Village Front Porch

[justjim]

I have always had special memories of our front porch. As kids we spent hours playing games on the front porch. Many evenings Mom and Dad would sit on the porch and neighbors would stop by and have a smoke (seemed most everybody smoked) or refreshments---it was just "good times" for all. Our neighborhood Villa here in TV was similar but not quite the same. I would like to see more homes with front porches. I'm not aware of any designer models with true front porches?? We like our lanai for privacy but a front porch would be nice too. Sometimes you see people sitting out front, in or near their garage, as an option for a front porch. Just wondering if others had any memories of a front porch. :beer3:

[jimbo2012]

If U drive thru the new premiers west on Pinaalis many have front patio's

[queasy27]

I have a (small) screened front patio and use that when I feel like sitting outside. Other than perhaps a wave or acknowledging chin jut at passers-by, there isn't much neighborly chat. But then, I grew up in suburbia, which is not a "front stoop sitting" sort of environment so don't have those sort of memories. Can't miss what I don't know. :laugh:

(My back room is under the roof and glassed in as part of the house; never added an adjacent birdcage. My neighbors also have the same set-up, so no rear lanais, kissing or otherwise.)

[ilovetv]

There are some nice designer homes near us at which the owners have a smaller patio dining table and chairs in the alcove of the front door area or the platform beside the front door. I see some of them talking to neighbors at their table/chairs or just chairs out front.

I think it's a matter of "build it and they'll come" (or put it there and they'll come). It might depend on the neighborliness of the neighborhood. Neighboring is contagious if somebody gets the ball rolling.

[gomoho]

I fondly remember the front porch of my childhood - playing games, reading a book while relaxing on the glider, dressing my dolls. And I have an even more recent memory of a front porch where we moved from in Historic Wilmington NC. All the homes in the historic section have front porches and people use them extensively. It really is a great neighborhood feeling. My Village home has somewhat of a front porch and yes I have a café table and 2 chairs, but we don't use it as much as I would like. Of course not that many people walk by here so we would be waving to cars and carts.

[keithwand]

We lived in Baldwin Park before moving here It is like Celebration and all the homes have front porches. We lived across from a park/ playground and were only one of a few that utilized their porches.
After a while we too moved to our backyards.

[njbchbum]

could never be without a front porch! grew up with one, have always had a screened front porch here at the jersey shore, the maine house has an expansive open front deck and our villages has a front facing screen/window enclosed lanai and an open 'porch' area, too! seem to do the same things at each of the homes, dining, reading, playing games and chatting. it's a great way to bring the inside outside! ;)

[queasy27]

After a while we too moved to our backyards.

Well, now you're talking. I could give you some great sepia-toned backyard childhood memories!

[Foruhun]

We are moving into a house on Dalkeith (in Charlotte) in late August and I am hoping my glider will fit on my front porch. Many good childhood memories of games on the porch and waiting for the Good Humor truck! We are busy packing and pitching! Hope to meet new neighbors soon.

[dotti105]

We currently live in the fantastic planned community of "Daybreak"(all ages) in Utah. Lots of trails a lake and playground on every other corner. Very community feel. What makes it unique is that every home, condo, townhouse has a front porch. It is where everyone spends the summer evenings. Watching the kids play, visiting with neighbors. etc. All the homes have alley driveways with 2-3 car garages behind the house. It makes for a beautiful community and yes, very, very friendly and everyone knows their neighbors. The builder did it right. Now, if it didn't snow 5 months of the year and we had more golf.....we might have decided to retire in place. But as beautiful as it is in the summer....it is horrible in the winter. We are ready for the villages, but will miss the front porch socializing!

[Love2cruise]

Yes what memories I have of growing up with a front porch. Every spring my dad put up the awnings, it was so cozy, nothing better Than sitting on the glider watching it rain. And coming home from a date and sitting on the porch before going in to the house. Hoping to sneak In a kiss that my father wouldn't see! Wish we had a porch like that, but I do love our lanai!

[graciegirl]

Sweetie and I grew up in Bungalows with front porches. We have one here in TV. Neighbors stop by and we watch the moon and the airplanes as we drink our cold drinks and enjoy each other's company.

[batman911]

I believe the Gardenia model comes close to having a front porch.

