How would you design your ideal home and where would it be?

1. 58

   irishsoul28posted 14 years ago

   If you could design your own home, how would it be designed ( layout, any unique features, material etc ) and where in the world would you build it?
   
   I love watching programes on house design like grand designs etc and any property programes so thats where this question came from, would love to know other people's ideas and dreams.
   
   Share!

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   1. 63

      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I love to have a meditteranean style of home in one of the upland and near the white beaches in the Philippines, where i have a piece of land to plant veggies and I can also eat fresh fish, just gotten out of the sea and I can have poultry and piggery, just one to three pigs...

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      1. 60

         falcon64posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You can build it in Boracay where sorrounded of white sand. Or else in Palawan. If you don't like in Palawan. It is nice also in Cebu nor in Antique.

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   2. 72

      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would like to tell you, but unfortunately I cannot. It's a design for which I'm going to patent, when I build my own home.
      
      I can tell you a few things about it, but really cannot get into the structure of the house.
      
      Inside:
      
      1- 30x25' Master Bedroom
      1- 25x25' Secondary Bedroom
      3- 15x15' Guest Bedrooms
      1- 30x15x15' Workout Room
      1- 20x20' Laundry Room
      1- 15x15x15' Study Room
      1- 60x20' Heated Swimming Pool
      3- 15x15x15' Full Bathrooms
      1- 15x15x15' Pool Room, with attached Garage
      1- 20x20x20' Split Kitchen, with Dining Table
      1- 20x20x20' Basement For Storage
      14 10x10x10' Walk-in Closets
      
      The measurements are generalized and not specific.
      
      Outside:
      
      1- 4-Car Garage, to house- 1-Motorcycle, 1-Truck, 1-Fancy Car and 1- Beater Car
      
      1- 4-Car Canopy Parking - fits 4 mid-size cars.

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   3. 75

      Mikel G Robertsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Mine for now, would be...
      
      A fiberglassed 45-50ft Sailboat, single masted, 3 cabins including the v-berth (comfortably sleeping 6-8).
      I would have an electric motor and would have solar panels that cover the cockpit(which would be enclosable for sailing in bad weather) and the top of the boat to provide my boat with an endless supply of free energy. Everything would be electric and supplied from the batterries that the solar panels charge.
      It would have a salt water to fresh water converter(again powered electrically) that could fill a very large fresh water supply tank (endless fresh drinking and shower water).
      It would have a complete kitchen in it, including a home-sized refridgerator and freezer. The 'galley' would be the main 'hangout'. The head clearance would be at least 6'2" and there would be two bathrooms with hot showers.

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      1. 68

         Beth100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Sweet! 

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   4. 54

      lvictor334posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If I had the imagination you got Icould be a millionaire,I would love to live in the lap of luxery, but we sometimes get it twisted with the hype of over achievement. Beautiful is the heart that has the will to take in the fantastic and seperate It self from the expectations' of the world.The perfect home in the perfect place would be a gazebo in the Netherlands.While some will take this wrong the only way to ajust  an attitude is to keep the short comings at bay.community correct!

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   5. 61

      iloveglee83posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ideal home? Idk, but dream home!!! I would have it built in Florida and it would be the house in the movie Pratical Magic! LOVE that house!!

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2. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   I would design it based on a log cabin, you know like the ones in Scand, make it very eco friendly, collect the rain water etc, and I would place it on the shores of a lough in Connemara, Co Galway...

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3. 65

   Ivorwenposted 14 years ago

   I've designed several dream homes, all based on different principles, and for different environments.  The main thing for me is that it flows from one room to another, is easy to keep clean, and that it suits my family.  If I were to design a dream home right now, it would be put together room by room.  Then the outside design would be made. 
   
   I want to live in the country, have plenty of trees and a huge garden or two.  I want to maximize use the resources of the area, composting toilets, and reusing grey water... but not every where allows for such.

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4. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   prettydarkhorse, sounds great, will you be inviting fellow hubbers over for tea......

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   1. 63

      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      of course Irish,

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5. 68

   Beth100posted 14 years ago

   I have to laugh at myself..I design homes for others as my profession...lol  For me, it's a geodesic home in the forest, off grid and harnessing the power of water.  I've been considering building my own turbine...

