The Online Tour and More …
Good afternoon, bloggers!
What do you think of the new and improved HGTV.com? Isn’t it cool? So many of you have asked about the start date of the 360-degree tour, and I am happy to tell you that you can enjoy virtual tours of the rooms starting TODAY! Be prepared to be blown away, if you haven’t already clicked around.
Back to questions from last week:
- Congratulations, Linda! I took the pretty picture from a window in the master bathroom. I sense many long soaks in the winner’s future.
- Many people have asked about the size of the master bed. It is queen this year. I will ask Linda why we don’t see king beds in the HGTV Dream Homes. I think this year’s bed is so fabulous, I plan to copy it someday when I have a big master bedroom.
- Lillian, the winner of the HGTV Dream Home will receive the framed limited-edition Michael Schwab print that is currently on display in the stairwell. It is not currently signed. MRDBCoop, the poster will not be available for purchase, but I think that’s a great suggestion.
It won’t be long now until the January 1st special. I can’t wait!
Your Super Fan,
Gail
I loved taking the online tour! I wondered, however, whether there was still a bathroom on the first floor as shown on the floorplans. I didn’t see it. Also, I didn’t see a washer/dryer in the laundry room. Did I simply miss it? Is there one? If not, where is the hook-up?
Take the tour agin MicheleC. On the 90 second tour, Monica gives a peek of the half bath on the first floor. And there is a washer and dryer. You just missed it.
Doh, hadn’t seen the 90 sec tour with Monica. You are absolutely right, lovelykitty, thanks so much.
Great House!!! We are usually more into contemporary design ,but let me tell you this house is just so warm and beautiful. I have been entering the dream home sweepstakes for many years now.Now I am a have married (just over one year)I have my wife hooked on HGTV. We literally watch every dinner and almost alnight until bed. So much our rennovation plans are getting confusing lol! Anyhow the Dream home 2009 is Beautiful and we would like to thank everyone at HGTV and all the workers involved for always giving it your all and offering your Dream home and Green home every year. One of these days We will win one!!! We are working on having our first baby and a bigger home would be a great way to start in Sunny California. Yes we are the third comment on the new Dream Home Yeahhhhhhhhhh!!!! Thanks HGTV Brian & Yesenia Spotts–South Florida– We visited Dream Home * Beautiful as well!!!!! and we are planning on visiting the new green home in Port St. Lucie if we do not wil it lol!!! Everyone have a great Holiday Season from sunny Florida !!!!!
How do you get to the 90 second tour!
Go to Dream Home Central and look to the right for video’s.
Wow, Gail! I just watched the 360 tours again, and found even more treasures.. (including Michael Schwab's print)…all the details are just gorgeous! The natural light in the breakfast nook – beautiful. And….how did I miss the stunning laundry room the first time? I laughed when I read your line about getting a "Master Bedroom" someday. I've never had one either, nor a "Master bath." (we've always lived in older homes…so I can relate, and we've always had a Queen bed due due scale of rooms). This house is just bursting with life…and speaking of…It is so nice to read the blog each day. Thank you Lovelykitty for your note on the last post. I really enjoy hearing from the regular blogging buddies. Sweet dreams, all!
How Fabulous! What a beautiful dream home! So much to take in. I’ll be visiting this site for weeks just to see every little detail. CAN’T WAIT TO ENTER THE DRAWING!
Whew, that’s a lot of striking 360-degree views to digest in one sitting.
First off, the rich wood flooring throughout is stunning. The vibrant mix of wall colors, in an artful transition from soft & subtle to bold and beautiful, is surprisingly effective. Each room fulfills its promise while combining sophistication and casual wine-country chic. I particularly like the dining room’s window-side seating area, perfect for wine & cheese tasting or a luxurious afternoon high tea. The living room library bookcases are a well-thought appointment, along with the impressive wine closet in the study, almost large enough to deserve the name wine “cellar”. The variety of artwork displayed, some quite modernist, serves as a brilliant foil to the tasteful vintage farmhouse details. And that irresistible master bedroom sitting area—I could spend hours lounging there. Oh, stop the torture, HGTV; 1 January ’09 can’t get here soon enough….
Oops – I meant to thank Katydid, but of course, hello to you, too Lovelykitty. That will teach me to blog at night when I am sleepy!
Ok. I’ve never been a downer on a blog but here it goes…The home is picture perfect no doubt…but the view from the front porch leaves something to be desired…I’m guessing across the street is a different neighborhood. The road appears to be divided. What is the speed limit on that road in front of the house?
Is this dream home built at the back end of the neighborhood?
