WindMark Idea House -- DIY Artwork on a Budget

Photo: Antoine Bootz, Courtesy of: MyHomeIdeas.com
The Master Bedroom we won from MyHomeIdeas was simply extraordinary. The deep purple walls were even more luxurious in person. The beds, upholstered furniture, lavish bedding and window treatments were all here when we finally took possession of the home. The artwork, however, had been on loan from the sponsors, and did not convey with the home. So . . . we were thrilled for the opportunity to add our own personal touches to this and other rooms.
The paintings in the room were reproductions of drawings from a 19th century scientist, Albertus Seba. After a little research, I found the artwork could be purchased at around $2000 per piece. Since I wished to maintain the character of this room, but obviously didn't have the budget needed to duplicate it exactly, I opted for a more reasonably priced alternative.

On Amazon, I found a coffee table book featuring the Natural Curiosities Collection. Many of the prints inside the Idea House were inside this book (on a smaller scale than the originals).
I purchased the used copy of the book (I paid about $20), brought it home, then carefully removed the pages from the binding. (A box cutter made this task much easier and preserved the quality of the photos. I cut only the threads attaching the binding, not the pages, at this point.)
I used a paper trimmer to trim the selected photos from the book. . .

Then floated the pictures atop cardboard mounting squares before framing. I found the frames on sale for $5 at Walmart.

Photo: Robert Tobler
Though, I was unable to locate exact replicas of the first prints which graced the walls of the WindMark Master Bedroom, our versions still seemed to maintain the "Old Florida" vibe of the room ~ at a substantial savings.

To view more photos from the WindMark Idea House, visit our vacation rental website: Summer Dream Cottage or MyHomeIdeas -- the website that changed our life, and made this Florida girl's Summer Dream Come True.

Summer -- Still a Dream Come True at WindMark Beach Idea House

I loved the unspoiled simplicity of WindMark Beach. Devoid of crowds most folks expect in Florida, this peaceful shoreline along the Forgotten Coast felt like our very own secret hideaway for the 4th of July weekend.

We danced along the shore. We searched for treasures and were not disappointed. Dozens of live sand dollars tickeled our toes along the sandbar -- what a thrill. We played until the sun went down, and carried home a heartfull of memories. Our Summer Dreams keep coming true each time we visit our sweet home at WindMark Beach.

Back at the house, we read the beach stories of other families (over a dozen already this year!) vacationing at Summer Dream. Our guest book is already filling up with lively tales of cuddling on the porch, board games during afternoon showers, sandcastle building, and "catching the big one" in St. Joe Bay's crystal blue waters. What a joy to share the WindMark Idea House with others. What a blessing for our children to create lasting memories as well.

Thanks to all who have visited. And thanks again to MyHomeIdeas for our Summer Dream Come True!

Summer Dream Wall Art and Coastal Decor

During our visit to Summer Dream, we added finishing touches to the decor of the main room.
A double-sleeper ottoman with tray tables, World Market table, candles, greenery . . .

Colorful and coastal serving pieces and glassware for the kitchen. The drink server was here -- we only needed to fill it with pink lemonade (and a splash of something bubbly as the night went on . . . )

The wall art in the main room includes photographic images taken during our first Christmas visit to WindMark and Summer Dream. My mother framed the hometown newspaper account of our win, which we placed in the entry to this room.

I love how the sepia beach prints (taken on WindMark's private beach) reflect the orange touches within the room. Guests to Summer Dream have filled this book basket with personal magazines and tour brochures enjoyed during their visit.

Also collected in the home by our guests: wine corks from numerous celebrations, sea shells from sunset beach searches, and dozens of beach stories in the Summer Dream guest journal.

I simply love the joy of sharing this home with others. What a blessing to know so many magical memories are created each week within this home, on its porches, and along the miles of BeachWalks and sandy shoreline of WindMark Beach. What a Summer Dream Come True!

We hope you'll visit us soon: Summer Dream Cottage

MyHomeIdeas Beach House Girls Room Reveal

Our daughter loved her new bedroom . . . as you can see.

MyHomeIdeas Windmark Beach Idea House Big Reveal -- for kids

The MyHomeIdeas.Com Home Giveaway Big Reveal -- Kids' Style.

As you can see. . . our children love the new beach house from MyHomeIdeas . . . Read the full story from MyHomeIdeas here and more from this blog on our Story of a Dream Come True. This scene ends with our daughter running downstairs to find her new bed.

