Before & After: Crescent Beach Condo Project

Today I wanted to share some photos from a beach rental property in Crescent Beach.

I realized the other day that since my styling and design projects are keeping me away from my blog, I should consider sharing more of that work here. Sometimes the most obvious answers are right in front of you. So here we are 🙂

The Backstory

The 1500 square foot townhouse unit belongs to our longtime family friends. They bought it more than 25 years ago, and now the adult children are taking care of the upkeep and rental needs.

Their condo is located in Summerhouse Condominiums in Crescent Beach. Like many people from Ocala, I have many fond memories of beach vacations at Summerhouse. We have continued to take our own little family back for summers, spring breaks and even a Thanksgiving in the past because we love this place so much.

Two years ago now, Summerhouse was impacted significantly by Hurricane Irma. In the case of our friends’ rental property, the immediate need was to replace the furnishings in the living and dining spaces as a result of mold that formed from rain coming inside through the sliding glass doors. Since the owners are not in Florida and I am less than 2 hours aways, they reached out to see if I could help them.

I happily accepted the challenge, and I’m happy to say that this is one of the projects I have enjoyed the most in the last few years. Phase I was completed in the December of 2018, and Phase II was finished this past Spring.

Condo Renovation – Phase I

We decided to take advantage of the low rental season (fall) to do as much as we could before the renters who were scheduled for late winter. Our goal during Phase I was to replace all the furniture on the main floor, and to create more sleeping space in the upstairs guest bedroom.

The project was fairly straightforward, and with the help of an incredible local carpenter/handyman and a painter, we were able to knock it out in a few months.

The unit was originally styled in a Mediterranean theme, utilizing photos from the owners’ travels. Their kids really wanted to maintain the spirit of the Greek villa feel, while freshening it up for a more updated look. I think we were able to achieve it!

Living Space – BEFORE

Living Space – AFTER

The iconic blue statement wall stayed, we just made it a little less French blue to a more vibrant Mediterranean hue. Since the wall is so vibrant, the furnishings we chose were more neutral. Pops of bright white around the space bring the feel of Greek villas overlooking the sea.

Dining Space – BEFORE

Dining Space – AFTER

In addition to a new dining table and chairs, we incorporated a fun and casual light fixture. We also edited down the photographs. By selecting fewer images framed in larger white frames, they make a bolder statement.

Condo Renovation – Phase II

Phase II, which was this past fall, was a bit more involved. The goal was to replace all of the carpet on the second floor, refresh the master bedroom, and renovate the two small bathrooms upstairs.

Because the scope was larger, we worked with a local contractor who was onsite working on many other units.

Master Bedroom – BEFORE

Master Bedroom – AFTER

The bed was a happy accident. We originally had selected and ordered THIS one, but when the delivery date started getting pushed back, we decided to cancel the order for something that would arrive more quickly. I think the blue upholstered bed is exactly what the room needed. Even better, was that it cost significantly less.

Because the master bedroom receives such nice natural light, we chose to go all white with the walls. To add a little more texture, our super carpenter/handyman added the vertical planking to the headboard wall. I love how it came out.

One of my favorite features of the room is the basket wall. The grouping allowed us to spread out onto the wall in a way that most framed art would not. The woven textures are perfect against the smooth white wall.

Master Bath – BEFORE

Master Bath – AFTER

Despite making no changes to the footprint, the master bath feels double the size due to the glass enclosure.

Guest Room – BEFORE

Guest Bedroom – AFTER

Our main goal in here was to increase the sleeping space. We did this by swapping one twin for a full bed and the other for a bunk bed. Now there is room for 4 to fit in here!

Since I took these photos for the rental listing after Phase I, they do not reflect the addition of the wood floors. Here is an iPhone photo I took of the floors after Phase II.

Guest Bath – BEFORE

Guest Bath – AFTER

What a difference in this guest bath, huh? Similar to the master, we added a glass enclosure and kept the walls white. My favorite touches are the floor tile and vanity, both of which were very reasonably priced.

What I learned on this project

One of the best parts of working on so many different projects is the opportunity to grow and learn with each one. With the Crescent Beach Condo project I learned:

• The importance of getting all of the selections to the builder quickly to make the project move more quickly.
• That I really enjoy working on rental properties. I love analyzing hotel room design choices as well as AirBnB’s. Getting into the mind of a vacationer and trying to meet their needs is a fun challenge!
• That it is worth taking at least one risk in every room.
• That collaborating with good people is extremely satisfying.

I’ll be back again soon to share more projects and the lessons I am learning along the way.

If you are interested in renting this specific unit at Summerhouse, just send me a message or leave me a message in the comments and I will gladly send you the unit number so you can request to stay here!

Posted by Ale & filed under Home Decor, Home Tours, Work Projects. This post has 10 comments.