Again…lovely home I could only dream of owning but why have a front porch with a not so lovely view?
I think the speed limit is 25 or 30 mph. The homes across the street are not Ledsons Homes. They really don’t fit in with the neighborhood.
But it would be still nice to sit out on that porch. The traffic is really not bad on that street, and you see people out walking their dogs or children all the time.
I would put a couple of white wicker rocking chairs on the porch and a small wicker table to put my picture of lemonade on.
Shucks, can’t edit on here. I meant PITCHER!!
Gail, if you can, will you please Linda ask why the Flat Screen TV in the family room is behind the couch instead of over the fireplace?
Someone in the kitchen could still see the tv if it was over the fireplace, but the people sitting on the other couch would have to turn awkwardly around.
And many people are concerned about the house across the street. It just doesn’t seem to fit in with the neighborhood.
lovelykitty: I, too, wondered why the TV was not placed over the fireplace. While there are mnny great looking pieces of art on the walls, that one over the firplace was not one my favorites. Wonder how many bloggers will agree (or disagree) with us?
Well, the home certainly doesn’t lack color. I didn’t think I would like the green master, but along with the master bath, I’m in love. Also fond of the study and the sawhorse desk. My favorite is the breakfast room, with its windows and “fanciful chandelier”. Great job HGTV on the tour, the videos and the pictures.
I missed the bath on the first floor too! I am glad there is one. Question, why is the only child’s bedroom not decorated unisex, so either a boy or girl could use it. Also, there should be a TV in the guestroom and possibly a small refrigerator in the laundry room. The houses across the street look out of place now. I thought the TV in the family room was fine, maybe swivel chairs instead of the 2nd sofa would allow those people access to the TV.
In the past they have allowed people to go tour the home in person. Is that the case with this home as well? If so, how do we get additional information to visit the home in person?
As for the neighborhood across the street many people are commenting on…no, it’s obviously not by the same developer, however, this is Sonoma. There really aren’t any “bad” neighborhoods – it’s too expensive to live here for “bad” neighborhoods.
I have to say I’m a bit shocked that with building a DREAM home in the WINE country, there is no wine cellar/tasting room?? The only thing I see are the two small wine frigs in the kitchen.
I actually like that the house is considered within the Armstrong Estates, but also on the fringe of an older, established neighborhood. I think the corner location is very desireable. Although the houses across the street are surely out of scale with the DH09, the location near the Plaza is just ideal. I look forward to seeing the DH09 in person next month. I am sure the neighbors will be welcoming to the new owners in 2009.
I am not a fancy girl, so the house across the street doesn’t bother me. It really isn’t a run down house, but just not like the other homes in the area.
This Dream House is not a big hit with the Message Board group.
But I just love it.
I agree with lovelykitty and Katydid regarding the placement of the TV. I had once seen an episode of Divine Design in which the flat screen was hidden behind what appeared to be a painting on a sort of roller shade framed to appear like art. The artwork raised and lowered to either expose or hide the flat screen TV by remote control. I thought that was such a clever solution and would have worked well in this instance.
Good Morning, Gail – I just noticed a fun detail. What I love about art is that the result is truly what the artist interprets and renders as his/her vision. Did anyone else notice that the beautiful design/illustration by Michael Schwab has an extra illuminated window upstairs? I wouldn’t DREAM of any modifications, and in no way is it “imperfect”….. I LOVE IT the way it is!!!!
Are there just photos of the 2009 Dream Home?
For the past 10 years, I’ve lived in a 240 sq. ft. one room shack in a very rural area.
My computer keeps me connected to the outside world when I am not out caring for the livestock but I cannot get high speed internet, at a reasonable cost so am unable to view videos. Oh, I could get satellite internet but it’s much too expensive. I would love to see photos of the house. I can be patient while they download. It is my dream to live in a real house again one day but the only way is to win one. I’ve worked as a bedside nurse for the past 31 years and am now unable to even think of building a small home due to health problems. Whomever wins, I hope they are able to keep the home unlike some of the past winners. I cannot imagine selling such an awesome home. I’d find a way to afford to live in it.
Hi Lovelykitty, Katydid, and MicheleC – I actually viewed the FR again, and agree w/ your opinion that the TV would be nice over the fireplace. I will take a few guesses at why HGTV designers opted for its current location….I think they placed artwork above the fireplace as a focal point when entering the home through the foyer. Also – I understand that installing a flatscreen can be tricky with an outside wall. Maybe the sofas can be rearranged into a “V” or barstools added to the “wine bar” for better group TV viewing…..what do you think, Gail????
