As with many other issues, I suppose there are different views... but being a newbie and after having read different responses, here and elsewhere, I'm more inclined to accept that beach sand is not a good thing. Thanks for your input :)) @lisasfbay9b I would say the proportion is say 1 to 8 in the smaller pots, 1 to 15 in the medium-sized ones and way bigger in the others, so yes, it might not be such a drama after all. As I said, the intent (alas, how mistakenly it seems now!) was to have a small layer of a material which, in principle, would always be dry (beach sand doesn't retain water, right?) so when the plant roots reached that level at the bottom of the pot they wouldn't be soggy or wet in case I over watered, hence they wouldn't rot. Yes, all the pots have holes, I'm newbie, but that I get! As per how salty... I'm not tasting it, huh (LOL!), seriously, I wouldn't know and I don't have the equipment to measure it. I can only say is natural beach sand from the beaches here in Barcelona. It's very fine sand. As per salting it out, well, since there are plants in the pots I don't want to overwater and then kill them. @rina_Ontario,Canada(5a) Regular soil means (to me as a 'city dweller') standard bagged soil you can purchase in 5,10,20 and 50L bags at most garden centres, and I believe in English is referred to as "potting soil", right? As per how are they doing, well, some are doing fine others no so much, but (a) it's been a recent plant out and (b) those that are not doing so well it might just well be that I'm a newbie and perhaps I'm watering too much, or perhaps they are too exposed to the sun.... or a thousand other things I might be doing wrong. As they say "always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will."

That's a nice find and could be a fun project! It's not hard, you'd just have to sand it down completely before being able to restain it. I would remove the legs and sand each part separately. Having a small sander is a big help. I can't if there is any detail on the legs, but if there is, that can be a little more challenging to sand but not impossible. Before staining, be sure all of the dust is cleaned off. I just use Minwax, most paint stores carry it. Wipe or brush it on and then wipe off the excess with a soft lintless rag like cheesecloth. After it's dried, put a couple of coats of lacquer on it. It comes in variations of gloss just like paint does. I would do 2 or more coats, and you'll need to lightly sand in between each coat to maintain a smooth surface. If you go to a paint store instead of one of the big box stores, they can show you the appropriate brush to use and what product to use to obtain the look you want.

Find a ruler. What is the depth of the rabbet ("ledging thing") the old panel sat in, i.e. how thin does the new panel need to be?

Your bookcase has a 60’s vibe and a tan leather sofa is not quite beachy either so I would head towards a relaxed, eclectic look with durable and fun pieces. Aim for light and airy and I would lighten the paint color. Suggest a durable and interesting rug and it will set the direction of the room and will help with your furniture and accessory choices. I would wait until you get possession so you can better access the best layout and needs, ie: round or square coffee table, number and size of chairs, lighting/side tables or a floor lamp, etc With a tan couch, I wouldn’t use dark choices in seating and accessories if you want to achieve a beachy look