillows

To give you an idea of what our condo is like, take a look at Garrett Realty's rental site. They have about 15 listings of rentals at Hidden Beach Villas. There are only one or two which look snazzy; the rest are ordinary looking like the one we bought. We want to make our rental stand out from the rest! Any thoughts/advice from all of you experienced beach people? This is a whole new ballgame for us and we want to start out right!

Oh, we plan to paint. Does anyone have a favorite paint store, prefereably one that will help us pick a color that will make our couch "disappear?"

Thanks everyone!

 

[beachmouse]

Congrats on your purchase!

For a beach condo, I'd be inclined to go with tile instead of wood or wood laminate flooring. You're going to get a lot of sand, water, suntan lotion, etc. on the floor, and tile is going to be more durable, and will hide small overuse scars better.

For hardware, check Target as well as the usual home improvement places. They've got some fun and funky towel bars and drawer pulls.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Oh, we plan to paint. Does anyone have a favorite paint store, prefereably one that will help us pick a color that will make our couch "disappear?"

Thanks everyone!

For local paint stores, try Frank's Hardware in the back of Mystic Port at Grayton on Hwy 283. If you ask, they will keep your paint color in their computer, so that you will not have to guess what color you had in the event of needing to repaint. They carry Benjamin Moore paints. As a second choice, Sherwin Williams is a little farther up the street. Expect both of these choices to do nothing more than mix your paints. For color help, you should ask a friend who knows a thing or two about colors/paint, or try an interior decorator.

I echo the tile idea instead of wood or laminate.

 

[Mermaid]

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

 

[Miss Kitty]

CONGRATULATIONS MERMAID!!!! I hope you and your family have many happy times in your new place.

 

[DBOldford]

Congrats on your new beach digs! Frank's Hardware has a wonderful paint selection and a list of painters. We like Mickey Hollman (850)838-0778, who lives in the Grayton area and is very reliable, cleans up well afterwards. As for furnishings, outdoor items from Scavenger's on the old beach road in Panama City, indoor furnishings from a reasonable local place that will deliver or from Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn (if you can be there for delivery). I furnished our kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room completely via the Bed, Bath & Beyond Web site, sent the items to our housekeeper, who put everything away. There is a great Bed Bath & Beyond at Hwy. 98 and the Mid-Bay Bridge road, northwest corner. I found a lot of cute beach-oriented furnishings, bedding, and lamps from the National Wildlife Catalog www.shop.nwf.org and part of every purchase goes to wildlife and marine life protection. Finally, I have found a wealth of accessories and art from The Shops at Grayton. Remember to have at least one item that will make your renters smile as soon as hey come into your new nest. Good luck!

 

[DBOldford]

P.S. Assuming that ugly sofa is still serviceable, cover it up with a denim (or other durable) slipcover that can be washed as needed. We like white ones because you can add bleach if needed and it looks fresh and bright. But denim is probably more reasonable and is also a good look for the beach.

 

[Mermaid]

Thank you, everyone! I honestly can't wait to get down to the beach and rolling up my sleeves and start working.

Slipcovers are a great idea but the real challenge will be finding one that won't be a hassle to work with since the sofa is a sleeper. I'll have to start googling it. My husband pointed out that our guests wouldn't like the bother of having to undo a slipcover just to let their kids sleep at night and I guess he has a point. Grrrrr! What I'd like is a nice new sofa...

Our dining room set is rattan. Not the updated West Indian look that is darker and warmer, but the kind that has a whitish tinge to it. Has anyone attempted repainting or staining rattan or should I just change the upholstered seat to some cheerful new fabric and forget the rest?


What I'd love to see are some really good "before and after" photos to encourage me! Anyone?

 

[beachmouse]

There's also a Linnens'n'Things kitty-corner to the Destin Bloodbath & Beyond. New Target in Destin is supposed to open up the first week in October. Once that goes live, it's probably an easier trip there than to Panama City.

My mom has had good results spray painting wicker. Lets you get all the paint in the nooks and crannies in a way you can't with a brush.

For budget plates and silverware, try Olde Time Pottery in Destin. Realistically for a rental, you want it to be nice, but not too expensive because you're going to get some breakage and shrinkage.

For art, maybe some framed local seafood/arts festival posters would work well.

 

[BeachDreamer]

Our dining room set is rattan. Not the updated West Indian look that is darker and warmer, but the kind that has a whitish tinge to it. Has anyone attempted repainting or staining rattan or should I just change the upholstered seat to some cheerful new fabric and forget the rest?

I've seen rattan spray painted, with great results. You could choose the West Indies darker brown color, and change the seat cushions, for a whole new look. Congrats on your studio! That is exciting!