Oops......sorry. See what happens when you take shortcuts and don't read until the end of the thread. :o Well, one decision down and many more to come, but it's an exciting time. Best wishes to you and hope we'll be saying "Welcome to The Villages" real soon!!

We sold most of our stuff before we move here and found out that we did not sell enough. Keeping your treasures is probably mandatory but large furniture is expensive to ship and our sustained mover damage which gave us a headache that we did not need. It is a tough decision but this is a different climate and you will need furniture and stuff that will fit your new home.

Yes

We followed your advice! We made an agreement last night to sell our home and all our furniture to a young couple with 2 kids. Settlement is July 31st. Wow! So excited! We'd love to rent a furnished, pet friendly home near 466 for August, September and October. We think that should give us enough time to buy a home. Our dog is 10 lbs, well trained and doesn't bark. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Congratulations! If possible you could check with the homeowners and see if they will rent to you weekly. That way you will be free to buy a home and not tied into a lease. Just a thought.

Thanks, Jnieman! Thank God for options

I would live out of a couple of suit cases and live all over the villages in different size homes during the hot months when there are many homes available. You might spend a little more but I'll bet you will make a much more informed decision.

Definitely sell or give away. You won't want it once you get here.

Should we sell all our furniture?
 

If you have furniture you love from "The North" bring it and use it. This is our 3rd time in FL, we bought FL twice and it was ok. This time we kept much of our Yankee furniture and are happy. It's your decision do what you wish. You can always change your mind once you get here and try it.

This will be our fouteenth move, this time from Mexico to the villages.We have learned that less is more and times and tastes change. We sold our house totally turnkey and are moving all our belongins and two cats in our small Tiguan SUv; four boxes are being shipped. I have learned that a few photos and treasured items are enough; our family and memories live in our heart. It is quite a liberating feeling to move and start anew. I, for one, wish to have much less in terms of things and more in terms of experiences. Good luck to you. We are renting for three months while we look to buy...or not.

Should we sell all our furniture?
 

Our move to TV was our 13th. Bring the things that are important to you, furniture and otherwise. We gave to charity well more than 50% of a quite large home when we moved here. Kept several rooms of Yankee furniture that we moved around for years, and am pleased we did so.

I kept the stuff we love. I love the stuff we bought. I sorely miss a couple of items that we knew just wouldn't fit.

I'm with you Maryanna. I say sell everything and start new.
Simplifying and streamlining life makes me feel carefree and light.
However, if you're a person that attaches sentimental memories to furniture, you'll probably want to bring some of it with you.
Just know that the Consignment Stores here have lots of furniture that people brought from up North!

I think that's a smart move. Many Villagers wish they would have done that. Thankfully we listened and learned. We are only bring our DR set because it works here and it does have many of memories. Everything else we're buying local.

I weeded the heavy stuff out. We kept everything we brought (two bedrooms and a living room's worth) except our dining room set. And that wasn't because it was too dark or heavy or unfit for FL. It was because we needed a bigger buffet and Canadel was no longer making the lovely green stain that we had on our table and chairs.

We brought some bedroom furniture and family items with sentimental value. The rest we purchased new. Be sure you know your room measurements when purchasing furniture. The Iris has a small hallway going to the third bedroom and you can only fit a small couch through the hall. The living area is not as big as you might think and we had to eliminate one end table to allow room to walk around. It is easy to get too much furniture. The local furniture stores are very helpful, and the process of mixing old and new was fun.

Downsizing is HARD! But oh so very worth it!! We gave our kids what they would take, no one wants crystal, china, or sterling. We had lots of antiques that we moved from place to place over the years. Family items, which we kept mainly out of guilt.

We sold what we could, gave away what anyone would take and donated tons of clothing, decor items etc. Even got friends to take a 1950 era Brunswick snooker table after trying unsuccessfully to sell it.

We had a consignment shop take the big antiques that no one wanted. We got pennies on the dollar, but the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders when that truck pulled out.

We moved everything in 1 8 x16 pod and I have been shopping ever since. We feel like newlyweds setting up our first home.

