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
It is a shame when all I do is watch HGTV all day and daydream!!!! Big smiles:>)
Ellen gave the Obama girls a dog house that looks like the White House on her show when Obama was on the show. So, they do have a dog house!
please comment on whether folks can enter online AND via mail…thanks!
Truly Adorable!!My Gizmo(toy poodle) Would LOVE it!!!
I have 4 dogs, 3 large and 1 small, I think they all would be fighting over this great house. They would make it there home away from home. You guys did a great job. I want the plans for this too.Thanks
I would love to get out of cold New England. My daughter lives in San Diego and the visits would be much easier for myself and my 3 Chocolate Labs. We would love it out there in Sonoma. It seems like such a friendly place. I loved the raised gardens and the grapevines outside and to have a garage would be wonderful. The house is just so warm and inviting. Since my labs are so big I would love to donate the doggie dream home to raise money for the local shelters.
Nancy
Great Idea for the Doggie House. When Henry Ford (The Auto Baron) Had his Mansion Build in Michigan, the architects made a scaled down replica for his wife so she could see what the house would look like as well as where she wanted the furniture placed.
I do not have a dog a the moment, I have rescued cat that thinks he’s a dog. I wonder if he would use it?
I plan on transforming the doggie house into a doll house. For visiting children or grandchildren. And in the event I would have to sell the main house, Atleast I would have that as reminder.
Victoria, what an awesome review of the house in person, thank you for sharing that! I was wondering if that green in the master bedroom was as loud as it looks on the computer. I LOVE green, but that looked really bright. So thank you!! I felt like I was touring right along with you (and I too, would pull open draws, doors and peek wherever I could!).
AND you totally answered my question about the “chicken wire” fence. I had no clue why they did that, and now I do!
Coop: The taxes on the dog house will be $562,345.22.
I loved looking through all the great individual photos of the house this am. Today I am fixated on the master bath, what a great room and I do believe one of the greatest of life’ s luxuries is a wonderful bath tub , thanks Victoria for your review of the DH tour , you described it just how I think of it { everyday}! and have mentally moved in , now my kids are even checking up on me to see if I’ve enterd everyday, its a great time imaganing life in that home and beautiful community
Thank you so much, Victoria, for the insightful commentary from your in-person tour of the Dream Home. As you say, I’m sure the camera crew does a really great job putting everything this house has to offer onto our computer screens for off-site viewing, but it just can’t match a personal walk-through to admire the beauty and charm of this gorgeous home.
I’ve just finished picking out my Dream Home housewarming gifts and voting on them. Some of the choices were easy, others were more of a coin toss, but it was fun to check out all of the great “stuff” the winner will be receiving, once all the votes are in and tallied. I’ve put Sunday, March 15 at 8/7c on my calendar for the Dream Home Winner’s TV presentation.
Now, I’ve GOT to work on my schedule. I can’t possibly miss the chance to tour the Dream Home in person, AND benefit the Ledson Harmony Foundation for Children.
4dewdrops: $562,345.22 in taxes will definitely put me in the dog house. Guess I’ll have to sell the people Dream Home to pay for the Doggie Dream Home taxes. At least it would be a nice souvenir, and I could get another dog to put it to good use. Would ‘Armstrong’ be too formal a name for a doggie?
Victoria, Thank you for your personal review on the dream home, especially the confirmation of the restroom on the first floor.
My puppy probably wouldn’t fit in the doggy dream house, but her people would definitely fit in the people dream house…I’m prayin’ everyday when I cast my entry that my hub and I will have some sunshine in our life and win this fabulous prize…lord knows we need something positive after two years of negative happenings! And with that outdoor grilling area to keep hub busy, I can probably sneak some more furry friends hime that WILL fit in the doggy dream house!
Hefty taxes if you ask me, who can really afford to win this home. At least Oprah pays for all the taxes when she has giveaways, cars and such. Very beautiful home for some millionaire out there, but not a recently unemployed person as myself, maybe I could win the lottery tonight to pay the taxes!
Barack Obama Dreamed BIG and won the ultimate Dream Home; I too shall Dream BIG and hopefully will win my “White House” and if we do,”son you will get that puppy that you have earned”. I pray that GOD will use HIS “Strong Arm” and put me my family in the Armstrong estate.
