More about the Doggie Dream Home
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We’ve received quite a few queries about the 4′ by 4′ Doggie Dream Home (even a request for the building plans), so I thought I’d pick up the phone and have a quick chat with the builder himself, Ledson Construction superintendent and architectural design specialist Patrick Geary. After you read through the interview, don’t forget to enter the giveaway for your chance to win this amazing pooch palace … we’ll throw in the HGTV Dream Home, too!
What was your inspiration for the Doggie Dream Home?
We used the HGTV Dream Home plans and scaled them back. The footprint of the doghouse – everything from the porches to the perimeter foundation – is the exact footprint of the HGTV Dream Home. Any architectural plan can be scaled down the same way.
What materials did you use to construct the home?
Everything is constructed out of plywood. We cut grooves in 3/4-inch-plywood with a 1/8-inch saw blade to replicate the exterior siding.
And that amazing roof?
We took the exact roofing material from the HGTV Dream Home – the exact composition roofing – cut the material into 1 1/2-inch pieces and then grooved those pieces with a grinder to simulate smaller shingles.
Tell us about the exterior.
We painted the Doggie Dream Home with the same Sherwin-Williams® exterior paints used for the HGTV Dream Home. The burgundy window sashes were painted onto the Plexiglas windows, which were inserted into the plywood walls and secured in place with pieces of trim.
It looks like this project took forever to complete. Did it?
It took me and my assistant, Alfredo Garcia, five days to complete. It became a much larger project than we anticipated. Once we started with the project, we wanted to make it as realistic and accurate as possible.
Any funny stories along the way?
When we completed the doghouse, we loaded it on the back of a truck and transported it from Santa Rosa, where we live, to Sonoma. Folks were honking at us, and we were approached by many people who asked if we could build them doghouses. It was definitely a head turner on the road. We were also joking because we were doing 55 miles per hour on the highway, so we felt satisfied that the roof could withstand gale-force winds during a storm.
So how does it feel now that you’ve raised the Doggie Dream Home design bar?
Alfredo and I enjoyed coming up with the idea of scaling the home down from the original plan, and, as large a project as it was, it was really rewarding for us to see the results and compare it to the HGTV Dream Home. We were both able to work on and build the actual HGTV Dream Home, and it was rewarding for us to be a part of this process – to finally sit back and see them both completed.
 -Mary
Oh how cute!
I love it! My little Jack Russell Terrier Mix would love it. LOL
Even if I don’t have a dog, I would want to keep this cute little house!
It could be a darling play house.
Love the doggie Dream home, if I win I would love to save a doggie from a shelter and give the doggie the new doggie dream home. Probably 2 doggies
Love the doggie dream house! A neighbor has a “matching” dog house. When they paint their house the doghouse gets updated too. Since my dog would rather be indoors, I would donate it to a local shelter for fund raising!
Sounds like a labor of love and devotion for Patrick Geary and Alfredo Garcia. Congrats, it is adorable. The entrance for the dog must be in the back. Like lovelykitty, I too, thought it would make a darling doll/playhouse for my granddaughters.
The Doggie Dream House is oh so cute! Definately a Poohie Dream. Speaking of dreams, I have been following the Dream Homes for years and boy oh boy have I dreamed big, but I was wondering, what happens if your entry is picked and you can’t be reached or have moved? Right now all I have is a mailing address, no home. And if I was picked would I automatically have to sell the dream home because I couldn’t afford the taxes, or are there other options? Could you please share some info on that. Thanks
The aesthetic on the pooch house is not bad, but (and I know we pamper our pooches) is it insulated? My dogs refuse to stay outside even when there’s a hint of chill in the air.
Loving them as I do, I know they’ll prefer their beds somewhere between the kitchen and family room. They like to keep an eye on us. I know, I know, I like many of you have emotionally installed myself and young family into the Sonoma Dream Home. I paraphrase what Millie wrote over the weekend, “Sonar, no cuesta.” Translation: Dreaming is free.