The Dream Team!

It takes a team to make a Summer Dream come true! My parents (in the top middle) and this fun group of friends all headed down to Summer Dream for the weekend to do last minute repairs, build bunk beds, and check off all the items on my to-do list. Thank you guys for all your hard work. I heard you had a few rug burns when it was all over. I'm glad to see you all took a little time to goof off on the porch swing. Next time I see the Dream Team, Friday Night Happy Hour is on me -- er, well, maybe the first round anyway. I know you Dreamers a little too well.

And that's my Pops -- always working (in between naps). He has worked extremely hard to make this home Renter-Ready. Thanks Dad, for always being there. I'm lucky to have you.

A Walk Through Windmark Beach

This scenic video, posted on the Southern Resort's Gulf Coast Blog (and created by our very own angel and property manager, Patti Stroud) offers a glimpse of the treasures awaiting you at Windmark Beach.



Oh, watching it again makes me homesick for the coast. I truly hope you all get a chance to experience this Summer Dream!

Lucky Enough! Works in Progress at the Idea House.

Many people are surprised to realize only a portion of the furnishings were conveyed to us as part of the prize package from MyHomeIdeas.com. . . Many of the tables and all of the artwork was on loan for staging purposes. But, the important items remained: all the gorgeous outdoor furniture from Frontgate, all of the upholstered furnishings, window treatments, beds and luxurious bedding. We were thrilled with the home as it was (with or without the pricey artwork), and ever grateful for this experience. As I say, "If you are lucky enough to be at the beach, you are lucky enough." This sign was our first purchase -- located in the laundry room, and the guest's entry to the home. Read Some Day to learn its significance.
We were thrilled to add a few of our own touches to the home. As you can see, the home is still a work-in-progress. But, we are certain to have it in tip-top shape before Spring when, hopefully, our big rental season will begin.

We replaced the missing dining table with a great buy from World Market. The weathered finish of this table is perfect for active families in the beach house. It also neatly stows a bench underneath. So, for our holiday meals, we simply pulled the table away from the window, and had enough space to fit all the troops. The chairs were still in the house from before, but we were able to find an inexpensive look-alike alternative for the barstools at Target.

The artwork was missing in the master bedroom. Luckily, we found stunning replacements at Trask Design Studio in Port St. Joe's lovely shopping district on Reid Street.

This bed sadly had to be moved from the coral bedroom to accomodate a more appropriate location for the children's room in the main house. But we thought it looked lovely in person with the striped walls. Now that I see the picture, however, I'm not as convinced. Hmmm. All the girly decor (lamps, pillows, etc.) have been relocated to our home in Maryland. Updated photos will follow of this room -- now outfitted from another lovely shop in Port St. Joe -- Portside Trading Company. The staff at Portside Trading were exceptionally helpful, allowing us to bring home pieces to try out in the space. Once we have new photos with all the furniture, I can decide if the room color will work.

These beds from SimplyBunkbeds.com look very nice in the coral room. This, as you see, is still a work-in-progress. Your ideas are welcome! I think we just need pillows and artwork and extra lighting to tie it all together.

I do like how the white bunks brighten the space. We placed a bunk on each wall with trundles underneath. There's enough bunkspace here to sleep 6! We also added a double ottoman sleeper to the main room.

Summer Dream can comfortably accommodate a slumbering party of 14. . . perfect for a family reunion. You will find that splitting the bill for a vacation home between a couple of other families (instead of booking individual hotel rooms) allows you a little more pocket change for shopping on Reid Avenue.

We'll post completed photos of the rooms as we have them. . . each weekend my family and friends from the Gulf Coast have been visiting Summer Dream to give each room just a little more love. Many thanks to My Dream Team!

And Blessings to all of you,

Leisa

Our Fabulous New Home in Windmark Beach!!

Finally! We're here!! Here's the view that greeted us as we drove up to the home . . . the garages open to the street to the back of the home . . . inviting us to park the car and choose alternative forms of transportation -- beach cruisers, kayaks, and barefeet -- for the rest of our stay.

Flip flops welcomed our arrival to the home. The children didn't miss a beat as they shed their street shoes quickly, and chose a personal pair for their stay. We were so touched by our children's natural reaction that we have stocked enough flip flops to greet all guests at our new Summer Dream.

