Describe your dream home.

[begin_within]

Mine would actually be a small house on a very large lot, surrounded by trees, ponds, trails, fruit orchard, desert garden, rose garden, Japanese garden, and lots of deep green shady leafy places to cool off in. Small cooling pool with waterfall and a warm jacuzzi elsewhere. House itself very rustic and earthy, with earth tones and soft, comfortable places to flake out in, and plenty of windows to look out at the yard. Cats, small dogs, birds everywhere.

[Omphaloskepsis]

1. Drywall would be nice...

I live in a very unhappy place right now.

[stuntcat]

2. mine's a farm

(I joke about "someday when I buy the farm" but I mean it.)
I want to live in the Blue Ridge mountains on a few acres with some gardens and woods and a pond and I want to raise ducks and goats and cows and pigs and chickens but NOT to be eaten. And I'd have a couple of dogs and some housecats of course.
A little house would do me, as long as it's got big windows and big porches.
I've got this plotted out in my head, it's my Dream :blush:

[KitchenWitch]

3. I would like a home with a basement

Ranch or rambler style (Everything on the main floor).

Decent sized kitchen with double oven and electric/ceramic cooktop. Large pantry, attached two car garage. Laundry off the kitchen. 3-4 bedroom. In the basement would be storage galore, and a game room. Formal LR and DR. My house would have plenty of light fixtures (I hate dark feeling homes). I would love 1/4 acre lot with trees and flowers.

[dropkickpa]

4. 100 year old Victorian

hasn't been completely re-muddled, I would restore everything, and carefully add hidden modern updates (AC, but I would keep radiator heat), fully rewired, wired for modern convieniences like internet. I would work my ass off to make it energy efficient without losing my beloved wavy glass windows or messing up the plaster (much nicer than drywall, has insulating and sound proofing qualities). I would have a big ass cast iron tub with a sloped back (I have one now, but the back isn't sloped, so it's not real comfortable for lazing in) and a water heater big enough to fill it.

I'd want 2-3 stories, original hard wood floors (I'm a big fan of area rugs), I would want window seats and the original stained glass, a sweet ass kitchen with all the gadgets, 4-5 bedrooms (1 each for me and DK, an office for me, and a playroom/art center for DK, and a guest room/library). The inside would be furnished with comfortable cozy pieces and I'd have a huge dining room table so I could have people over for dinner (I get real bored cooking for 2, one who has a very limited palate).

The yards would not be too big, as I want to be in the city, but the back would be big enough for a swingset for Dropkid and a large patio table and grill so I can have my family over all the time in summer, it would also be fenced. I'd love to have a koi pond with waterlilies and a small waterfall (and while I'm dreaming, the dog won't drink all the water). I want a big ol' front porch with a swing and a big shady tree in the front. And I would plant oodles of impatiens all across the front every year (I love those stupid flowers, and *bonus* they can survive my black thumb!!). I'd have some soft windchimes and a garden gnome.

[XemaSab]

7. Can I move in with you?

:shrug:

:D

[lildreamer316]

8. Me too!

Except I want a HUGE yard. Lots of oak trees. OLD; big ones. And some evergreens to look pretty in the snow.

I am wavering on the wooden house idea; though--I'd really like brick. Hey, as long as we're dreamning..
And there had better be a fireplace in the master bedroom.

[dropkickpa]

18. Oh, it would definitely be brick!

Preferably white or red.

[XemaSab]

20. It snows there?

:shrug:

[lildreamer316]

31. Only on Christmas.

Sorry; I'm a sucker for that traditional Victorian Christmas kinda thing.
It would clear up the next night or so....

[crim son]

12. Other than the fact that I want roses and herbs in my yard, and my

statue of Buddha rather than the monk, you describe my ideal home exactly. :hi:

[TheMightyFavog]

5. House built into a berm or a hillside.

I hear they are very eco-friendly.