How about solar panels on the Doggie Dream Home to keep it warm and cozy in the winter?
The doggie house is adorable! I will just have to get me a little Chihuahua dog to go with the whole shebang! I have been wanting one for the longest of times.
It is adorable! I will just have to get me a little Chihuahua to go with the whole shebang! Been wanting one for the longest of times.
I love this Doggie Dream Home so cute .Hope you can put a little doggie bed in side that would be great.
I believe any dog would love the dog house, as any human would love the house. My husband and I were raised close to Sonoma, me in St. Helena and Sebastopol was his home, we have been debating the idea of moving back to California and the house in Sonoma would be perfect.
HA! Coop – yes, and Central air and radiant flooring, too. We have promised our child a dog, but don’t currently have one. The house is a lot of fun!
Hey bloggers, when I win the dream house, I’m going to give it to Ingrid of Sonoma.
Let me clarify that last statement, when I win the dream house, I”m going to give the “Doggie House” away to Ingrid of Sonoma — I’ll be living in the actual Dream House!
I love HGTV’s Dream Home! I never get tired of taking the video tour. It is amazing! I really hope I win!:) It’s the perfect home for us! My husband and my 2 kids love it too! It is the perfect place for us to have our wedding!!!!
We have an English Toy Spaniel and he would absolutely love this Doggie Home!!! HGTV is very creative indeed!
I like dogs don’t get me wrong, but I thin
the money to build the doggie house was kind
of a waste of money that could have been used
elsewhere, like a hot tub spa. Not everyone in the world has a dog for goodness sake and
it will be a shame if the person who wins doesn’t have one and it will go to waste. It
is adorable but A spa would’ve been nicer..
jussssst feel it’s a bit over the top.snzg]
My little 12 lb pug would find the doggie Dream Home perfect. She could have lots of room to invite her cat friends over for play.
Dear Gail: The dog house is beyond cute…it’s a masterpiece & since I don’t have a dog…I will definitely keep it in the family! I, too, will enjoy seeing it full of Barbie Dolls as my grandchildren play house with it!! How devine!! I really liked the comment about the 55 miles per hour on the highway…nice to know that the roof could withstand gale-force winds during a storm. Thank you Patrick Geary and Alfredo Garcia for the replica of the most desirable Dream Home yet!!
The dog house is a true master piece of craftsmanship…loved hearing more about the artist who created it. My dog will love hanging out in it during the day….he sleeps by my bed at night.
My dachshunds Piper and Feebee would love there own lil house. I have not toured the 2009 house, I want to be suprised if I win and not disappointed if I don’t. Thanks for the opportuntity Cindy
Hmmmmmm, I wonder what my cat would think of the doggie dream house!
I am interested in the square footage of the HGTV Dreamhome Sonoma – I have looked everywhere I could think of on the site and could not find it. Can you provide?
My dog was so concerned at the taxes, he joined Myunclestan.com too.
arrf arrf arrf!
This house feels as if it were designed for me, EXCEPT for the dog house. I have two labs and a golden, yes, that is 300 pounds of dog. When I win the sweepstakes, is there any chance of swapping out the dog house for something larger? Perhaps I will need to rescue more dogs from a different, smaller breed?
DVD?? Book?? This is off topic, but what about an HGTV DVD of the Dream Home? Dream Homes past? I would love to have these to add to my permanent collection. I also saw someone (on the blog or message board) had mentioned a coffee table book. I would love one or one of each dream home! Any chance, HGTV??
Can anybody tell me how much the income taxes will be on the Doggie Dream Home?
Doggie Dream House is fab! Heater – are you kidding me – I’m in Chicago (-10 degrees last time I checked). On the coldest day of the year in Sonoma, my pooch “The Rox” will think she has died and gone to the tropics! Those of us that are hardy (or crazy) enough to live in the midwest can only dream of living in the lovely, temperate California weather! And our little dogs too!