I think the washer and dryer in the laundry room is at the right of the sink. That room is so pleasant it could be a hobby room IF you removed one of the cupboards opposite so a chair could be placed for sitting and sewing?…scrapbooking…? Not for me. I’ll be downstairs tasting all the wines. Finally found it again in “see the garden”. So much is EXPOSED in that yard. HGTV didn’t seem to like Coop’s idea of a pergola over the walkway from the garage to the breakfast nook. And what are those white bins in the background? Hey, Gail, Ingrid, lovelykitty, help me here. What do you do when it rains? (get wet, of course, so there’s my water feature). I see lots of green space to put in a pool.
Bonnie: Didn’t realize that installing a flat screen TV could be so tricky. Only thought that a screen-saver might me pretty.
Time for me to say good night, good luck, and pleasant dreams to all dreamers.
The laundry room is great! I love the ironing board set up! Always wanted a laundry room with a built in ironing board. Have looked at several designs for the wall but this is the first I’ve seen that folds into a cabinet! What a great design!
Bonnie, I think you are absolutely right about the art above the fireplace being there for the focal point. I looked at it again, and it really is the best place for it.
That is a great laundry room. Would like to know more about the washer and dryer. Is it a top loading or front loading.
Bonnie and lovelykitty: you guys are great. I’ll direct my attention now to the living room, which I thought at first much too traditional for my taste. But I loved the oriental carpet and the couch and now think I’d put a small TV (that’s what I’m used to, never had a flat-screen) in the middle of the bookcases and watch my favorite HGTV programs and classic movies.
Gail, are there any audio hook-ups for sound? I have to have my music. Sweet dreams of the holiday season as you go to sleep tonight. Peace and love,
Katydid – You made a good point about all the neat areas to just relax. The overall use of space is most appealing. Throughout the home are several areas to settle into comfortably, not only for entertaining and family, but also personal spaces to curl up and read or listen to music. I wonder, too, if they added any audio, surround sound, or other technology….,?? Sweet dreams to all as well.
Thanks Katydid.
Those white boxes in the yard are the garden boxes. They do show them on more on the tour of the yard.
And Katydid, if you look real close at the cabainet in the living room, it looks like it does have a TV in it. Not sure. Hope Gail can answer that for us.
I Love the house it is really coming together…. it is beauiful and THE ONLY THING THAT IS MISSING IS ME AND MY FAMILY LIVING IN IT LOL!!!!! HAPPY Holidays TO EVERYONE AND I WANT TO THANK THE DREAM HOUSE TEAM FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO …YOU REALLY MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE!!!!!
Hi Everyone ! To Katydid; I agree with you,I also would not like to walk in the rain from
my garage to the house with groceries,etc.
and get soaking wet. When we moved to Sonoma,
our flat-faced 2 story Colonial just didn’t
make sense to us,so we added a wide covered
front porch the entire width of the house. It
looks fabulous and is so practical…maybe the winner of the DH09 can add a covered walk
way to join the house and garage. Also, now I
can reveal that I have been inside the furnished finished home, and it REALLY is
fabulous in person. Amazingly, I have the exact same dining room rug in my home(in a upstairs bedroom) and the same wall color in
my kitchen/dining room as the DH dining room.
(Did they sneak over here and copy my style?)
P.S. What has happened to Marie??? Since they changed the blog I haven’t seen any
comments from her. Ingrid from Sonoma
How lucky for you Ingrid, that you were allowed inside the Dream Home!
That is just wonderful. With you being part of the video they should let you tour!
Did you have to keep it quite for awhile?
Do you know if they will be having live tours. I spoke to someone out there from HGTV who said she hadn’t heard of any tours at that time.
I sure hope they do, as I would just LOVE to see the inside of the home.
Hi Ingrid – Good to hear from you. How nice that you were able to tour the inside. I can imagine that the home is just gorgeous. The colors, furnishings, and art are all spectacular inside, and the crisp exterior is just classic. Lovelykitty – I am with you …would love to tour the home if at all possible, when I am in Sonoma in January. I agree with all as well regarding the walkway…(I think that was DBCoop’s idea from a prior blog posting)… A covered walkway would be quite functional and beautiful, if designed properly. I can imagine ivy and/or flora winding around the posts. Less than two weeks before we can all enter! Wow!
Ingrid – By the way, your home sounds just lovely and elegant as well!
I hope people are not still trying to find their way around here. Some peeps are still missing.
Remember, to summit a post, just put your curser above the “comments for this post” and you will see a hand…then just push enter.
