Answers, Answers
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Good afternoon, bloggers!
January is just whizzing by, so it won’t be long now until a winner is chosen for the HGTV Dream Home 2009. (Did I mention that I get to go behind the scenes and check out the winner selection process? I can’t wait.)
Now, on to the questions:
•Although the wine closet in the study is not currently temperature controlled, it would prove an easy upgrade. Believe me, there are wine-storage specialists galore in Sonoma.
•Adding a female touch to the study would require nothing more than a beautiful bouquet of flowers and lots of shelf space to display girly things.
•Bay-area artist Anthony May is the person responsible for the artwork above the fireplace. The piece is entitled On Being Mortal (Part One).
•The double-mirror look in the master bathroom was created by layering framed mirrors in front of a flat wall-mounted mirror. This is another technique I will be using in my home.
Whew, just when I think all the questions have been answered, you come up with more! I love it. Don’t forget to check out HGTV Green Home Central for updates on the ’09 home currently under construction. And don’t forget to enter DAILY for your chance to win the HGTV Dream Home 2009 … you could end up livin’ in sunny Sonoma!
Your Super Fan,
Gail
Thanks Erin. I've never heard of that brand but I'll check it out. Sure doesn't look like any washers and dryers I've seen, maybe that's because I haven't shopped at the high-end store yet. Ledson really knows how to add class to a home! Great finishing touches!!!
Thank you for all the updates and behind the scene action hopefully whoever wins the contest blogs about their move in and excitement!
I hope it’s us!
Did US prevail then?
Wow!! I have no complaints and can humbly say…if you win a house there shouldn’t be any! I’m from the midwest and have visited Sonoma once and loved it! I have three daughters under five and can see our family living in Sonoma. My mother-in-law lives about 1.5 hours from Sonoma and I could see her finally getting to help care for her 3 beautiful grandchildren that she rarely gets to see! What a wonderful home this is in a small, quaint community. The master bedroom looks very elegant and romatic…look out number 4!!!!! Sounds like a wonderful place to raise a family to me! Good luck to all and God Bless!!!!
I absolutely love this house. It is my dream home. Everything, all of it. The area, the Victorian style home, and the windows, all of the windows. Each room has natural light. I am excited that a study is included!
Simone
I know you’ve probably had about enough of our relentless questioning, but I am curious how they will actually choose a winner. Will they log all the mail-in entries into a computer and let it draw at random? I am just dying to know how they deal with so many entries, both online and by snail-mail.
Thanks Gail!
Hello fellow dreamers,
This is my first time writing on the blog, though I have been reading it daily. My sister and I had the pleasure of touring the HGTV DH this weekend, and so as I toured the house I tried to ask, and look for answers to some of the question that have been posted here.
Before entering the house you are required to remove your shoes, put on hospital booties and a pair of white slippers. The house is lovely, though smaller than I expected. The two lighting fixture in the foyer have been removed for some design reason and have not been replaced. Most of the rooms were either partially roped off, or as in the case of the dining and living room completely roped off so we could only view from the foyer. All the rooms are beautiful, warm and inviting. In the living room there is a flat screen TV in the library case, so I asked about cable and Internet connection. Our guide thought the house was already wired for these, but could not give a definitive answer. There is also an alarm system and fire sprinklers that are built into the ceilings. The fire was burning in the family room, as it was a cold and cloudy day and though we were not allowed to walk among the furniture in the family room, we were allowed to roam the kitchen freely and open the cabinets, pantries and refrigerators. Down the hall from the family room is the illusive first floor powder room. Yes folks, it does exist. I believe it is painted the same color as the study. There is very pretty petit sink and a beautiful mirror that looks like it is framed with small tiles. Both the lighting in the powder, and the laundry room are motioned sensor. Our guide was kind enough to open the door to the storage area located off the study that is under the stairs. It contained 3 very large storage containers and still had room for more. The color in the master bedroom is not a lime green, but a soft muted forest green, which is pretty. There is also a very large flat screen TV in the cabinet in front of the bed. Our guide told us it was larger than the TV in the family room, and like the family room TV it too has a Blue Ray player. The shower in the master bath has 3 showerheads and 4 jet sprays. The tub is a Victoria Albert and there is also a bidet in with the toilet. I know Gail mentioned the mirrors, and the framed mirrors are hung from the ceiling with small chains. The bathroom in the guest room is quite spacious and it has a nice size walk in closet. We couldn’t see the bathroom in the kids’ room, as we were not allowed to walk in the room that far. It does have a very nice size walk in closet with shelves and drawers. The back yard is not closed off from the street. You would need to put some kind of gate on the arbor, and the area by the garage and vineyard would need to be closed off. As it is now, any pets or kids could leave the yard easily. I saw no lawn mower, so I guess you would need to bring your own or hire a gardener. There were people in our group who brought up the tax issues with the house, and our guide seem to have been well informed as he started rattling off numbers. A young woman in our group seemed shock by the information. She looked dumbfounded as she said, “if I won I was planning on quitting my job”. On our drive back to Santa Rosa, where my sister and I live, we stopped at the Ledson winery for lunch. As we were talking to one of their concierge about visiting the house, she told us that the property taxes on the DH had already been paid for the first 5 years. I have no way of knowing if this is really true, but if it is, it would make it a little easier for some if they were to win the house. Good luck to all. I would love to win myself, but if not, I feel blessed that I do live in one of prettiest areas of California.
