Anytime is a Good Time

Henry Flagler was a very forward-thinking man from the Gilded Age. We would not have many things that we have in Florida if he did not have a desire to move his railroad down the coastline of Florida. His railroad was the precursor to developing many cities down the coast and he is the reason that we can reach Key West by car. Henry Flagler built the Overseas Highway and died in 1912 at the age of 83 one year after finishing the Overseas Highway. Before his death he promised the town of Key West that he would provide them with a luxury resort hotel, and he maintained that promise through his trusted aid Louis P. Schutt who oversaw the construction and management of the property until his passing in 1933. Though the original Overseas Highway is a crumbling monument that I will pass as I drive to Key West to visit this enduring property; The Casa Marina still stands today and is getting better with age. Let’s take a peek into the family room of the house from last week that is getting better with age somewhere just beyond the heart of The Villages.

  •  Better with Age
I would say that at least once a week I have to hear what I call, “death talk”. It goes like this, “Well, this is my last house ever!” or “Well they will be carrying me out of here, so it does not matter!” I usually respond by asking if they have an expiration date to lighten the mood. Seriously, what does it matter what age you are to make changes in your house? I think if you want it and you can afford the changes, then make them. The one thing that I have learned by working in a 55 plus community is that anytime is a good time. I believe that you should live each day as if you will live forever and who knows with that attitude maybe you will! I say all of this because I thoroughly enjoyed working with these homeowners because they were older than most of my clients, but they were up for anything! I never heard a word about their age regarding their decorating choices. So, if you are considering re-decorating do it and the only consideration should be making your life easier as you age.

  •  New flooring
This is the house from last week that was a victim of a kitchen flood. The flooring had to be replaced. The homeowner decided to have engineered hardwood installed the second time around. The floor is a beautiful light tan wood that adds warmth and depth to the space. The engineered hardwood is glued down to the slab so walking on it feels solid. In any concrete slab home if you want engineered hardwood, it should be glued to the slab. Also, engineered hardwood is the only product that can be married to tile without a threshold. With a skilled installer the thresholds can be smooth, which reduces tripping hazards. Tip: We made their life better by reducing tripping hazards.

  •  Paint
We painted a new color in the space. The color is a light soft tannish color with a golden undertone Patience 7555. I would describe this color as a perfect crème. As always, get samples before deciding because there is a hint of a gold undertone and if you don’t like gold, you won’t like this color.

  •  Board and Batten
The 94-year-old gentleman of the home was very interested in using board and batten in the space. We removed the entertainment center and treated the wall with board and batten which added light and texture to the wall. This wall and treatment were painted white. He chose a fireplace TV console in black so that it would pop against the white board and batten. Finally, he purchased a big TV! We had the audio-visual specialist attach the TV to the wall and conceal the wires. The homeowners love their new big TV which makes their life easier. The picture is clear and crisp, and the sound is much better.

  •  New furniture
The new furniture was purchased on an impulse, and it was more challenging to place it in the space. We had to remove the computer armoire in order to make the space work for everyone, but they have a large amount of seating now, which is great for entertaining. Tip: Always go home and blue tape out the furniture placement or at the very least measure before you buy.

  •  Rug
The homeowners wanted a fresh look, and they wanted it to have a touch of Florida. The rug made a huge Florida statement because it has beautiful palm fronds in blue and green. This rug is a wool rug, and it is very thick and hearty. I like wool rugs because they naturally resist stains. Also, a nice big rug will help with sound reverberation in the space. This really helps if you have hearing aids.

  •  Picture
The picture above the sofa is titled, “Bahia Honda Sunrise” by the fine arts photographer of Florida, Alan Maltz. This is a photo that captures the historic overseas highway as the sun is rising. The photo is done in the Old Florida style, and it portrays the sunrise in soft sepia tones. The picture was framed in black silk liner with a black frame. The black on the frame visually connects to the black fireplace adding depth and drama to the space.

  •  New lamps
We added new lamps to the space. These lamps are teal glass with touches of metal. The glass has an iridescent quality that allows you to see glimmers of other colors depending on the light in the space.
Call Ruth your full service decorator at: 352-804-2056
or Contact Us

Before and After Pics Below