Where to buy furniture?

[rodie]

Hi all. We are planning to build and are in need of some info on where to buy furniture that delivers to The Villages. Would like suggestions other than the one in The Villages which I believe was called Southern Lifestyles. We don't mind driving a little to get what we want. Thanks for your help.

[angiefox10]

There are two in The Villages. The other one is Showcase Direct. That's where we bought our furniture.

We were down there in June and drove all over for furniture. Couldn't find anything we liked. Drove back to Showcase direct and bought it all.

They have the floorplans of the homes in TV so you can see how it fits in our home. Then they will deliver the day before closing according to the how you decide while you are in their store! The price was right too!

[newbee's]

We also looked at Kane's in Ocala, & Babbetts in Leesburg, both nice stores. We bought from both as well as Southern Lifestyles.

[chuckinca]

A few years ago, we bought furniture from JC Penney in California and had it delivered at no cost to TV. They have a warehouse in Georgia and at that time it made one trip a month to this area.

Bought a Broyhill loveseat for $650 that Southern Lifestyles had on sale for $1,450.

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[bkcunningham1]

Most places outside The Villages (TV) deliver to TV. I love Babette's in Leesburg and they even give TV residents a discount if you ask. On the other hand, I also like some of Southern Lifestyle's furniture.

[njbchbum]

rodie - two years ago we shopped @ babbette's and got a discount - which was then cancelled out by the delivery fee we were charged! but the store does have lovely merchandise - if you like dark furniture.

we purchased our living room furniture and bedroom mattress/box spring from kent's furniture http://kentfurnitureinc.com/ north on 441/27 in summerfield - maybe a 20 minute ride from the villages. they offer a vast number of collections and some of the same lines that are offerred by southern lifestyles.

i believe that when it comes to prices, southern lifestyles will meet any competitor's. we purchased our dinette set from there and could not be happier. and then we purchased a couple of pieces for the lanai at showcase direct.

[bkcunningham1]

I'd forgotten about Kent's, njbchbum. I like that store too. (I finally broke down and ordered my Paula Deen coffee table and side tables from Southern Lifestyles. They get delivered Tuesday. Merry Christmas to me from my husband. Yah!!)

[jane032657]

In regard to furniture, did you all get rid of yorurfurniture from where you came from? We are coming from Seattle. I have a lot of hand crafted furniture, like STICKS www.sticks.com and antiques etc as we have a big farmhouse. Now we are moving to a Hacienda at Mission Hills villa, 1500 sq ft and changng the lanai to a Florida Room with air and heat; with a 30x50 birdcage being added on outside of that. So what kind of birdcage furniture works? And what is a "Florida decorating style" especially for a smaller space. We bought a big view, big yard, smaller home (for the cost of a deisgner home). We have two Setters so needed the yard enclosed and I wanted a huge view. But smaller space? What works in Florida for sensible furniture for the weather, etc.

[graciegirl]

The first house here was beachy and had a lot of white furniture. Purchased from Frontgate outlet (near where we lived in West Chester, Ohio) and pulled in a trailer, Ikea in Orlando, back of our van, Bargains and Treasures, they deliver for a charge and a few pieces from Southern Lifestyles..who deliver free, set up your bed, give you a loaner if they don't have in stock and were very reasonable. I suggest working with Jenifer Thiemann...one n in Jenifer. She can show you a range of furniture that is more reasonable than what is on display. We also bought a couple of chairs from Babbettes. Friends used Rooms to Go...they have a little more modern feel. For accessories and artificial trees check out Dockside in Leesburg and of course TJMaxx, Kohls, Bed Bath and Beyond, Pier One,Tuesday Morning and Kirklands...we have them all. JC Penneys in Leesburg and big one for curtains in Ocala. AND of course online everything too. We have Sams Club too and three super Walmarts in the area...We bought Lilybay porch furniture from Home Depot at the suggestion of several on this forum and just love it!!

The second home has our furniture from Ohio. It feels so much like home! Also one NEW bedroom of furniture...also Jenifer Thiemann from Southern Lifestyles. Still looking for a chair and ottoman at Bargains and Treasures. I love the feathering of the nest part!

Welcome home!

[Tom Hannon]

There are two in The Villages. The other one is Showcase Direct. That's where we bought our furniture.