Hi Mary, There is a winner selection process? That sounds like the most important thing to talk about. It isn’t random…? Do stories help? When you put in your birth date do they run credit checks, see if you can afford it? Please tell us more about that. If thats the case I should be entering under my husbands name, he’s the bread winner. Thank you for your responses
Love the house just entered to win and it would be a blessing if i won something with 4 kids nothing ever happens good to me.Again love the house.
Did someone mention the selection process? Seems like that’s been a big topic on the blog for years. Can’t wait to see how they pick the winner. I’d love to come over to Sonoma when they hand the winner the keys and congratulate them.
Cheers!!!
BTW Marie, I’m hooked on that Guatemala Casi Cielo too…so yummy!
I love the house and all the insightful information. Is there a basement in this house and could the study be converted into a bedroom if needed? Good Luck to ALL!
Oh..Can anyone provide information regarding the quality of the schools in Sonoma. Thanks!
I can not find the bathroom/powder room on the first floor. There must be one for guests??
Selection Process? I really thought HGTV used a “random drawing” to pick the winner. Wow, well I guess we will soon find out what goes on.
I hope Gail is using the words “selection process” loosely, and she’s really describing the drawing. Please clarify, Gail. It will be fun to hear about your experience during the process. Also, thanks, Erin, for the great description of the tour. You answered so many of the bloggers’ questions, and I felt like I was there.
Dream big, everyone!
The house this year is my favorite!!! I spent a lot of time working for a California company, commuting from D.C. before my husband & I had our two beautiful kids. Now that our nest will soon be empty, it is our dream to relocate out west. We would not sell it like most of the other winners & would be thrilled if we won!
Hi Erin,
Thanks for your wonderful description. It was as though I was there with you. Did you happen to notice what brand appliances are in the laundry room? If not, no sweat. You’ve already given me far more than expected.
Whoever receives this home will surely be blessed.
Hi Lessie,
They are Asko. I believe the guide said they are a high end Swedish brand. I wish I had tired to open one, as from the front they both look like a dishwasher.
Edith, I’ve done some 411 on the schools.
This website can answer a few of the questions you may have:
http://school-ratings.com/counties/Sonoma.html
Look under the Sonoma Valley Unified District.
Good Luck To ALL!
Thanks Erin, for your tour experience. I never heard of the tub type before. Not that I’d have any place to fit it in my non-dream home…
Three important rules to real estate, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. This location is terrible. What idiot picked this CHEEP lot for an expensive home! Look at your neighbors across the street. What a view! I’m sure they will help hold up the property values. Next time you people build a home spend more MONEY on a quality lot!
The house is a really great house in a really great area – the wine-country of the San Francisco area. However, being from the San Francisco East Bay, I know for fact that the GMC Acadia that the sweepstakes is also offering will soon not meet the standards regarding gas mileage that California wants to put in place, and will also put a heavy toll on a person’s wallet in terms of gas. The GMC Acadia gets 17 mpg in the city, and 27 on the highway. Furthermore, gas is running at $2.16 per gallon in the East Bay for medium-grade, and that is a reduction from the near $5 per gallon we had this past Summer. So it would be better to exchange the GMC Acadia for a car that gets gas mileage closer to a Toyota Prius, which gets 45 mpg in the city and 60 mpg on the highway.
Hi,
I just wanted to mention how beautiful the furniture and accessories are. Are they from Ethan Allen?
As I see it, selection process does not exclude a random drawing. :Let’s wait and see…
Erin, Thanks for all your descriptions, but especially confirming there is a flat screen TV in the Master Bedroom. I’m so glad you liked the green, ’cause I dream of waking up in that beautiful room and enjoying the Master Bath and the closet and Coop and Marie joining me for coffee and sweet buns in the sitting area. Ooops, now I’m really dreaming. Would a proper lady do that? Well, who says I’m proper.
