Question of the Day, Wednesday, Feb 21, 2017

[Mamanyt1953]

Happy Wednesday!  Just barely, but here on the east coast of the USA, it is Wednesday!  Figured I'd best get this posted tonight because I am on a dust bunny safari tomorrow.  Trust me, they are NOT on the endangered species list.  They are vermin, multiply like tribbles on viagra, and MUST BE STOPPED!

SO...here is the question,

If you have time and reasonably unlimited funds with which to purchase/build a home and decorate it, in which direction do your decorating dreams lead you?  Sleek and very nouveau,  mid-century modern, classic, High Victorian?  Where do you live in your dreams?

I have to say I am almost medieval in my tastes.  I love gothic arches, anything baroque, rococo, deep, rich colors and textures, crossed swords on the walls (well, yeah, actually),  the whole ball of wax, but with ac and hot water!  I SO want a big flat-canopy bed with hangings that can actually be drawn and fireplaces in EVERY room.  Not fond of "open concept," although I can handle a den off of the kitchen.  I don't especially want my guests to see me cursing and panicking as I rescue a dinner from near disaster!  I want big beams across the ceilings, and exposed stone on the walls.  Must have a library with a office tucked away inconspicuously.  Pocket doors (I know those are later, but I like them).  SIGH... What I can actually afford, should I buy, is a smallish tent.

 

[muffy]

Mid-century modern. No steps.

In my dreams I live in California. LA area. 

 

[Norachan]

Ooooh, a Gothic Castle sounds lovely, but a bit too chilly for me.

I'd like something more exotic and Bedouiny. Lots of long, flowing fabrics, floor cushions scattered everywhere, a big ornate hookah pipe, mosaic tile floors.

Not very practical for someone who lives up above the snow line, I know, but a girl can dream.

 

 

[di and bob]

After remodeling and building so many over the years my tastes have changed completely once again, so it is probably a good thing I moved every couple of years. Now I want dark gray kitchen cabinets with white granite counter tops with just a touch of gray swirl, White glass tile backsplash, and black stainless steel appliances. Dark gray weathered wood floors throughout, beautiful slate tile in the showers and tub surround with a band of mosaic glass tile at shoulder height for a touch of style and color. Brushed nickel light fixtures throughout and white painted trim and white arched doors against a background of pale gray walls. A dark charcoal wall in the living room for accent, and stacked brick on the outside.  Just like the house we are remodeling right now, so I get a preview! How many people get that!? 

 

[AbbysMom]

Interesting question and one I don't have a good answer too! :lol3: I do prefer more New England "classic" looking homes with a slightly more contemporary/modern design inside. I had a country theme in homes for so many years that in this house I have gone more in the opposite direction. :nod: Having said that, I do love some of the older colonial and Victorian homes with all of their amazing details.

 

[Winchester]

I guess it would be kind of a Victorian. I love large two-story homes with great big bedrooms, an absolutely gigantic eat-in kitchen with a fireplace and all the modern appliances (of course!), it must have a dual-fuel range, and a large baking area.

The house needs a library, a wrap-around front porch with plenty of room for swings and lots of rocking chairs and plants all over the place. I would want a formal dining room. The master bedroom needs a walk-in closet with plenty of room for shoes and boots, a fireplace, and be spacious enough for a king-size bed. The master bath would be spacious with a deep claw-foot tub. Four bedrooms would be enough, the master, one for each of the grands, and the extra bedroom would house the elliptical, the Bowflex, the treadmill, etc. The entire house needs plenty, plenty of natural light. I like the idea of pocket doors to the formal dining room (my sister had pocket doors installed to their living room to keep the cats out of the living room.....she loves them and the doors look lovely when they're closed). I don't mind stairs, but would want a completely open stairway.

I would want a completely furnished attic for the cats....they would be free to come and go, but the attic would be for them, too. Windows, cat trees, etc. Not that they'd use it; I know my furkids! 

Outside, plenty of gingerbread on the house, at least one turret. Flowerbeds and foundation plantings. Three-car garage.

I no longer care for an in-ground pool. We have one now and don't use it as much as we should.

Clearly my wants are larger than my wallet. 

You did say there would be a housekeeper and a gardener, yes? 

 I don't want a cook, but a housekeeper would be nice. Or at least a cleaning person.

