Quote:
Originally Posted by jackz
Would appreciate some feedback on what other Lily owners have done to design their Lily home.
We have purchased a lot in Sanibel that abuts the water with a lot large enough to put in a pool and are getting to the stage where we want to decide on how to design the home.
At this point we are considering:
- Extending the lanai 4.5 feet
- Having a Roman Bath in the masterbedroom
- Substituting a shower for the bath in the guest bathroom
- Tile floors in a diagonal pattern ( Considering whole house tile or just carpet in the bedrooms)
- Having a completely open kitchen without the extra cupboard and wall facing living room
- Granite Counters in kitchen and all bathrooms at time of construction vs. post construction installation by a private contractor
Would appreciate feedback re: your suggestions and experiences.
Also input on having pool installed at time of construction vs post construction by private contractor and suggestions for flooring for the lanai.
Thanks in advance.
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Lanai...If you have the room- do it. One side issue is will the extension be under roof or a birdcage? If possible, you want to have the roof extended, for we get some mighty strong rains/wind here..and thats just with a normal summer "passing Tstorm. Plus depending upon the direction your lanai faces (N<S<E<W), you want the roof to provide as much protection as possible from an overhead or setting sun ...it can get hot and uncomfortatble.
Roman Bath in MBR - We Love our Roman
Shower....No question about it , do it! We would not use on a Roman bath on a frequent basis!
Shower in lieu of bathtub in guest - Personal preference but some people may want to "soak" the not so young an tired muscles form all the TV activity. However definite advantages to putting in a shower like the extended vanity and added bedroom space.
Floors - We (and the dog) like the diagonal tiles throughout the house with the exceptions of the bedrooms. I suggest keeping carpeting at a minimun.
Open Kitchen -
Be Careful here!! It may look good but from a practical perspective, one of the big issues you will have will be a lack of cabinet/cupboard space. You will need all you can get!! Is it possible to extend the kitchen side of your house 2 feet??? That would give you extra cabinet space, room for a center island and then if you wnat you can open up the kitchen.
Granite - Yes its more expensive for the builder to put it in but when your ready to move in its done. you will have enough of little (or not so little)other projects to keep you occupied,
Pool - Alot of recent threads on a pool and are they necessary. My feeling there are plently of pools in the various neighborhoods that in essence are social gathering points. However if you are Pool people and have previously experienced owning a pool, and want it, go for it. It creates a very pleasant, soothing atmosphere for any socials you may have If you are going to to it again like the Granite, its probably better for the builder to do it all at the same time...probably cost you easily $10-15K more but its a real mess to do afterwards (but it could be done)! You can wait a year before you drop the BIG bucks for the solar heating system!
Two things not on your list and some previous posts may have mentioned, 1)Get as big a garage as you can get, and 2) we also added (after construction) a hexagonal room off the master bedroom that also connects to an enclosed lanai that we use as a hobby room but it could easily be an excercise room, office, or sitting room.