Porch living at it's finest . . . we sat for hours each evening in this space -- a great place for a game of cards or a coctail among friends. The porches felt like they went on and on.

Sitting here at night delights the senses. The flavor of salty air seasoned with pine. The rhythm of evening dew dancing atop tin roofs, trickling through the branches below. It felt as if we were transported deep into a Southern rainforest.

Sensational seating for a sisterly chat.

Walking along the beach on Christmas day . . . shorts, barefeet, almost 80 degree temps with our jolly crew . . .

truly was a holiday's Summer Dream!

Kayaks -- courtesy of Windmark Beach -- stand ready for a sportsman's pleasure. We're saving this adventure for next time, when the water is warm enough for me to fall into!

The bikes are provided by Windmark Sales Office for guests -- for free!!! We biked the miles of cobbled roads and boardwalks for hours!

The home truly was more fabulous in person! There was room for everbody to enjoy a movie or a meal in the main room. Then at bedtime, each person had a private space in which to retreat. A perfect place for a holiday reunion!

The carriage house above the garage offered a great getaway for the grandparents. The children loved visiting them there every morning.

Our children never wanted to leave. My son said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could live here year round, and bring all our friends! This house and this neighborhood are AWESOME!" You can't get higher praise than that, especially from a nine-year-old.

Like him, I wish we could live here year round. But I also agree this will be a terrific place to welcome guests. The best part of having a Summer Dream come true is sharing it with others. . . I hope you can come visit soon.

When you are ready to plan your own Summer Dream vacation, here is the angel to call . . . Patti Stroud, our property manager from Southern Resorts, worked tirelessly prior to our arrival to prepare the home for us. She noticed every little detail, brought in the cleaning team, worked with all the contractors to ensure everything was hooked up and running for us when we got there. We have been absolutely blessed by Patti's hard work and enthusiasm, and know she will take exceptionally good care of our guests. Give her a call at (850)229-1350 or click on the Summer Dream photo on the blog to book your stay.

We know your family will love Windmark as much as we do! We can't wait to welcome you to your Summer Dream.

Blessings,

Leisa

Life Is Good at the Beach House

It's official! Our children LOVED the new beach house! On Christmas morning, they enjoyed a few laughs on the coolest porch swing they ever saw.
The boys call it "gi-normous!" Their sister chimes in, "Yeah, hu-normous!"
They pose here with their new "Life is Good" shirts -- freshly ripped from packages found under the Christmas morning tree. They swing and giggle briefly for the camera before reminding their mother (and Aunt Leisa) that "We're going to the beach, remember. " A couple of minutes and a hundred yard race later, they were there!
Those pictures will follow later, along with our family's elated reactions to our new home and the amazing coastal community of Windmark Beach. Because for now -- after a wonderful Christmas week of living in a Summer Dream, a 17 hour mini-van trek with my delightful husband, three children, and Bernese Mountain dog has delivered me safely home to a "gi-normous, hu-gantic" pile of laundry to explore. All I seek now is R-E-S-T! (Well, ok . . . maybe I can post just one pic of Maggie the Beach dog.)

I do hope your holidays have been wonderful, too. As soon as we dig our way completely out of our sandy suitcases, I promise to post more pictures and stories from what my children have proclaimed was "The Best Christmas EVER!"

Blessings to you,
Leisa

Christmas Wishes and Bunkroom Dreams

Our daughter's wish list this year includes:
My Little Ponies, Care Bears, Barbie Princesses . . . and for her NEW Beach house bed to move to Maryland so she can have it ALL year long. She will have her wish . . . the bed and lamps shown here (so generously given to her by MyHomeIdeas.com) will be moved up after the holiday. We'll let her enjoy it first in her brand new home by the shore. In its place, new beds will come. Enough beds to sleep 6! Our boys are already planning their bunkhouse campout for this summer!

We plan to build two sets of bunks in an L-shape on one side of the room. . . providing lighting, shelving and slumbering space for each little camper. (Of course, there will be room for grown ups here too . . . you know I'm planning a Summer Dream Getaway for my girlfriends as well!)

Photo from Coastal Living

I think this bunk is beautiful too. I'd like to create a curtain similar to this for each bunk. It just seems magical to provide each bunkmate with a secret retreat in which to dream each night. We have to dream, after all, if we wish to have a dream come true.

