Are we ever really done?

I often hear the words, “I thought we were done.” or “I just want to be done with the decorating, so I don’t have to think about it.” Another popular saying is, “We want to check this off our list.” And finally, the best is, “Well once we get this done then that will be it. We will be done.” When I hear these words, I understand that as hopeful as one-half of the couple may be that they will not have to hear about decorating any longer, there will be more…. there is always more. Decorating a home is not a finite process. A well decorated home must be layered and freshened over time, much like a wardrobe. You will add a piece here or a wall treatment there as your viewpoint of your home evolves. As you scroll on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms you will be exposed to decorating that will inspire you to keep elevating your home and your style over time. Let’s peek into the living room of a Gardenia model that has changed several times over the years and there is still more to go …. somewhere in the heart of The Villages.

  •  Why things changed
When we started working on this house the homeowners were snowbirds. Room by room with each season we would work on the house trying to make it comfortable so that when they became a full-time resident, they would have everything they wanted. The living room is the room that received the most layers and changes over time. This is a very common thing because when you don’t live in a house full-time you will live differently and there will be things that you don’t need part of the year here in Florida if you are not here for the summer.

  •  First change
When I first arrived for the initial consultation the living room had the furniture positioned toward the windows with the TV in the middle of the two windows. The two recliners were angled toward the TV and the room looked awkward. We moved the TV to the wall opposite the sliding glass door and we positioned the couch between the two windows. The two recliners were placed together opposite the TV, and we purchased a small chair that flanked the TV and console. We angled a large rug so that it would cover the floor outlet, and the room felt large and inviting. We added art to the wall between the windows and new lamps as well.

  •  Second change
The next addition to the space was a new light engineered hardwood. The flooring that came with the house was rather dark and the homeowners wanted the space to be light. The engineered hardwood can be installed next to the tile with no threshold. This makes a smooth transition from one floor to the next. Also, changing the floor allowed us to get rid of the floor outlet that the homeowners would never use.

  •  Third change
The homeowners wanted a bit more warmth, so we added some curtains to the windows on the sofa wall. To highlight the sliding glass door, we added large molding and a header. This looked fabulous for many seasons.

  •  Fourth change
Well as with most snowbirds, it was time to call Florida home, and they settled down in their southern nest. Once they were here for a few summers, they decided that having a pool would be a wonderful thing. The way the home is situated on the lot they could have a pool on the side of the home. The pool was installed behind the two windows of the living room. The access to the pool was through the lanai. Once they started using the pool it became clear that more access would be better. They decided to remove the wall with the two windows and have full access both visually and physically to the pool. The wall was removed, and a triple sliding glass door was installed. The pool could be seen from the living room, and it is much easier to walk out to the pool from the living room as well. The sliding glass door was trimmed out in beautiful molding to match the lanai sliding glass door. The only difference between the two doors is that we installed a motorized blind that is hidden under the white wooden cornice at the top of the window. This blind provides privacy and heat protection when needed, otherwise you would not know it is in the room.

  •  Move furniture
We moved the furniture to accommodate the new space. This means the sofa was moved on the wall opposite the TV and one recliner is angled in toward the Tv and the beautiful new view. The TV wall is flanked by one recliner and one other chair that was in the space. All the furniture that was in the space is still being used. We did not have to remove any furniture, but we did have to re-home one of the pictures.

  •  What is next?
There will be more to come as we explore adding a wall treatment to the TV wall. The homeowners are thinking about a white stone treatment with a fireplace. I can’t wait to see it!

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