This is a spin-off of something I was prattling on about in the Off Topic thread.

 

Everyone has ideas for their dream house they aspire to have some day. Some of you probably have it already. So in that case, just tell us what your house is like and what you did to it. This should be an interesting thread since so many ppl on here are into architecture.

 

If you have any graphics of nice tiles or cabinets or something you installed, please post 'em up. Visuals are always nice. Especially before and after. If you have something in mind for your future dream house or current house, find some pics online of something similar and post that up for reference!

 

Poll added!

Poll added!

 

Well your choices were very cinci friendly.  you could add more housing / neighborhood choices so people from other parts of the state can identify with a neighborhood.

 

Me ...  I live in my dream house!

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17241.0.html

well, for me there's dream house and then there's Dream Houses.  My Dream Houses aren't in Ohio, we just don't have the type of architecture (and views and climate) of my dreams.  Here are 3 examples of my real Dream Houses, which probably will make everyone on the site puke and cause me to get flamed as I'm sure it's nothing like everyone else likes for a variety of reasons:

 

http://tinyurl.com/5pjf34

 

http://tinyurl.com/682rsw

 

http://tinyurl.com/5fj7qv

 

 

 

 

well, for me there's dream house and then there's Dream Houses.  My Dream Houses aren't in Ohio, we just don't have the type of architecture (and views and climate) of my dreams.  Here are 3 examples of my real Dream Houses, which probably will make everyone on the site puke and cause me to get flamed as I'm sure it's nothing like everyone else likes for a variety of reasons:

 

http://tinyurl.com/5pjf34

 

http://tinyurl.com/682rsw

 

http://tinyurl.com/5fj7qv

 

 

 

 

 

I like some of those houses.  I like to get out  my binoculars and look up into houses, when I go out to point dune/Malibu.  Some of those houses near Pepperdine are nice.

 

I always think, one earth quake and "bam" your house is history!

True, and the fires are a constant risk and the mudslides are pretty bad, but it depends on where the house is exactly. 

I don't think anybody would dislike those houses.  I was amused by this line from the second listing:

 

"Tucked away behind Malibu Colony’s legendary guarded gates..."

True, and the fires are a constant risk and the mudslides are pretty bad, but it depends on where the house is exactly. 

True that.  The beach side homes are the homes that scare me.  Once you go up towars oxnard and thousand Oak or Inland, it could be a mess.  I couldn't live out there.

I don't think anybody would dislike those houses.  I was amused by this line from the second listing:

 

"Tucked away behind Malibu Colony%u2019s legendary guarded gates..."

Californian's love their "gated communities".  Ie...stay away/out if you're a person of color.

http://thisolderedhouse.blogspot.com/

 

My "dream and nightmare" house. Great location and potential but we have been in it for going on 4 years and the progress has been moving at a glacier's pace. I need a huge influx of money or time, preferably both. I will throw up some of the planned renovations on the blog.

I think Malibu Colony is more like an exclusive, private club that you have to have TONS of money to get into, like the ultra in country club.  Whereas Bel-Air is more of a traditional "don't come in if you're a miniority, we're scared of you" type of community.

http://thisolderedhouse.blogspot.com/

 

My "dream and nightmare" house. Great location and potential but we have been in it for going on 4 years and the progress has been moving at a glacier's pace. I need a huge influx of money or time, preferably both. I will throw up some of the planned renovations on the blog.

 

What the hell is up with that sink in the bathroom?  :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

 

I think Malibu Colony is more like an exclusive, private club that you have to have TONS of money to get into, like the ultra in country club.  Whereas Bel-Air is more of a traditional "don't come in if you're a miniority, we're scared of you" type of community.

They both accomplish the same thing.  It's a psychological "stay out/away" sign.

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff".  LOL

Poll added!

 

Well your choices were very cinci friendly.  you could add more housing / neighborhood choices so people from other parts of the state can identify with a neighborhood.

 

Me ...  I live in my dream house!

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17241.0.html

 

What are you talking about? Those are just the basic urban environments. What does Cleveland have that isn't on that list? I gave examples of neighborhoods just to give an idea of what should come to mind; I wasn't asking if you would want to live in Victorian Village or the Warehouse district specifically. The list is Cincinnati friendly because Cincinnati has such diverse options. It was the second most dense city in America, next to Manhattan so of course you're going to have row houses.

That's what was there when we moved in. Notice I called it a quarter bath because at 3 x 4, I couldn't even call it a half bath. I have gotten many comments on the sink, mostly that it was cute or it reminds people of the dentist's office

 

Yup!...........hehe

Well, I am very much into thinking about a dream house haha. I dream all the time. I chose the loft option, but the single, detatched home comes in close second.

 

My dream loft:

It would probably be at the top floor, with exposed brick, piping, high ceilings, LARGE windows, and hardwood floor. Roof access and parking would be available too.

I LOVE modern and contemporary interior design.

Maybe my preferences are too cold for some people but I would LOVE to have either granite or concrete counter tops, all stainless or colored appliances. Near, or attached to the kitchen, would be a wet bar with a mini fridge and actual taps!! :-)

 

Two bedrooms just in case I have family stay over, and a large living room/entertainment area would be complete with a white painted wall/high-def projector and good sound system. I would also love to be near a busy street so seems like I'm in town. Plus it's great for night photography.

