Gardenia owners....

[Happinow]

Hi. As the time is approaching quickly for us to pick out our home, we lean towards the gardenia for a few reasons. We like the front eating nook so we can have a view of the front area as opposed to the eating areas in the rear of the home and we love the sliders being able to open so wide. We will have a pool and want to bring the outside in. Question.....Are you able to open the sliders often, to get your use out of them? Or, is it too hot to keep those doors open, thus not using the doors in their fully open position much. We are kind of fixated on those doors but if we can't open them often then all is for not. What has been your experience?? Thank you all...

[BlueHeronFan]

We have one with the "pocket" sliders. Can be used open most of late fall, some winter days, and early spring. During the hot months, it cools enough usually in the evening to the mid to high seventys but the humidity is also a factor. Either way, we get to use them plenty.

[Happinow]

Thank you blueheronfan. Puts my mind at ease....love those sliders.

[skyguy79]

We haven't experienced a summer here in our Gardenia yet, but we've experienced the months of Oct. thru March and have been able to open the doors frequently. What's nice is even when you can't open them, it's enjoyable to just have the large glass width to make the room bright and cheerful. You can also look at it this way... it's much better than we've ever experienced in NY. I trust you'll also feel the same way!

[Happinow]

skyguy79...You got that right! Anything is better than the winters in NY. I love to look at the outdoors. Those large glass doors are lovely. We wonder if any of the other homes would be able to have those large sliders put in them when built? My guess is probably not. I think the shell is the shell and they won't change windows, doors.

[RichieB]

Anything is better than the winters in NY. I love to look at the outdoors.

Tired of the "change of season," huh ? :)

Wish my wife would get tired of it - right now, we ain't goin' NOWHERE !

[Happinow]

Tired of the "change of season," huh ? :)

Wish my wife would get tired of it - right now, we ain't goin' NOWHERE !

Oh Ritchieb...so sorry you can't convince your wife. When we get down there we'll post how wonderful it is and she can read our posts and then she'll want to move!! Well....it's a nice try anyways.

[skyguy79]

skyguy79...You got that right! Anything is better than the winters in NY. I love to look at the outdoors. Those large glass doors are lovely. We wonder if any of the other homes would be able to have those large sliders put in them when built? My guess is probably not. I think the shell is the shell and they won't change windows, doors.Personally I think you got the best model in a Gardenia, but then I have good reason to. BTW, I was told by a handyman that lives in TV and has done work in our home that the Gardenia is the best model to have if you like entertaining people!

[mbikowski]

Happinow we looked at the begonia and gardenia. Liked both but chose the begonia. It will be finished for closing on feb 7. We had the pocket sliders put in and they look great according to the pics sent by our salesperson. We are eventually going to glass the lanai in after we settled in for awhile. Good luck in the gardenia a great design .

[woolman44]

We have a Gardenia with a South facing lanai, which is enclosed with windows. We also have the large double opening pocket doors. With the South facing lanai we can leave the doors open in the winter and it actually heats the entire house during the day! The cat also loves sitting out there!

[Xavier]

Hi. As the time is approaching quickly for us to pick out our home, we lean towards the gardenia for a few reasons. We like the front eating nook so we can have a view of the front area as opposed to the eating areas in the rear of the home and we love the sliders being able to open so wide. We will have a pool and want to bring the outside in. Question.....Are you able to open the sliders often, to get your use out of them? Or, is it too hot to keep those doors open, thus not using the doors in their fully open position much. We are kind of fixated on those doors but if we can't open them often then all is for not. What has been your experience?? Thank you all...

We often have our sliders open from early morning until bedtime, but we haven't spent a summer here yet. Our extended lanai is facing east. Believe me, it makes a major difference. In our opinion a west facing lanai can be almost unusable in early fall, late spring and during the summer. I would bet that a good 40 to 50 percent of our neighbors across the street (west facing lanai) have enclosed their lanai and added AC. Just my 2 cents.

Xavier

[RichieB]

The cat also loves sitting out there!

We've found out that you have to keep the cat happy !

IMPORTANT ! :)

[Happinow]

We often have our sliders open from early morning until bedtime, but we haven't spent a summer here yet. Our extended lanai is facing east. Believe me, it makes a major difference. In our opinion a west facing lanai can be almost unusable in early fall, late spring and during the summer. I would bet that a good 40 to 50 percent of our neighbors across the street (west facing lanai) have enclosed their lanai and added AC. Just my 2 cents.

