Good morning!
 

Yes...we do love the birdcage! It opens up the whole lanai...just can't wait for the weather to get a little warmer so we can sit out there more often!

It's not that the carpet has to be replaced...I could certainly live with it for another few years or so. We're just trying to get things done early so we can enjoy it sooner. I never liked carpeting in the dining room...it's difficult to move the chairs, stains, etc. Since our living area is one large greatroom, we decided that it wouldn't look right to cut the room in half...hence, the wood floors (or a good laminate) in the greatroom only. The carpeting will definitely be staying in the bedrooms...not as much wear there!

We were lucky that our home came with the fans, blinds, washer and dryer...and all at the same price as a cottage without those upgrades. As far as replacing anything else, I don't think we will be doing anything in the near future...we are ecstatically happy with our home just the way it is now!:a040:

Ceejay
 

Good to hear you love your home. I forgot to ask you what kind of cottage do you have? Like I said, we are interested in the At Ease. I liked the big living area and the separate kitchen.

Has anyone see how they are placing the cottages? In other words, are they making the side lanai of an At Ease private from the home behind? Lanai placement is my biggest concern.

Hi Russ,
A private lanai was a priority for us too. In some of the older neighborhoods on the north side, the houses are not as close together, are very well offset and have mature landscaping, all of which facilitate back yard and lanai privacy. Don't know if you have any interest in north side; but if so, you can zoom into The Villages from Google Earth and get an idea of where you might be able to find a private backyard lanai. Of course, on the north side, these would all be resales and as Zcaveman pointed out, the houses are called ranches, not cottages.

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...tos/Home/1.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...tos/Home/7.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...tos/Home/6.jpg

Russ,
These pictures show how the lanai on my cottage "at ease" style is on the side.In my neighborhood the lanais are on the side that faces the garage on the house next door.This make it very private.As you can see from these pics also my back faces a farm which was the real selling point.We absolutely love our house ,the layout and all but I believe the privacy of our lanai and our backyard made us write the check.Happy house hunting!!:wave:

Nice!

Very nice Bosox. Are you in Amelia?

Thanks Russ & Gracie..and Gracie yes we are in Amelia

We have a Tuckett Inn :)

When I replied to your original post, I was in a hurry and hadn't really thought about everything we've done since we moved in.

:blahblahblah:We installed slider garage doors, attic stairs, a cabinet over the washer and dryer, a fan with a light in the kitchen, under-cabinet lighting, island lighting over the breakfast counter, surround sound speakers in the living room ceiling, dish network connections in the other bedrooms and the lanai, new shelving in the master closet and a built-in medicine cabinet in the guest bathroom. Outside we replaced the straw with stone and planted a couple of trees. Oh, and I just got my "It's 5:00 Somewhere" sign for the lanai!:a040:

I'm sure there's something I have forgotten...I can't believe we've done all this stuff...and that's why I love my home "just the way it is!":clap2:

A friend of mine is having a At Ease built in The Village of Buttonwood. He got to pick out his lot and they just put down his slab on Friday February 26th and is scheduled to close on April 9th. After he picked out his lot he then picked the starting date. They are building many many Cottage homes in Buttonwood. His home is accross the street from designer homes.

Not only can you pick out your lot then he got to choose vinyl color, cabinets, counter tops, carpet, golf car garage, and many more. They offer a fan package, and you can choose appliances. He is purchasing his own washer and dryer he also is having an outside person put in his blinds rather than the blind package that The Villages offered. He also picked out a birdcage over the patio next to the lani. I don't know all of the options that were available but as he mentioned some of what he got I was very surprised.

Buttonwood is located West of Cane Garden Country Club and West of The Village of Pennecamp. Lots of construction now going up in Buttonwood.

Ceejay
 

Wow! You really went to town. Everything does sound wonderful - I'm sure we will want to do just as much. We are returning to PA at the end of March to once again put our home on the market - hopefully, this will be the year. Then we'll return to Florida with hopes of starting our cottage.

Thanks again for sharing!

Can you add a swim spa to a Cottage Home?
 

We are looking at the new one, the Hammock, and wondered if there are
any lots that would take a bigger lanai and swim spa, they seem to all be interior lots.

Thanks.

Lee in Tampa

Your home is very nice. What a beautiful lot you have. We are building a home in Buttonwood but I always love to hear what others have and what they love about their home. Thanks for sharing

Hi Lee,
We toured an open model last week in Tamirand Grove - and it was a Hammock with a swimming pool, priced around $260M (if I remember correctly!) The lot was at the end of a cul-de-sac, so was one of the larger ones.
Happy hunting!

Hi Mary Ann,
Wowser! Did you mean $260k?