I can't express how happy we are that we did not bring more. This house is like none other we have ever owned, and downsizing from 5,000 sq ft was HARD! But oh so worth it. We can make this house fit our needs now and we love that!!

Also, the cost of moving a truck load of furniture is much more than what I have spent in decorating this home. We are in no hurry and want it to feel RIGHT!

Sell, Sell, Sell!!

We filled a Goodwill truck but still brought a lot. Our furniture is enjoying Florida. We decorated out first home here beachy and sold it furnished.

I like our stuff. Glad I brought it.

I anguished over this decision. But chose to bring our stuff.

It is a personal choice. I love to for lack of a better word, decorate. You can make almost anything current if you study decorating books....AND if that matters to you.

I wanted pretty...and comfortable with a dash of glitz.

I really enjoyed our white, beachy home in Hadley, but I am enjoying this one too. Sea Blue accent walls brings it a bit of tropical.

We need to get that decorating club started at my house.

Limit to 12? Take turns at each others homes hosting? Hostess decides the topic and we all bring articles and pictures to talk about it. Time for discussion of personal projects and perplexing delimmas? Talk about trends and choices and projects? Send me an email if you still wanna do that.

My gosh....i have no less than 50 photo albums and scrapbooks....and they will come with me! and if DARK wood does not fit...why are houses sold with DARK cabinets and DARK hardwood flooring in TV?

I confess...much of our furniture is cherry....and while I will not be bringing much, (our bedroom set, dining room, living room which includes a piano)...I think it will look just fine in TV. Lighthouses and beachy things certainly coordinate with cherry wood. I will be decorating for my taste...and if it doesn't fit in and any of you see it....don't tell me..let me just be fat and happy.

I sent our kids an e mail that said...tell me what you want and if it is not going to Florida...it comes to your house. I think we are going to have an auction to sell the rest.

Rethinking about purchasing now instead of when the house sells so we can move a little at a time???? At least we don't have to move appliances...those are always a pain.

I like your attitude.


I always tell people, If you don't like our "stuff", please lie. lol.

This world would be mighty boring if we all had the same tastes and same opinions about everything.......that's what the spice of life is about. We learn from each other and embrace our differences!

Selling everything is probably a great idea...but I can't.....and I don't need to...so my dark wood is coming to TV....and I will even get some new things....and my new house will be a home full of love mixed with the excitement of a new beginning for us.

Graciegirl, I tried to send you a private message but I'm not sure that it went through . It seemed to time out. Anyway I am still very interested in a decorating group and would be happy to work with you to get something organized. I think a few of us should meet for coffee and maybe figure out a plan. I like the idea of rotating through different houses. Let me know your thoughts. P.M. me and we can exchange phone and email if you like.

Will do. Here is an idea. Those who want to gather to talk about décor, PM Cassie and she will keep the list. I will be glad to have the first meeting.


Please come Cathy, of Cathy and Steve, and Jeannie too. Can't remember who else wanted to come, but let's not get great big. Just a little bunch of us so we won't have to worry about having enough room. But those that responded or anyone else that likes to decorate their home and enjoy others efforts, PM Cassie.

Gracie...if and when i get there i would love to join in! Thank you.

Gracie, I haven't received any private messages from anyone other than you yet. I'm still interested and I think once we get started there would definitely be interest!

Jbartle and I are meeting for lunch Thursday. She hasn't told me where yet.


I am so glad CassieInVa is in but she can't make the lunch this week. We would like to keep the group so small that we can meet in each other's homes.

Anyone want to come to lunch Thursday? Jeannie is going to tell us where she wants to eat.

Next Thusday we will meet for lunch at Crispers and anyone who wants to discuss forming a small decorator group is invited.


Twelve Thursday July 2nd at Crispers. We will be inside looking like people do who are thinking about a decorator group. I will be wearing short white hair and Helene and JBartle are coming so far. Just show up and we will figure something out about what we should do. This is for a small decorator club. That can meet in peoples homes and discuss trends and members projects.

My next project is doing something with an old tired three drawer chest.

I'm in!

Repurposing? Lookie here:

repurpose three drawer chest - Bing Images

about that "old tired chest"
 

Has anybody used chalk paint to give vintage furniture a new look?