Susan, Your post made me laugh to hard. You have one smart pooch. According to Marie Miller’s long list of the rules, the Doggie Dream House value is listed at $3,000 bucks, so you and Coop do the math. 4dewdrops, don’t know where you came up with that figure unless it was a joke. Never forget I love you and pray for you and your babes. Thanks, Coop for reminding me of the movie Tucker, The Man and His Dream. I will have to watch it again. Major thanks to Victoria, your post was wonderful….roses 9 months of the year…heaven! INGRID: You know BoBo would be welcome anywhere in my home, the big one or the small one. Please tell us, if this is supposed to be the rainy “winter” season in Sonoma, what is the weather doing right now. Gotta get my mind off the temp of zero degrees and warm up to the dreams of the wine country. Can’t forget to thank HGTV.
Why is it the minute you post you see a mistake. ” made me laugh so hard”
Hi Kat! Yeah, definitely joking about the “doghouse taxes”, Coop made me laugh so hard about that one, my response was totally tongue-in-cheek. It makes me laugh how many people post about taxes and Coop’s wit is always top notch (or the cat’s meow?).
Thank you, Victoria, for the beautiful narrative of the in-person tour. I was there last week and saw the outside only, will return to Sonoma ASAP for a live tour as well. Thank you for acknowledging all the lovely features that we already love on the screen – ie: kitchen, study, MBR (and closet) laundry area, and the unbelieveable wine inventory. I had also posted back to someone in an earlier blog, whom thought that the homes in the area were “shanty” or “low-income” . I told them about the $600K median home price in Sonoma. Some of our bloggers simply have NO IDEA how wonderful this area is. Those of us in CA know how AWESOME this location is. You are so correct, the 360 tours and photos aren’t as glorious as the home in person (at least the outside and backyard which I viewed).
lovelykitty – We know your tour is tomorrow….please post your feedback ASAP!!
AH DBCoop – what a great post, as usual. I like the dog’s name idea (Armstrong). I think that is so endearing.
Keep dreaming, ALL!
Thanks to all of you for your feedback on my post. This is my first blog – a virgin blogger! My husband, who is in the army, surprised me by coming home late Thursday night and felt “left out” not to have been on the DH tour. So we are touring it together tomorrow (Saturday). We’re going up to Sonoma on his motorcycle so it should be really fun. When we win it I know I will feel not only deep gratitude but also a sense of stewardship for this Northern California labor of love. Since we have no children we plan on willing it to the Ledson Foundation for Children so it can be re-sold and benefit the amazing community. DBCoop: I copied your lovely affirmations – “I’m looking to enrich my life with new adventures”, etc. and have been using them. What a beautiful person your are. Thank you so much – to all of you.
Thank you Victoria for the wonderful description of the Dream Home – I really felt like I was right there with you!
Hi Katydid; the weather lately has been warm
(70′s-80),sunny and clear during the day, and
cool(some frost) at night. I just read in today’s paper that NORMAL January temps are
around 57….we are in the midst of a drought,and we locals could be facing water
rationing this summer. I was just deep watering my backyard plants to give them some much needed water. It’s sort of scary
that this global warming affects the country in so many different ways. Ingrid from Sonoma
If I win the doggy dream home, it would become the kitty dream home for all the lovable cats and kittens that have adopted us.
My pomeranian will be inside but to make that little house usefull I will adopt a dog in a shelter so that I could make a different
Our Mini Schnauzer, Duke, deserves this little house. PLEASE don’t make me get that crafty!
My mom is crazy with the master suite her favorite color is green and as soon she saw it she told me look the house is for me it has the bedroom have my color she is dreaming about winning the house because we live in trailer here in miami and with hurican wilma is not in good shape the floors needs to be done the kitchen the bathroom I mean everything needs to be done and is too much money that we dont have we live up to date and she can do much she has arthritis in her entire body and she is in real pain (she doents have health ins)but the only thing she can do is dream about it I hope she win this house so that at least one of her dream can become true I just want to see her happy.
Don't dance too long, Katydid—showers are already forecast now in Sonoma for next weekend. How'd you do that so quickly?
Ingrid & BoBo: Thanks for answering my question about the weather. That balmy 70 -80 degrees sounds like heaven to me, but not the water shortage. Hope someone is managing to water the Dream Home gardens and raised beds. Since I can’t dance in the snow (too cold) I’ll do my rain dance inside and hope it works for you. Please let us all know when that happens and I pray it’s soon.
My daughter aya always wanted a house and a
dog house!
