Secrets From the Master Gardener
Hey, folks! Thrilled that giveaway entry day has finally arrived? We have another treat for you today: Super Fan chats with the HGTV Dream Home master gardener Linda King. She shares some great gardening tips for shady spaces and talks more about those adorable raised-bed gardens in the backyard.
I had the opportunity to meet Linda during my visit to the HGTV Dream Home in early November and had the best time touring the yard with her. One of the coolest plants I saw that day? A semi-evergreen shrub called a “princess flower.” Linda explained that the tropical plant blooms from late summer through the first frost.
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Because it loves warm weather, Linda hopes to babysit the delicate shrub through the winter and wrap Christmas lights around the branches to keep the plant warm on cool Sonoma nights until the root system takes hold. Here’s a picture of the pretty plant (I just love those bright-purple blooms … and the fact that each professional involved in the design and build of this home puts so much love and attention to detail into his or her work).
Read the rules all taxes on the house,property and car are the winner`s responsibility
I can’t believe how beautiful this home is, what a great thing to give away. The only thing is, how much money do you have to come up with for a $2 million dollar prize, and than, what about property taxes, they must be sky high there? It would be so nice to win it, but if you have to come up with a ton of money than your dream home could turn into a nightmare if you’re poor! Does anyone know about the taxes??
The TV special provided only general information, but it was still very impressive. Does anyone know how much land the home is on? I know the house is about 3700 sq ft.
What happens if you love the house but don’t care for the furnishings??
Also, did I hear correctly that it is only a 2-car garage??
Small comment. What’s up with the on-line entry of ‘State’ this year? In previous years the ‘State’ field was open for text entry and it would scroll based on the first letter entered. This year it’s some weird widget in a small window that you have to scroll through to find the correct state, and that is no fun when you live in the second half of the states. And no, we do not enable cookies, so I have to retype my entire entry every day.
Ingrid: bobo would be so welcome to visit my doggie dream house, as I don’t have a pooch at the moment. Speaking of pooches, Coop, I remember you once asked for suggestions as you were interested in getting a canine companion. Did you ever find one? I also remember that you mentioned purchasing a property overseas and asked for ideas on how to decorate it. That really made me laugh! But now I realize we have a real hobby in common…..floor plans. Your favorites are much more grand than mine. I have my eyes on the Green Home. Marie Miller, just remember that silver speach can come from speaking, as well as writing. And that Coop is very tricky. Love to all bloggers and pleasant dreams.
My family lives in the Napa area…and I absolutley LOVE Sonoma! I would of loved to see the looks of the neighborhood faces as the construction began! I will dream big this year, so I can have a chance to be with my family again in a georgeous house! Good luck to everyone!
Wow-
We were so excited to sit down as a family and watch the special like we have for many years- this was the biggest disappointment! Not only was the show’s production awful, the house is hardly up to the standards of craftsmanship in homes of the past. Sonoma is beautiful, but clearly corners were cut- The house is set up to entertain-(it’s in wine coutry for heaven’s sake) but there is no downstairs bath- the family room set up is not cozy- and everything is narrow, including the upstairs hallway- the house is on a busy street- older neighborhood…….overall a big disappointment- I think you missed the mark this year completely- head back to the southeast- please!
Love the house… But wanted to know if the wine closet in the study is refrigerated? if so, how did they do that? Want to use the same concept in my home.
How does any of the dream house winners pay for the tax on the winning of the house? At a 35% rate on the $2M house is $700,000. Who can afford to win these dream homes? Not to mention the property tax associated with the house. Isn’t CA property tax at 1%? I want the house but I’ll be afraid to actually win it. How did the other previous winners deal with the tax?
I’m bummed, I’ve been trying to post and say howdy to ya’ll, but everything is “awating moderation”.
Well, Marie, your “dream home” property would present a challenge, even for a HGTV design pro. The “skinny lot” is, in my opinion, less a problem than the “right-of-way” issue, which can get very thorny. A skinny lot merely requires creative design skills; the right-of-way and variance hurdles CAN be complex, costly, and often intractable. Is there a zoning specialist or city planning/building department you could get feedback from, if only to be pointed in the right direction for further inquiries? Without doing lots of homework, and legwork, it’s too easy for a dream home project to turn into a nightmare. That’s one reason why the HGTV DREAM HOME is such a wonderful gift—the hard part is already done!
