[eujaynia]

We own a Villa-- I have many ideas of how I would change it. I am not particularly fond of the layout, as it's more like 'an apartment' style floorplan to me. However, I have made peace with only having around 1400 sq ft and the fact that I better get into a more 'designer' mentality to make it be more eye-pleasing. The countertops are not what I would have chosen, if I would have had that luxury; however, they are not the shoddiest I've ever seen in a new home, either. I've decided this would be the only thing I'd upgrade at this time, since tearing a wall out of a new home is nuts to me when it's new.

I think why contractors will not allow any choosing is because they would get into a war with so many people designing their homes. We're picky ... we've worked hard all our lives to be able to live in this type of community and feel all the sacrifices in life we made to get here shouldn't continue, so of course we're going to want it exactly to our specifications. If they just say take it or leave it, we'll take it and upgrade or rearrange our floor plans as we can, just getting as close to it originally as we can.

Regardless-- I LOVE OUR PLACE. I love being on ONE floor! No more walking up 3-flights of stairs (at least during the winter LOL) two or three times because I can't remember what the heck I went there for the first 2 times!

Blessings All,
Rebekah E Spahn