Only off the blog for a few days, and it is so hard to catch up.
Now here’s a silly question….what direction does the front door face? I’ve had my HGTV FUN today. Have you?
Love reading all the info in the blog. Still curious about the entry from the garage into the kitchen. Is there a coat closet nearby or place to stash back packs, shoes, keys,etc? Is one of the two glass looking doors off the kitchen a coat closet and then a pantry?
Gail, Thank you so much for devoting your time to giving your readers glimpses of this marvelous home! My fiance and I have been sighing over how beautiful it is for weeks. We have twin baby boys who just turned 1 year old, so it's outrageously busy around here, but I'm entering the sweepstakes as often as I can! I keep having a dream that Alex and I get married in that perfect little vineyard, with the little twinsies in their tuxedos…ah! Too cute. Thanks for the fantasies, off to catch a few hours' sleep! Best Wishes, Amelia Rose, Santa Barbara
Hello people of earth, I have a few questions.
Has there been a special on the dream home yet, and if so, where could I find the show?
Have the winners been decided yet?
Hi all: About the selection for the winner for the DH2009: It it my understanding that after all the names are submitted (to the cut off date), they are all entered together and an electronical rotation begins…kinda like..”round and round and where shes stops no body noses”!! Someone gets the previlege to push the button that stops the spinning & who ever shows up at that time is the winner!! I believe it is as simple as that!
BeckyFromNapa: It would be nice to share a cup of Guatemala Casi Cielo some day in Sonoma…if I win, you are invited for a mid-morning treat of GCC coffee & delicious spring asparagus quiche!!
Darn, I did it again!! You are all going to be laughing about this typo…should have been: “Round & round she goes, where she stops no body knows!!” What is the matter with me lately? Talk about an off day!!
Beautiful house. Good luck everyone!
Gail,
Thank you for answering my question about the piece above the fireplace, I appreciate your support throughout this exciting experience, as well as several others, whom contribute on a frequent basis. Furthermore, it was an excellent choice by Jack & Linda to include in such a distinguishable area.
To locate Mr. May’s website for anyone else interested:
http://anthonymay.com/home.html
My next question…What about the artwork hanging in the dining room? I commend the designers for going with more contemporary pieces in general, but the dining room pieces are very swanky as you enter the kitchen.
Sorry, I ment how will the winners be decided?
Have you ever noticed that each year the winner is either an older couple or a young couple. It switches each year. i wonder what that is about??
I was wondering what is the little door in the study??
Wow! Thanks everyone for sharing your questions, comments and dreams. Looking at the videos of the DH I wondered many of the same things many of you have. Here’s a couple more questions: In the laundry room is there any place to hang clothes to dry? Noticing that the desk is situated in the middle of the study, I wondered where outlets are located, since even laptops have to plugged in sometimes. The desk is lovely, but seemed a bit impractical. Is there room for a printer, etc? There are quite a few pieces of equipment that seem required in many home offices these days. Also wondered if the master tub has jets. Are there showers and tubs in the other 2 full bathrooms? Happy happy dreaming.
I woiuldn’t change one thing in the 09DH except maybe the kids room. Our grandchildren are teenagers now except Maddie (10) and she doesn’t realize that. My husband and I would love to relocate to Sonoma for the seven years until our Marine Corps son gets his 20 years in. Then it would be passed to them. Daenport Wash.
Hey, Fellow bloggers and other California Dreamers and especially to my new favorite, the gracious and charming Marie Miller.
I’m back from a wonderful weekend trip and I’d like to say “Happy Monday to you all”! Today brings us another day closer to some lucky winner (hopefully me) winning the 09DH! It’s also another wonderful day in which I can read all your charming blogs and catch up from the weekend… or at least I tried. (I couldn’t believe 183 comments under Gail’s last post about the Powder Room.) I gave up trying to catch up!
Gail, I cannot believe that you actually took the time to answer all those questions – you must have stayed up all night reading through all our blogs and researching the answers. Thanks from all of us! Good thing, too, because our resident writer/blogger DB Coop (who will never be able to convince me that he isn’t an HGTV plant) was giving you serious competition in answering our questions. How lucky you are to be able to go behind the scenes and see how the winner is chosen – will you be sharing those “secrets”? I hope that you will be doing more videos, as it gives such a “personal touch”.
Erin, wow what a lot of information you shared. Fortunately, for most of us, one of the other bloggers (I think it was 4dewdrops) was kind enough to give us the same information, earlier.
Okay, what is all the chatter about Guatemala Casi Cielo? May I assume you’re talking about one of the Starbucks speciality?
