What to with a slightly dated condo is always a problem in Sarasota—there are so many of them. The tipping point seems to be when they get to be 15 or 20 years old. A new generation of style and finishes has taken over and what was cool in back in the day is still nice—it just seems, well, old.

Here’s a very nice condo on Longboat Key that solves the problem quite nicely. Built in 1991, it had the light, pastel-y look of the day. The layout of the rooms was typical of the period but today seems a little separated and closed off. Still, the amount of space (2,678 square feet) and the view and location made it a premium unit.

Mark Dalton and his company Chic on the Cheap have brought it into the 21^st century with a couple of easy changes. The major rethinking has been to give it an open plan; the kitchen is no longer closed off but now is now open to the dining room and informal eating area. The rest of the unit retains pretty much the same configuration but has brand new finishes—new paint, doors, windows, fans, lighting and hardware. And check out the beautiful new marble bathrooms.

The lesson here is how relatively simple changes can make an enormous differences. Check out the fireplace surround in the living room. It used to be an awkward –shaped corner that seemed out of balance. Now a tile wall brings everything into focus and gives the home an entirely new personality—much more urban and sophisticated. I also love the new headboard wall in the master bedroom.

The condo is located in Winding Oaks, a community in prestigious Bay Isles. There are 56 units in all, and the place just had a $3 million renovation, with a new pool and all sort of upgrades. Best of all, it’s super pet friendly and is one of the few places on the key that welcomes dogs of all sizes.

3463 Winding Oaks Drive, #32, is priced at $975,000. For more info call Shayla Twit of ReMax Alliance at (941) 203-1615.