Never got another canine companion, Katydid, after losing the last one. I’d like to, but since I have purchased property overseas, I would be away for extended periods. That would be unfair to any pet.
I’m hoping to get up to see the finished HGTV DREAM HOME for the Ledson’s Harmony Foundation benefit tour before heading across the Pacific to shop for furnishings, and get the new home decorated; the sooner the better.
As for my “grand” home plans hobby, the current two I mentioned ARE large (too much for me) but I enjoy working on any scale, from modest manufactured home models to dramatic estates.
OK, GAIL, time to throw out another video, or tease us with some new photos. There’s so much more to learn about the 2009 DREAM HOME, I’m sure, and less of interest about DBCoop!
What if the winner cannot afford any of the taxes, fees, etc. Can the home be sold quickly enough to prevent them from going bankrupt with a little money left over for themselves.
I was so blown away with the design of this house. Every detail was so carefully thought out! The front porch is just like the one my greatgrand parents had, and the palm tree was just like the ones my great grandfather planted in Anaheim, Ca. Thank you HGTV for giving us the opportunity to win this beautiful home.
I really wish more time had been spent on the house and the grounds. It seemed to me as though a great amount of time was spent on the activities available in the Sonoma Valley. It is nice to get a little information about the surrounding area, but that is half of the fun in relocating, nice to know, but not as much detail. I found the fact that Kim Segwayed over some trails and topped it off with a spa visit a waste of time. I would have rather seen and heard more about the house itself.
Overall, I really liked what I did see of this dream house. It actually felt like a house that someone could live in full time, not an overpriced vacation home.
Although Kim’s “kids” room was attractive enough, it really felt like it was geared to a boy’s room. I cannot picture a little girl in that space. Might something more gender neutral be more fitting?
I did not feel the “home office” would be very functional as an office. Personally, I would have referred to it a study. It would appear to be a great place to pay the bills and maybe read a book or perform some other solitary function. With that in mind, I really did not see the need for a separate entrance.
A wraparound porch harkens back to sitting and visiting informally with friends and family. I was very disappointed not to have any furniture on the wrap around porch. It seems to be the perfect place for morning coffee or afternoon iced tea. A porch is great place to chat with loved ones and unwind and enjoy the “vistas”, watch your children play. I really think you missed a wonderful opportunity there.
It was also a truly a pleasure to find a (2)refrigerator(s) in the kitchen where it belongs, unlike the last “dream home” located in the Florida Keys where the refrigerator was located in anoter room. I really liked this kitchen, it felt like an area where you could really get serious about food prep and entertaining family and friends.
In the past, I have had issue with the color palettes chosen for the houses. This time that color palette chosen throughout the house was for the most part pleasing. The only room I really detested was the master bedroom. That Kelly green was hideous. Being located in the midst of such beautiful natural surroundings in various shades of green, I would have thought a better choice would have been one that drew your eye to those gorgeous natural surroundings.
Lastly, does everyone in the US own a dog? Why do you feel the need to add a matching dog house to every dream house?
I Loooooooooooooove this home and I hope I win it, taxes, upkeep, gardening, and all other expenses connected with a sweepstakes winning like this. I would live in it as long as I could and enjoy every second. It is very exciting to think that I would have as much a chance to win this as anyone else. The only thing I would change is make one of the rooms with so many windows my art studio. I just discovered this HGTV site and have been going over every aspect of this Dream Home on the digital tours. I didn’t know about the recent show but will watch for the next airing. It would truly be a dream house for me. I have always loved Sonoma and always wished I would get a big portrait commission to put me in that beautiful and inspiring area for artists. I have lived in the foothills near Grass Valley California for 10 years. I live in an apartment attached to the main house occupied by a daughter and son-in-law. Now my daughter tells me I have to vacate my painting studio to use that space as part of a bedroom remodel since my son-in-law has bad knees, she has a bad back and has to move downstairs from their upstairs loft bedroom.
