Jul
16
Super Fan Gets the Scoop From Jack
What a gal! Our Super Fan squeezes some juicy details about HGTV Dream Home 2010 out of our house planner Jack Thomasson. She also talks about Santa Fe and fun activities to enjoy there. Watch our two new videos for details.
Marie Miller, I don't find your little history "boring" in the least. Quite the opposite, but at least we've kept them brief, since others might!
Vive la France–et Les Etats-Unis!
wouldn't it be nice if you could design a home that is "aging in place" – for the boomers who don't want stairs and wasted space. we recently finished a master bath addition with all that in place as we plan on staying in our home until they carry us out to the crematorium.
Marie Miller, pies baked by French nuns—I like the idea. Although your father was probably not delivering any Boston Cream Pies, he very well may have been delivering my very favorite French dessert, Tarte aux Pruneau. Unusual, but delicious!
I support Pies for Pilgrims!
LOL, Karyn—I understand your concern about the Dream Home landscaping and critter issues, and most folks would agree, but after all, snakes need love too!
Like the King snake, which preys on other snakes, including venomous snakes such as rattlers. The King snake, which is normally not aggressive towards humans, can grow to several feet in length or more, and is immune to the perils of snake venoms.
However, as most folks would say, thanks for the info, but no thanks anyway! Since coming nearly face to face with a large King snake in my yard years ago, it's still unsettling, even knowing they are "the good guys."
Snake-free zones welcome here at all times!
Happy Turquoise Trails!
Snake-free zone – Yeah!
Did anyone happen to see the huge gator taken from the storm sewer in North Carolina (I think)? Can you imagine coming face to face with a huge gator at night or during the day?
I wonder if MARY is busy with upcoming, to-be-announced at any moment, new Super Fan-in-training issues? After all, Gail was such a great help in dealing with all of the bloggers constantly seeking more info, asking questions, and in general creating a never-ending demand for ALL the Dream Home and Green Home news that was fit to print and given a thumbs up for release by the reigning powers and legal eagles at HGTV to the maddening crowds of online rabble-rousers. (I use that term in the most gentle of fashion, and include myself as well!)
Coop, your comment about the training of a new Super Fan makes me wonder why HGTV advertised for a new one. Gail is trained and knows the staff. She's also loved by bloggers. Why would HGTV want a new Super Fan?
I'm tired. Goodnight all.
I agree that Gail has been an uber-Super Fan, but I think HGTV likes to bring in and showcase new talent. That's commendable, because it allows more folks with the necessary skills their day in the spotlight, something that might otherwise never be possible. It provides new opportunities to "regular" people to become known, loved and esteemed for who they are and what they can bring to the HGTV design table. For those who work hard and produce results, I think it's a grand way to break through to stardom—it's the American dream, and if it happens to be yours, HGTV is willing to provide just the vehicle that can take you there!
Happy Turquoise Trails to the Super Fan in each and every one of us!
As usual, you're right about HGTV giving ordinary people opportunities to become known and loved for their gifts and talents. But I look at my HGTV and diynetwork favorites. They're there year in and year out. That's what draws me to HGTV and diynetwork. I like stability but I also like new people and programs.
I realize this is my personal bias, but I don't want to continuously build an online relationship with a different Super Fan every year, UNLESS that person is a regular blogger who I already know. Just personal preferences that's all.
BoBo and I give you all a BIG hello from Sonoma !!! We haven't been on this blog in a long,long time…but it's nice to see all the familiar names!
Steve Ledson has purchased the Sonoma DH09 from the Smiths for $2.2 million…he might re-sell the DH, or have a raffle. The house sits empty and somewhat saddened without an owner. BoBo and I still walk by everyday, and fondly remember all the HGTV activity! Life is Good!
Ingrid from Sonoma
PS…Good luck to Gail in all her new adventures. Whatever you do, I know you'll be enthusiastic and successful ! BoBo gives you a big "Super-dog"
kiss.
Stories of 'gators in storm sewers and drains "pop up" now and then, even in some very unusual places.
My question is, why are people down there looking into the storm sewers to begin with? Don't they know they're asking for trouble!
Coop you are so funny im glad you agree with me about the snakes,i know they are here for a purpose but i dont want mine and theirs to come together any time soon!. Big trees and large patio here here…
Hey there Lessie: I've heard of the Alligator that ate New York? However, the majority of New York sightings indicate that many alligators are only small in size. It is possible that they are caimans, a South American member of the crocodile family which were once heavily imported for the pet trade and do not possess much of a tolerance for low temperatures. I did read that an eight footer had been discovered, and the TV series 'Monster Quest' investigated this and discovered that the sewers may possibly be an ideal habitat for Alligators, as various heat source keep it warm enough and there are plenty of food sources and materials which could be made into a nest. Though they failed to locate a gator, they did discover a salamander, which was equally as unlikely to be found there. HELP! I'm happy there is no reason, other than for work purposes, for an every day person to be trapcing around in sewers!!