[Happydaz]

We just bought a Gardenia in Pinellas and we are bringing our wrought iron glider to put on the front porch area to the side of the front door. It is a nice protected spot on the cement slab where you can place a bench or two chairs and a small table. When I was down at our new home recently I brought a small camp chair to sit on, and in the mornings I always took my coffee and chair out to the from porch area and enjoyed reading the paper. It allowed me to converse with some of my neighbors as they walked or stopped by. I love it out there. Later in the day I put my chair out on the lanai in back. Reading my story I figure you can see that we haven't as yet moved any furniture down there. I had a sleeping bag and an air matress and, of course, that one chair! We are set to move down soon and I am busy today painting the glider bench black to match our front door. We bought the Gardenia because of the nice " front porch" feeling as well as for the kitchen windows that look out the front of the house. It is nice being neighborly!

[justjim]

If U drive thru the new premiers west on Pinaalis many have front patio's

Jimbo you are right. There are several Premier models that have real front porches. That makes for even a greater neighborhood.

[justjim]

Sweetie and I grew up in Bungalows with front porches. We have one here in TV. Neighbors stop by and we watch the moon and the airplanes as we drink our cold drinks and enjoy each other's company.

Gracie, looks really inviting!

[Ohiogirl]

We currently live in the fantastic planned community of "Daybreak"(all ages) in Utah. Lots of trails a lake and playground on every other corner. Very community feel. What makes it unique is that every home, condo, townhouse has a front porch. It is where everyone spends the summer evenings. Watching the kids play, visiting with neighbors. etc. All the homes have alley driveways with 2-3 car garages behind the house. It makes for a beautiful community and yes, very, very friendly and everyone knows their neighbors. The builder did it right. Now, if it didn't snow 5 months of the year and we had more golf.....we might have decided to retire in place. But as beautiful as it is in the summer....it is horrible in the winter. We are ready for the villages, but will miss the front porch socializing!

This sounds really wonderful. Is there any way you can keep this place, or buy a smaller one there if they have them and perhaps a smaller home or villa in TV? We have discovered there is a lot to be said for doing the snowbird thing, at least for as long as you are able. We feel like we are getting the best of both worlds.

If you become a Florida resident (6 months and a day, I believe), you have no state or local income tax which in our case significantly increases our retirement income. We also get the Florida homestead exemption on our property taxes, which is significantly more than an owner-occupied property tax break on our Ohio condo. But - each situation is unique, so you have to decide. I certainly wouldn't want to drive back and forth to Utah, but maybe you could leave a car there and fly back? A lot also depends on an individual or couple's family situation as well as financial situation. Just throwing this out there.

[jimbo2012]

Jimbo you are right. There are several Premier models that have real front porches. That makes for even a greater neighborhood.


We were so impressed with idea, I built one in the front of our home.

[lpkshop]

Grew up in Queens
We had a STOOP not a porch, always hanging out on it or playing stoop ball!

[ssmith]

There is a designer/ranch with front porch...is it the Alamanda?

Also the hammock cottage has a front porch.

The front of the Bridgeport can be a front porch

[CFrance]

Jimbo,do you have any pictures of your front porch? Sounds great.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

We purchased a Designer Home Allamanda model that has a front concrete area measuring approximately 16' by 6' which would serve as a front porch area for sitting and greeting neighbors. We are considering screening the area as a front lanai.

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/newlyconstructed/images/featuresheet/allamanda-FP.pdf

[kwitherby]

One of my wife's requirements when we decided to move to the Villages was to have a home built with a front porch. We choose the Bougainvillea model which has a real nice front porch. We placed a couple of all weather rocking chairs on the porch and now spend a lot of relaxing time there.

[cquick]

I know the type of porch you want, but you won't find that exact example here at TV. The style here is called Bermuda style. BUT there are many homes with a larger entry that people have adapted to a "front porch". I think they are so pretty. We use our garage and driveway as our front porch.....

YA'LL COME ON OVER

[T-325]

I have seen many screened garages in the resale market. Are they used in the Spring and Fall or are they 4 season extensions to the living space. I think I saw some mention that a portion of the garage has been separated off into a TV room.

How are people using the garage spaces?

...About the porches, are they useable at dusk due to bugs???

[blue72]

Grew up in Queens
We had a STOOP not a porch, always hanging out on it or playing stoop ball!

NICE :)

Stoop ball
Ah, great stuff, great memories
Thanks

[dotti105]

Gracie, I love your porch!!!
It is so inviting and looks like a spot to truly enjoy your evenings! You did a beautiful job on it!

[dotti105]

Gracie, I love your porch!!!
It is so inviting and looks like a spot to truly enjoy your evenings! You did a beautiful job on it!