It's All in the Details

Okay, this is the very last post about the beach condo. But I did want to share some details that seem to make all the difference. Butch says people don't care. When they rent a place, they don't really care about the decor. They just want clean and comfortable. That might be true. But I notice things. I like staying in nice places with nice surroundings. I appreciate when owners go the extra to make something a little more special. That's what I want to do for anyone who stays with us. Go just a little beyond. It doesn't cost much to add little extras.

Our plan for the decor is to incorporate things from our trips. That's how we'll personalize the place---make it a life-size scrapbook---minus the paper and journaling. I don't have photos around my house from our trips. This will be a nice place to use them along with tasteful souvenirs as reminders of those fun times. We won't spend a lot, so if something gets broken (or stolen) we won't be so upset.

I know that your art does not have to match your decor. But when it's cheap art, I think it does. Otherwise it just looks like you tried to buy anything to fill the walls. These prints aren't terrible---they just don't go. Blue shabby frames with yellow in the background on olive green walls with red in the room. When you get in to the family/dining/kitchen area, there is a definite Mediterranean feel to the colors. I love that. In fact, I have ordered 5---very large photo canvases of pictures (16x20) from our trip to Italy. They will be perfect on this wall. These pictures will get moved somewhere else.

I really like the detail in the tile in the kitchen. It's completely opposite of the "fishy" theme that was going on in the bedrooms and baths.

Now this is my idea of a classy fish! This is the only item we've brought from home. We bought it in Rivello, Italy---known for their hand-painted ceramics. We couldn't decide whether it would be safer hung on the wall. Right now we just have it sitting on a table. We thought long and hard before buying it---about how we would feel if/when it got broken. We know that people let their kids play with anything. We decided to take the risk. We paid about $40 or $50 for it. We love it. We hope it lasts.

Above the kitchen cabinets, the previous owners have this whole lighthouse theme going on. THERE ARE NO LIGHTHOUSES IN FLORIDA! These would be more appropriate for the northeast. This will be a good place to put some inexpensive things from our travels---a basket, sculpture or other significant (to us) items.

When you enter the condo, there is a long hallway. I took all of the fish pictures from the bedrooms and bathrooms and grouped them all here. I still don't love them, but they look much better this way than scattered all around. Can you see that Nemo has found a new home? I do love white frames---hate the blue mats.

I really liked the sandpipers that we inherited. I found the "rushes" at Kirkland's---one of my most favorite home decor stores for inexpensive things.

 These canisters were another score from Kirkland's---$25.00 for the set.

This modern piece of art hangs above the leather love seat. Although it is not my taste, it goes with the sleek and modern look of the room.

We pay for "premium accoutrements" with our cleaning service. They do these added little touches with the raffia---and the upgraded toilet paper. I did this facecloth "bouquet" myself. I had to carefully take the "old" one apart to see how it was done. Sorta cute. Since we have "snow birds" for the next two months, we gave them full size bars of soap from our personal supplies.

 The seashells in this basket were the first purchase that Butch made. I re-purposed the basket.

 This starfish is a bronze ceramic piece---about 8 inches in diameter. Another score from Kirklands---$6.00. There was a fish tapestry bell pull here---think 1980's---blue, rust---not good.

Everything tied up with raffia looks so cute. I think the main message it conveys is "welcome, you are the first person to use this stuff!" At least that's what it says to me. Too bad the scrubby pad is blue.

We took this tip from the previous owners. I made welcome tags. We put a case of wine in the owners closet. The cleaning people just put a bottle out for each new guest. A nice welcoming touch, I think.

Now, moving on. While at Bed Bath and Beyond I found these awesome leaf placemats on clearance for 99 cents.

 They are made out of 1/4" felt. They are going to look great on next fall's table.

 I was very happy with the added bonus of the tags. Of course, I'll cover up the writing, but they'll make perfect tags on a fall themed scrapbook page. Re-purpose, recycle, reuse---I do my part.

I ordered these giant "safety pins" from Ballard Designs. Notice those chipboard buttons on the left? Those were used with twist ties to hold the pins in place. Those will be awesome on a scrapbook page.

I've noticed, that as I wrap up this post, I've "complained" about another man's trash---while considering my own as treasure. I guess what they say is really true. It's all in the perspective.