[XemaSab]

6. First of all it would be on a large piece of land

with both a defined "garden" and open space. I'll also take a big greenhouse.

The house would probably be older and not too big, with maybe 3 bedrooms, a big kitchen/dining room, and a cozy living room. I'd like to create a house with a succession of spaces from indoors to outdoors, so I'd like a sun room connected to a big porch. Also, the coolest house I ever stayed at had a big central garden with a hot tub, so I would like that too please. :D

[Chan790]

9. Two requirements:

1.) It has to have a roof.
2.) Nobody in my immediate family is capable of finding it.

[LaurenG]

40. ROFL

I can't tell you how many times my husband has said the same thing, "Nobody in my immediate family is capable of finding it". :rofl:

[CTyankee]

10. I just want a one level condo, maybe 2 bedrooms, accessible laundry room

(NO BASEMENT LAUNDRY!). Not too far out of the city but not in the middle of it. Easy parking. I don't care about the kitchen size or anything else. 2 bathrooms.

I've had this New England small colonial for 21 years now with a washer/dryer in the basement and I HATE it. I want only one level with the washer/dryer in either the kitchen area or the bedroom area.

Please god!

[applegrove]

11. Yours sounds great. I'll copy the plans...but a rock garden instead of

a japanese one and a wrap around, covered porch. The pool would be a natural one..with waterplans to keep it clean and fresh. A few big dogs, lots of cats and a vegetable garden.

[UncleSepp]

13. A set of small houses with a larger one in the middle

Six small Modernist loft-style homes, about 600 square feet each, with small apartment kitchens. A central building of about 1800 square feet connected to the small homes by elevated decking. Central building would have a large chef's kitchen for cooking meals for 12-18 people comfortably, open space for 18-24 people to congregate comfortably, and a common media library. In its basement, the boiler for central hot water, storage, storm shelter, and freezers. The structures would be most likely made from converted cargo containers and recycled building materials, situated on acreage with forested land, cultivated land, and pasture. The whole place would be home for me, a few friends, and the families of me and my friends. It would start with one of the small units, then two, then the central building, then the rest of the small units added as-needed.

[AlienGirl]

36. One of the small homes around the bigger house. And we should be able to get off-grid, eventually.

Post-apocalypse commune FTW!

Tucker

[femmocrat]

14. Ocean-front property with a comfortable beach house.

It doesn't have to be extravagant. I just want to wake up every morning and see the ocean.

[achtung_circus]

15. I actually had it.

Then my wife decided to fuck our lives, we moved, separated, divorced, etc.

It was 17 acres of mixed pasture and primarily aspen forest. One patch was huge spruce. Fenced and crossfenced for horses. Barn, chicken house, tack room, barn, former garage converted into my shop, creek, pond, huge vegetable garden, Great Grey owls nesting in the spruce outside the bedroom.

The house was designed by me.

Mudroom, with pantry off it.
Single, long, great-type room, kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace. Acres of south facing windows kept it warm in the winter, a combination of deciduous trees and the overhang kept it shaded in the summer. Master bedroom had an en suite with large shower, double sinks and a huge whirlpool in the corner with windows at seated eye level onto a forest nook.

Bluebirds, barn swallows, tree swallows, gophers, coyotes, a badger living in the pasture (we could watch the little ones wrestle in the sunshine). Former buffalo jump at the edge of the creek.

Dogs, cats, no kids, thank Christ.

[itsmesgd]

16. paid for

[u4ic]

17. Here it is

complete with horses...





OR a converted one of these (the church, not the graveyard ;) though the latter doesn't freak me out):





A lighthouse would be cool, too. :)

[lildreamer316]

32. Your very own Howard's End, huh?

I was just thinking that was going to be the name of my dream home whenever I find it-or it finds me.
Beautiful!