I'm not sure what else I would want lol. I usually think of the kitchen, family area and amenities.

^Agreed. If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either.

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff". LOL

 

when I moved in with my former fiancee in LA, he had a housekeeper.  I felt incredibly guilty whenever she came to clean and I made him double what he was paying her, which was a PITTANCE, it was awful.  He tried to get me to learn spanish "so I could properly instruct her."  It was horrifying.  One time he wanted me to tell her that she had to do better at ironing a crease in his shirts and I just couldn't do it, I mean, that's just awful.

Poll added!

 

Well your choices were very cinci friendly.  you could add more housing / neighborhood choices so people from other parts of the state can identify with a neighborhood.

 

Me ...  I live in my dream house!

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17241.0.html

 

What are you talking about? Those are just the basic urban environments. What does Cleveland have that isn't on that list? I gave examples of neighborhoods just to give an idea of what should come to mind; I wasn't asking if you would want to live in Victorian Village or the Warehouse district specifically.

 

David as I don't know cinci very well, I don't know what neighborhood in Cleveland or Toledo, Akron, etc. would be the equivalent to what is listed.

 

Also can we have a clustered/multi unite dwelling option for those of us who like condo living?

 

Thank YOU very much! 

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff".  LOL

 

when I moved in with my former fiancee in LA, he had a housekeeper.  I felt incredibly guilty whenever she came to clean and I made him double what he was paying her, which was a PITTANCE, it was awful.  He tried to get me to learn spanish "so I could properly instruct her."  It was horrifying.  One time he wanted me to tell her that she had to do better at ironing a crease in his shirts and I just couldn't do it, I mean, that's just awful.

 

Lucky she isn't my maid. Ms. Izela would hurt your feelings.

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff".  LOL

 

when I moved in with my former fiancee in LA, he had a housekeeper.  I felt incredibly guilty whenever she came to clean and I made him double what he was paying her, which was a PITTANCE, it was awful.  He tried to get me to learn spanish "so I could properly instruct her."  It was horrifying.  One time he wanted me to tell her that she had to do better at ironing a crease in his shirts and I just couldn't do it, I mean, that's just awful.

 

He sounds like a lazy douchebag. It's really not that hard to clean a house. Unless someone has a 5000 sq. ft. house and kids, I don't see the point in letting a stranger come in the house to clean all the time, even if they're rich. IMO no one should be above cleaning their own mess.

 

I don't think anybody would dislike those houses.  I was amused by this line from the second listing:

 

"Tucked away behind Malibu Colony%u2019s legendary guarded gates..."

Californian's love their "gated communities".  Ie...stay away/out if you're a person of color.

 

That's a gross generalization. A lot of black celebrities live in gated communities, especially rappers. A lot of "people of color" choose to live in exclusive areas. Hell, a lot of people just like the status that comes with living in a place that's gated.

 

David as I don't know cinci very well, I don't know what neighborhood in Cleveland or Toledo, Akron, etc. would be the equivalent to what is listed.

 

Also can we have a clustered/multi unite dwelling option for those of us who like condo living?

 

Thank YOU very much! 

 

I'll change the option but you would fall under "large building". I assumed no one here would dream to be a renter.

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff".  LOL

 

when I moved in with my former fiancee in LA, he had a housekeeper.  I felt incredibly guilty whenever she came to clean and I made him double what he was paying her, which was a PITTANCE, it was awful.  He tried to get me to learn spanish "so I could properly instruct her."  It was horrifying.  One time he wanted me to tell her that she had to do better at ironing a crease in his shirts and I just couldn't do it, I mean, that's just awful.

 

"He sounds like a lazy douchebag. It's really not that hard to clean a house. Unless someone has a 5000 sq. ft. house and kids, I don't see the point in letting a stranger come in the house to clean all the time, even if they're rich. IMO no one should be above cleaning their own mess."

 

He wasn't lazy, but he was a douchebag for sure.  But to be clear, he was a pretty big executive at a pretty big company and extremely caught up in "what others think."  None of our neighbors or his co-workers cleaned their own houses and he wouldn't either.  I'm really not good at estimating square footage but I would guess it was around 3000 and four stories tall.  I tried to keep up with the general pick-up but the detailed stuff, which he mostly had her concentrate on (such as trying to keep clean the ENDLESS glass windows, the 2 decks, the AWFUL to clean black tile on the kitchen counters and floors), there's no way I could have held a FT job and kept up with all 4 floors of that type of work.  And this guy had a 2nd job on the weekends so he wasn't home a lot.  He only had her in once or twice a month when I moved in, it doubled after I came.  Sorry, back to topic.  It will all be in my book anyway.

 

 

 

 

^Agreed.  If I had all that money, I probably wouldn't want people wandering around my property either. 