 

[cassiopea]

Victorian or a stone Regency era house. Or a little English country style house



 

 

[neely]

My taste runs the gamut from Victorian to English Tudor to Dutch Colonial but definitely nothing modern.  My absolute favorite dream home would be a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style home in the northwestern part of the country.  I gravitate to Wright's organic architecture style and geometric lines.   However, I'm also drawn to the Gustav Stickley Arts & Crafts style homes.  Decisions, decisions, too difficult to pick just one.

  

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

my ideal house would be a renovated barn! i guess it would be 'open concept', but prefer to call it more of a 'great room' idea with a loft style bedroom. effective use of space, storage areas are very important to me, as is lots of natural light, and a wood burning stove. a nice roomy screened in porch would be a must, for both the cats and myself. i think i'd call my decorating style primarily 'early cat' -- cat furniture/wall furniture, cat beds, scratchers, games/toys, and etc. my stuff can fit in around the kitties things...

 

[sivyaleah]

I am already living in my favorite type of home, a Four Square in Craftsman style. With some minor Victorian hints to it.

The only thing I'd like better is to be able to afford to enlarge it.  There's plenty of space to do so - I'd love to enclose the side porch which used to be a porte cochere (car port) which would add quite a bit of extra living space to the ground floor.  I'd also like to get rid of the 2nd floor balcony which is surely not original to the home - bump out the guest room and smaller 3rd bedroom. Maybe add another small bathroom up there.

The attic and basement are good sizes to and geez, a 3rd floor master suite would be awesome!  

Alas, I am slowly over the years just basically repairing all the damage done by the last owner ignoring it for 30 years.  I feel like it will never be done!

I work in architecture so to be honest, I like a LOT of different home styles. I could easily live in a high rise uber modern apartment as I could a rustic farmhouse.  Every type has it's charm.

 

[denice]

A log and beam home, lots of glass, in the mountains.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

 
I am already living in my favorite type of home, a Four Square in Craftsman style. With some minor Victorian hints to it.

The only thing I'd like better is to be able to afford to enlarge it.  There's plenty of space to do so - I'd love to enclose the side porch which used to be a porte cochere (car port) which would add quite a bit of extra living space to the ground floor.  I'd also like to get rid of the 2nd floor balcony which is surely not original to the home - bump out the guest room and smaller 3rd bedroom. Maybe add another small bathroom up there.

The attic and basement are good sizes to and geez, a 3rd floor master suite would be awesome!  

Alas, I am slowly over the years just basically repairing all the damage done by the last owner ignoring it for 30 years.  I feel like it will never be done!

I work in architecture so to be honest, I like a LOT of different home styles. I could easily live in a high rise uber modern apartment as I could a rustic farmhouse.  Every type has it's charm.

There's an old historic home in Chattanooga that has had the porte cochere turned into a lovely summer room...almost entirely glass with those wonderful stone support pillars as frames in the outer corners.  I was in love with that place, largely because of that room.  

EVERYONE has such wonderful ideas!  The lovely thing about architecture and design is that there is room for all tastes in it.  This has been such fun for me to read!  Rereading my original post, it almost seemed as if I were talking about a castle, and that might be nice (Magic Castle Builders comes to mind), but I was really thinking more of Thomas Kinkaid's cottages.  That style would fit well in one of those, too.  And there MUST be room for Hekitty's furniture!  She needs more than a slightly small cat tree, four beds and a box FULL of toys!

 

[sivyaleah]

 
There's an old historic home in Chattanooga that has had the porte cochere turned into a lovely summer room...almost entirely glass with those wonderful stone support pillars as frames in the outer corners.  I was in love with that place, largely because of that room.  

EVERYONE has such wonderful ideas!  The lovely thing about architecture and design is that there is room for all tastes in it.  This has been such fun for me to read!  Rereading my original post, it almost seemed as if I were talking about a castle, and that might be nice (Magic Castle Builders comes to mind), but I was really thinking more of Thomas Kinkaid's cottages.  That style would fit well in one of those, too.  And there MUST be room for Hekitty's furniture!  She needs more than a slightly small cat tree, four beds and a box FULL of toys!

That is exactly what I'd love to do! 

The only slight problem is our fireplace exterior is on the wall where the room would enclose it. The fireplace is made of beautiful stonework - really something the passing public should see.  I think it would be ok to have it enclosed in a room (after all the chimney itself would still be way outside) but a shame as far as what the home looks like from the side.  It would greatly enhance the living space since the house has no family room/den type area.