Hi Bonnie, Lovelykitty and all; I heard that
Steve Ledson might have a DH09 tour as a fund-raiser for a charity…if I hear anything specific, I’ll let everyone know
the date & time. Last week there was a tour
of the home benefitting a local private
school. Happy dreaming! Ingrid from Sonoma
Hi Ingrid, Thanks for the word on a possible tour…I think a fund-raiser tour is a grand idea. Keep me posted…thanks!
Why thar awful gray in the kitchen. Kitchens should be cheerful. Also, Sanoma is close enough to the Pacific to get Fog, lots of FOG. Thar Kitchen is going to be very dreary and drepressing in the fall and winter. The walls can be painted but the counter tops are hopeless.
I love the dream home, but, does anyone know what the small door in the study is? I think it is under a clock.
Thanks for the information Ingrid. Keep us posted, because as soon as they have a tour, I am THERE!
Barb, the small door in the study is a small storage closet.
They do show a video if it opened. Here is the link.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dream_home/player/0,1000147,HGTV_32696_3291,00.html
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and to be thankful for what we do have. Our wonderful family and friends!
And thank you HGTV, for all the wonderful Dreaming you have given us each year!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
I think the house is wonderful as usual but I’m really shocked at the green/gray of the kitchen/living area. It’s a very odd color combination that reminds me of nausea. The gray pallor of sickened skin combined with greenish stomach acid? Those are the colors? In the kitchen area? I don’t know. My opinion: Huge mistake. But otherwise, it looks like a dream!
I also agree with Lovelykitty, Katydid, MIchele C and many others who questioned about the placement of the flatscreen in the family room. I did too see the episode of Divine Design ( my fav. show) of when she hid the tv behind a pic! And at a click of a button the flatscreen was able to be seen. Candice also did the same with a mirror. But maybe that would have been the solution he the veiwing of the tv in DH09 . Since I can tell that they are trying to hide tvs throughout the home like in the master bedroom and in the living room. I didnt notice it in the living room till the third time I took the tour. Well i hoped this helped. Love!!!!! the home. -thanks=)
Happy New Year to all you bloggers. I usually don’t write anything — I spend most of my time reading your comments. But, I still dream about the HGTV 2009 DH most nights. My loves — the living room, master bathroom, patio and garden are just perfect. I think that concealing the tv in the living bookcase was a cool idea. I’m not impressed with the foyer curtains, I know they’re for privacy and drama, but they don’t do anything for me. I must be an old foaggie because there seems to be too much color. The pedestals in the foyer seem strange and out of place. And why isn’t there a downstairs closet. I know this is California, but in northern California (like now), we do have some rainy and chilly days, so guests would need a place to hang up sweaters, umbrellas and (gasp!) coats. I also don’t get a sense of cohesiveness in the house — it seems like several different designers decided to do their own thing without considering each other’s taste. Still…I WANT this house!
My husband and I feel in love with Sonoma two years ago while visiting on our honeymoon. This house would easily fit family members, including our parents, children and grandchildren. I love this house as much as I love the area,can’t stop looking at the videos and photos!!
What is the deal with the horrible mini-blinds throughout and the ueber-traditional woodwork everywhere???? This is the most hideous “dream home” ever…. it looks absolutely cookie-cutter, contractor-planned. HGTV, you disappointed me this year!
Brenda, I am with you on a few things! There should be a downstairs closet. If I won the house I would solve that problem by making one of my first purchase be a beautiful victorian style coat/hat rack! The pedestals would be gone! I too would probably take down some of the curtains. Also…. what is that half door in the study? What does it lead to? I haven’t seen what’s inside on any of the videos, am I missing something? I am NOT referring to the “wine closet” but rather the door just to the left of it. Also, I hope that on an upcoming video someone might point out which way is north so that I can decipher where the sun would be hitting throughout the day. In my mind the front of the home is facing west…. what does everyone else think? Also, is it my imagination but do the neighbors just behind the property have a swimming pool? We could just make friends with them! LOL that would solve the pool dilemma! As far as the neighbors across the street, the house looks well taken care of, and they have covers on their cars looks like, to protect them. So that is nice, I also LOVE that there was mention of Sanoma being very dog friendly as I have been heavily visualizing my golden retriever groomed to the T romping around her nice big yard greeting neighbors and passers by through the old victorian era steel fencing and gates I want to put up!
oops! I meant the door just to the RIGHT of the wine closet! Sorry folks!
I love the rug in the guest bedroom but am disappointed there is no information on how to buy the product. I have searched for hours but no luck. Anyone have any thoughts as I am not seeing a way to contact about products not found?