O.K. – that does it. I mean, I have tried to hold back from posting comments about the Dream Home in Sonoma; but, after literally dreaming, like in my dreams while sleeping there is the house and my dog is cheerfully zipping around in a real yard while my fiance and I try to get him to join us as we sit inside the doggie dream home…Poof! I wake up, shake it off and go to my cramped and shared (two desks in one room) office to work. As is my current routine, the first thing I do is enter on-line for the Sonoma Dream Home. While there, I decide to check out the daily blog and there it is THE DOGGIE DREAM HOME. Hot Cha Cha! Nope, I am not superstitious nor into envisioning my hopes as reality but from the moment I saw this home I thought, now this feels right. We could do this, we could live the rest of our days right there in Sonoma. I have clients in the area and each time I travel there I feel like I am coming home. Shoot, I even ask my clients to spend there days looking for a place for me in there beautiful town. And, since my fiance had a massive heart attack in 11/08 and was laid off from work a few weeks later, we know we would uproot our lives in Southern California in a minute and make a new life in Sonoma. A small, intimate wedding on porch? Sounds just perfect. Prynceton, the aforementioned dog, popping his head out of his own little corner of the world? A Kodak moment. Typing away in my warm study? I’m already settling into the chair. Walking up the stairs at night to doze off in the master suite with my precious man that now has a new lease on his life..forever blessed. So with all this home has to offer, why would anyone enter this contest with intentions of selling it? Past winners have sold that dream come true for the money? What? If you really want this dream home I have to think you want more that the house, you want all that a home has to offer. All that the story can tell, right down to its last chapter. “And, they lived happily ever after.”
Best wishes,
MJ
It is but a dream ,
But when March 15th comes it will be a dream come true for one very lucky individual who has dreamed and imagined as we all here have living happy ever after in a magnificent home
This is a response to Mary Jane. If you win the Sonoma Dream Home, I hope that you post something on this site to let us all know that it was you. Perhaps you do not think of yourself as clairvoyant, but that is one strong dream; even more that you remember it!
I agree with you on so many levels that this is a home, not a house to be used as a quick-sale scheme! Every day I have entered this contest praying that I get to be the lucky winner so that my fiance and our two daughters could have a real home to share.
We have dreamed about a home like this and wanted to have a pet to share our life with, but things are very unstable these days. It would be unfair to the animal to bring them into our home right now. If we win this contest, it could mean so many things for our family…a dog would definitely be welcomed! And what dog wouldn’t love their own customized home to look just like their owner’s?
I hope that, if not my family or myself, someone like you, Mary Jane, wins this wonderful opportunity.
Best of luck!
Hey DH Bloggers:
My wonderful co-workers surprised me with an early birthday party. The only thing that tainted the whole occasion were their claim that they were going to be winning the 2009 Dream House! (It’s going to be a really crowded house, because we’re all claiming to be the winner). By the way, Brenda Nelson, the money spent to build the doggie dream house (which they do every year) probably would not seem to be a waste to people who would actually house their pups in it. Since I don’t have a dog, I was going to give it to Ingrid of Sonoma (super-neighbor), but now in light of the upcoming inauguration, I think I might donate it to the Obama girls!
Well, I don’t have a dog, but, I do have eight cockateils and two budgies who would love to play in the doggie dream home. Of course, it would have to be inside the big dream home, but, that would be ok. They would love it, lol.
Taxes on the doggie dream home? At first glance I smiled at this question. However it would be nice (especially in the times we live in) if a cash prize was included to defray the total prize tax cost. Maybe forget the new car next contest and give a cash award instead. Then again “dreams” are not meant to be practical! Laugh, Love, Live, Life.
OK…for ONE MINUTE, Brenda gave ME the DH09,
but then she corrected herself, and gave me
the doggie-DH for my beloved BoBo!!! But, as
I continued to read the blogs, Brenda has now donated it to the new “First Family”
daughters. What will I tell BoBo??? Oh well,
for one brief moment we were in Camelot…
oops, I mean the Sonoma DH!!! THANK YOU Brenda for your kind thoughts;you gave me a BIG smile! Ingrid from Sonoma
ps…DBCoop…your comment about the doggie-
DH taxes was GENIUS!!! There has been waaay
too much talk about taxes…if you are lucky
enough to win this home…say a BIG thank you,talk to a financial planner,and get on with your life. Sell it,live in it,rent it…
I don’t care what you do with it, but please
be grateful for this opportunity. We don’t
want complainers as neighbors. Ingrid from Sonoma
THANK YOU, Ingrid, for your comments. I had to laugh about not wanting “complainers as neighbors.” Exactly.