If you Google "Annie Sloan Chalk Paint" you will find lots of information. Annie Sloan is the only brand I am aware of, but there are probably others.

My guess is there are those among us who probably used antiquing kits on our hand-me-down furniture way back in the 19??s. :shocked: -- I turned my maple bedroom set a rather putrid shade of avocado-ish/olive-ish green. (I thought it was beautiful. My mom did not.)

But my worst offense was turning a lovely mahogany sideboard yellow. (gasp) -- I later came to my senses and had it restored to its original finish. I still have it.

But enough about my younger days and back to chalk paint.....

I still like the look of painted furniture and chalk paint offers some creative possibilities.

Last spring when we went to the Leesburg Art Festival, we found a family-business, a little shop that had just opened. They carried Annie Sloan paint and were planning workshops. The name of the store is Pop Vintage. I have not been back there since, but I just now Googled them and saw they are on Facebook.

So anyway, just thought I would throw this information into the thread for those of you who are eyeing a piece of furniture that has good bones but needs a little lift, and you are thinking, "Hmmmmmm, how would you look if you were turquoise or white or yellow or whatever favorite color?"

Ok, I'm in but Bargains and Treasures is scheduled to pick up some furniture that day that I'm consigning, so fingers crossed the timing works out. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Please count me in! I'll be back in mid-September. It will be so nice to meet you folks.

If you like your current furniture and it makes you feel good why sell it.

Hello from New Jersey! If things go as planned, my husband and I will be in the Villages in 4/5 years and we can't wait to get there! Right now my decor is Primitive/Colonial. I think I may switch to Shabby Chic once we're in Florida. I'm big into painting and distressing furniture. Hopefully I can find some nice, old furniture in Florida to work my magic with! Sell what we have and start fresh!

Sell it! Keep a few pieces that have sentimental value and sell the rest. New life, new surroundings! We paid $1800 to get our stuff here to sell in a garage sale for 25 cents (:
Good luck and hope you enjoy TV as much as most of us do!

All we are bringing are my tools. They are useful and serve a definite purpose.

And a chair doesn't?

Need tools to make the chair.

Sell or Keep
 

There is no love loss for our furniture.... But, you may have a story with your individual pieces... Here is a thought, on your way down, stop at the Furniture Capital of the World, North Carolina furniture market (our former home). We sold our house furnished to the first couple. Went to market
and purchased furniture after we bought home (did a lot of measuring, especially windows (local made window treatments, all we had to do was
hang rods)...

One downside, brought many personal items that ended up in a huge pile in the middle of our new driveway, ole boy was ready for move to be OVER, so
we had it hauled away... to this day, if something is missing, I say, I bet it was in the pile, the ole boy says he will take that to his grave....giggle.:1rotfl:

Every home we have sold was sold furnished...Every home was unique in so many ways and we were so fortunate to live in NC and furnish accordingly.

My advice, enjoy your new beginning, either with or without your treasures. Welcome to Paradise.

Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you sell furniture that you have and not bring it here. I did, and deeply regret it. People here don't want to pay high prices for fine furniture and that furniture just won't look right in your home here, most likely. Then there is the issue of the cost of storing and moving it all. Now there is the issue of the movers denying all liability for damages that they caused to said furniture. One hint: if you do move it, take hundreds of pictures of all expensive pieces before you have a mover move it. If you unload into storage at TV, they will consider self-delivered and say that they cannot prove this damage happened since day of delivery and time of claim even if within timelimit. Take lots and lots of pics (with a friend and several cameras) on moving day, take pics of their moving men to rebut "self-delivery," and make sure (even if it is pitch black out when they finish) that you mark all damage on inventory sheet. If you need more time because you just wrote it down as you saw it and photographed it, then take it and make them stay overnight. Don't be bullied into signing inventory pages in the dark no matter how tired you are. Learn from my disaster! Also avoid Delaware Moving and Storage (Wheaton) because I consider them to be the worst movers EVER~! I had tremendous damage to my dining room set, my sofas, my desks, and many other items of fine furniture. Denied claim because of "self-storage," and inventory sheet signed in dark w flashlight didn't show the damage we noted.