I love these bunks I found on MyHomeIdeas. The private desks at each end are inspired. We plan to build an extra bunk on the other side of the room between the windows. Perhaps we can create a similar place to create and play there.

This was another bunk idea from MyHomeIdeas . . . very fun, I think. We plan to provide storage underneath the bunks, either for trundles or extra toys and games.

But for now . . . since I'd like my family to savor our new Summer Dream cottage this Christmas, rather than spending all our time together building bunks (Did I mention my Dad and brother are builders?), I've chosen an economical, temporary solution by purchasing these bunks from SimplyBunkbeds Instead of the storage drawers, we will have a trundle underneath. I'm hoping these will work nicely for now, until Summer Dream's rental revenue is able to finance the more luxurious built-ins.

This is the bedding I've chosen from Linen Source. . . The peaceful shell print and reversible stripes on this quilt make it a gender-neutral choice to welcome both children and adults into peaceful slumber. . .

Now that I've spent the day shopping for the beach house, and taken care of my daughter's biggest wish by allowing her beautiful new pink bed to come to her year-round home -- I really must tackle the rest of my Christmas shopping, now. After all, I have two more wonderful children -- active boys with holiday lists of their own.

But thanks to MyHomeIdeas, our family's greatest wishes have already come true . . . If we're lucky enough to spend our holiday together in our beautiful new cottage by the beach, then (as I've said many times before) we are lucky enough, indeed!

Have a wonderful holiday season. I hope to see you soon at the Beach House!!

Celebrate the New Year in the Windmark Beach Idea House!!

The Windmark Idea House will be officially ours soon. . . Our family plans to stay here for the first time during Christmas, but on December 29th, this little slice of paradise will be ready to Welcome Your Family. If our dream-come-true is your dream too, Click Here for Rental Information or call Patti Stroud, our Southern Resorts Property Manager at (800)424-1318 to see when the Idea House is available for your family!

You may browse the photos and slideshows of this amazing home by clicking the photo above or by visiting: MyHomeIdeas. But keep checking back here, as we will be posting our own photos soon. You may expect a few changes to the decor. The artwork and a few tables and lights will change since those pieces were on loan. . . And the little girl's bed will be moving to our Maryland home at our daughter's request. In its place -- we are building a Fabulous NEW Bunkroom similiar to the one here with beds for 6 of your favorite friends or little ones!!!
Start planning your stay today with the Port St. Joe Getaway -- Fun Links on the sidebar. And click here to introduce your little ones to a few of the neighbors.
The Windmark Beach community is nothing less than spectacular. Our cottage, which we plan to name "Summer Dream" is conveniently located next to the Town Center's shops, restaurants, community pool, and the best part --- only 100 yards from the snow-white beach! We look forward to welcoming all of you to the "cottage that will knock your sandals off" very soon!

Blessings to you for the Holiday Season,
Leisa

The Florida Memory That Led Me to MyHomeIdeas

I found some photos from our last visit to Florida. . . Interestingly, this memory was the reason I visited MyHomeIdeas in the first place. I was searching for photos of this Southern Living Idea House we visited in Tucker Bayou on the Panhandle.

My sister, Buffie, is admiring the great storage ideas in the activity room.
What a lovely place to chat with friends.
My friend Tracy admires the wine storage in the mudroom. . . this is OUR kind of mudroom.
This was the idea I was looking for the day I entered the IdeaHouse giveaway. . . I would love to recreate this bookshelf. But I had no idea the moment I first saw it would someday lead to WINNING a fabulous idea house of my own!
For the longest time this photo was the wallpaper on my computer. I LOVED the orange chair, and the TV's hideaway.
Another idea I wanted to recreate . . . hmmm, I could do this with framed scrapbook art.
Love this built-in. I think something like this would be great in my sixth grade son's room for books, and trophies and lego creations.
I'm always looking for a great place to read!
This artwork made us laugh . . . Wrong Place/Wrong Time.
This bunkroom was really fun . . . and I wonder if we could incorporate this into the new beach house somehow. My children need a place to hang out with all their cousins.
Peek-a-boo!
That's my mom (and my children's Nana) clapping along with the band while we enjoy
Drinks at a local watering hole on 30-A, I can't believe how much my daughter has grown since then . . . This was simply an amazing day. . . Who would ever guess it would lead to a dream come true?!