Alicia, I LOVED your menu; however, I must suggest a change. Girl, you need to mix your greens – not just collards, alone. Try mixing the collards with mustard and turnips, the mix produces a better flavor.
Can someone help me out? I’m basically a tea totter and my knowledge of wine is extremely limited. The type of wines I’m used to drinking (and enjoy) are the whites, but I’m willing to try a red if I can find a sweet, fruity light one. Are there any recommendations from one of you Sommeliers, out there?
By the way, DBCoop, I beat Gail to the HGTV Legal Beagles again, and they allowed me the liberty of establishing one more rule for this contest – the winner MUST have a sense of humor! Does that leave anyone out? It appears from my readings, that most of you can comfortably assume you’re still in the running for the 09DH. Good night , happy dreaming and good luck to us all!
Erin:
Thanks for taking the time to remember most of peoples questions about the house and reporting back to us. I hope that the rumor about the property taxes paid for 5 years is true. That would be just awesome. I would probally preferred them to send a big fat check to the irs instead. But, I am not going to complain.
I am glad Gail answered some more questions. I can’t wait to find out who the winners is and what all they receive. Take care bloggers. Happy dreaming.
What fun catching up on all the posts. Such a busy day today, and am just now settling down to get some REAL work done.
First, I’d like to inform GAIL that I am very well known for my ability to keep secrets, and therefore I would be the perfect guest to invite along to the “behind the scenes” Dream Home winner selection process. I’d even be willing to hold the alphabetized entrant-name computer printout, and, naturally, pick out the winner completely at random, assuming that by so doing, I myself would not be disqualified from winning.
Great detailed post for us, Erin. Always appreciated. I like that the bathtub in the Master is a Victoria Albert—politically correct as it is gender neutral.
Katydid, joining you for coffee and sweet buns with Marie in the sitting area would be most proper, dressed in your Dream Home morning attire. As Victor Hugo wrote in ‘Les Miserables’—”She was dressed in a full white morning gown, with a thousand folds and with wide sleeves which, starting from the neck, fell to her feet.” Most appropriate for a Victorian Farmhouse setting.
And Marie, so full of life and enthusiasm, I LOVED your typo “round and round and where she stops nobody noses!” An absolute classic. I assure you that we are laughing WITH you, certainly NOT at you, on that one.
As you see, Lessie, here in Dream Home blogland, you merely have to ASKO and you shall RECEIVE-o (answer compliments of Erin this round).
I agree with your opinions about the artwork, Deryck, and thank you for posting the Anthony May webpage link.
Brenda, how generous of you to suggest so, but I couldn’t begin to hold a candle to our uber-efficient and lovely Super Fan, GAIL. I am constantly amazed at how she manages to be in so many places at the same time, always smiling, ever vivacious, and simply brimming over with answers to all our questions. And speaking of sense of humor, Brenda, I think I’m running low—time for a recharge.
Having said that, can anyone answer R.B’s question about where the powder room is located? (Actually, R.B, it’s a common question. Although somehow elusive, it’s located on the ground floor between the stairway and hall to the Study entry.)
Is it time for another Dream Home entry yet?
This is such an amazing house! We’ve been looking at houses for our first home! Sonoma would be such a wonderful place to live. We’re getting married this year, this house is our ideal dream home. We just hope to win it… hopefully.
Property taxes are minimal compared to the taxes to pay on the winnings. It would be a blessing if they were paid for 5 years, but I figure you would still have to come up with around $900k to take possession of the home. You can mortgage it, but not many can afford the mortgage payments… I believe this is why not many of the winners were able to actually keep the dream homes.
The study is very small. I guess you could convert it to a bedroom, but it would be very crowded.
There are no coat closet or anyplace to hang backpacks, etc. From the garage/back yard the door closest to the kitchen enters directly into the breakfast nook. There are two door from the back porch into the family room. The two doors in the kitchen are pantries (one for dishes, etc.; the other would be for food, appliances, etc.). There isn’t much storage space in the kitchen, so the pantries are needed for kitchen items…
The pictures on the HGTV Web Site make the rooms appear much larger than they actually are, but they are still accurate pictures. The yard is not too large. The home takes up most of it. There is some yard room in the front, and some in the back, but not a lot. There currently is an empty lot next to the home by the garage, but the back neighbors are VERY close.
Erin did an excellent job of explaining everything else.