This is devastating to me because I am 10 years older than I was when I moved in here and when I moved here I made an investment in some remodeling in my wing and my daughter told me I would always have a place to paint. I am a senior and it will be hard for me to adjust my space in my apartment to accomodate my painting because I have a lot of “stuff”, but I would move to Sonoma in a heartbeat. I have had some success in my art work over the years. I have a portrait in the Pentagon, as well as many portraits in institutions of higher learning all over California and with many corporate, executive and military commissions, as well as clients in the music industry,and Medical field, both national and international. But like a lot of artists the work is not steady so I am not exactly a starving artist but I am certainly not rich, just talented. I have been busy during my productive years. I love my life but I would thank God every day to be able to live out my years in such an inspiring Dream home. I know that if I am to have this home, I will. I will do some serious positive imaging for the next several weeks. I would invite a son and his wife to live with me and perhaps one of my several grand and great grandchildren. We would make it OUR Dream Home. When do we move in??
Beautiful home. It’s missing a bedroom. Thankfully Joan Ludden was missing. The show was so poor. Every 4 minutes a comerical. What happen to telling us how the home was built? The architure choosen for what reason? This was the absoulte poorist show HGTV has put on on the home. I thought it would get better without Joan, but it did not. I don’t get two shakes of a hen’s tail where you shopped. I don’t care to see 12 minutes of your designers shopping, show me all sides of the home. What about where it is built? The neighborhood? I get the feeling the house was built in a Getho or drug infested place. Prehaps the neighbors were opposed to this place.
Nice home but you all missed the mark miserably. This was poor, very poor. I know that a 50 foot by 20 plot of grapes will not produce tht much wine.
This house is going to be perfect to raise my family in. It is such a blessing that God has brought this contest to my attention and I cannot wait to enjoy every foot of the new house. Thank you!
Sorry, but this house is not worth $2mm. The lot is horrible, with no views except the neighbors. The street its on is terrible. The rooms are VERY small. The kids athroom and guest bathroom have no tubs. The kitchen is hideous. The Master Bedroom green is a nightmare to wakeup to. They’re giving away a vehicle thats a gas guzzling beast and that no one wants from a company going out of business. Overall, this house is a total mess and HGTV should be embarassed. Its not worth the taxes.
I was truly disappointed in the dream home. The outside of the house is gorgeous and the landscaping. However nothing inside exites me. For the anount of money poured into it. I really expected more.
The formal living was just blah. The kitchen was set up strange. The family room was ok. The master suite was a disappointment. The bathrooms were lacking. The office space was ok, but no computer and really who needs wine in the office. I know it is sonoma, but still….
The outdoor living space was awesome as well as the landscaping. I would love to have the home just based on the outside.
I think you needed other designers on this project. Like Vern or Sabrina.
After all the years of your dream homes just getting better and better this was a major letdown. I have entered every dream home since you started hoping to win. This one I won’t enter, because with my luck this is the one I would win. LOL
I just can’t say this is my favorite DH. I have always been a fan (Mexico Beach will always be my favorite, I still dream about that place) and I would give anything to live in California. I’m not even that put off by the obvious differences in the homes across the street.
This is what I’m not crazy about: The arrangement of furniture in the family room (who puts a sofa in front of the tv?). Two islands in the kitchen (I love extra countertop workspace, but it breaks up the flow of the kitchen). No outdoor furniture on the front porch????
What I am crazy about…Location, Location, Location. The back yard with the grave vines and raised beds are pretty awsome and that’s pretty much it. I like the paint colors and the bedrooms are fine, but they aren’t stand outs like in years past.
The BEST DH would be one completely designed by Candace Olson!!
Has anyone who won a Dream house (or Green House) been able to keep it. Or, they were required to sell to cover taxes?
This new house is a mix of good and bad. Most have been mentioned. Odd layout.
Thank you Coop for telling me what I probably already knew…I was hoping for a miracle with this property! I think the owner/broker already knows that the lot is unbuildable & that’s why he holds tight..he will not budge on his price & will not accommodate any requests! I guess he is looking for a sucker to take over his “nightmare!!” Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts!! By the way, where are you building overseas? Just curious..your life seems exciting & more than busy!
Katydid…you are right about Coop ’cause his silver speech comes through loud and clear no matter whether it comes from writing or speaking! He’s tricky, but has a unique power of communication, and to me, is always “on point!!” His banter has worth!!
