Decorating a Courtyard Villa?
 

I'm at a loss where to begin...our new courtyard villa (Bonita model) is lovely but I'm hesitant about what things to add, what to paint, what to hang on walls, what to put up on ledges and cabinets, etc., etc., Is there any place to go to see how others have decorated/furnished theirs? Photos posted anywhere?

I think if you go to the villages.com you can see a new furnished model and if you look at homes just like yours for sale you can get good ideas too. Sometimes your neighbors have some great ideas that you could get inspiration from.


In our home here I decided to only put in it what I LOVED, not liked...even if I had to wait to find just the right picture or just the right lamp.

Sometimes the best way to decorate is to just live in a new home for a while. You may gradually start developing ideas as to what you want to do in different rooms. We have a 2 bedroom courtyard villa and I knew from the get-go that I wanted SOME wallpaper and SOME plain off-white walls. I papered both bathrooms, the little entryway, the kitchen (not much paper there!) and the Florida room. The bedrooms and main living areas are painted. As time has gone on (13+ years here) I have found that less is more in these small homes. When we moved here I couldn't wait to load up the area over the kitchen cabinets with silk flowers. I removed every last plant a few years ago and love the clean look. One or two colorful appliances or decor items on your kitchen counter might be all you need to add some interest. Perhaps you could tour some model homes to see how those are decorated?

zzz

Hi G! (my neighbor!)
For most of us here, it's still a work in progress. Gracie's suggestion to look online is a really good one.... I did that lots!
Come on over and I'll show you ours (although it's not a Bonita) We have to get you around to see what the other girls have done. I LOVE the creativity around here! (and what you have done so far is VERY nice!)
deb

I just attended the Lifelong Learning College mini sessions on Saturday. There is a course on decorationg CYV's! Just go to the website-www.TheVillagesLifelongCollege.com and look for the class under Interior Design. The teacher is an interior decorator with years of experience. Her name is Pat Czermak. I'm going to take her class on choosing the right colors for your home. Looks like a lot of FUN! Good Luck!

PJMCD,
Let us know how you liked the class. My wife went to it to get some ideas for decorating our CYV. It seems we have done most everything wrong. Our TV is in the LR in the corner by the glass slider, and our recliners are against the big wall looking at the TV and outside at our pool and landscaped yard. Big no no on all counts. No TV or recliners in the LR and we should be facing the big wall. The focal point should be the big wall in the LR, with the couch against the glass sliders. When we have a beautiful view looking at the landscaped yard, palm trees and pool, why should we look at a wall? And it goes on. The only thing we got right is the color of the kitchen cabinets. And we didn't pick them. So, if you want some ideas on how to decorate all wrong, stop by and say hi.
A couple people were so disapointed they quit the class and wanted their money back.
I'm sure she has a lot of good ideas, just not for us.
Waiting to hear what you think of the class.
Bob

THANKS to all for some very good suggestions! What a creative group in TOTV!

We have a Bonita also and lucked out as the previous owner did a fabulous job decorating and pretty much left everything as is. Come on by and I'll be happy to show you ours.

Pat

I'm with you! I think I'll do it all wrong! I want to look out, not in!

Uh oh. We did it wrong, too. :undecided:

If loving this is wrong....
 

I don't want to be right....

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...lumination.jpg


I think learning how to decorate is a GREAT idea and I would love to take the class. But I think you take those instructions, learn from them and then do what you LOVE!

My guess is... If you love it... so will everyone else!

That is ridiculous. You sit wherever you want to sit and do whatever you want to do it enjoy your home. The heck with the "rules." The only ones who have to like your house is YOU. Pick your own darn colors...if you like it, go for it...

Decorating CYV
 

I agree with Ladydoc! Personal style is what makes a house a home. Where do you enjoy sitting and relaxing? What makes that special? What do you want to look at when you are in your kitchen or living room? What side of the bed makes you the most comfortable to sleep on? Where does your dog insist on calling the space his/her own? In what location does that Happy Hour drink feel most satisfying? There is only one person to give you that advise. Look in the mirror!

I have never taken a class on decorating. Our homes here require a little rule breaking and some inovative stuff to make them feel comfy and balanced, I think. Almost everyone has the living area opening right into the kitchen. I love that but it is different than the traditional homes of years past.

I also find that there is a LOT of light in some areas and not enough in others and the light here is VERY bright. I find that relatively fewer people here use window treatments, and I personally like a softness at the window. Also the walls really need BIG pictures and BIG things on them to balance the BIG sliders. I loved putting together a home with lots of white furniture in Hadley and bringing our traditional stuff to our new home in Laurel. I really felt satisfied with both. I think it is so much fun to fix a home up here. I don't think I ever got over playing with my doll house.

P.S. I love to look at magazines and catalogs. I think that a new color combination is sea blue..a light teal with punches of deep purple. It is pretty together.

I wish we had a decorating thread. I just love to hear about the colors that people use and ideas of people making their new homes, THEIR homes here.

I love the pictures posted too.