I'm afraid you are misinterpreting my words. I am not the HOA. I am an organic gardener who plants native plants. Yes I offer Spanish needles and other native seeds. I am saying that my HOA would not be in favor of eliminating grass, I am eliminating my grass a little at a time every month. Please don't attack me for stating what I know is true in my neighborhood. I chose to buy my house here for many reasons instead of in the country where HOA's have no jurisdiction. I have Spanish needles growing amongst my other plants. Today I had Peacock butterflies, Monarchs, Gulf Fritillaries, Goldrims, Long-tailed Skippers and a few others in my small garden. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you what most people think here. It's not what I think or practice. If you disagree with our governments policies would you move to Canada? Same with me. I don't agree with the HOA but I want to live here and am active in making changes.

I live in Largo-and travel all along Gulf Blvd-which runs from all the way south to Pass a Grill and up north to Clearwater Beach & beyond. I love all the shops on the beach, plus numerous great restaurants. I'd have to say you should go north to Madeira Beach to John's Pass..they have a boardwalk with shops, casino boat tours, (the best stuffed portabello mushrooms at The HUT), then on up to Redington Beach if you like Italian-fine dining at The Wine Cellar ($$$), and on northward to Indian Shores to The Salt Rock Grill-the #1 choice for beach dining!! We're talking 7-10 miles from St Pete to these eateries! If you go east to downtown St Pete-you'll enjoy Baywalk-a lovely mall right in the city, the FL Museum (Kennedy exhibit & Cuban Missle Crisis), oodles of boutiques & art galleries (P Buckley Moss, Kincaide, etc) & the Pier.. An hour north of St Pete (if that)..is Tarpon Springs-home of the Sponge Docks-a great place to spend the day! Boat tours, shops, Greek eateries..fun! Another fun thing is to take the Starlight Princess dinner cruise located on S Pasadena Ave @ St Pete Beach..great food, music, etc. Nightly fun (dancing, singing) is found at many places-my favs are on Indian Rocks Beach (piano bars)..The Pub & JD's! Great shows at Ruth Eckerd Hall(.com) in Clearwater..top entertainment. If you check out the link below-and hit the calendar dates of when you'll be here-it'll tell you of upcoming events. Here is a link that might be useful: Tampa Bay Calendar

very interesting to hear everyone's thoughts and I'm glad to hear that many of you think it is possible to achieve a comfortable, inviting space while still being sparse and minimalist. thanks mtnredux -- I've also made a number of bad design mistakes after drinking. ;) I started to paint my current dining room black one night after a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. I just got out a brush and went at it. And, um, my head hurt the next morning just looking at it. I also never decorated my homes differently because of kids - everyone told me I needed them, but I was not a fan of those hideous plastic things on cabinets to keep infants from staying out of them and I refused to install them. But you all are right that there is definitely a certain amount of clutter that is unavoidable (backpacks lying around, leashes and dog food bowls, shoes at the entryway, toddler socks in the middle of the room) given our lifestyle. None of that stuff bothers me -- it is the décor-style clutter (too many furnishings in a space) that makes my head hurt. javachik, yes, good eye, that is my peacock! :) Interestingly enough, our home is near a canyon that is a wild peacock preserve, so we have them roaming on our property. Several live in trees in our backyard. aktillery, your space is so warm and inviting! I love your design style and all of the furniture seems really comfortable and I just want to kick back on that sofa and read a good book. I'm with you that some of the minimalist furniture doesn't seem nearly as inviting or plush, although I am finding a few pieces that are really comfy -- like a beautiful Eames chair I am hopelessly in love with (the black/walnut chair in photos 8 and 9). It would be a splurge, but I do love those chairs, especially because they swivel and you could sit in them and watch tv and then look out the window at the backyard. mnzinnia, thanks for sharing your experience. I've been reading a lot about MCM homes and atomic ranches, and how many were built and designed to raise families in. There are so many aspects of this home that appealed to us -- the high ceilings, the open concept, the indoor/outdoor lifestyle and the use of glass everywhere and floor to ceiling windows -- even our front door is all glass. But like the house you grew up in, there is very little frou frou - no laundry room, a small but open and well planned kitchen, no powder bathroom, no dining room -- things that might be deal breakers to some people. snookums, self cleaning windows sound awesome! I've never heard of those, but I will have to google that. thanks, nancybee! I agree with you -- with kids, keeping our house picture perfect is definitely not a priority (and not even within our realm of possibility!). thanks ellendi, peegee, marti8, joanie, juliekmco and nosoccermom! chispa, you're definitely right that Houzz photos don't depict real life. I love Houzz but realize it's sort of like the airbrushed version of real homes. I spent nearly two days organizing and de-cluttering our current house for our MLS listing photo shoot and it still looks much more cluttered than these Houzz shots! hoping I responded to all! gotta run, nap time is over

Wow, JTerri, that does look nice. Looks like hotel developers noticed the same thing I did ... the hotel stock in most of the Keys is a little long i n the tooth and they need some new investment. OTOH I am reluctant to choose an unopened hotel and the last time I did so it was not finished in time! Anyway, the Eau Palm is booked already for the dates I want!? And my family thinks I am crazy for planning so far in advance.Hrmmph. Now I have my heart set on something with a fun, hip PB vibe like that. Which I find more on Air BnB. I don't care so much that they won't be oceanfront (we see plenty of that already) but worry they will flake on me in high season! Funny, Bonnie Ann, I remember being in KW and being told ... its only 90 miles to Cuba and it seeming soooo exotic. ETA ... OMG, look at this listing! I thought there was a person in the family room. I would never rent this unless it was dipped in Lysol first. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12782884?guests=8&s=EQGRvyCN