How cute is this house. My dog would love it….And the 2009 Dream Home comes with it.
Truly a doggie’s dream!
My two doxies would just looooove this place!
Does it come with air conditioning for my 140lb NewFoundland?
I love reading all the posts almost as much as I love dreaming about winning the dream house! My suggestion if you don’t have a dog, daughter, granddaughter or cats to enjoy the doggie dream home would be to auction it off for a pet charity, but someone else beat me to it!
good luck everyone
I have read many of the comments on the Dream House and decided to add one of my own. My first blog! I just read about the tours this morning and will be calling to get tickets! Victoria, thank you for your play-by on your tour. If I had any doubts about making the trip to Sonoma you took care of them. I too have “mentally” moved in and my kids make sure I enter every day. First thing I do every morning is enter, then I put the coffee on. It would truly be a DREAM come true to win such an incredible home. I am DREAMING BIG!!
On the last day of HGTV’s Dream House event in New York, the stars aligned and a miracle occured. As all the visitors had the wonderful opportunity to meet the HGTV designers, dream of actually owning a gorgeous new home in Sonoma, worry about the taxes, wonder how much the annual rainfall is in the winter season, and have fun deciding who could inhabit the Doggie Dream Home, over 150 lives were saved from almost certain disaster on the Hudson River. I’m hoping the bloggers have paused, as our family has, and thanked God for aligning all the right people in all the right places and calm weather conditions to allow the “Miracle on the Hudson” to occur. Bloggers can see the plane pulled from the ice last night, and understand how lucky the plane didn’t have ice flowing down the Hudson when the hero of the day attempted his amazing gliding ditch. New York, and especially the nation, needed a happy ending to a possible disaster. I’d just like to pause and say thank you to God for this incredible gift of survival.
Victoria: I loved your comments regarding your tour of the DH2009. Thank you for the guided tour through-out the rooms & for all the positive words you use to described them! Your attention to every detail to the “dream” is evident in your written version & dramatic composure! I feel all the mental images and emotions that you have evoked in me & I daydream in the fantasy of living in this home!
Now that is passion for design! You love what you do and it shows. It’s all in the details. Don’t forget to add a hard copy to your portfolio!
How clever! What an imagination!
Our Westies, Scout and Ranger and Tink the cat are tired of this bitter NJ cold and longing to move West….Sonoma and the Doggie Dream Home are just the ticket.
Looks like there’s room for the rest of the family in the spectacular HGTV Dream Home too!
We’re all ready to sell home and business for a new life in Calif.
And, point us to the nearest animal shelter – the Doggie Dream Home can surely hold one or two more!
What’s in the inside?
I hope this house will put lots of happiness in my family. My daughter hase been praying and intering for me for days now. o brenda remeber there are billons of people intering. But it was so genres to donate the house to THE OBAMA GIRLS
I like the idea of the doggie house same like a model of the house, but I think the dog house need a little detail like a foot steps in the shape of paw in front of the doggie house.
THE DOGGIE HOUSE IS SO CUTE IF I WIN MY DOG GIZMO WOULD LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about a cat house?
I love that little dog home! Perfect reason to get a dog.
Miss Holly Baker Brooks loves your doggie dreamhouse……
If my husband and I win this home, we would definitely keep it and move to Sonoma. We were there on our honeymoon, so it would be a dream come true. But the luckiest winner would be our dog. He’s a hurricane Katrina rescue, so this really would be a rags to riches story for him
and he really deserves it
my 3 dogs will be ready to move in soon.!!!
my daughter has wanted a puppy for a longggg time but we cant have one because we live in an appartment so if i win im going to get her one =]
Hello all!
I love this doggy house and have spet so much time reading up on those comments. I too dream about our perfect time in the Dream Home. Although I’ve only visited CA several times, looking up information about Sonoma and the surrounding cities has been a wonderful time! We currenly live in a cramped apartment saving money for our wedding and perfect home! This cute dog house is something Buddy the Beagle (our pup) would love. He loooooves looking out the window and due to the cold weather all he can go outside for are walks and potty time until the summer but this doggy house would represent freedom and time to throw dog parties outside!
I love it and thanks for the great information this blog provides us with, keeping true to dreams becoming something reality! Can’t wait to hear/see who wins! (I secretly hope it’s me!)
Even if I don’t win my dreamhome. I’ll buy everything to make this way cute doggie dreamhome to live in. LoL