Oceangirl..I absolutely agree with that Candace Olson would be the awesome choice designer…I think I’ve seen ever episode of hers & I’m totally crazy about Chico!! I’m thinking, after I win the DH2009, I will hire Candace to redecorate!!
The house is truly beautiful. But can someone tell me what’s up with the palm tree off the corner of the house? Seems kind of out of place given the rest of the plantings. I saw one picture where a different tree had been planted there, but it’s obviously been removed. What’s the rationale behind the palm? Thanks!
Re property taxes – from what I found on line, the tax rate is almost $14.00 per thousand. That means the yearly property taxes would be about $25,000. Then there is insurance. There are also Federal and state income taxes, as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes on the total. In the rules section, they say they will give you a 1099 for the total. In order to take possession of the car and home, you must have proof of insurance.
The winner is not chosen based on need; an independent organization picks a winner at random. All of the details are in the Rule section (at the bottom).
You won’t have to pay income taxes until the next year, so you could sell the property and use the proceeds to pay the taxes (with a tidy profit, probably). Then you could buy a home that is affordable in the location you desire.
PatStella
Correction/addition to my previous post:
I don’t know if you would have to pay quarterly estimated taxes or not. Any tax accountants in the house?
Certainly the first thing you should do is to consult with a financial advisor and/or an attorney before taking possession of the prizes.
You could also sell some of the furnishings, art, etc before putting the house on the market.
Since this is in a planned community, I am sure they have rules about how the property is used, which would rule out turning the home into a bed and breakfast business, or renting rooms on a short-term basis.
PatStella
I love the house and the floor plan. Only one question, where is the downstairs powder room? I have never seen a new two story home without at least a downstairs powder room, in fact a half bath would even be better in a home of this price range. Also, if there are taxes that will be the responsibility of the winner, when will they be required to pay? In this economy selling the house may take long time.
Hello, I greatly enjoyed viewing this nice home. I didn’t happen to see a dishwasher in the kitchen. Does anyone know if this Dream Home has a dishawsher? God Bless you all.
I am mystified by the fact that this “$2M” home has:
3 Bedrooms, 2.75 baths, No pantry (where do you put canned goods), few kitchen cabinets (everything is under-counter except for the two cabinets over the refrigerators), only one kitchen sink, no faucet for filtered water at the kitchen sink, no bathroom on first floor, seems to be missing a washer/dryer in laundry room, curtains at entryways (?), small rooms, a queen bed in a master bedroom (?) …
This house was built close to the street in an area where it stands out as the most expensive house on the block, not good for resale purposes.
Comparing this “Dream House” to others in the past it seems like the location (Sonoma County) was more important than the design…
The property taxes are not cheap on a $2M house (the median in Sonona County is .6%, we pay around 1% in Southern CA), and in our current economy homes are not selling at the rate or prices achieved just a year ago.
Sorry to burst bubbles, but this is no “Dream Home”.
OK…..focus on the Dream Home. It occurred to me that in this dire economic downturn, it might have effected the DH budget as well. Perhaps they might have had to scrap a few outdoor features (fountain, spa, covered walkway, porch furniture, etc). Just glad they kept those wonderful raised garden beds.
Let’s see……what would I bring to the DH? My goose down pillows and duvet. I would love to have a super musical set-up and would barter some of the furnishings for a top-notch musical system with dual controls in the kitchen and master bedroom. It’s so much fun to dream. Thanks HGTV!
P.S. Regarding those negative posts, all coming in a row….I’m glad they won’t be entering….better chance for us dreamers.
I love the Dream Home, except I do not understand why Kim Myles was given a opportunity to do a room. She is NOT a designer, and is, at best, a mediocre “shopper”. I never watch any of her shows because everything is rough and unfinished around the edges, and never creative. There will never be another Design Star as great as David, and both the designer guys who made it to the final three were better than Kim.
Hi All! It appears like we have a lot of new bloggers…Welcome to this lively community! It is so fun to read all of the comments and opinions.
