Our new home - beautiful but quite plain.
We were able to move into our condo in Playa during October of 2008. We truly loved it, and one of the reasons was because it was move-in ready. But I recently ran across the pictures from that first year and I hardly recognize it as the home we enjoy now! Although we have only been able to spend one week in Playa at a time for now, I am pretty amazed at what we have accomplished during those short vacations. I thought it would be fun to share the highlights of the changes we have made and some of the funny stories that go along with them, complete with “before” pictures – and some "after" pictures at the end.
I am especially impressed with what we accomplished as I think back to that first week that we were able to move in and call it ours. Although we purchased the condo furnished, there was nothing other than furniture there plus a small set of pots and pans. So we immediately set out to purchase everyday necessities such as towels and sheets, dinnerware, small kitchen appliances and utensils, things for the walls and décor items. We had brought a few things from home with us, but you can’t pack much in two suitcases. We quickly found WalMart and Sam’s Club to be invaluable, and joined City Club across the highway as well. Lots and lots of shopping!
But the bigger to-do’s were to arrange for satellite installation, and purchase outdoor furniture and a washer/dryer. We quickly determined that a gas dryer was much more preferable to an electric one, but gas wasn’t available on that side of the condo. So, through a neighbor we met the day before, we hired someone to run a new gas line from the roof (where our propane tank is stored) down the other side of the building and through the wall into the storage room.
But the bigger to-do’s were to arrange for satellite installation, and purchase outdoor furniture and a washer/dryer. We quickly determined that a gas dryer was much more preferable to an electric one, but gas wasn’t available on that side of the condo. So, through a neighbor we met the day before, we hired someone to run a new gas line from the roof (where our propane tank is stored) down the other side of the building and through the wall into the storage room.
Original full size bed in the master bedroom
By far the biggest hassle was shopping for furniture and the washer/dryer. We discovered after only one night that our plan to make do with the full size bed in the master bedroom was a bad idea (Mark is 6’4” and I am 5’ 8”). It seemed romantic at the time, but that went out the window quickly. We spent several days walking up and down the highway, where many of the town's furniture stores are located. I wish I had worn a pedometer those days - we logged quite a few miles! We finally bought a new king sized mattress and frame at Telebodega, and then went about trying to arrange for delivery, all in our VERY limited Spanish. In Mexico, it is very difficult to find some places with simply an address, and we didn't even know what ours was! So a hand drawn map was our best option to help the delivery men. Yikes!
Original balcony furniture - we like our teak set much better!
Same was true for our beautiful teak balcony furniture (which we also found on our treks up and down the highway). Amazingly enough, both deliveries made it to the condo, eventually. We had to hang out on our front balconies almost the entire day just watching for the delivery trucks, and then had to rush down the stairs, yelling and screaming with arms in the air, to flag them down when they passed us by. Quite dramatic, I can assure you, since we would be leaving for home in Texas the following day – not much room for error.
"Before shot" of where the vase will go
On our second trip we would purchase the bikes, the BBQ pit, recover the dining room chairs and also bought and hung a new ceiling fan in the den. But by far the funniest thing we did this trip was purchase the large, tall vase that now stands in the corner of the dining room. We found this vase at a store on the highway and loved it immediately. But when we stood on the street with it, we couldn’t get a taxi driver to stop! I guess they didn’t want to try to figure out how to fit it into their cab, it was almost as tall as I am. So, Mark took the vase and hid out of sight around a little corner while I flagged down a taxi. When I got in, Mark came out of his hiding place and loaded the vase across my lap with the other end sticking out the window of the other side. It was pretty hilarious. We tipped the taxi driver well.
Painting adventure
In October of 2009 we had decided to make some major décor changes. Although I liked the white walls, Mark didn’t. So I took pictures of the condo and met with an interior decorator back home to select a new wall color. We chose a color from Sherman Williams because we had seen one on the highway just outside Playa and hoped that we could get the same color. Once in Playa, we took a taxi to the paint store and asked him to wait while the paint was being mixed for what we needed - one, 5-gallon container of paint. Mark and I were very proud of ourselves, having completed this transaction 100% in Spanish. But that pride was very short lived when I saw them loading FIVE, 5-gallon containers into our taxi! Instead of about $100usd in paint, they had mixed about $500 worth of paint! It was a tense moment to say the least. Let’s just say that we are not welcome back in the Sherman Williams store in Playa. Back at the condo, Mark even stepped into the paint bucket back at the condo, another fun event. But in the end, we love the color and have a great story to tell. New curtains from home finished the new look. What do you think – do you like the color?
The old set - may it rest in peace
In 2010 we decided to replace the sectional sofa (which never wanted to stay together) and the matching chair with all new furniture. We kept the same look – cream colored leather – but we bought much higher quality furniture that is so much more comfortable than what we had before. And no more sectionals - two large club chairs plus a sofa give us plenty of space to relax and spread out. I only wish we had done this earlier! Now you can actually nap on the couch without rolling off! And we continue to do other smaller projects. On our last trip Mark installed a peephole so you can look out the front door before opening it, and we bought new comfy cushions for the lounge chairs down at the pool. Now you have options - you can nap indoors or out!
Take a look at a few of the "after" pictures below. Visit our Condo Pics Photo Gallery to see all of the pictures of our home in Playa.
Take a look at a few of the "after" pictures below. Visit our Condo Pics Photo Gallery to see all of the pictures of our home in Playa.
For now, I think we may be finished with major projects, and now we can just relax and enjoy our little piece of paradise. What do you think about our changes?
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