 

Unless it's the "domestic staff".  LOL

 

when I moved in with my former fiancee in LA, he had a housekeeper.  I felt incredibly guilty whenever she came to clean and I made him double what he was paying her, which was a PITTANCE, it was awful.  He tried to get me to learn spanish "so I could properly instruct her."  It was horrifying.  One time he wanted me to tell her that she had to do better at ironing a crease in his shirts and I just couldn't do it, I mean, that's just awful.

 

He sounds like a lazy douchebag. It's really not that hard to clean a house. Unless someone has a 5000 sq. ft. house and kids, I don't see the point in letting a stranger come in the house to clean all the time, even if they're rich. IMO no one should be above cleaning their own mess.

 

I have one because I don't want to clean, and I hate doing laundry with a passion but I know how I want my house presented.  I don't have time to clean two houses.  I clean, in NY, but I'm not going to do it in Cleveland when I can use that time to hang out with the my nephews and nieces.

 

My maid is like family, she been my maid since I was 6.  When my mother traveled overnight, if my Aunt didn't come over and check on us, Ms. Izela came over and took care of us.

 

I'm not a mess to begin with as I'm very neat, tidy and anal.  She really just dusts, picks up the groceries/fills up the fridge and signs and organizes packages & mail, and does the same for my cousin.  She cooks on days I'll be home.  But we pay her very well and for her monthly pass although my uncle takes her home most nights if she goes to visit my grand parents. 

 

We do more talking than anything else.  Besides her kids are grown, she's a good friend of my grand mothers and she likes to get out of the house and she knows I love her.  She more like my therapist than maid.  She is one of the reasons I never committed suicide, she cussed me out something fierce.

An entire Brownstone in the UES.

An entire Brownstone in the UES.

Don't you mean TownHouse?  ;)

 

I don't think there are many brownstones on the UES.

this is a tough one as it would depend what part of the country. In most cases, I would choose a house boat. In Cleveland I would park it on the river.

 

I don't like huge spaces (what a waste), want a view- preferably water or skyline....and most important- NO CARPET. 

and most important- NO CARPET. 

Amen to that!

An entire Brownstone in the UES.

 

Since we're dreaming, I'd probably go with Soho. To me, the buildings are incredible - all the cast iron stuff. Plus, the fact that it's a great American style that we can call our own and can compete with anything in Europe. I like how narrow and 'intimate' the streets are.

 

An entire Brownstone in the UES.

 

Since we're dreaming, I'd probably go with Soho. To me, the buildings are incredible - all the cast iron stuff. Plus, the fact that it's a great American style that can compete with anything in Europe. I like how narrow and 'intimate' the streets are.

 

 

Yeah but you can hear everything street side.  I wouldn't want to live in an overbearing tourist destination.

 

Ick!

love the idea of a houseboat on the cuyahoga, or perhaps the clifton lagoons.  i think that would be my dream.

An entire Brownstone in the UES.

 

Since we're dreaming, I'd probably go with Soho. To me, the buildings are incredible - all the cast iron stuff. Plus, the fact that it's a great American style that can compete with anything in Europe. I like how narrow and 'intimate' the streets are.

 

 

Yeah but you can hear everything street side.  I wouldn't want to live in an overbearing tourist destination.

 

Ick!

 

If I had 10 million to drop on a penthouse in Soho, I'd get soundproofing for windows.

I chose "Detached Single Family Home But In Dense Area."

 

To be more specific, I like the typical american foursquare style, but nothing too extravagant.

 

Here are a few examples in my neighborhood:

 

 

"Detached single family home but in dense area, you say?

 

Pick one, any one... (I want the one with the tree in the yard)

 

I chose "Detached Single Family Home But In Dense Area."

 

To be more specific, I like the typical american foursquare style, but nothing too extravagant.

 

Here are a few examples in my neighborhood:

 

 

 

That just screams yard work.  That's a big "no-no" in my book!  lol

I noticed you didn't include "middle of nowhere" as a choice.  I have two ideal locations, a penthouse surrounded by urban awesomeness and a cabin in the mountains.

Fixed

That just screams yard work.  That's a big "no-no" in my book!  lol

Yard work?!?  Sure, a little, I guess.  It takes me about a half hour to mow my lawn with an environmentally friendly reel mower.  And, I'm continuing to eliminate grass in favor of low-maintenance perennial plants.

That just screams yard work.  That's a big "no-no" in my book!  lol

Yard work?!?  Sure, a little, I guess.  It takes me about a half hour to mow my lawn with an environmentally friendly reel mower.  And, I'm continuing to eliminate grass in favor of low-maintenance perennial plants.

Yes, I see grass and I have panic attacks.

 

I don't want to cut grass, I don't even want to see grass!  NO maintence is for me.  Thats why I live in a Condo.

How do I change my vote to boat house (I am thinking it should actually be houseboat) since that was not available when I voted?

VOTES ARE RESET. VOTE AGAIN EVERYBODY.

I don't want to cut grass, I don't even want to see grass!  NO maintence is for me.  Thats why I live in a Condo.

 

Yup, I agree!  I'm actually allergic to grass, so my poor husband was the one who always had to cut it when we had a house.  He hated it.  During our last few months in our home, we actually hired someone to cut the grass for us.  It was well worth the money, especially since my husband was going to grad school at the time.