Before and After Makeovers
You Have To See To Believe

Redecorate and remodel any home using Chic on the Cheap principles. Your house can look extravagant on a budget.

Chic on the Cheap is a FULL SERVICE interior design firm.  We do so much more than pick out pillows and paint colors. We can design new home floor plans from the ground up. We can move walls, add windows, tear out kitchens and replace it all with something spectacular. The Chic on the Cheap team includes one of the area’s most reputable and trusted contractors to make your vision into reality. With our decades of experience and guidance, we can help complete your project on time and to the highest standard and quality.

Check out some of the work we’ve done recently:

The Suite Life!

The owner of this Promenade on Longboat Key condo wanted to feel like she was living in deluxe suite at a 5 star hotel. No problem. We started with the philosophy that less is more. We replaced the mish-mosh of northern furniture with simple contemporary pieces that complement each other. We removed the smaller pictures on the walls and replaced them with larger artwork or mirrors that tie the space together. Then to add warmth, we created a funky fireplace wall as the focal point of the living room. Want to know a secret? It’s not a real fireplace; it’s a Florida fake fireplace! Completely electronic, so you can turn it on in the summer without breaking a sweat! The bathrooms got a cost friendly makeover with new cabinets, faucets, sinks and tile. The money saved on the bathrooms went to completely renovate the kitchen. Now this one time tired condo has a “suite” new style!

From Foreclosure to Furnished in 21 Days!

This client bought a mid century modern home on Siesta Key in foreclosure and needed it completely furnished ASAP.  In just three weeks time, we used our savvy shopping skills at local retail stores and online to pull off this amazing transformation in time for his family’s spring break vacation.  By the way, this was done as a surprise present for his wife and kids….what a nice guy!

Hand Me Down Condo Takes a Step Up in the World

Sometimes the words “original condition” can be a selling point for things like baseball cards and old cars. But for this Casarina Condo on Siesta Beach, “original” was a nice way of saying “awful.” It had a closed kitchen, wild wallpaper, florescent lighting, and a useless breakfast room. We completely modernized the entire space from the floors to the walls and ceilings. The first step was ripping up all the flooring and installing sand looking tile on a diagonal throughout the condo. We even carried the floor tile up the shower walls in the master bath for a bit of whimsy. The kitchen was the star renovation room. We knocked down walls to create the “open concept” kitchen/living room that everyone wants for today’s lifestyle. We also added the “new” beach colors of sands, grays and aqua, and Voila! a beach house fit for any generation.

Plain Jane Bathroom Turns Into a Spa Retreat!

Outdated! That’s the only way to describe this 1980′s nightmare. Now the owner has an open spa inspired retreat that’s beautiful and functional too. First, we got rid of the gigantic, enormous, space hogging tub and replaced it with a gorgeous white tiled, over-sized rainfall shower. The old layout crammed the cabinet space into a corner and didn’t allow for some of the drawers to open. In its place, a new waterfall style counter top with a 9 foot long mirror to reflect the glow from the new recessed lighting and sparkling pendant lights. But the wall to wall and floor to ceiling cabinet leaves more storage than any couple could ever dream of in a bathroom. This Plain Jane bathroom is now ready for it’s Hollywood close-up!

We Landed a Great Catch at the FISH SHACK!

In just 90 days Chic on the Cheap completely gutted (like a fish) this BeachPlace condo on Longboat Key.  We moved mechanical equipment, knocked down walls, and raised the ceilings, so the bones of this dated unit got a complete overhaul.

We installed tile floors that look just like wood and built a custom light fixtures for the dining room. The coffee table in the living room is made of driftwood that washed ashore. Check out the vanity in the master bathroom; we added a nautical touch by using dock cleats for door hardware. Right now warm gray walls are the NEW go-to color for a beach feel because they’re soothing and unexpected. Plus it’s a nice compliment to the blue water and white sand right outside the windows.

All of this is a great example of what can happen when a designer and homeowner develop a trusting relationship.

Lots of Drama in this Home Renovation!

Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Michael Edwards, knows a lot about big time productions.  So when he told Chic on the Cheap to completely renovate his home and surprise him with the results, we knew it was show time!  The kitchen and living room are the stars in this remodeling story. For just over $5,500 we replaced ALL of the kitchen cabinetry with more sophisticated dark wood cabinets and stainless handles. The bold back splash added a pop of drama to the space while keeping the fresh modern feel. For the living room, Chic on the Cheap turned to IKEA to put the fun back into funky. The ENTIRE living room- furniture, fixtures, and everything in between- cost only $3,500. But it was the drapes that stole the show, costing only $149 for the panels and rods! The living room now has a clean minimalist look to it while keeping a warm inviting atmosphere.

So what was Michael Edwards reaction when the curtain opened on the final home design renovation? A standing ovation, of course!

Custom Furnishings Can Cost Less Than Buying Retail

The owners of this beach house didn’t want to settle for anything less than what fit their needs exactly, and we agreed! Chic on the Cheap collaborated with an expert woodworker to create their vision of a comfortable beach lifestyle. We gutted the fireplace and two bathrooms, replaced all the beige tile with warm hand scraped engineered wood, and designed a half dozen one-of-a-kind furniture pieces.

The fireplace mantel and parts of the buffet were made out of locally sourced pecky cypress. The custom driftwood coffee table makes for a very unique conversation piece at the sitting area. We also created two new sinks out of two antique wash basins for the bathrooms. The best part is that all of these custom furnishings were created for LESS than what you’d pay in retail stores! They owners didn’t compromise on their dreams, and neither should you!

Even a Model Home Needs a Facelift at Some Point

Back in the day this University Country Club model home was HOT! But this place needed a little nip and tuck to get back to its glory days. No worries. In just ONE MONTH the Chic on the Cheap team surgically gutted the house to give every room a lift. They ripped out the kitchen, tore out the dated flooring, and reconfigured the master bathroom. Now warm, hand-scraped, engineered wood floors flow through the home and every room has a fresh new feel and better functionality. The whole process, from design to finish, took only 30 days!

Too Much of a Good Thing

Sometimes too much of a good thing is still too much. The all white decor in this condo might’ve been en vogue back when Miami Vice was cool, but not anymore.  The new owners asked for an updated vacation retreat.  Right off the bat, we added color and warmth to every room with paint and fabric. The kitchen is the real steal though. The cabinetry looks like a high end European brand, right? Surprise! It’s from Ikea and cost a fraction of what you would pay for the “real thing.” In fact, one of the neighbors compared it to her $50,000 kitchen remodel. We didn’t have the heart to tell her she overpaid big time.

A Sarasota Family Homestead Gets a Second Life.

The owner has lived on this property her whole life. Her father built her this house when she was 18 and we helped her remodel it last year. ALL the cabinetry in the entire house came to $9,000 and was bought directly from the manufacturer.

Adding Artwork Can Make All the Difference

This home had beautiful bones, but needed a fresh start in a new decade.  We added artwork to the large wall areas purchased from Rooms to Go (but please don’t tell anyone.  It’s our little secret.)

Back to the Future

Hello 1980, this is the future calling and the island light bridge has got to go!  What was stylish back then doesn’t always work for today’s interior design styles. Out with the white, and in with more natural materials. We did the same thing in the living room by warming up the wall colors and bringing in more family friendly furniture. Now this family room really is where the family hangs out.

Hello! Is There An Echo in Here?

Large rooms are sometimes a designer’s greatest challenge.  At this home we used color and space planning to make a huge home feel cozy, warm and welcoming.  Paint, window treatments and area rugs are some of the most affordable ways to warm up any sized room.  The large master bath started out looking dark and dated.  We brought in some lighter touches and white marble to make the room feel like a spa retreat.

Something Old, Something New

This house was dying to show off its curb appeal, but it was hidden behind overgrown landscaping.  We cut back the trees to show off the home’s original character.  The pergola on the front makes the entire entrance feel larger and more welcoming.  A new coat of paint and a pop of blue color pulled it all together.

The kitchen in this older Paver Park home needed help. To keep under budget we replaced the appliances, but kept the original cabinetry, adding some new doors and handles. A new sink, better lighting, and affordable granite counters give this small older space a luxurious new feel.

Many of the amazing “before and after” renovations you see here were constructed by our friends at J & K Building and Remodeling in Sarasota.