Contents - Los Cabos Magazine

Even if you’ve never enjoyed domestic duties, you’ll find yourself enchanted by hunting down the perfect accessories and furnishings for your new Los Cabos hideaway. With the right direction you won’t have to pay a fortune, either. The key is to keep to a simple theme: Mexican.

You’ll save a significant amount of cash if you concentrate on domestically produced furnishings, as up to thirty percent of the cost of imported furnishings is customs duty. Think of it this way: you’re in Mexico. Won’t it be fun to welcome your friends to your Mexican Rustic-themed new home? Although rarely produced locally, hand made wooden furniture is shipped in and is significantly less expensive than the mass-produced alternative.

Carved wooden armoires, entertainment centers, chests and tables and chairs can be found at a number of outlets, such as Diseño Mexicano or Artezano’s in Cabo San Lucas or Durango’s Scorpion in San Jose. Off the main streets you’ll find stores selling upholstered furniture, as well as chairs, sofas, and tables made of wood and leather.

Shop around with your list before you buy individual items. To maximize your buying power, group as many purchases as possible at one or two stores. Once you’ve got a list of items you’d like to buy from a particular store, ask to speak to the manager. Show the manager your list and ask what kind of volume discount the store can offer. Usually for the promise of selling an entire condo or house worth of furniture, the asking price will become elastic. This strategy works best at individually owned, smaller stores who are likely to value your patronage more than the larger outlets.

Even at some of the more upscale boutiques, discounts of up to 45 percent can be had if you’re willing to give them significant volume or accept last year’s models. There are also several upscale resale shops in town, which are worth a look. If you’re fortunate, you might find some upscale treasures. Another good option is to join the Los Cabos Tomatoes web group to find daily news of garage sales in the area where you can frequently pick up small appliances, televisions and other electronics.

For appliances, linens and other smaller details, invest in membership to one of our club stores. Both Costco and City Club carry a full line of household goods such as microwaves, china, glassware and bedding. Be sure to not overlook the large grocery stores on Route 19 (the road to Todos Santos). Both CCC and Soriana carry general merchandise at very competitive prices.

Once you’ve got your new home outfitted with the basic necessities, you’ll want to start putting on the finishing touches. Luckily for you, Rustic Mexican is a look you can do on a budget with outstanding results. Paint is inexpensive, suitable for the style and reversible if you’re hesitant about your decorating prowess. Rustic Mexican calls for the liberal use of vibrant colors. Remember, it is reversible!

You may be inclined to bring window coverings down in suitcases, but be sure to consider combining your imported goods with local accents for a very Los Cabos look. Several years ago, one clever decorator splurged on high quality hardware, used simple white hangings and then used serapes as swags for a small condominium. The client was thrilled!

For accessories, you have literally thousands of choices. Many budget-conscious decorators use plenty of colorful baskets, painted plates and wool rugs to pull a room together. All can be had as close as the nearest beach! Pottery, pewter and rustic art are plentiful here in Los Cabos.

From the stove in the kitchen, to the last tiny knickknack, you can find it in Los Cabos, even if you are on a budget.

In the last issue of Los Cabos Magazine we mistakenly credited the article ”Decorating Your Dream Home” written by Carol Billups, not by David Mandich. We apologize for the error.