"I love living in my Dalton apartment home," says Devonshire community member Peggy Wicks, who moved to the Erickson Living-managed community at PGA National in January 2018.
Peggy's two-bedroom, two-bath Dalton is one of Devonshire's best-selling apartment homes.
"I'm not at all surprised," says Peggy. "When I was looking at the various apartment homes at Devonshire, I was immediately taken by the Dalton. I especially enjoy the views of the preserve from my kitchen window, reading in my sunroom, and hosting guests in the large second bedroom, that I often joke is larger than my first apartment."
Room to live
One of the first things that drew Peggy to the Dalton was the large and open living space.
"I have a huge, wall-length cabinet that I absolutely wanted to have with me in my new home," she says. "It fits perfectly right along the wall in my entranceway."
Peggy's home also boasts a large kitchen, chockful of state-of-the-art appliances. And although it's the perfect place to create culinary masterpieces, Peggy opts to use the space for bird-watching and art projects with her granddaughters.
"I admit I only use my coffee maker and the microwave," she says. "With five excellent restaurants available to me, just steps away, I am enjoying no longer having to cook. However, when my granddaughters Marlowe and Brigid visit, the kitchen counter is the perfect place for the two of them to do their artwork."
Like many of the rooms in Peggy's home, the kitchen offers beautiful views of the nature preserve.
"The sunsets are absolutely breathtaking," she says. "And I thoroughly enjoy bird watching, I've seen so many different birds, including the bright pink, roseate spoonbills. I make sure to keep my binoculars nearby."
A masterful suite
With two, large walk-in closets and a full wall of windows, Peggy's large master bedroom provides an enviable place to retreat after a busy day.
"I discovered that I can see the contrails from the space shuttle launches from these windows," she says. "That was a wonderful surprise."
All of the decorating in Peggy's beautiful home is the result of the keen design eye of her daughter Kat.
"She chose many of my new furnishings," says Peggy. "I trust her so much. We have such similar taste."
Peggy also opted to put her unique spin on her new home. Working with the Devonshire design center, she made a few customizations, including opening up the dining area by removing the low-hung ceiling, installing built-ins in the second bedroom, choosing flooring that resembles driftwood, and closing off the outdoor porch to make an insulated sunroom.
"I love the sunroom," she says. "It may be my favorite place in the home. It is the perfect spot for enjoying the sunshine and a good book. I added French doors between the sunroom and the second bedroom, creating a private access for my guests."
Treating guests like royalty
Most often, those guests are Peggy's two granddaughters, and the second bedroom is perfectly suited for their visits from nearby Wellington, Fla.
"I chose a sofa bed that turns into a queen-sized bed," she says. "And the bottom shelf of the built-in wall unit is filled with their art supplies. The girls love to be creative. They also enjoy taking part in community life. The Devonshire staff always spoil them. Once, they asked if they could leave a comment on one of the comment cards. They suggested that the age requirement be lowered so they could come and live here too."
Family and friends are very special to Peggy, who sprinkles her home with special treasures. Perhaps the sweetest is the framed print of the "doorman" hanging outside her front door.
"The doorman is my late husband Gene, who posed for the photo as part of an advertising campaign in the Wall Street Journal," she says. "I love that in this small way, he is here with me."
Recently celebrating her two-year anniversary at Devonshire, Peggy looks forward to spending more time with family and friends.