October 12, 2000    
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If you could build your dream house, where would it be and what would it look like?

I've always wanted a house in the middle of nowhere. Well, not exactly. It'd be NEAR a nice village or something, but in a forest where most people don't come. Mabye a cottage..which is more realistic, but since this is a dream house, I'd love to have a beautifully fabricated treehouse....with a ladder and locked doors and nice windows and everything. None of the bugs though. Birds would be fine. ;-) Preferably it would be near a beautiful pond and mabye a garden.

Aurora, 17
Montreal, Quebec CANADA

I guess the ideal of all worlds, I would have a nice rustic abode on an Adirondack lake with not too many neighbors. I would have a fireplace of course and a loft. However, it would be within easy drive of fantastic ethnic restaurants, an art movie house and a community of interesting progressives and artists.

Felicia, 34
Lowell
, MA

Essentially, I'm living in my dream house which my husband and I designed and he built (practically single-handedly) twelve years ago. After a dozen years of testing-by-use I realize that I should have fought harder for a spare bedroom and some extra kitchen counter space. I'm still delighted

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg
, PA

My dream house would be in some dark forest, probably in Europe, let's say The Black Forest if you want specific. I really don't know how to describe the architecture but it would be two storey and typical of German forest cottages. Oh yeah and it would have to be close to a twon, but far away enough to have the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, and yet not isolated. Or else I would like to live in an american gothic style house in America with bats in the turret and dead trees everywhere.

Gavin
Sydney AUSTRAILA

My dream house would be small -- 600 sq ft, with the eastern wall facing the ocean. The eastern side would be floor to ceiling windows. Of course, my dream house comes with dream weather: no hurricanes.

Laura, 35
Lowell
, MA

I'm not sure, but I know some features it would have! I would love for it to be on the ocean or on a lagoon. It would have a bedroom for each child and a nice big room for their playroom. My husband and I would each have a study type room so we could have our own space when we needed it. I would like a pool and/or hot tub. Beautiful, big areas to have lovely gardens! A master bathroom with a shower and a nice, big, whirlpool bathtub. A big, well equipped kitchen. A nice homey, room where we could all hang out, be comfortable, and vegetate in front of the tube once in a while. I am sure I could go on, but that's the house of my dreams and I mean DREAMS. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming!!

Tracy, 24
Ocean City
, NJ

It would be in Colorado, naturally. Far enough away from civilization that my s.o. ('f I had one) and Iwould only have to mingle if we wanted to, but close enough that our kids would have access to hospitals and the influence of society.

Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames
, IA

The cool thing about this question is the 'where' part, kind of a reminder that I haven't been everywhere yet and that is more of a concern to me than where a building is going to be.

Alias Irrelevante

It would be in a Buckminster Fuller design floating geodisic dome hovering over San Francisco or Scotland

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge
, LA

It would be on a beach in either Cali or Florida, with a large back porch, 2 stories high, 3 car garage, and lots of palm trees.

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch
, CO

I don't know.

Jami, 27
Lowell
, MA

My dream house would offer views of mountains and lakes, and would be set in a garden on the edge of a small town but conveniently near a city and all urban amenities.

It would have the appearance of a gracious older home, with all modern conveniences, such as double glazing, excellent bathrooms, the best kitchen appliances and high-tech wiring. There would be large, sun-filled rooms and small, book-filled rooms, comfortable seating, open fires, and beautiful old wood.

It would be a house that welcomed visitors and yet felt comfortable for one or two. As this is a dream, it would come complete with the indoor and outdoor staff necessary to keep it in perfect shape, all trained to be unobtrusive while fulfilling the needs and wishes of those who lived there.

Jane, 60
West Linn
, OR

dominican republic on the beach, it would be 3 stories, incredibly large, have a beautiful garden outside with flowers and fountains, as well as fountains inside, pools, and lots of other totally unique and asthetic things.

Angela, 16
Aiken
, SC

it would be out in the country... on its own... it would have horses... it would be huge!! there would be a lake... and plenty of room for kids to run around...

Brooke, 16
Memphis
, TN

My "dream house" would not be a house at all - but it WOULD be a residence. And I would not build it. I would BUY it. It would be a 40' diesel-poweredmotorhome. It would be in Southern Texas during the winter and British Columbia in the summer.

Reba, 50
Rockville
, MD

I hate to sound cliche, but the old log home in the woods sounds nice to me.  Oh, it would need to have all the necessities and even a few luxuries while I'm at it. I would want it off the beaten track, but still close enough so that I could drive to work without having to leave a 4 a.m. --- and it has to be on a lake or a pond. Just lots of closets, and wood - floors, ceilings, walls...and a wide staircase...leading to a partial loft. At least one, maybe two huge windows, looking out onto the water...and then someone to come in and clean the thing for me, once a week. Oh it's nice to dream.

Fisch, 45
Preston
, CT

It would be in the hills near San Francisco and would be built in the victorian style painted deep hues of lavender or green with some silver or gold trim. I know it sounds a bit much, but if you have ever seen one of these fabulous houses in S.F., you know what I mean. It would have hardwood floors and high ceilings, two studios with all kinds of cool art equipment and supplies. I want a big yard with lots of flowers and yummy produce. And why not have a pool while I'm at it? Can I have a place in NY and Paris too?

