Things you cannot do

There are things in this world that you cannot do, and the list is long. You cannot talk about politics or religion at any family functions, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. You cannot run with scissors because you can only imagine what could go wrong. You cannot eat and then go swimming because you must wait thirty minutes for your food to digest. Then there are some things that we should not do like sit too close to the TV or eat a spicy dinner too late in the day if you want to go to sleep at night. It is very easy to come up with a list of what we cannot do and what we should not do but what about what we should do? In the world of decorating there are more “should do’s and can do’s” than don’ts! Let’s look at a few rooms that will show us what we can do and should do to our homes to elevate them and add value throughout the year somewhere in the heart of The Villages.

  •  Molding of all types
I often hear, and in fact I just heard this today from a customer in a Winslow model, “I was told you cannot put molding into a house with angled ceilings.” I asked, “Well who told you that? I have been installing molding in homes in The Villages with angled ceilings for 20 years.” I responded and that was all the customer needed to hear. A friend at dinner was sure that you could not install molding on angled ceilings and the homeowner took that to be a fact and never pursued getting molding installed. When I began showing pictures of what molding can do to a space the lights when on and a whole new world of possibilities opened for this homeowner. The addition of crown molding is always going to improve the space and makes the house look finished. Casement molding with a header frames out the view or the lanai just beyond the slider. When crown molding is added and casement molding is installed around the slider the end result is beautiful and finished looking. Wainscot in all white makes any space pop and adds dimension to the walls. Any type of professionally installed molding adds classic visual value to a home which translates to more money!

  •  Shutters
I often hear concerns about the cost of shutters and people worry about opening their windows and how that would work with shutters. Those who live year- round in Florida will not be opening their windows that often but if you do open your windows you need to have room to open the shutter. Shutters are more expensive than other treatments, but they finish the window so well you often do not need other treatments to the space. Shutters provide privacy as well as finish molding so that the windows look complete. They never go out of style and they add value to your home. I like blinds of all types and usually the homeowner’s needs must be met when we choose our privacy treatments. However, since we are discussing things you should do, shutters are beautiful, classic, and they do add value to the home. Finally, there is a tax deduction that you can take when you install a certain amount of shutters so ask your shutter person to be sure that it is available to you.

  •  Engineered Harwood is a can do in Florida
This is another product that adds real value to the home and is used here in Florida all the time, but I often hear, “They say you cannot use engineered hardwood in Florida.” I think the confusion is that many northern homes are built up and they are elevated with sub flooring or maybe it is that they have basements. Either way they have sub flooring. This subflooring allows them to nail in a solid block of wood into the subfloor. In Florida, we have cement slab houses. This requires engineered hardwood that glues down to the cement slab. Engineered hardwood consists of layers of plywood glued together and the final layer on top is real hickory, oak or acacia wood. The finishes of these floors are cured under ultra-violet lights at the factory, so the finishes are tougher than they have ever been before, and the character of the wood hides a mired of sins. Engineered hardwood cannot be used in bathrooms but it can be used in the kitchen. Many of my clients have it put in the kitchen for a seamless look but if you want tile in the kitchen that is fine. Tile and Hardwood can be abutted with no threshold so the transitions can be super smooth. Engineered hardwood is a classic and the modern application is to use lighter woods, but a medium wood is fine as well. Engineered hardwood does add value to the home and that can be researched on the web for more facts if you are curious. Finally, engineered hardwood can be installed for about the same as a high-end luxury vinyl and of the two products engineered hardwood is the only one that adds real value to the home.

  •  Tile
Tile is a classic and will never go out of style. If you don’t like engineered hardwood, you can select a wood-look tile and that will stand the test of time. The tile has to be a good representation of wood if you are choosing a wood-look tile. Homeowners will never go wrong with a tile that looks like stone and always choose medium to light for tile because that will be more neutral and stand the test of time. Many of my customers are choosing a rectified edge, which is an edge that is perfectly straight, so that a very small amount of grout can be used. Tile always adds value to the home as well.

  •  Granite
I don’t think a week goes by that I am not asked if granite is still in style or “Can we still do granite”? Yes! It is still in style! You should definitely consider granite over quartz for a budget friendly choice. Granite is not like back in the 1980’s when it was dark and had to be re-sealed all the time. Today we use a 15-year sealer called Invisiblock on the granite and the result is great without re-sealing it. Granite is less expensive than quartz and it has a track record of success through the years.

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