[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by Beth P

My DH and I recently toured several homes in the Villages. We loved the lifestyle but nothing about the home styles excited me at all. I'm a Craftsman style kind of girl wondering how to make a Florida style home feel more like MY home. Anyone out there struggle with the same concern? Give me some REAL hardwood floors throughout, moldings and built-ins...sigh. Help?

Beth -- you can make it work. Once you've decided that you really want to live here and can find a floor plan you can live with, the hard part is over.

A lot of it has to do with what you can afford house-wise and what your renovating/decorating budget is. You can afford to have your Craftsman or Mission look, even if you have to do it piece-meal.

If you can afford to change the flooring, do that first. Then paint a warm shade to achieve that "old world" charm. Change the light fixtures, one at a time, if that is what you have to do. If there are any fans, take the blades off and paint them if they are white.

I assume you would be bringing your own furniture and decorative items that already have the feeling and look you want. Once you place your own things in a house, you are on your way.

Are you handy? Can you sew or have some window treatments made? The key would be in the fabric you choose, whether it's for a complete window treatment or as an addition to blinds in a warm wood tone which are not that expensive.

Like I said -- you can make it work. If I can help you, send me a PM (private message). I can think of more suggestions, given a little more thinking time. Whatever you decide to do -- good luck!