[CraigAC]

We’ve lived most of our married life in the upper Midwest so our decorating style reflected what was popular for that region – dark cherry cabinets, dark grey or black granite, dark leather furniture, etc.

Next weekend we meet with the design team to pick out all of our options on our new Villages home and are considering a completely new look. We’re thinking of going with more of the light woods, granite, and tile – kind of like the Tommy Bahama look.

Have any of you built in TV and went with a completely different decorating style – and if you did, are you happy with the decision or do you regret it?

[Shimpy]

Years ago living in S. Florida we used to watch moving trucks unloading in our neighborhood and know from the furniture that was unloaded where they came from. Dark woods were from the north. I always preferred dark as they looked richer to me, but in the last 20 years I've gone to the light colored woods such as oak and now the dark seem dreary and depressing to me. It's how you view things and Florida is generally brighter colors.

[asianthree]

Still use oaks but have added glass to go with it to lighten up the look. I use a med red for color cause the walls floor and everything else is light sand. Each person that came to work on the house said the decorator did such a good job with the colors very different from the pale blues greens and yellows.

[njbchbum]

we wanted the opposite of our norther roots - wanted the light, breezy look in our florida home - so i was absolutely distraught when we went furniture shopping and found dark wood furniture in many of the stores! it took some doing, but we managed to find the bright colors that we wanted. we were fortunate that the kitchen in our pre-owned was white - it is a small space and one we don't spend a lot of time in [ ] the rattan and wicker pieces we selected for bedrooms, living room and lanai look great!

enjoy the stress of decor selection - many posters here have survived the process - am sure you will, too!

[angiefox10]

I brought very little furniture with me. But didn't change my style. I brought down the things in our lives that are our memories. The things we love. If I had changed my style, those items would not have fit. It would have been A house.... But.... Not our home.

The picture we bought in Hawaii, the Nate Burkus lamps we bought together, the mask from Jamaica, the shells my husband would dive for at each island we would visit, the lighthouse we brought back from Aruba. Junk to anyone else and while someone else may look at my home and wonder. It makes me smile.

[pooh]

We moved from another bright warm state to Florida. In my other house I had white cabinets and bathroom vanities. When we bought here, there wasn't the option of selecting cabinet finishes. The house we purchased had medium cherry cabinets. Worked out fine for us, the color is pretty neutral and it actually went with much of the furniture we brought. Over the years, we've replaced many pieces, but have kept with a similar color palette, some cherry, some darker woods, but pieces with very simple lines. If we had light or white cabinets, I wouldn't be unhappy, I do like them, but I also like the ones I have.
Select something that makes you feel happy. I know it's not much help, but everyone has different feelings about what surroundings make them feel good.
I've been in many homes in The Villages and I haven't seen one that isn't lovely.

[NotGolfer]

I'd say it depends on the style of your home as a starter! I've seen some designer homes with the darker wall colors and furniture as well and it's lovely. That being said...we changed our "look" here from the north-country. We once were "country" then transcended to "transitional"...but moving here I'd say we're more contemporary or cottage-y. Our "northern" style just wouldn't have cut it here with our cottage-y house. We decided to make it a bit more tropical in color palate. BUT didn't go with the wicker/rattan and seashell thing......

[Dayzee]

When we came to TV in August of 2011 with the intent of finding our 'dream retirement home", we had a list of wants and desires. We have always had a medium to darker decor and I was particularly drawn to the 'light & bright' models and pre-owned homes that we toured. Guess I was ready for a change. But, when we found our dream home it ended up with dark cherry cabinets instead of white. We haven't moved anything from our home in Michigan, but when we do, it will blend in nicely with the new (darker) pieces that we've purchased here. Our newly painted walls, upholstered pieces, wall hangings and accents are all light and bright. I love the combo. When you are here, look around, tour the models and maybe some pre-owned open houses. When you see something you like - you'll know it!!

[Bill-n-Brillo]

We decided to stick with our traditional "Early Attic/Late Basement" decor...........



Fortunately, our preowned patio villa had just the style we were looking for - light and airy......things that are a constant reminder of being in FL when we're there in TV!

Bill

[jane032657]

We have been getting rid of all our antiques and farmhouse furniture. Now when I see it for sale (even though I still have a lot left to get rid of) I see the antique stores looking like my garage sales. I think I have freed myself from this decorating style without feeling sad.
For our new villa, we are doing Eckones stressless love seats and recliner chairs in chocolate and light sand color (excellent lumbar support); colorful STICKS furniture; as I wrote the other day, we chose verdi fire granite which has waves of gorgeous color, reds and greens in it for the kitchen island, kitchen counters and the three sides of the island, as well as big backsplash and in the bathrooms the same; we picked epi modern outdoor 11 ft dining room table for 10-12 for our birdcage; so we are going neutral colors with major dramatic color in the granites and backsplash to bring life and allow us many decorating options around it.

[Happinow]

Being from NY, our colors were heavy and dark. I knew that when we moved to FL! Our colors would change. We put all white cabinets in our kitchen and bathroom, light tile throughout, and medium tone granite. Our furniture, which isn't here yet, was ordered from Southern Lifestyles and I went out of my comfort zone and picked lighter colors for the fabrics which include tans, cream, yellows, greens and teal. Not at all what I had before. I don't regret it at all and can't wait to get it in 6 weeks. We brought some decorative items from up north which had sentimental value to us and then bought other pieces to compliment them. We did buy a bamboo kitchen set with matching stools for the bar area just to break up then white kitchen and matched the fabrics to compliment the living room furniture. I think it comes down to what ever you are comfortable with. Like the other poster said, I've toured many models and both the light and dark furniture look beautiful. In the end, I'm sure you will love what you pick. Have fun with it!

[SALYBOW]

Yes we did and we are happy. It has to look Floriday>

[CraigAC]

Thanks to everyone for the great information. I think I'll try to convince my wife that Bill has the best idea of Early Attic / Late Basement style. Wish me luck...

[graciegirl]

Our house in Hadley was decorated in cottagy, beachy, white and medium woods with a lot of pictures of egrets and sand hill cranes and bowls filled with shells and such..and we loved it.

Sold it furnished and brought with us the furniture from up north which is darker and more...formal...This new house loves that furniture.

I have been to many homes and it is amazing how the choices that you see there, look just perfect.

If you discover that you are a whimsical person in this stage of your life than do the Mary Englebriet look, and if you want nautical...sail right into it...but I debated and debated and in the end was glad our "Ahia" furniture made the trip with us. It looks new here and of course you have to have some new stuff, some curtains and change of wall colors and it looks like the furniture is different. Decorate to your own taste and to your own budget and it will be NEW to all of us who are here and we will have admiring eyes.

Welcome home to YOUR home.

[jimbo2012]

My wife found this online mag Florida Designer homes

Now her Google search is going to cost me