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      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I can imagine the sounds at night and the turbine, Can I stay there for long Beth?

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         Beth100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You can stay with me for as long as you want! 

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   2. 67

      alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I found exactly that in a beautiful little village on the edge of Dartmoor - a Victorian small house under a cliff with regulated waterfall and wheel etc already there. I had just sold my house and made enough profit to buy this place, add a top floor that would look over the tree tops all the way down the Dart valley.
      
      My wife refused to buy it and refused to release the equity in joint names so I left her.  Best move I ever made

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6. 71

   myownworldposted 14 years ago

   - Just clean straight lines...with white walls, tall windows and sleek black furniture.  Very modern.
   - Situated on a secluded beach some place far in Australia...with miles and miles of wild blue ocean stretching as far as the eye goes....

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7. 58

   irishsoul28posted 14 years ago

   Thanks for your great ideas and insights!!
   
   Personally i think i would want something like a wood log home that overlooks a beautiful green forest so i can sit with my cats and watch the seasons change in a room for the soul purpose of watching the world go by and nature, big wide windows. Fireplaces are pretty important to me so a nice big fireplace where you can stretch out on your comfy sofa and stare at the flames.
   I really like old styled kitchens with those white belfast sinks and old fashioned taps with a pantry for all my cooking ingredients!
   Altough im not sure where it would be, im from ireland and obviously love it here but maybe either ireland, canada or the deep south america.

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8. 68

   AnythingArtzyposted 14 years ago

   My ideal home would be very simple. kind of like a studio loft lay out so I can have plenty of room to do either my painting or photography.
   Everything open except the bedroom, bath and laundry.
   Bookcases for my huge collection of books.
   Wood barn plank floors, real, not laminate.
   lots of windows.
   outside completely no maintanence with a patio deck on all sides with flagstone for the "yard". Flowers and trees in huge pots.

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9. 0

   Ghost32posted 14 years ago

   I'm building ours right now (slowly), writing hubs on the process as it, um, proceeds.  In the desert near the Mexican border in Arizona.  Earthbag walls, standard frame roof with steel roofing panels, 2 bed, 2 bath, office, etc.  For wife, me, 3 cats, 1 leopard gecko.
   
   Now if I can determine for SURE whether the dampness still "hanging in there" near the south wall dirt is left over from heavy rains prior to completion of the French drain system OR (Bob Vila forbid) a leaky undergroung water line, it'll be good to go for adding the loose-laid rubber flooring tiles we have on order! 

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10. 60

    stephensaldanaposted 14 years ago

    I would love to design my home near seashore and it would have loads of sea stuff in it! room full of teddies and symbol of purity, means loads of white..

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11. 40

    greanearth83posted 14 years ago

    Ok well here goes nothing. The home im going to have when i retire will be in Peadmont Washington USA. Just inside Olympic national park. It will be rough cut wood siding stained and have a section of the house going underground. Im going to make one of the underground outside walls be a thick safety glass so you can see the ground. anyways. that's my dream home and im gonna build it some day. IT will be completely run off of renewable energy.

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12. 38

    brethodgeposted 14 years ago

    I would love to design my home in Itlay and it would be in the traditional Italian designs.. I just cannot resist from the Italian work of art and actually admire it a lot!

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13. 60

    scottlindsayposted 14 years ago

    I would like to design my ideal home in Venice with beautiful wood beam and decorative designs.

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14. 51

    aspenmathewposted 14 years ago

    Well i would like to decorate my home interiors basically the sitting and the open kitchen that i have with modern kitchen appliances and other home decor. But majorly, i would like to work on my outdoors. I would like to put some Outdoor Living Patio Furniture in my outdoors and make it stylish and attractive by putting many good things. As i do a lot of party and my friends generally come at my place, we sit in the outdoor so i bought some outdoor living products. I like to do it.........

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15. 0

    Lecieposted 14 years ago

    my home would be a ranch style mansion on lots of acres so that i could have a bunch of horses. the inside of the house would pretty much be a replica of the house on the movie oscar(with sylvester stallone.) it would have to be in missouri about 20 miles outside of holden. that is my dream home though i doubt very much i'll ever see it.