I wanted to say, most respectfully of course, that those of you who think that this home is in a non-desireable area are definitely mistaken. Those of us Californians and Sonoma fans REALLY know how desireable Sonoma is to call home. The location is superb. One of our bloggers thought that maybe the homes across the street were “low income” houses. Let me tell you, they are definitely not. Many Californians, like my family, live in smaller, older homes that are expensive, or at least above the national average. The median home price in this gorgeous town is nearly $600K for a reason. The neighborhood is highly desireable, trust me!
Just to follow my prior comment..we don’t currently live in Sonoma, but let me tell you, the location is indeed ideal!!
This is the most perfect home the dining is to die for elegant is all I can think. The kitchen comes next then the master bath and bedroom both inside and out is gorgeous brilliant.
This home is small but beautiful. I have lived in CA all my life and would love to relocate up north if I won. The taxes and decrease in local property values would the the deal breaker. I would need to sell my current home to live there which I would do if I could get a fair price. Selling a home in CA nowadays is tough to say the least. In my area of the State property that was selling for 600,000 in 2007 fell to 300,000 in 2008.I know everyone has been hit by this ecomony but HGTV should anti up the money for the taxes. Especially since this home even though very nice is not the dream homes built in the past years. HGTV get your act together.
I am so excited about the 2009 HGTV Dream Home. My daughter and I visit you website everyday to enter and to check out whats new. I have a question though. At home we don’t have cable. The only way that I get to see the house and get updates is from this website. Will the New Years show appear on this site soon. And when you announce the winner, will you have it live on this website as well? We’re really looking forward to seeing who gets blessed with this charming and yet elegant Sonoma Dream Home.
Katydid! Hopefully my comment about having the DH2009 redecorated by Candace Olson was not construed as a negative comment. I love the DH2009…but, have to say, I do love Candace’s work!!
I can’t believe it either about the negative posts? And, to say they are not going to enter for the chance to win the DH2009!! Pouvez-vous expliquer cela, s’il vous plaît?? Oh well, it will give us more thankful mortals a better chance at winning it. I would be more than proud to own the Sonoma property…it is a little piece of heaven & I would be living very close to my children & grandchildren!! The negative people would gain more respect for this property if they were standing right in front of it as I did the early part of October, & let me tell you…the house is awesome!!! The whole area of Armstrong Estates is beyond beautiful…it is peaceful..imagine a place where time slows down, and simplicity and authenticity rule the day. I feel that the DH2009 has style and substance, and join hands with comfort and luxury. The Sonoma Valley during the fall shows subtle shades of gold and orange creeping through the vineyards as vines go dormant for the winter. It is the most beautiful place to be from August to October. Also, where else on earth are you going to find some of the best Chardonnays, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that California has to offer?
People, stop complaining & comparing this dream home to the past dream homes!! How could anyone not appreciate the opportunity to own a classic “farmhouse” in the middle of the “wine country?”
Au revoir! Prenez/Prends garde!
Oui, oui Marie! Je suis bien d’accord! We are definitely, “on the same page.”
Hello everyone,
Gina here, (from Brazil). I’ve been reading some of the comments and concerns about the house! COME ON PEOPLE! LIVE IT UP! This is a giveaway house and of course there are going to be pros and cons and things there are different from each personal taste! Don’t worry I’ll win this house and I’ll have a chance to make it the way I wanted instead of criticizing what is in there! If you want to have a house of your dreams in terms of layout, décor and etc… you should built your own house and don’t even bother with this one! Leave it for people that appreciate things in life much more and enjoy every bit of it!
CHEERS!
It is a very poorly designed house in a great area.
I will enter the contest, but would sell the house as soon as I could, something that nearly all of the previous winners of the HGTV Dream Home’s have done.
A $2M home with no bathroom on the first floor? One sink in the kitchen? No closet at the entryway? No Pantry? A house that was designed to entertain yet the guests have to trudge upstairs to use the loo? What was the architect thinking?
Let’s be realistic…
This home comes with taxes due for winning…that would be $700K…, then you have a yearly property tax due Jan 1 2010 of anywhere between $15K-$25K… Can you afford a monthly payment of $4K for your “free” house, because that would be the minimum you would be paying for 30 years.
If you remember the contest name, this is a “DREAM HOUSE”, very few would be able to afford to live there, and for those who can’t, it is just a dream…
Why plant the raised garden beds in the shadiest part of the yard? Locating the garden between the garage and house will offer at best, just a few hours of sunlight daily in the growing season. Not nearly enough direct sun for tomatoes.