Xavier

We plan on using our pool a lot and having friends over so the Gardenia layout works well. I believe our lanai faces North, which if I'm correct, the sun will rise and set side to side instead of front or back. We think that will work because there will be no direct sun in the house except for the smaller windows of the living room and bedroom. I'm sure it will all work out which ever way it hits. Looking forward to enjoying life in TV!

[swrinfla]

Happinow:

As I approach my 7th anniversary in a Gardenia, maybe my 2 cents will count at least a little! :laugh:

:agree: with BlueHeronFan (post #2, here) as to the wonders of the Gardenia.

:agree: with skyguy (post #8, here) as to the attraction of the Gardenia for entertainment.

The Resident Cat greatly appreciates that the slider from Master Bedroom to Lanai is open for her, at least 99.9% of the time. She definitely disapproved when I shut the slider earlier this week! :laugh:

For the most part, the sliders in my living/dining area on the north-facing side of my Gardenia are open except when I go out. Makes me feel as though I have some control over my world! :laugh:

The Gardenia was the first model that struck my fancy, way back in early 2004. I still think it's the best Designer plan!

SWR
:beer3:

[Happinow]

We like the floor plan too. However, I am continuously looking at the model homes on their web site and the Lantana has my attention too. It's a beauty!

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I really like the Gardinia also. I wish they offered more choices in the CYV with larger homes, but alas, they don't. I would have chosen that one also. I just LOVE those large doors. How about if I come over to YOUR house to enjoy them? lol Enjoy your house, it's lovely!!

[Happinow]

We will surely make lots of new friends and hopefully when we move in you will come with a basket of cookies, then I will invite you in to enjoy the cookies and sliding doors! :icon_hungry: we will no doubt enjoy meeting everyone....cookies or not!

[CFrance]

Happinow, we have bought a new Begonia with the wide pocket doors. We will move in Feb. 1. Our sales rep told us that it was possible to put the pocket doors into a house one is building, but if you buy an already-built new or used house without them, the cost to change to them is quite expensive. He himself has a Gardenia without them and investigated putting them in but was put off by the price.

I thought the amount of light let in by the wider doors was well worth having them even if you can't have them open all the time.

Hope to see you down there soon! We are in Tamarind Grove. Have you picked out a spot yet?

[Happinow]

Happinow, we have bought a new Begonia with the wide pocket doors. We will move in Feb. 1. Our sales rep told us that it was possible to put the pocket doors into a house one is building, but if you buy an already-built new or used house without them, the cost to change to them is quite expensive. He himself has a Gardenia without them and investigated putting them in but was put off by the price.

I thought the amount of light let in by the wider doors was well worth having them even if you can't have them open all the time.

Hope to see you down there soon! We are in Tamarind Grove. Have you picked out a spot yet?

Thanks cfrance. That would be interesting if we could put those pocket doors in other models. May influence our home model decision. Can't wait to meet anyone.

[skyguy79]

We like the floor plan too. However, I am continuously looking at the model homes on their web site and the Lantana has my attention too. It's a beauty!When I was looking online from NY, the Lantana was one of our first choices. With the help and eyes of friends down here, we chose the Gardenia without seeing it in person.

After we got down here and visited our friends who had a Lantana, We didn't like it upon seeing it live as much as the Gardenia, so we were glad we chose a Gardenia! On the other hand, if you can see it in person and get a feel for the models that interest you before buying, I'd suggest you do that if you already haven't. I think we got lucky thankfully. It could have worked out differently if we went with another model!

[kevmo]

We too found the Gardenia to be our favorite model when we bought an existing home 2 years ago (only a year and a half until we get to become fulltime frogs!). The open feel of the Gardenia and the 12 foot wide sliding pocket doors are great features. However, we are planning to remodel and remove the existing sliders, raise the floor of the lanai to be level with the living room area, and install the sliders on the outside wall of the lanai. This will give us a larger indoor living area and the sliders will open directly into the large outdoor living area under birdcage. Good luck with your decision!