—Frankie
I love this house and I never thought that I would win a home like this because it is absolutely a dream home! I love the fact that the money from the tours are being used to help children. I will definitely continue to use this house to help children. I would change the living room to another bedroom because I want to be able to fit a lot of children in the home. I only have one miracle child but, my husband and I want to adopt and foster children for the rest of our lives. This home is perfect and we needed a bigger car to transport the children to and from. We will definitely use to house to bless the children and it will be there house. We would work to pay the taxes and insurance. This home is truly a blessing and the patio area is a great place for all the children to gather and have fun. It is excellent. I love the fact the the TV in the family room isn’t in the center of the room (above the fireplace) because the focus shouldn’t be on the TV but, the conversation of the people within the room. So, I love how the chairs face each other with the art in the middle and the TV as a side bonus. The garden is great because I want a garden to help cut down the cost of feeding a lot of children and the open floorplan allows the children to help prepare dinner. The children’s room has two beds which is great and I would change it to bunk beds once I have more children come. We just love children and love how the home is already being used to benefit the children. We just want to continue what the house has been founded on. There are so many children that need help and we are here to help them…not ourselves. We must lay our own selfish desires aside and give to others without expecting anything in return. May God bless the children and you all!
Gail – thanks for the juicy tidbits! We love your new posts! Coop – I can always tell it is you writing before I scroll down. Love the humor – keep up the funny stuff!
Katydid, Marie, Brenda, (lovelykitty, Coop, Ingrid, et al) – now it’s coffee talk? I LOVE coffee too, only second to wine!
Brenda – I am repeating myself from an earlier blog, but I am convinced that people who don’t like wine just haven’t had good wine. Reds are much, much better than whites, and even more fun to pair with food. We’ll smell, taste, and toast at the Sippin’ in Sonoma party! Gail – hope you are coming!
I too was wondering about the taxes and $900K to move in? If most people can’t afford to keep the house, then what’s the point? I think if HGTV wants to really do something nice, pay the taxes for the 5 years and any taxes that would prevent someone from moving in, or stop any further Dream Homes because they will turn into Dashed Dreams.
I’m sorry but I look at the house everyday and dream of living there and reading the blogs and having these ideas of taxes and not being able to afford to keep the house just socked me in the gut.
Hi All! This is a first-time blogger who has really become wrapped up in all of your comments! What a beautiful home…of course I could see my family living there! I have entered everyday since Jan 1st, including each day of the week I spent in Chicago helping out with my new twin grandsons! I have visited Calf many times-my best friend is a San Fran resident and my son is employed out there! I so wish we could win. Of course, the discussion about taxes is alarming….Gail, could you answer that question for us? I look forward to continue reading all of your entries. Good luck to all….may the best family win! Susan from Joplin, MO.
The house is beautiful as always, whom ever wins it will be so very lucky!! Sonoma is a great choice, as the area is so serene and quiet. I lived in N California for a short while and loved it. Good luck to everyone. In these hard times, it would be a great surprise for anyone!! Have a good day all.
SOMEONE ASK ABOUT A BASEMENT, NO I DON’T THINK IT’S ONE IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I WATCH THE PIC WHEN THEY WAS BUILDING IT. IT DIDN’T LOOK LIKE ONE WAS IN THERE.
Hi Everyone! The house is amazing! And it's funny to read the blog and see how everyone already visualizes themselves in the home, just like me!! Can't stop daydreaming about it…. Sonoma is one of the most beautiful places to live. Anyone who won this house, no matter what your personal needs are, would be blessed. Taxes of course are a huge issue, but I say, lets cross that bridge once we get there.
Thanks to the bloggers for answering the questions about the glass doors in the kitchen (pantry & chinaware storage) and the storage area under the stairs. I was really curious about that. It’s also nice to know the closet in the guest room is a good size size.
I love how HGTV spares no expense in making a quality home with high-end finishing personal touches. Even small details like full extension drawers which don’t show off in a picture but are just extremely practical.
About 47 more days until we know who’s the lucky lucky winner!!!!! (Well I guess the actual winner will know sooner) Here’s hoping it’s sooner than later!
Thanks for sharing your tour of the house and Gail thanks for all the answers to the questions. I still would like to know the square footage of the house. Thanks.
This is my first time on any blog. I felt I had to let all of you know that I WILL BE THE WINNER OF THE BEAUTIFUL “VICTORIA” HOME. it was meant to be…after all, I am Victoria, the tub in the master is Victoria, the home is perfect in every way to me, and my husband deserves to finally relax and enjoy the beautiful yard. We will be happy to share a glass of wine on the patio with our new neighbors…..I CAN’T WAIT !!!!Colorado Native looking for a warmer climate!
Guten Morgen everyone!! WOW! So many lucky folks that have actually been able to tour the dream home! I’m envious! Does anyone have pics that they could post a link to? I would love to see “candid” photo’s. As it is a gloomy rainy day in TN today, sunny California pictures would be the perfect remedy to the rainy day blues!