[u4ic]

34. Yes, I need to name it!

I found that picture a couple of years ago on the net, and hold that as the standard for my dream home. (though it needs a few more horses ;) )


Howard's End? Or Dream's End? ;)

[Bunny]

19. I'm not sure if I would call this my dream house, but this house interests me as a retirement home:

Here's the floorplan:
http://www.tinyhousecompany.com/TH3425_Avalon.html

I think something like this would be really nice after my kids are grown and gone. It's only 1100 sq. ft. I really like the small size. With a basement laundry and perhaps a powder room there as well, I think it would be ideal for me. The only thing about this is that I would have to have just the right property - the house would need to be nestled in the woods, with lots of trees and landscaping around it.

[carly denise pt deux]

21. a 2-story home, not real huge, around 2500 sq ft up in the california hills

that has been professionally feng shui'd, japanese gardens, infinitiy pool, aviary, soft comfy furniture, beds, complete with a professional cook, trainer, housekeepers, groundsmen, built on the side of the hills, so I would have a view of LA from my living room and bedroom. This is my realistic dream home..........

now for my unattainable dream home:

10,000 sq ft mansion in the virgin islands with the same stuff above, along with a 7 stall garage to park my various limo's, sports cars, SUV's etc.

Carly

[carly denise pt deux]

23. if you need ideas, there is the www.sothebysrealty.com website

they have really nice real estate, just for us dreamers.
Carly

[China_cat]

22. I don't care how big it is as long as it has more than one

bathroom.

[Danmel]

24. I want two homes

One a nice old Victorian somewhere peaceful and progressive.

The other a two bedroom apartment in the West Village or Upper West Side in NYC.

(I want ot be able to go places and walk around when I get old.

My nightmare would be a gated retirement community where all people do is bitch about school taxes and talk about doctors appointments.

Now all I need to do is hit the lottery!

[blitzen]

25. anyone for a Tiny House?

I wouldn't mind one, provided it was right on a blue-ribbon trout stream.


http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm

[stuntcat]

28. that is precious!

I'm afraid I'd have to dig a basement under it to store some stuff and maybe set up an underground theater but the house is SWEET.

[u4ic]

33. Very cute

but I'd be climbing the walls in that one.:freak:


I need space.

[UncleSepp]

38. Love the TinyHouses!

:loveya:

These are great. I really like the Modernist prefab weeHouse:

http://www.weehouses.com

and other examples of small prebuilt and modular houses. Someday, I want to put together a "village" of them, for collective living.

[Shell Beau]

26. I would love a rustic house with lots of wood and stone.

Really natural. But I would leave out the animal heads that most rustic homes have. A nice fireplace, a huge kitchen and master bathroom with his and her sinks and closets. Aahhhh, that would be the life!!!!

[NNadir]

27. An 800,000 square meter mansion on an estate the size of Ecuador

with two or three coal fired 3000 MW powerplants to power it.

Every room has a giant 80 inch big screen TV that runs continuously in case I should happen to stroll through the room.

The house is staffed with illegal aliens from outer space who only want to be paid a dollar an hour and will not demand to be paid until I feel like it.

I would like a large thermally controlled auditorium from which I would like to lecture people on moral choices and environmentalism.

[Redstone]

29. Well, it's either this one, which we tried to buy last fall...the deal didn't go through,

so we'll try again in the spring:
http://www.pwpre.com/open-realty/listingview.php?listingID=137

Or we might go for this one instead, because it hass a creek on the property:
http://www.peabodysmith.com/real_estate/listings/Littleton%20NH/2605130/73/147755?sid=2723&RedirectURL=%2F-listprice%2F50%2F50%2F%3F

Or maybe go nuts and convert this church, which is something I've always wanted to do:
http://www.peabodysmith.com/real_estate/listings/Bethlehem%20NH/2614204/73/158548?sid=2725&RedirectURL=%2F-listprice%2F80%2F10%2F%3F

Redstone

[Kali]

30. cleaned by somebody else

[Neshanic]

35. The house in "Christmas In Connecticut" That house.

[Justpat]

37. My dream place is a farm in the Blue Grass Valley of VA.

It would be at least 100 acres with great pasture and a couple of
ponds. It would be about 1/3 wooded.