[CSilvestrucci]

After 2 years in my Gardenia I still love it:a040:

[Jim 9922]

Our Gardenia is great, but be sure to bump out the front bedroom and build in a closet. All the storage you can get will be needed. Remember, no basements like up North. The only real flaw in a Gardenia (with a front closet) is that there is no front entrance hall closet. Up until a few years ago The Villages designers wouldn't admit that it sometimes gets cold in during Nov thru late Feb and jackets and sweaters are worn. Now a few of the newer models have front closets built in.
Also, when they add a golf cart garage to the "inside wall" on a regular lot, they remove a window in the breakfast nook. That makes for a dark area. I personally like lots of light throughout the whole house.

[Happinow]

Our Gardenia is great, but be sure to bump out the front bedroom and build in a closet. All the storage you can get will be needed. Remember, no basements like up North. The only real flaw in a Gardenia (with a front closet) is that there is no front entrance hall closet. Up until a few years ago The Villages designers wouldn't admit that it sometimes gets cold in during Nov thru late Feb and jackets and sweaters are worn. Now a few of the newer models have front closets built in.
Also, when they add a golf cart garage to the "inside wall" on a regular lot, they remove a window in the breakfast nook. That makes for a dark area. I personally like lots of light throughout the whole house.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Victoriada1]

Jim, I was so excited to read your advice about adding a closet to the Gardenia's 3rd bedroom! That was the only feature I didn't like about the house, and I wasn't sure they'd let you do that. How much did you push it out?

Has anyone ever increased the kitchen storage in the Gardenia by extending the cabinets and counters all the way to the nook? That sitting area isn't important to me.

[Xavier]

We have all of the following in our Gardenia (except for #2) and really recommend that you consider them:

1. swap the den and the guest bedroom locations
2. bump out the front enough to fit in a closet in the new den location
3. consider the bay window in the front guest bedroom
4. instead of the entrance to the den being in the bathroom hallway, add double louvered doors on the diagonal wall adjacent to the Living Room and Entrance Hallway.
5. bump out the lanai to 14' rather than 8'8" and move the exit door to the side by the master bedroom
6. island in the kitchen
7. rounded sheet-rock corners
8. BOSE Sound System in LR, Kitchen, Lanai (Each room is individually controlled)

For our wish-list we'd like to:

9. bump out the garage to the side or include a golf cart garage
10. add the BOSE speakers to the den, Master BR and bathroom and guest BR

Xavier

[Happinow]

Xavier, sounds like you did some fancy footwork to your Gardenia. All good suggestions. I wish they had a 1/2 bath in more of the models.

[Xavier]

Xavier, sounds like you did some fancy footwork to your Gardenia. All good suggestions. I wish they had a 1/2 bath in more of the models.

Actually the credit goes to the first owner. She also had a huge spa built-in and pavers cemented in on the lanai as well as pavers on the driveway and sidewalk. This is the way we bought it and fully furnished to boot. Such a deal!

We've painted inside and outside, added gutters all the way around, added beds and bushes on the sides, installed laminate flooring (entry hall, DR, den, and LR). carpet in the two bedrooms, added pullout shelves to the kitchen cabinets and pantry and crown molding throughout.

Xavier

[Jim 9922]

In answer to Victoriada 1: A closet takes about 2 feet of depth so the bump must be at least 2 feet to keep the front room at its standard size. If possible I would bump as far as setback lines allow.
Xavier's list is all good. A front room window bay is wonderful and adds a great sitting/reading area to the home. I think TV now offers that as an extra. Xavier also suggests a big bump in the lanai. I agree. 8 1/2 feet wide is very narrow when trying to fit in a table with 4 people seated around or a couple of easy chairs across from each other. Mark off 8 1/2 feet on your home floor to see how little you can actually fit into the area. If you like light and the outdoors, I would make the lanai as big as possible. Ours is positioned facing east so we have sunny cool breakfasts and then can enloy it out of the dierct sun the rest of the day and late afternoon.
Tour a premier Williamsburg model to see what bumps to the various rooms would feel like. The Williamsburg is basically a Gardenia bumped in all directions and has a front room closet and window bay.
Another neat Gardenia modification we have seen is to create a small office or large closet off the master bedroom by enclosing the portion of the lanai off the bedroom up to the lanai entrance in the livingroom. Basically it backs up to the dining room end wall). The entrance is where the bedroom lanai sliders are. If used as an office, add windows in the outside wall and the lanai wall, or none if a closet. To make up for the lost lanai space people bump the lanai out to square it or extend it out past the end of the house.
A drawback to using the angled wall as the entrance to the middle bedroom is that you cut it off to direct access to the bathroom. Also, you lose the advantage of using the 2 bedrooms and the bath as a private suite for guests; ie your children with their kids. Its nice to "wall" them off at night.
One more thing, and I know I an harping, consider making your garage as large as possible!! Put in a couple of cars, 2 carts a few gardening things a utility sink (must have) maybe water softner tanks and there is not much room left for storage (remember no basements), a few bags of golf clubs, hobby stuff, etc,etc., let alone an extra small refrig and a work bench!
For the record, our Gardina was bumped at least 2 feet on all sides and the auto/cart garage area by at least 4 feet on all sides. All our friends and guests give rave reviews as to what 2 feet does to the livibility of the floor plan.