 

[Primula]

In my dream, I would return to Manhattan & buy my own condo. Every room would have a window (that would be a big deal in NYC) & there would be plenty of light. My condo must be very quiet. No barking dogs anywhere close. I must have my own washer and dryer. Don't know about furnishings. Expensive, tasteful, muted probably. Hardwood floors. Air conditioning. Maybe a nice terrace.

 

[sivyaleah]

In my dream, I would return to Manhattan & buy my own condo. Every room would have a window (that would be a big deal in NYC) & there would be plenty of light. My condo must be very quiet. No barking dogs anywhere close. I must have my own washer and dryer. Don't know about furnishings. Expensive, tasteful, muted probably. Hardwood floors. Air conditioning. Maybe a nice terrace.

I had lived in a NYC high rise in Battery Park City for a few years.  It was heaven; we had a terrace on the 24th floor facing the river. Passing cruise ships would sound their horns going up the river early in the morning. We saw lots of fireworks in the summer time too.  Our laundry wasn't in the condo - but it was only a few steps from our door and there weren't a lot of apartments on each floor so one never had to fight for for the laundry. Hardwood floors, doorman too. But oh so small for 2 people.  600 sf does not go very far and it was really too close for comfort even with a loved one.  

 

[Primula]

I had lived in a NYC high rise in Battery Park City for a few years.  It was heaven; we had a terrace on the 24th floor facing the river. Passing cruise ships would sound their horns going up the river early in the morning. We saw lots of fireworks in the summer time too.  Our laundry wasn't in the condo - but it was only a few steps from our door and there weren't a lot of apartments on each floor so one never had to fight for for the laundry. Hardwood floors, doorman too. But oh so small for 2 people.  600 sf does not go very far and it was really too close for comfort even with a loved one.  

How very nice! The only disadvantage I can think of down there is grocery shopping & such like? Or has it changed now?

BTW, as to space issues, I would leave husband in Connecticut. :lol3: I had a studio midtown & loved it to pieces.

 

[sivyaleah]

How very nice! The only disadvantage I can think of down there is grocery shopping & such like? Or has it changed now?

BTW, as to space issues, I would leave husband in Connecticut.

I had a studio midtown & loved it to pieces.

There was 1 supermarket across the street but it was awful! My ex and I used to drag groceries home on the bus or train from other areas in the city. You know how Manhattan is, one adjusts for the luxury of living there 

I had a very small studio before that on my own. Was barely 400 sf if that and kind of in a strange part of town (the very edge of Kipps Bay, more like in the Grand Central District) but I loved living there. Was a 7 minute walk to my then office and was able to go home for lunch.  I totally miss that. We'd move back in a heartbeat if we could now afford to. 

 

[Primula]

There was 1 supermarket across the street but it was awful! My ex and I used to drag groceries home on the bus or train from other areas in the city. You know how Manhattan is, one adjusts for the luxury of living there :lol3:
I had a very small studio before that on my own. Was barely 400 sf if that and kind of in a strange part of town (the very edge of Kipps Bay, more like in the Grand Central District) but I loved living there. Was a 7 minute walk to my then office and was able to go home for lunch.  I totally miss that. We'd move back in a heartbeat if we could now afford to. 

LOL. For 10 years I went home for lunch. :lol3:

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

 

A log and beam home, lots of glass, in the mountains.

*hears the Angels singing* 

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I could write you a book but I will resist. 

  I'm drawn mostly to Craftsman and French Country or some cottage homes.  My style is somewhere between casual elegance and rustic.  Nothing overly ornate or geometric but put details in the woodwork.  I love color but I also like things to be warm, calming and relaxing.  My kitchen has to have a good work space in the form of an island or peninsula.  I have a nice wide peninsula now and it's fantastic.  I want a laundry room with a good sink and counters to fold and what not.  I want a bright and functional pantry/butlers pantry where I can store things but also have it look nice!  I want a room for ME.  Somewhere I can retreat to with a book or a puzzle or a craft project or some paints.  I'd like a comfortable master suite with a semi separate sitting room for DH and I to unwind together.  I want a separate school room for the kids and I to spend our day.  I want room for them to play; even in the basement with rubberized floors so they can get energy out no matter the weather.  I want a room for guests.  I want a covered porch and a nice patio where we can grill.  I want trees and shrubs and PRIVACY!  I want a pool and room to garden.  I want workshop space for DH for when we get different projects going too.