We were down there in June and drove all over for furniture. Couldn't find anything we liked. Drove back to Showcase direct and bought it all.

They have the floorplans of the homes in TV so you can see how it fits in our home. Then they will deliver the day before closing according to the how you decide while you are in their store! The price was right too!

I agree with Angie. We bought all our furniture at Showcase Direct. You get a 5% discount for being a Villages resident. Ask to speak to a salesman named Joel. Mention my name and you might get an additional 5% off. Prices are reasonable. And they have or did have an interest free finance plan if you pay within a year.

[drdodge]

you want to buy from someone that is not going to go out of business next week. be careful when you have to put down a large deposit. Southern lifestyles and show Case direct have a great reputation. I believe they are owned by the Morse family. I bought all of my furniture from Southern lifestyles

[brostholder]

We had a very good experience at Rooms to Go in Ocala. We wound up buying our living room and dining room furniture there. I often see the Rooms to Go delivery truck in The Villages, so they must be doing something right. We also thought that IKEA in Orlando was a marvelous store. Both stores charge for deliveries.

[Carla B]

DRDodge has good advice. In the three years we've been here, many stores in the surrounding area have gone out of business.

White's Furniture on 441/27 north of The Villages also delivers. They've got a large selection of Laz-e-Boy and some nice upholstered pieces from other mfgs. If you're looking for Laz-e-Boy, there is also the Laz-e-Boy Gallery in Ocala. Foxy's Rug and Furniture, also on 441/27 north of Hwy. 42 is a great place to look.

One thing to consider is the size of the furniture that will go in a smaller home. Much furniture now is built to McMansion scale and just overwhelms smaller rooms.

[joycenemetz]

We bought our Living Room, Dining Room, Breakfast Nook and 3 Bedrooms from Rooms to Go in Ocala - Salesman (Scott) was GREAT to work with and we are very happy with the quality. We are filling in with a few pieces from Showcase Direct in Spanish Springs.

[phillygirl]

There are quite a few outside TV. My favorites were White's and Rooms to Go. Bought most of my things in TV and THEN discovered there was a whole other world and so manny more options outdo TV. Only 20 minutes away.

[Doodlegirl]

Work new pieces to you from the many consignment stores around TV...Bargains and Treasures, Neerly New, yes, Habitat for Humanity...
and one toward Summerfield I can't remember the name. In general,
there is a 300 per cent mark up on furniture. And higher on that made
in China. Southern Lifestyles furniture can all be found on the Internet
and often at less cost and free delivery. The consignment stores also
have interesting and eclectic art to go with your sticks if that is needed.

Your lanai will either have a covered or not covered roof. Lanai implies a
roof, but not always, birdcage generally means open. You will need all
weather furniture for it. If you are looking for a particular type of
furniture piece, you can also ask on here. Probably best to place the
pieces you are bringing and love, and then fill in with occ. pieces. Have
fun, I love the nesting part, too.

[Russ_Boston]

Bought many of my items from a direct middleman. Same exact furniture as you could get most stores near TV. The price was just over 60% of the same (exact) pieces at Showcase Direct. A little bit of a pain to track the guy down but well worth it in the end.

Also bought a great leather couch and recliners from the Leather Center on 441.

[mayBavillager]

Hi all. We are planning to build and are in need of some info on where to buy furniture that delivers to The Villages. Would like suggestions other than the one in The Villages which I believe was called Southern Lifestyles. We don't mind driving a little to get what we want. Thanks for your help.

Thanks Rodie for asking the same question I was going to ask. Our closing is in Jan. and we do not have any furniture either, as we are not taking any of ours from CT. We looked rather quickly at both of the Villages furniture stores when we were there in Nov to buy, and I really wasn't wowed by anything, but we had very little time at both of the stores. Now I am having nightmares on not having any furniture when we get there. So at least Southern Lifestyles will lend us a bed, I found out by reading these posts. So I will go on line at a few of thee places and see what they have.

[angiefox10]

What you may not know about Showcase furniture. Everything they sell in not in the showroom. If you know what you want tell them and they can show you their catalogs.

The floorplans they had were wonderful. I made changes to my selections because I realized a piece was either to big or too small for the room.

It will be delivered the day before we close, so all we have to do it put the bed linen on and we are good to go!