Have fun working on your plans.:icon_wink:

[Victoriada1]

Does your cat hurt the screens or is she declawed? I've worried about that possibility if we bring our 2 cats down (Jeter & Freddie).

[Victoriada1]

No way were you "harping", Jim! I love your suggestions and treasure your widom since you've lived through the process. That is what is so fantastic about this site. You are all so willing to help us bewildered wanna-be-frogs. Thanks a million to all of you who have responded!!

[Victoriada1]

Wow, Xavier, what fantastic ideas! I never would have thought of the Bose Sound System, but that is a suggestion (as area ALL the others)! If I do all that we won't have any money left for furniture, but I'll sit on the floor and be happy.

[Xavier]

Wow, Xavier, what fantastic ideas! I never would have thought of the Bose Sound System, but that is a suggestion (as area ALL the others)! If I do all that we won't have any money left for furniture, but I'll sit on the floor and be happy.

...and happy is most important!

X

[Jim 9922]

Another thought an Xavier's list. The work island in the kitchen is wonderful. It adds utility and storage space. It is best to have one custom built after you move in. Be sure to build a kitchen floor outlet into your plans so you can plug your island into power when you finally install it. Once the slab is poured there is no going back for power except with a jack hammer. (also a little hard on the kitchen floor tile) A kitchen floor outlet is not standard in the basic model. You probably want to position it in the center of where you expect to place your counter. That will give you a margin of error if your final placement of off one way or another. One reason to hold off on the island is so you can work around in your kitchen a bit and determine how wide your work aisle should be.
We did not hard fix the island to the floor, and it took several moves over 6 months to find just the right position. We still move it to a different angle when open house entertaining. Its weight with all the storage stuff in it keeps it from accidental moving about.

Another modification in our home has met with mixed reviews, I like it, wife doesn't. The entrance to the garage is into the kitchen just at the end of the cabinets. The laundry room is dead ended with washer and dryer at the end and cabinets and storage along the walls and cabinets above the washer/dryers. A solalite tube is installed in the laundry room so it is almost bright as day all the time. Also you aren't walking through dirty/clean clothes every time you come in from the garage. Keep in mind our kitchen nook was bumped out 2 feet so we still have the full wall space and area of the breakfast nook.

[Xavier]

Another thought an Xavier's list. The work island in the kitchen is wonderful. It adds utility and storage space. It is best to have one custom built after you move in. Be sure to build a kitchen floor outlet into your plans so you can plug your island into power when you finally install it. Once the slab is poured there is no going back for power except with a jack hammer. (also a little hard on the kitchen floor tile) A kitchen floor outlet is not standard in the basic model. You probably want to position it in the center of where you expect to place your counter. That will give you a margin of error if your final placement of off one way or another. One reason to hold off on the island is so you can work around in your kitchen a bit and determine how wide your work aisle should be. We did not hard fix the island to the floor, and it took several moves over 6 months to find just the right position. We still move it to a different angle when open house entertaining. Its weight with all the storage stuff in it keeps it from accidental moving about..

Our island is permanently placed. There is an electrical outlet on each end. The large drawer is on the refrigerator side. If I could do over, I'd have a smaller off-set drawer on both sides and pullout shelves next to each drawer for extra counter space to use during preparation. I'd also have cabinet doors on both sides for pass-through storage.