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16. 61

    Brett Edwardposted 14 years ago

    I have built or worked on hundreds of homes in my lifetime. My dream home is built by the mouth of a river flowing into a northern lake. Lots of glass, wood, and stone. A huge deck overlooking the water. I can see my office high in the loft with panoramic views of the wilderness. The rough plan has been in my mind for twenty years and evolves each time I observe a feature that compliments the overall design. I am waiting to find the site.

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17. 61

    becca7176posted 14 years ago

    My dream house would be Key West style on a bluff, overlooking the ocean.  It would be bright, light and airy with lots of windows and a wraparound porch (hammock included).  I've always wanted a big roman tub with separate stand up shower, an outdoor kitchen and a bunk room for visitors.

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18. 59

    ajones2250posted 14 years ago

    My dream house would be a spanish style home, it would be nice to be overlooking the ocean, but a big lake or riverside home would be just fine with me! Just enough bedrooms for myself, my little one and a guest room. Large living room, dining room and kitchen. Most importantly, I would have a big covered patio with tons of plants! Not being a big fan of bugs, a canopy with the mosquito nets and beautiful patio furniture inside would be a must have for late night cookouts and gatherings.

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19. 57

    Install Flagstoneposted 14 years ago

    If I had the opportunity to design my dream home it would have to be located in an area where there's a beach, and it's sunny almost everyday. It would be nice to be on a island, or somewhere where I can have peace and quiet. As far as designing my home, I would want something simple and not too extravagant. A home made of mostly wood, with flagstone floors, and lighting from the sun during the day, and candles at night. I prefer to keep it natural. The design of the home would be a more rectangular shape with a sunroof and/or a chimney on top. That pretty much describes my ideal home, its design, and where it would be.

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20. 53

    gicasaxtposted 14 years ago

    If for decoration tips, there are some. For example, French style, spanish style, Chinese style, luxury style,etc.
    You can search in google and get ideas.

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21. 68

    floating mindposted 14 years ago

    It would be a multilevel crescent moon shape home, with a fantastic deck off-centered.  It would be built with 100% renewable, sustainable material, self-powered and yet connected to the grid so that excess generated power could be sold to the grid.  And, it would be located near a cliff over looking the ocean like the water-front properties in the states of Oregon or Maine.

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22. 53

    gicasaxtposted 14 years ago

    I like my house near a hill so that I can breath freash air. For the design, i just concern on the color tone and eco-friendly furniture.

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23. 65

    MnTedposted 14 years ago

    A log home in the woods of northern Minnesota.

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24. 60

    MadelynFinleyposted 14 years ago

    Craftsman style home, an office with a view and a separate playroom for my son.
    
    Location: Savannah, GA

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    1. 86

       rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Savannah is so beautiful! southern charm at its best.
       
       I once lived in my ideal home, at least for that time in my life. It was nestled in the woods outside Columba MO, a split level home with a deck that extended across the entire back and wrapped around over a carport. There was no back yard, only trees, and woods for as far as you could see.
       the home was one year old and gorgeous. almost the entire bottom level was one huge family room/game room with a stone fireplace and real oak paneling for walls and wood beams.
       the windows on the top floor were huge and all we could see was woods. the drive way was 1/4 mile long and had its own name. in the clearing before you entered the round about driveway in front of the house was grazing land for a couple horses, a pond and space for a garden. that's where I turned around one day, working out in the garden and felt a presence near me, and there was a silver grey fox staring at  me, at the edge of the garden. we both just looked at each other, then it ran off.
       it was a magical place. during the winter, it was like an enchanted forest when it snowed.  living there taught me to listen to nature and to appreciate stillness.
       
       now I live in Florida and love the big skies and ocean and tropical plants. someday I would love to live in a Frank Lloyd Wright styled home overlooking the water someplace warm.

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25. 60

    Kathryn Sposted 14 years ago

    Anything with a basement.  I love to be cool.

