IntenseDebate - Sea_and

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 0 replies · +1 points

BTW, if you guys love palm trees as much as I do, here is a place that specializes in cold-hardy palms that can survive in North Florida. http://www.northfloridapalms.com

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 1 reply · +2 points

I definitely would keep the pool, especially if I were not close to the beach. And I would screen in the pool/deck area. Not only does it keep out the insects, reptiles, etc., but it also keeps leaves/pine straw out of the pool for easier maintenance. I also would probably splurge for some mature palm trees to shade the pool area. From what I understand, a pool in full sun in FL is like a hot bath. LOL! :) Have you guys seen the systems that turn salt to chlorine? You only have to add salt to the pool...no yucky chemicals. Here's one example I found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mLLH0k_-cU.

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 0 replies · +2 points

I know!!! It just doesn't get any better, does it? I hadn't noticed that wall. Did you see this split-view pic showing the rest of the bathroom from a different vantage point? http://www.banidea.com/tropical-home-garden-by-kr...

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 2 replies · +1 points

You make an excellent point about the outdoor kitchen. I hadn't considered that. I agree about the fixtures. You really have to focus on the quality, not the name. That's what drives me crazy about tract homes. Builders use the cheapest junk available. Then you're stuck between a rock and a hard place---grossly overpay for the builder's upgrades or let them install the poorest-quality stuff and then tear it out and redo it. The whole system seems silly and wasteful. That's why a custom home is so appealing to me. You get to pick what you like and decide if it suits your budget or not. My favorite room in the SH is the kitchen. I love the white cabinets and the shades of turquoise/aqua. I'm tired of all the dark cabinets and dark granite countertops. So boring and cookie-cutter... And, in my opinion, that look is starting to get a bit dated (been going on for way too long). Check out this countertop. I'm so in love with it: http://www.vetrazzo.com/eng/products/view/Floatin.... I love the colors in this bathroom. The floor looks like sand and the wall tile like sea water surrounding an atoll. http://www.banidea.com/tropical-home-garden-by-kr...

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 4 replies · +1 points

I agree. The layout is sheer perfection. Here's what I would change to make the house more affordable:

1) forgo all the expensive "smart" features (including fancy pool lighting & outdoor stereo system);
2) leave out the beverage center and add extra cabinets and counter space in its place;
3) use tile on the floor only in the powder room
4) opt out of the outdoor kitchen
5) downgrade from high-end to middle-of-the-road fixtures
6) give up (reluctantly) the beautiful pecky cypress on the ceilings (and not so reluctantly on the living room wall)

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 1 reply · +2 points

I personally would rather be a bit further inland. The wind speed map for the SH is 120-135 MPH. That means the insurance (if available) must be really pricey. Plus, being that close to the beach, you're more likely to experience flooding. I'd rather be about 30-45 minutes away on higher ground that does not require flood insurance or at least not as much of it. Hurricane-spawned tornadoes and storm systems that stall out over land are always possibilities, but I think your odds of catastrophic damage are diminished if you live inland a bit. Fortunately, since 2002, new building codes have been enacted to make structures safer thanks to the lessons learned from 1992's Hurricane Andrew. What can I say? I love to do research and thought about all the practical issues while dreaming about the SH. ;)

This is a little old, but it's still relevant. http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org/sites/default/fi...

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 9 replies · +1 points

I wonder how much that model of home would cost in a location farther from the beach and without all the fancy bells-and-whistles. That might make it more affordable. So much of what you're paying for with the SH is the location and the high-end upgrades. Just a thought...

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 1 reply · +1 points

Big congrats! Talk about beating some serious odds! Must be a magical and surreal time for her and her family. :)

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 11 replies · +1 points

Yes, indeed. It's too much for most folks to afford. As much as I ADORE the SH, the cash prize would have been my only option. And we're just talking about the annual property tax bill!! Then there are the federal taxes on the whole prize package. And who knows about property insurance if you can even get any?

Now imagine if you opted for the house and not the cash only to realize you couldn't afford it. The standard 6% commission on the assessed value of $681,000 (and assessments are typically lower than market value) is a whopping $40,860!

11 years ago @ HGTV Dreams Happen: Sw... - HGTV Smart Home 2013 W... · 24 replies · +5 points

For those of you who are still checking this blog, I know you'll be interested in reading this article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-07-03/sto....

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