The house would be an historic home with wide board floors and a
fireplace in the kitchen. In front of this fireplace there will
be a large arm chair. I will rarely move from it except to go
feed and take care of the horses.

[chknltl]

39. Both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins lived in it.

I would love an earth shelter home similar to what the Hobbits have in Lord Of The Rings. They are quite economical and energy efficient if built right. Call me silly but those kind of homes make better sense to me for the residents of "Tornado Alley" than most current above ground designs. If I lived there and had the funds to build a home, an earth shelter design would be high on my short list. They do not need to look like caves unless you want them to...google earth shelter home to see what I mean, there are plenty of links.

[NMDemDist2]

41. a strawbale house built around a inner courtyard

so every room opens onto a plant filled courtyard with a fountain

active and passive solar heating, lots of tile that has water pipes that run under it for cooling in the summer and heat in the winter

lots of windows and a little space on the roof for hubby's telescope and cool breezes in the evening

and it would have a small root cellar to store my onions and taters from the garden

this desert lot would be fine but i need to add some pecan trees

[BreweryYardRat]

42. Something in stone.

Stone can't burn, y'know. No need for major fire insurance, just enough to cover minor internal fires. Also, it stays cool in the summer and you can easily warm up in the winter.

[colinmom71]

43. A converted classic fire station....

That I of course would get to convert and remodel into a residence. And yes, the old sliding pole would stay! ;)

[Wcross]

44. I am planning to build this one on my property.

http://www.sunplans.com/html/houseDisplay.php3?house=Windy_Corner

It is made from ICF's and is a passive solar design. I plan on using geothermal for heating/cooling needs and a passive solar water heating unit. Also as money allows I will add solar power. I plan on using stone for the exterior and a metal roof.

[AirmensMom]

46. That's cool Wcross!

When will you be starting?

We're building passive solar right now! :bounce: Here's ours ...

http://www.architecturalhouseplans.com/home_plans/20

We reversed the plan and built it in brick, with a sunlight basement under the dining room/kitchen/sun room part. We want to add solar or wind power at some point, but it's not in the budget yet.

[Wcross]

49. Great minds think alike!

I like that, its a nice looking design. I have checked into wind power here in southern middle Tennessee and its a no-go due to the average wind speeds.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/astate_template.asp?stateab=tn

You might have better luck up where you are. You might want to look at some passive solar water heating options, the payoff would be quick on that investment.

Oh, are you going to be on well water? If so, buy the BIGGEST pressure tank for it you can. That will decrease the amount of times your pump will have to cycle and would allow you to go with a solar pump in the future.

I am planning on starting the build as money allows. Right now I have a small (almost paid for) house on the property. I will be doing the build when I have the cash to pay for the entire project. It may be a couple of years.

BTW- No wonder you won't let that poor dog in the house!
:rofl:
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet you can't wait for it to be finished, huh?

[AirmensMom]

50. It looks a lot better in brick.

Will PM you a link.

It can get quite windy here. But we'll have to check into it. We had the roof beefed up for passive solar water heating. We just have to make sure we have enough money to get the house built before we add that, even though the payoff will be quick.

Yes, we will be on well water. We got a wonderful well drilled last fall and the water is delicious. They installed a big pressure tank -- they said it would have more pressure than city water. I did ask for the biggest one we could get.

One question about the solar water heater, though. If we get some cold, dark days, what will keep the water in the pipes from freezing and bursting the pipes? That has us a little concerned. Will it stay warm enough to prevent freezing?

I hope you can start soon. :hug: Will you rent the one your living in now?