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26. 53

    bedding boyposted 14 years ago

    I would build a home on an island. I would have a zipline run through the house. I would also have flying carpets, a house of mirros, exotic animals as pets, a hot air balloon as a vehicle and much more. And if Im in the mood to go subtle, I could take the Lamborghini.

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27. 79

    mega1posted 14 years ago

    I'm so fantasizing about a home for me that I've written a series of hubs called Fantasy Homes - they are real, but maybe won't become reality for me.  Anyway, any of them would be perfect for me!  And I'm still searching for more!  Have never owned a home of my own and I want one before I die!  I really am drawn to treehouses.

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28. 80

    timorousposted 14 years ago

    A modest sized house (I like to live on a human scale..rooms that are too big are never comfortable).  A nice quiet area, not too far from 'civilization'.  A nice view with lots of mature trees (a forest perhaps), and perhaps a river nearby within walking distance, with lots of wildlife.
    
    The house itself would be made of as many natural materials as possible..no synthetic fibres in the furniture or carpets, or toxic adhesives or finishes (no particleboard).  In other words a totally 'healthy' house.
    Everything would be eco-friendly, and as efficient as possible, but still warm and inviting.  Modern conveniences would be totally integrated into an otherwise old style country house.  Natural wood trim around the windows and doorways (I love the look and feel of natural wood).
    
    A nice big, but manageable garden is also a must.
    
    Hmmm...it's fun to dream.

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29. 79

    mega1posted 14 years ago

    rebekah - that house sounds close to living in a treehouse - but of course it was much larger. It sounds glorious!
    
    The treehouse I would like would be just large enough for me and a very few things - mainly I have heard that living in a tree feels a little like being on a boat - when the wind blows and the treehouse sways with the tree.  Very nurturing - and looking out over trees would be heaven!

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       rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I have heard of the tree houses.  I read an article about them once in a Smithsonian magazine. I couldn't believe that people really lived in them. I used to play house in a maple tree in my front yard growing up. I loved it.
       
       I wish I had pics of that house online, but I don't. we would have coffee on the deck almost every morning, except when it was too cold. our dining room opened up onto the deck where birds and squirrels would feed at the feeder.
       I remember also it was gorgeous during the fall. in the front was a stone fountain.. sometimes these gifts come along in life, that was one of them.. my oldest son was born there.

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    dakota rayposted 14 years ago

    but what if a storm came and it got struk by lightening and the fell down

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       mega1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       then, I'd go hang out in my little tiny house nearby until the storm is gone - but we don't actually get storms like that here - very seldom any lightening, anyway.  You have to be careful what kind of house you build in storm country - if I was still in Kansas I would build a big earth house with a basement - maybe built into the side of a hill.  But here in the forest a treehouse would be cool.  In my hub I describe a whole compound with gazebo, tiny house, outdoor kitchen and living space surrounded by hedges, a treehouse and a greenhouse in the huge garden which would be my ideal for living green and almost hidden out in the country where you have to leave your car and hike in to get there.

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31. 60

    dakota rayposted 14 years ago

    but what if a storm  came  and the tree got struk by lightening and the tree  fell down

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32. 0

    klarawieckposted 14 years ago

    KEY WEST - Southernmost House in the US
    
    

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33. 0

    Home Girlposted 14 years ago

    Something I can call mine.

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34. 60

    atlantapaintersposted 14 years ago

    Mine would be a rather simple layout, anti-McMansion size, with at least one room/space in the house having vaulted ceiling, e.g. being an open space. But the most important thing for me (I am biased) would be an immaculate paint job everywhere...
    Yes, I am a house painter by profession

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35. 50

    almera diwaposted 14 years ago

    I'd love to stay beside the beach. I want a simple yet elegant house. A home to be called. A home to stay in, and a home where I can find love and peace.

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36. 0

    Rookie70posted 14 years ago

    I have a great imagination, and I'm pretty creative. I will give you my idea of a luxury home, inside and out. Where shall I start first, the inside or the outside? Well, I'll start with the outside. Has anybody ever seen what crystal stone bricks look like? They are, in fact, "processed rock" made to look and feel like crystal, very smooth, and they come in many colors, i.e, black, white, orange, pink. That would be the type of brick that my house would be made out of. The house is, let's say, about 3 stories, with very tall glass widows, the big size windows you see in mansions that cost $3.5 mill.  Now, imagine the crystal brick surrounding the tall glass windows.
    