[njbchbum]

Thanks Rodie for asking the same question I was going to ask. Our closing is in Jan. and we do not have any furniture either, as we are not taking any of ours from CT. We looked rather quickly at both of the Villages furniture stores when we were there in Nov to buy, and I really wasn't wowed by anything, but we had very little time at both of the stores. Now I am having nightmares on not having any furniture when we get there. So at least Southern Lifestyles will lend us a bed, I found out by reading these posts. So I will go on line at a few of thee places and see what they have.

maybavillager - i don't know how your schedule is planned - but before our closing we arrived in the villages about 4 days before our closing and stayed in one of the motels on 441/27 near spanish springs. we went furniture shopping during those days and had all of the basics delivered on the day of closing. kent furniture was absolutely great about getting the living room and bed delivered and set up for us - the headboard, dresser and nite tables arrived later from another store, as did the guest room and dinette set. if you can find the time, this might work well for you, too.

[Russ_Boston]

the first two weeks we were there we started with nothing but a box and mattress. Got a few pieces at a time after that.

It was like camping! :)

[bkcunningham1]

the first two weeks we were there we started with nothing but a box and mattress. Got a few pieces at a time after that.

It was like camping! :)

Before we moved fulltime, we called our furniture our flop house decor.

[tractorman]

Purchased a house three years ago and purchased a number of things from Southern Lifestyles. They will match any price,plus deliver and set up free.Also will give you 5% discount. Ask for Jeff Tutin,very helpful.

[Russ_Boston]

Purchased a house three years ago and purchased a number of things from Southern Lifestyles. They will match any price,plus deliver and set up free.Also will give you 5% discount. Ask for Jeff Tutin,very helpful.

Not exactly true - I found some furniture in their catalogs and then found a price through an independent middleman (no showroom) who was able to deliver the same furniture for almost 40% less. Called them back and they told me there was no way I could get that same exact furntiture for that price. They wouldn't match.

Got the furniture from the independent guy and was very satisfied.

Note: I actually found the guy on craigslist and was skeptical but it worked out great. I didn't pay him a dime until he delivered, set it up and we were satisfied with the product.

[Whatever]

If you can't go to High Point N.C. try Rooms to Go in Ocala.

[Carla B]

Trust Russ to come up with a great idea; wish I known how to do that when we were in a furniture-buying mode.

My Southern Lifestyles story: We found a bedroom set we liked at a store in Boca Raton. The mfg. was having a 50% off sale at the time. So we asked Southern Lifestyles to match the price, since they advertise that they will "meet the competition." They took the catalog numbers, verified the sale price, and agreed to match it,. However, their quote was $500 higher. When I asked why, they said that was for "delivery" since that's what it would cost to deliver from south FL to The Villages, if we bought it in south FL. Never mind that they would order it from the mfg.'s warehouse somewhere up north.

So I called Babette's, who agreed to match the price and charge $0 for delivery. Obviously, Babette's got the order.

We thought Southern Lifestyles idea of "meeting the competition" was interesting.

[Russ_Boston]

I think they didn't match since my guy didn't really have a 'store'.

[Disneychix]

We bought a lifestyle preview program designer home and it came fully furnished by Southern Lifestyle Stanley Cottage Edition. When we bought obviously it was as is. I found a few wooden items that needed some minor repairs. I called the Southern Lifestyle repair services and a absolutely wonderful gentleman came out and went way beyond expectations to repair the cocktail table. I showed him a nightstand with issues and he had someone pick it up and it came back newer then new. They did not charge me for the house call and charge me only $50. to repair the night stand. Last week we went outside TV to buy a recliner and a sleeper sofa. They ordered the sofa and delivered the leather recliner that was $1200. After spending about on hour in the recliner my husband decided that he really wasn't that comfortable in it so he called Babettes to return it. They charged us $250. to return it which is no problem as we understand that it was in our home and now it is used. The sales person insisted that he take the money from the recliner and apply it to the sofa. We did not agree to that as the recliner is in our living room and the sofa will be in my husband's office so that is two different accounts. One personal and one business. They would not agree and therefore cancelled our sofa order and told us that we will not tell them how to run their business. We are shocked that a sales person could do that and he has sent us numerous emails with rude tones. I would stay away from them as there are way too many other choices.