What is your dream house like? What kind of features does it have? Big bedrooms, huge baths, hardwood floors, walk-in closets... Dream away.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

Answers

My fantasy has always been a secret room. In fact, the Biscuit on Ally McBeal stole my perfect room. Except for the part about being behind a toilet.

My secret room entrance would be through the back fake wall of my walk-in humidor (also a fantasy), and up a circular staircase. It would have a big leather chair & ottoman, for reading in, and a soft leather couch long enough for stretching out and taking afternoon naps on. The room itself needn't be large, and would be ideally located at the top of the tower of a Queen Anne Victorian, overlooking a park-like yard.

Along with my books and magazines, it would have a TV/DVD/VCR, CD player and phonograph (I've still got hundreds of vinyl records). But what it would NEVER, EVER have is a phone.

I realize that this doesn't describe an entire "dream house", but it's the only aspect of the design that I'd desire any input on. My bride could take it from there.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

My dream house is gigantic even though there are just the two of us. Lots and lots of book cases and lots of rooms that are just for storage. A big garage for the stuff we don't want to keep in the house, plus room for cars too (unlike where we live now: the cars live outside because the garage is full of stuff.)

It's all one story - I don't like to climb stairs now and I'll probably like it even less as I get older.

Wall to wall carpet. Can't stand bare floors including hardwood.

Lots of sun. This is key. But very well insulated so it's cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Small bedroom for us - we don't do anything in there except sleep, so why waste the space? Closets big enough to hold everything - I don't care if they're walk in or not.

Lots of bathrooms, so nobody has to share. One reason I want a big house is so that people can visit us all the time and I don't want to share my bathroom with them.

The most important: it's on a big lot, away from everything. Maybe up in the hills so there's some view, but I worry about fires here in California. The main point is that I don't want to be able to hear any of my neighbors. Maybe a distant chain saw once in a while. Lots of trees and nice landscaping. Dream house includes gardeners because I don't know what the hell I'm doing and am too lazy to do it. At least an automatic sprinkler system so we don't have to water.

The biggest thing I want: a hot tub and a sauna and a cold plunge, and benches to lie on and a place to sit in the shade. I don't want a pool because it's too much maintenence. If I have a sauna and quiet, I'd never have to leave.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

My special room would be a cool studio so I wouldn't have to go to the radio station everyday to do my show...nope, just open the door and everything I need would be in there. It is possible to do that now but I doubt if management will supply the equipment...oh well.

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001