I’m sure that BoBo is a happy, well-adjusted and very well taken care of four-legged friend—perhaps he (?—assuming) wouldn’t mind terribly if an adopted fellow friend in need was given the Doggie Dream Home for safe shelter, but my thought is that the Doggie DH is so unique that it belongs with its bigger brethren right where it is; however, if I’m selected as the DH09 winner, I’d be more than happy for BoBo to visit the Doggie Dream Home and hang out if he ever needs to “get away from the cat race” of everyday life now and then.
Angel the beautiful husky that will live in her new dream home knows it is for sure our destiny. The doggie house is the same color as her! Just too small, but just right for the baby brother she will get when we move in. She’s California dreamin on a cold Chicago day.
I just returned home from Sonoma after touring in person the DH. Wow!
I can answer from first hand experience some of the questions that seem to keep coming up:
There is a very nice 1/2 bath beside the staircase – it is convenient to the office and the whole first floor.
The flow in the kitchen is excellent since the functional work triangle is sited behind the first island. The 2nd island is geared to entertaining. A really great kitchen!
The office has a door that opens to the exterior so can actualy function as a business office. The winner will also receive the very fine wine stocked there and in the wine fridges. (several thousand dollars worth).
The w/d in the laundry room are under the left-hand counter and seem perfectly fine ergonomically. Under the right-hand counter (from the door looking in) there are pull-out hampers and a pull-out ironing board.
The green in the master is not as “limey” as it looks on my computer screen. It is quite elegant. It is peaceful and calm in person and I quite liked it. The walk-in closet is larger than some San Francisco apartments.
There is plenty of space to turn into the garage. The plantings under the driveway are ornamental strawberries. Around the vineyard are planted edible strawberries.
In 4 – 5 years the vineyard will produce about 2 cases of wine. The raised gardens are wonderful and herbs can be grown in Sonoma year round. There are rose bushes of different varieties planted near the beds and the roses are geared to provide you with flowers 9 months of the year. The beautiful oak trees in front will shade the home in spring and summer – it gets quite warm in Sonoma and Napa in the summer so the trees are a blessing.
The outdoor entertaining area is much larger than it looks from the pictures and is really great. The wraparound porch is beautiful and very functional since outdoor living is possible and desired for most of the year.
There are no HOA’s. The land is included and is not a lease.
The “shanty” across the street is actually a very nice house – in Califoria real estate terms probably worth at a bare minimum $600,000. The DH is in a neighborhood of 2 to 3 million dollar homes.
Fences in the estate must be natural so wire is strung and plantings are placed on the wire to form the fence. When the plantings are completely grown in you will not see the neighbor’s pool (I don’t mind the pool view myself). The doggie DH is incredible! I will have to get a dog when I move in. The tour conductors were gracious, charming, and informative. They directed us to a wonderful restaurant off the town square for lunch. What a charming town!
My biggest impression of this home is how very thoughtful it is. It is a true Dream Home and such a heartfelt gift. Since both the builder and the interior designer are locals they poured there hearts into this project. Their care and pride clearly shows. The pictures on the web and on the tv show do not do it justice at all. The moment I walked in I felt enveloped in warmth and charm and heart. The mix of traditional and modern in the interior is perfect for wine country living and very effective. There is not a square inch of the home that doesn’t feel serene and welcoming. I was touched by the home-town pride, the thoughtfulness, and the attention to every detail to the “dream”.