LOL! :rofl: You got it! :rofl: Actually, we're looking at barn plans now and think we found one. Harleydad and a friend are planning on building it as soon as the final grading is done. Wanna come over and help? :bounce:

I'm chomping at the bit, I tell ya. Just can't wait! Insulation is going up this week, and drywall right after that. So it's getting there. :D

[Wcross]

52. Solar water heating.

"One question about the solar water heater, though. If we get some cold, dark days, what will keep the water in the pipes from freezing and bursting the pipes? That has us a little concerned. Will it stay warm enough to prevent freezing?"

They sell systems that use glycol in the panels on the roof and transfer the heat to a water heater tank. There is NO chance of freeze up. If I can find the link I will post it. (have to run to my insurance agents office in about ten minutes)
As far as my current house, I will convert it to either a workshop or barn for some livestock. I will have to re-cover the exterior walls with stone veneer for it to blend in with the new place. I would NEVER do the rental thing, I don't really enjoy other people in close proximity to me.

[AirmensMom]

54. OK, thanks.

That makes me feel a lot better. The system we had in FL for our pool was just a series of black tubes. I really would like to do it as soon as we can afford to.

Good thinking! I would never do the rental thing, either. You'll have more fun having the animals close by.

BTW ... did I tell you? We were driving home from Asheville a few weekends ago and went past a place where they had a couple GPs guarding goats. It was pretty cool! :D

Good luck at the insurance agent's office! I PM'ed you some links to pics. :hi:

[AirmensMom]

45. We're building it now.

Passive solar home on 7.91 rolling acres, 10 minutes from town. Woods on east and west, pasture with cows in the lot to the south. Daylight basement, fireplace, and screened porch for the kitties. 50 windows ... most of them on the south side. Big enough for hobbies, but not a McMansion. Hope to build a barn and buy a couple miniature horses. *sigh* Can't wait.

[RiverStone]

56. A wooden Yurt...

Thats wood - not canvas.

Love that ancient circular structure! Helped build one many years ago.

Solar panels, garden, with detached workshop combo quest bedroom and/or personal space (place). Need a little privacy now & then as my girlfriend and I would share. Probably around 1000 sq (round) ft. A couple of futons, lots of plants, very simple furnishings. Huge skylight in the middle. Wood and/or pellet stove.

All made with chemical free materials and natural fiber insulation. Very light, bright, and sitting on rural acreage in Washington state under the stars (already live in rural Washington). And like here, surrounded by wildthings and quiet. Except for two noisy cats that love to play tag at 3:00 a.m.!

Anybody know any cool 'yurt' links?


:)
peace

[otherlander]

47. Okay...

A little house where there's always jazz playing, surrounded by lots of land. There are beehives in the front half. That's what I do, I keep bees for a living, or else I'm a poet.

The other half of my land looks like it's just a bunch of reeds with two big sycamore trees growing up out of them. But there's actually a clearing in the middle of the reeds that no one knows about. There, there's a rope between the two trees, like this:


And at the base of the other tree, there's a trampoline that you land on after you jump off the rope thing.

[Tikki]

48. Any one of the So Cal Eichlers would work for me.....

http://www.eichlersocal.com/



Tikki

[Hell Hath No Fury]

51. A 2500 sq ft. California cottage.

on an acre in the hills of Napa Valley. Built with as much recycled materials as possible and completely off grid. Wood built-ins, fireplace, country kitchen with beadboard, wide front porch with a swing. Baby garage out back for a workshop/art space. California oaks all around.

Can you tell I've thought a lot about this? :D

[Catchawave]

53. In NYC:

[DarkmoonIkonoklast]

55. One of several small cottage-type structures...

   ... scattered around a Community Center (including Village Post Office, Internet Network Server) sitting smack in the middle of an otherwise undeveloped full section (640 square acres) of forested land...
   ... all of which would actually be the "topping" on a massive subterranean complex of workshops, hydroponic gardens, schools, and other necessary community facilities.
   Oh, wait... this IS here on Earth, right? :rofl:

[enigmatic]

57. Something like this

in the middle of a 500 acre plot of forest w/ a creek running through it.

Nirvana.