Ohiogirl is right.

And it will be a different gardening situation here than up North. We can garden for four or so months up North and probably ten here in Central Florida...PLUS all of the OTHER myriad fun things to do weren't calling up North either. So she may not have quite as much time for gardening as she did.

There are big lots in places like The Village of Harmeswood, but there are restrictions on planting. I haven't heard of anyone getting called on any of them but they might if they, say, put in six rows of corn or something like that.

Almost everyone is growing something to eat and a variety of beautiful annual AND perennial flowers in their yard. Like Bill n Brillo said the other day, they are selling annuals right now at Lowes and Home Depot...in SEPTEMBER.

She will love all the new growing experiences here.

We are also trying to decide. Our agent found a lot in the "new" part of Sanibel that will accomodate a Holly with stretches and the golf cart garage. We have "almost" decided on either the Holly or the Zinnia. I like the Lanai on the Zinnia and the bigger bedroom in the front of the house. But I like the kitchen in the Holly......can't combine them, so.....I'd better decide!

It wasn't we selecting it.....IT selected US! You just know......

:a040: :a040: :a040: :a040:

This describes my dilemma too. Holly or Zinnia for the exact reasons you describe. At this point, if the house here in PA doesn't sell soon and we have to drop the price again, finances might rule the Holly or Zinnia out.:sad: We also reserved our lot in the new section of Sanibel. We are on Twisted Oak Way, right by the country club. Where are you?

Interestingly the house we like is not available. :cus:
It's a cross between the Bridgeport and the Holly.

Basically take the Bridgeport but squareoff the dining room and master as the Holly has it. We're not fans of the Jack and Jill either so lose the half bath and keep the 2nd and 3rd bedroom and guest bath of the Holly.

Love the tray ceilings the Bridgeport has.

Well we've only viewed the plans. Can't wait to see it all in person.

If it was up to my wife alone we would buy the Begonia or Gardenia.

So it will be real interesting what we'll buy!!

Curious. Which side of the house are you putting in the 2 foot stretch. I'm guessing the back.

Has anyone calculated the cost of stretching a designer versus buying a premier to get more space? We are considering a Gardenia or Williamsburg but do not want too much house but do want a large lot. The standard size Gardenia seems a little small.

You can stretch the Gardenia I think on all four sides. I would definitley stretch the living room and 2nd and 3rd bedroom side by 2 feet. Not too expensive...I think you would obviously need a large lot to accomodate especially if you add the golf cart garage and side expansion.

Haven't been on TOTV for awhile, sorry it took so long to answer your question. The 2 ft stretch would be in the back of the house along with the 4 ft. stretch for the lanai.and a golf cart garage. It's not easy to find a lot that will fit all that, we always come up a few inches shy and then it's back to the drawing board :-(.

We are in the same situation with our dog and cat. We originally thought CYV for that reason, however, I really want a house, so we are now looking at houses with yards large enough to add a substantial birdcage, with the plan to leave most of it grassy. That brings up a question...I know there are guidelines and set back, etc., but do people get turned down for a bircage because the neighbors done want it, or something like that?

Angie: We also decided on the Begonia, We liked the lay out alot. The new Begonias do not have the sliders going into the lanai. We like the wall space better than with the sliders. The size of the other bedrooms at first was a minus. Now we believe it is a plus. Maybe our company won't stay so long. LOL! :1rotfl: We are building the house for the two of us. Not for company although they are welcome. The living areas are a nice size and layout fits us. Two of our friends from home are also building Begonias for the same reasons. We didn't want to go into a premier. We want to downsize and have less cleaning and maintaince. So we can have more time for FUN! :thumbup:

Aljetmet - LOVE YOUR AVATAR!
 

It was the Iris hands down. Went thru all the models online before arriving in TV......listed the pros and cons of each house....Iris won. Loved how open it is....and location of rooms. Stretched garage and lanai.....great house.

.......BUT.......

That is not why I am responding......it is Aljetmet's avatar.....OMG.......What a little cutie!...(and big cutie, too!). You both look so happy! If I am ever depressed, I'm going directly to this avatar....how can you help but smile while looking at it! :)

Bought a resale, no decison, pure luck
 

Walked into the courtyard, never made it into the house, the ole' boy says, I'll take it!....Realtor said "Would you like to see the house", ole boy says, OK!...Needless to say we LOVED the courtyard....giggle

We built what we call the "Hollyport"(our name for the house - there is not officially a model with that name). It is a cross between the Bridgeport and the Holly. We have the Bridgeport angled back windows in the dining and bedroom but the Holly layout for bedrooms #2 and #3. No 1/2 bath. We also stretched 2 feet in front and did a stretch of 4-8-4 in the back. Lanai ended up 15 x 18 feet. We also were able to put the 2nd side lite at the front door (like the Holly, the Bridgeport has only one sidelite). We liked something in every model but choose the one were we liked the most things and the fewest negatives.

We saw the slider from the bedroom to the lanai wasn't shown in the new models so we asked our sales rep. She checked on it for us and told us it was still an option.