I agree anyone who has the great opportunity to be the Grand Prize winner of this fabulous home and doggie dream home should be so grateful in our day in these hard times. People need not to take life and God’s gifts for granted. Our family would be so grateful to be Ingrids neighbor for the rest of our lives. That would include our little furry friends, Zoey and Taquita our, Pug and Minature Schaunzer. They are our family also. You were right on, Ingrid with your comments. I have visited Sonoma, and it is a beautiful place and the people are very friendly and gracious.
I caught the article referenced in a previous blog entry about the Tylers’ difficulty paying their taxes and upkeep on their dream home. It stated that they didn’t actually own the lot their home was built on… just a 30 year lease. Anyone know if this dream home’s property comes with the house? Or is it a lease? Could make a difference in what you can do with it once you’ve got it.
Hey Bloggers, what a great blog this has gotten to be. It seems we’ve completely eliminated Super-neighbor Ingrid of Sonoma as a possible winner of the 09 DH. Although, she lives in Sonoma, I’m sure she doesn’t just want to be our neighbor, she may even want this dream home for herself!
Ingrid, I was caught up in the excitement of the inauguration, but I PROMISE that if I do win, the doggie dream home will go to BoBo — the Obama girls will probably have their own doghouse, by then, anyway.
Wouldn’t it be great if the winner threw a DH09 Bloggers Party and invited all the bloggers to come and party, so we could put faces to the names? I’m still not convinced that DBCoop isn’t associated with HGTV!
Thank you Brenda! If BoBo somehow is gifted
this amazing doggie-DH, he has decided to
auction it off to the highest bidder, and donate ALL the $$$ to Pets Lifeline(the local animal shelter where we adopted our
beloved friend.) Ingrid from Sonoma
~~ ( LOVE IT ) ( LOVE IT ) ( LOVE IT ) ~~
)
** YOU GET (“5 BARKS” FROM MY DOG) **…HA! HA!
EXCELLENT IDEA & GENIUS DESIGN! JUST GORGEOUS…WELL, I KNOW MY “DOG CHILD” WOULD FEEL LIKE A “KING”, & NOT JUST FOR A DAY! ! !
I RESCUED HIM FROM A HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE ABANDONED HIM & LEFT HIM CHAINED UP WITH NO FOOD OR WATER FOR DAYS…(HE HAD EVERYTHING WRONG WITH HIM YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE) !!! BUT HE IS BETTER NOW, (MY B.F.), & LOVED VERY MUCH! “HE’S THE CHILD I COULDN’T HAVE”. SO, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WIN THIS FOR HIM! A GIFT FOR ALL THAT HE’S BROUGHT TO MY LIFE, & ALL THE LOVE HE CONTINUES TO SHOW ME FOR GIVING HIM A BETTER LIFE. IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A “DREAM COME TRUE”.. (FOR HIM & I) …
Change of subject: Linda’s Landscaping~
One of the reasons I am interested in entering to win the 2009 Dream House is the incredible planning that has gone into this outstandng project! I was particularly impressed with Linda’s landscape planning for DH/2009. I’m a Master Gardener here in freezing cold New England. It really helps to plan a landscape design according to the micro-climate, pests, and native wildlife. The big fat Canadian robins are here to avoid the freezing winters, and they are freezing here in zero temps, too. But I found them eating my cotoneaster berries today, so landscape planning can also be beneficial to wildlife! Linda says Sonoma has gophers,and raised beds help at certain heights. Brilliant! My husband loves to cook and would be in heaven moving to Sonoma and picking fresh herbs ~ we have bunnies and deer that love to nibble our plants and kitchen garden herbs. As I look at the frozen landscape here, I am even more hopeful we are lucky enough to win this handscome prize!
Thank you God for building this house for us. It is going to be such a wonderful place to raise my children. Thank you HGTV for having such a big hearts to build this house and give it to the Jenkins family. You all are such a blessing!!!
All I can do is hope that my doggie Scoobie and I win this Dream home giveaway like everybody else. I know Scoobie would love inviting her friend over. Yes, Scoobie has more friends than her mommy. (Animal and Human):’)