Before & After: A Bay Isles Condo Gets a Modern Update


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.

Dining room, before.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap

Dining room, after.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap
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.

Kitchen, before.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap

Kitchen, after.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap
Mark Dalton and his company Chic on the Cheap have brought it into the 21st 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.

Living room, before.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap

Living room, after.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap
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.

Master bedroom, before.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap

Master bedroom, after.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap
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.

Master bathroom, before.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap

Master bathroom, after.
Image: Courtesy Chic on the Cheap
3463 Winding Oaks Drive, #32, is priced at $975,000. For more info call Shayla Twit of ReMax Alliance at (941) 203-1615.