[JourneyOfLife]

Déjà vu all over again!

[kwtoman]

Originally Posted by buggyone

I would suggest concentrating on looking at resale homes. These often have custom features that are not found in the new spec houses.

Naturally, if you cannot find what you want, the next step is to custom build your home. This cannot be done in The Villages but you have to make a choice to make you happy.

One option to custom build is to buy a manufactured in the historic section and remove and rebuild anew.

[Abby10]

Oh, and Beth, one more thing, keep looking and posting on here. There is a wealth of information and ideas on this forum. Already you can see some of the great suggestions being made by other posters........and it's only just begun!

[graciegirl]

Beth. There are many traditional style homes in the Village of Harmeswood. Off Buena Vista, north of the Savannah Center, same side. But they too are Premier. I agree that changing or modifying our interior design styles to fit the bright outdoors is a good idea, but traditional styling fits well into that too.


I love to talk home design. I have a LOT of really great magazines for inspiration, I would be glad to give them to you.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

Just my 2¢, I don't think northern comfort cues work well with the Fl lifestyle. Eastlake walnut dressers, Hooker entertainment centers, mahogany dining rooms, dark stained moldings are things that make a house feel warm and cozy when it's cold and dark outside. At TV (and FL in general) light and airy feel comfortable, and contemporary styling seems to convey that best. As was advised to me recently, it is probably best to sell everything that isn't precious to you and arrive with a small moving truck and a big wallet, rather than the other way around, and make TV a fresh start.

I like and agree with your 2cents!

[perrjojo]

We live in one of the newer villa neighborhoods. There certainly isn't any diversity of style on the exterior but you would not believe all of the unique designs on the interior. Even though our homes are new it seems someone in the neighborhood is always ripping out and redoing. It's crazy! We have a joke in our neighborhood. We didn't buy a home, we bought a STARTER KIT.

[buggyone]

I agree with Gracie about Harmswood. It is a beautiful section of The Villages and almost a separate enclave. It is all Premier homes with large lots. Lots of custom work has been done to these homes. Downside is that there is not a lot of turnover so it will be tougher to find just your perfect home in there. They are also the very pricey homes - around 1 million or so.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

We live in one of the newer villa neighborhoods. There certainly isn't any diversity of style on the exterior but you would not believe all of the unique designs on the interior. Even though our homes are new it seems someone in the neighborhood is always ripping out and redoing. It's crazy! We have a joke in our neighborhood. We didn't buy a home, we bought a STARTER KIT.

Ain't that just the truth. We had a Camellia/ Gardenia before and people would come in and say...what model is this? Everyone interprets the very similar open to the kitchen style in MOST of the homes so differently. I love seeing peoples homes. Each is beautiful and different. AND welcoming. And so individual.

[slipcovers]

I have not even purchased my villa and I am already designing it to my own taste. I plan to do it Nantucket inspired, interior of course.

[duffysmom]

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

Just my 2¢, I don't think northern comfort cues work well with the Fl lifestyle. Eastlake walnut dressers, Hooker entertainment centers, mahogany dining rooms, dark stained moldings are things that make a house feel warm and cozy when it's cold and dark outside. At TV (and FL in general) light and airy feel comfortable, and contemporary styling seems to convey that best. As was advised to me recently, it is probably best to sell everything that isn't precious to you and arrive with a small moving truck and a big wallet, rather than the other way around, and make TV a fresh start.

So true, Florida is all about the LIGHT.

[billethkid]

you do have the option to go as minimal as possible with some things to meet inspection code.
For example on the flooring you can have them install the cheapest linoleum the have available knowing it is going to be torn out.

You can plan around what you don't like, depending on the model you choose. However if TV is no longer pre selling lots and build to suit homes you of course will not have that option.

Anyway in any event...anything you don't like can be done to your satisfaction with after the closing contractors.

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

Just my 2¢, I don't think northern comfort cues work well with the Fl lifestyle. Eastlake walnut dressers, Hooker entertainment centers, mahogany dining rooms, dark stained moldings are things that make a house feel warm and cozy when it's cold and dark outside. At TV (and FL in general) light and airy feel comfortable, and contemporary styling seems to convey that best. As was advised to me recently, it is probably best to sell everything that isn't precious to you and arrive with a small moving truck and a big wallet, rather than the other way around, and make TV a fresh start.

I love your advice and we'll keep it in mind.

[keithwand]

We had a Craftsman home in Winter Park built in 2004.
Loved the house but not a lot of lifestyle.
Now love the lifestyle and our Sanibel model house here.
All good.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by EnglishJW

I love your advice and we'll keep it in mind.

It's also really easy to mix your decorating styles here, we brought with us some antique side tables, and a couple of other pieces and purchased our living room and sun room furniture from Whites. Whites is more conservative in their styles. We went from mahogany dining room furniture to a glass topped table with rattan chairs. Works well, looks very Havana(ish), while still keeping our northern charm.

By the way, the mahogany dining room set looks wonderful in my daughter-in-law's home and I get to visit with it when I go back!

[billethkid]

I would guess you would get more for your money with a resale.
Most have only two seniors in them and are like new.
And most have had something done or added to their homes one will not get with new.....including landscaping. The landscaping provided with the home leaves very much to be desired.

Good luck.