    Also, I would have:
    (1) multi-colored light fixtures on the top of the house, so that at night time, I could just flick a switch, and the multi-colored lights would glow from the top of the house.
    
    For the back of the house:
    (2) I would have a bottom wooden deck, large enough for lawn chairs and a barbecue grill, on the first story.
    
    On the second story:
    (3) in the back of the house, there would be another upper-level wooden deck. On that deck, there will be an added sauna.
    
    On the 3-story wooden deck:
    (4) in the back of the house, It will be free space, but that deck would lead to 2 balcony double-doors, the 1st set of double-doors on the east corner of the balcony, and the 2nd set of balcony doors on the west corner of the balcony.
    
    Recreation:
    (5) There would also be a 7-foot security gate surrounding my entire house, with an alarm system. I would construct a basketball court (regulation size) on the west corner of the house, and it would have have fence around it. My front porch would have 2 pillar side posts made of crystal brick also, but about 2 feet in width, but reaching all the way up from the porch to the 3rd story of the house.
    
    Attachments:
    (6) The lawn surrounding my house would have a few garden islands in selective spots, with mums and daisies, and some produce.
    
    Garage:
    (7) The garage would be made out of glass, not sheet metal, but I'm not talking about thin glass, I'm talking "bullet-proof" glass. You'll be able to see through the glass from the outside of the garage.
    
    Landscape:
    (8) The whole house, including its foundation, would be located up in the mountains, above the lake. I would be able to see the pigeons fly by my bedroom window.

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37. 61

    Hollie Thomasposted 13 years ago

    I haven't seen enough of the world to decide where I'd want my house to be but I love the aunts house in the film Practical Magic.

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       iloveglee83posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I kow right! I love that house! Dream home all the way!!!

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          Hollie Thomasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          All the way.

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       Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       

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38. 61

    Hollie Thomasposted 13 years ago

    Beautiful, in design, character and location, where ever that location might be

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       Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Hey Hollie,
       
       The story takes place in New England, but the house was built on San Juan Island in Washington State, where the weather would be more amenable for shooting. In these shots from the film, you can see how close the house is to the water.
       
       http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/10/25/pr … r-a-witch/

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          Hollie Thomasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Oh, my dream is shattered. The house was a shell and the interior a studio set. Still, if I had the means, I would have a house like that, in a similar stunning location. Thanks for posting that Cags.

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             Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             You're welcome.

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39. 0

    Emile Rposted 13 years ago

    I've already designed it. I just have to find the money and land to build it on. It's beautiful. It is designed to set into a hillside, with the lower level looking out on a patio that looks down on a lake. The entrance on the back side opens up to an enclosed garden, with a retaining wall about four to five feet high where it pushes into the hill.
    
    The entrance is about half level between the upper and lower levels. Its exterior wall is all glass and wood. The room doubles as an entrance and a reading room. If you walk up a half a flight of stairs you come into a great room, semi open to the dining room and the kitchen. The trusses would be set such that you didn't need load bearing walls, so I plan on designing some type of water wall between the dining and living room.
    
    The master bedroom is on this level. The wall that seperates the living room and bedroom will be a full wall of bookshelves, with a hidden door in the wall leading to the bedroom. The master bedroom has an enclosed screened porch designed so we can sleep outside during warmer months.
    
    The lower level will have three bedrooms, a great room the laundry and an efficiency kitchen.
    
    I'll never be in a position to build it without winning the lottery, but it's all planned out .

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    trecords0posted 13 years ago

    I would like to build my home on 1000 acres in Costa Rica.  It would be off the grid harnessing solar, wind, water, and geothermal power.  It would be a smart home with satellite internet and a server (if that's possible).  It would be made of straw bales and stucco, recycled materials, have a grey water system, decorative cisterns, plenty of storage, a workshop/recording studio, citrus grove and all the veggies I could grow.  That reminds me, have to go check my lotto tickets!  Great question, had fun dreaming.

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