Tina, 31
Medford
, MA

It would be in a country-type suburb of a major city. The house would be yellow, with two bedroom (one for me & one for a guest), a BIG kitchen, attic, utility room, dining room, BIG front porch, BIG backdoor patio w/ french doors, and last but not least -- the basement, which would have a pool table & a bowling alley (just like the white house :) )

Melodi, 19
Hlliard
, OH

My dream house would be in maine out in the country. It would be a three story house that was off white with a big front porch, back deck, an oak door, and green shutters.

Sarah J.
Jones, MO

An enormous gothic mansion in the middle of the English  countryside, with more rooms and secrets than I could ever hope to discover.

Shanna, 15
Cardiff
ENGLAND

I would build it in Monaco or Florence,Italy. Two of the most beautiful places in the world. It would look like a mesa or spanish style looking with a big grape vine field behind it.

Savannah

First of all the house would have to be by the ocean, either on the west coast or in scotland, ireland, england or italy. As to what it would look like - that depends on my mood. Sometimes I would rather have a huge castle with two towers and a beautiful spiral staircase that leads up to each one as well as a pool out back and a lovely topiary garden. But other times, I would love nothing more than a small cottage, just a place to call home.  Either way, I will be by the ocean and perfectly content.

Kate, 19
Bellingham
, WA

My dream house is a victorian type house with a lot of rooms and hardwood floors. I would build the house in a big green lot w/ trees lineing the driveway which would be long. And a small house w/ 2 bedrooms off behind the house for a guest house or additional rented house for tenants. (or if Im rich by then, for the servants)HA!

Stephanie, 24
TX

The house would need to be near water - either a big lake or the ocean. I haven't figured out what my favorite house style is yet. I like those custom-built log cabins, but my husband is appalled that I like those! He thinks I'm crazy! It would have to be rustic and cozy on the inside. And it would have to have a huge bathtub in the Master Suite. Gosh, I wish I had one of those bathtubs right now!!!

Susan, 31
Chicago
, IL

My dream house would be a rustic cabin located in Alaska, away from people, traffic, and all that stuff. I would be surrounded by 10 dogs, 5 cats, and a pig(not me). I could be as weird as I wanted, and there'd be nobody around to  care.

Mick, 30
Chicago
, IL

I'd like it to be on a hill amongst lots of old trees on a couple acres of land, with lots of windows or a glass wall facing out from the hill. Tall or cathedral ceilings in some of the rooms, gas fireplace, ceiling fans to move the air around in a lazy way. Maintenance-free vinyl siding on the outside, lots of different level and step-downs/ups inside. A kitchen with lots of storage and room. A house with enough rooms that I could decorate each differently to accomodate each of my different moods. And a secret passge would be nice, too.

Jesse, 24
Bowie
, MD

A HUGE crumbling old castle in Scotland with a beautiful view of water, valleys, and heather. Okay, so I don't want a crumbling castle, but I want something old and beautiful.

Amy, 23
New Orleans
, LA  USA

I'd love a little shack along a beautiful isolated coastline

Emma, 20
Perth AUSTRALIA

it would be either here in LA County or somewhere in Orange County. . It would be a rather big place, but it would have to be very very clean and orderly and not at all cluttered. . . I'd love to have one room for a book library and one room as a video library and one room as an audio library and one room as a sorta central media room. . .I'd love to have an in home theatre that wasn't too cheesy, with a full Digital sound system and all the bells and whistles. . .I think I'd like my computer room to be pretty small and comfy. . .The communal space would be very comfortable and clean for entertaining, which I'd like to do pretty regularly. . .I'd like the kitchen and the dining room to be as simple as possible, as I don't anticipate I would do much cooking, as I probably will eat out most every meal, or order in. . .This is the "dream house" I'd like to have as a bachelor for the next ten years or so, once I make my first million or thereabouts. . .After finding my soulmate I'd like to move into only a slightly bigger house that has all these media amenities, as well as a bedroom or three. . .

mothmc, 36
Los Angeles
, CA  USA

My house would be a very, very fine house. A raised brick ranch set on top of a mountain with the southern exposure on its front windows.  Three bedrooms, a family room with a large wood burning fireplace, and a bright and open kitchen. The back lower basement of the house would open with glass sliding doors onto a courtyard/terrace with a garden and a fountain. In the basement would be my husband's pool table. On the other side would be a workshop for my quilting and silk painting. We would have two cats in the yard and everything would be beautiful.

Janet, 42
E. Brunswick
, NJ   USA

Wow. It would most definately be in Canada. Probably near where my Grams lives. It would be a big brick house with a lot of room for friends to come over and stay. A long, long driveway. And it would have a swimming pool, not with that artifical blue color, but clear, like the color water should be. And great lawns. Scratch that; a great garden instead. Probably a patio, but I' really like a coupella with a balcony.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario CANADA

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