Xavier (who wishes he had deep pockets)

[keithwand]

We often have our sliders open from early morning until bedtime, but we haven't spent a summer here yet. Our extended lanai is facing east. Believe me, it makes a major difference. In our opinion a west facing lanai can be almost unusable in early fall, late spring and during the summer. I would bet that a good 40 to 50 percent of our neighbors across the street (west facing lanai) have enclosed their lanai and added AC. Just my 2 cents.

Xavier

We had a choice of lots and went for a West facing lanai for our pool and the screen blocks quite a bit of the sun plus part of the lanai is covered too. West also offers brillant orange sky at sunset.
We have been in FL for 7 years and our patio is on the West side. It does get hot but then so does the other side of the house too.

[Jim 9922]

Our kitchen island was designed with a small and several large drawers and a cabinet on the side facing the stove. Used to store and have handy pots & pans and cooking and baking utensils.

[Happinow]

My husband says make sure we put an outlet in the floor in the kitchen just in case we want an island. I like the idea because I think it would be a great space for prep work and a great space underneath for pots and pans. I used to have a large island in a home I owned and absolutely loved it. I think we'll probably put one in. It would be good if one could be put in at the time of building so we could match the cabinets and granite and have it permanent.

[Jim 9922]

Just thinking---- with all this advice----
It is not the right sized house that matters, it is the right sized check book that really counts!!:MOJE_whot:

[mar/bob]

waiting in pa to get to villages. like gardenia or iris. can't decide.
wondering where to go in walking distance to Paddock Sq.
sounds like Sanibel is great. how long before it is full.
our Maine Coon would like a gardenia lani for sure.
we have been advised by where we live to sell here then buy what we want
our sales person thinks we need a lot now
any ideas?

[KathyW]

Do what you can afford. We purchased a lot in Sanibel and plan to start the building in april. We will not be selling out house in MI until the summer of 2013 -- one more year of work. Many others sell first, and then purchase. You should try to decide if you want new or used, and decide on the area.

Our section opened on a Friday and we purchased the next day. We knew we wanted a golf course lot facing a certain direction, and those go fast. Prime lots go very, very fast. Quite often sales people grab them for their customers "sight unseen".
Sanibel is pretty filled, but they just opened the Village of Charlotte.

[raynan]

A lot of the bump-out ideas are great but it will depend on if the lot you pick will accommodate them. We are on a huge corner lot and picked a Gardenia but had to compromise by not getting a golf cart garage to keep the location we liked. We could not expand on 3 sides at all and only the right rear (living room wall with windows) could be pushed out. We decided living room was big enough but now we are adding a large patio on that end of the lanai wrapping down the right side of the house for more outside living. We love the Gardenia but if you could bump out the front of the den (or 3rd bedroom) it would be perfect. The new Gardenias we've seen down at Sanibel have eliminated the sliders in the master bedroom.

[Happinow]

We chose to put the french doors in the master where the sliders would be. Just thought it would be nice to be able to go to the pool from the bedroom. Our master was expanded by 2 feet so we have plenty of wall space and didn't mind giving up that wall space

[jchase]

If you can find a lot wide enough and deep enough this is what we did with our Gardenia. Pushed the second bedroom, den, second bath and living area out four feet (also the lanai). Pushed the den forward three feet (which changed the den into a bedroom and added a closet). Pushed the other side of the hpuse out two feet, which gave us a bigger bedroom, bigger closets and master bath. Pushed the lanai out to 14 1/2 feet deep. We also put in a pool and hotub and enclosed the entire rear of the house with the birdcage. Since we put a pool in, our designer designed us a 1/2 bath off the master bedroom with a single french door onto the lanai and a pocket door to our bedroom. We had plenty of room since we stretched the one side out four feet. We then had Vera from T & D pools design a L shape bar in our lanai. Its great for entertaining and everyday use. The 1/2 bath is a must if you have a pool and bar area. Oh also, we made the garage a three bay kicking it out another four feet. I figured if your going to do it, don't do it half ass!

:boom:

[mar/bob]

Hi,
Wanted to thank you for all of the wonderful ideas on Gardenias.
See that you are getting to TV ahead of us.
One more cold winter and will be there in 2013
Enjoy and thanks again

Mar/Bob