Bonnie: Je vous adresse mes plus vifs remerciements.
Very nicely said Gina Betti!
Come on Bill! Even when all is said and done, you will have realized some great “All American $$$$!! Besides, I’m not worried about all the baggage ’cause at my age, I plan on using a “reverse mortgage” accordingly & will love living in this beautiful home for the rest of my life!! It would be a blessing in my life!!!
Retire in a house that you have to climb stairs to use a bathroom? It would have been better if they had built a Tuscan style single story, with solar panels.
Jan 1, 2010 you would have to pay the IRS over $700K in gift tax, and your 2009 property tax would be due. Any thoughts that a reverse mortgage would pay those and other taxes incurred by the gift of this property is a dream, so you would still have to make significant payments.
This is why all of the winners of the “Dream House” giveaway have sold or are in the process of selling their dream house.
If you remember, when HGTV began this contest they stated that these were dream homes, and that they were aware that most of the winners would not be able to afford the homes.
The best thing you could do with this house is sell it, pay the taxes, and take the profits and buy or build a house that would suit your needs and income level.
Sorry, just being realistic…
I think the home is BEAUTIFUL, the landscape is Great and I enjoyed watching each “artist” designer expressing their gifts through design! The colors were vibrant in several of the rooms and the just POP!!! The outdoor table setting chosen was more suitable to the house however that green and blue was delightful to the eye! HGTV you have done another great job!
BILL: Your posts show that you know nothing about this Dream Home. There is a POWDER ROOM on the first floor so you don’t have to trudge up stairs to relieve yourself. And if you need a shower without going upstairs, I suggest you run through the sprinklers. I’m sorry for being so harsh on you, but I wish all you last minute bloggers would get your facts straight. Marie Miller: You addressed your last note to me….how did you know what was going through my mind before I had even posted it? Are you a mind reader? Love that you and Bonnie are conversing in French but that leaves me out. let’s see….C…”s la vie.
Does that mean “such is life”? Well, I think the winner of the DH will have a much better life. Good luck to all and pleasant dreams.
Even if there is a Toilet and sink downstairs, which I do not see on the tour, nor is it noted in the floorplan, this is still a very poorly designed home.
To think that you could afford to move into this home using a reverse mortgage is a joke.
Anyone who wins this home and thinks that they can afford to live in it, without currently being a multimillionaire, is dreaming.
There are going to be VERY large payments due Jan 1 2010, and if you cannot afford what is basically going to be a $700K mortgage, in a town when you do not have a job (unless you are lucky enough to currently live in Sonoma County) then you cannot afford to live in this house.
Sorry to be so frank, but even though the prize in this contest is a $2M home, the prize for those who have won this contest is the difference in what they were able to sell the house for and the taxes that are due.
The home will be sold by whomever wins it, if they take the time, which I hope they do, to find a good financial advisor, who will tell them exactly the same thing I am telling you…
Take the money from the sale, pay off the taxes, and find or buy a home that suits your needs and is in your income level.
Don’t think of it as a $2M house, think of it as a $500K+ (hopefully) prize.
I see that someone discovered that there is a powder room on the first floor. Thanks for posting it. I would assume it is down the hall, on the way to the study. Am I right? If it’s located there, they didn’t put it on the floor plan and I don’t recall seeing it on the show. I would love to be the winner, but I must confess it would be necessary to sell. My family could enjoy it for a few months though, then we would need to find a serious buyer. I have enjoyed watching all the DH series over the years. It’s fun to dream!
Please pay more attention during the tours……as has already been said…there is a powder room outside of the office…..
I think everyone is well aware of the tax issue…. just go with the flow and enjoy the rush of winning something this fantastic. True that few of us can afford to keep it…..but no need to preach on this site…..
Happy New Year to everyone!!!
YES THE BATHROOM IS BY THE STUDY I BELIEVE THE PANTRY IS BEHIND THE FRENCH DOORS WITH THE SHEER CURTAIN IN THE KITCHEN, THAT`S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, THEY KINDA RUSHED THROUGH THE TOUR I FEEL SO SOME THINGS WERE LEFT OUT