Marie Miller, you're funny! I love the information you share. Can't believe 'Monster Quest" found a salamander in the sewer. Gee!!! No telling what's wandering around the sewer…hopefully it won't be me!
IINGRID FROM SONOMA – How is BoBo? Welcome, welcome! It was so nice to see you post this morning? I was wondering where you were and mentioned it a while back!
Thanks for the info and I am glad to hear you and, of course, our SuperDog, are doing well!
Living the Dream!
So, I think today is the day where we may get some floor plans from HGTVPro! It is July 21st!!!!! I will be out on appointments today but can't wait to get back and read this blog because I am confident that all of you wonderful bloggers will get the scoop!
In the meantime, here is some info you may have read but thought I would pass it along (sorry in advance for the long posts):
Amy Coburn is a highly accomplished design professional with 24 years of broad-spectrum experience creating and implementing design solutions for residential and mixed-use projects. Amy’s experience with some of the country’s most distinguished development and architectural practices provides an excellent foundation for her own consulting work, which ranges from large-scale developments to specialty projects, including the HGTV Dream Home 2010.
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Living the Dream!
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Amy K. Coburn Planning & Design provides a wide range of design and planning services. Before designing this year’s HGTV Dream Home, Amy served as the Vice President of Planning and Design for Forest City Enterprises in Albuquerque, N.M., where she developed a new district, Mesa del Sol, for Albuquerque. Prior to Forest City, she served as Vice President of Production Development for Pulte Homes in Las Vegas, Nev., and earlier as Associate Vice President for Catellus Development Corporation in San Francisco, Calif., where she developed a 500-acre community coined Mission Bay.
Over her career, Amy has served in the role of designer or architect for several distinguished firms, including SOM and Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects in San Francisco and Boston, respectively. She is a licensed Architect in the State of California.
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Living the Dream!
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Amy enjoys sharing her expertise with young designers. She teaches architectural design studio at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning, and in previous years has instructed design courses at both Syracuse University’s School of Architecture and Cornell University’s College of Design and Environmental Analysis. Amy earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University.
Living the Dream!
Lynn, Amy Coburn is more than qualified as designer of the 2010 Dream Home! Can't wait to see what she's created.
Drum roll, please……….
Off to see the floor plans. Thanks Lynn.
WE HAVE FLOOR PLANS! WE HAVE FLOOR PLANS! WE HAVE FLOOR PLANS!
http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/photo_template/articl…
Living the Dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMGosh – The artist rendering is BE-U-TEE-FUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love it!
Thanks HGTV!!!!!!!!!!
Living the Dream!
This house sounds DREAMY as does the view of, not one, but SIX mountain ranges!!! WOW…can't wait…
Welcome Mari Antonieta Cabrera, Glad you're joining us. Can't wait for your input. Hope you become a regular blogger.
Yikes! I have to go now to my appointments but please know that I can't wait to return later and read all of your comments about the floorplans!
Make it a great day!
Living the Dream!
Hi Ingrid from Sonoma, good to hear from you again. I hope you continue blogging even though you can't give us updates about the new Dream Home.
Hopefully Deryck will return to our blogging community. It's nice to hear from the 2009 Dream Home bloggers!
Tricky tricky…I don't think we are looking at the front with the dream cam. It doesn't match up with the floor plans! ! I think we are loooking at the master bedroom and bedrooms 2 and 3. You guys probably already figured it out, but it was a cool realization!
Jackie
Jackie, I never noticed. I only look at the cam for the beautiful views. If what you say is true, what an amazing view from the bedrooms! Will check it out.
AMY COBURN,
These plans are SCRUMDILLYUMPTOUS!!! Had to temporarily break away from them, just to let you know you have my stamp of approval. Now must finish looking at them.
BTW: I've never seen a walk-through pantry connecting the kitchen and dining room. Oh yeah, I think I'm in love!!!
Lynn Coggin, You DO NOT get an A+ for this. Girl, you are in the gifted and talented program which gives you extra credit. On a 4 point scale, you've just earned a 6!
LESSIE – A '6'….I'm Woo-Hooing all over the place! Thank you, thank you!
Living the Dream!
Sunrise Room! Ahh SNAP! Oh yeah, I know I'm in love.
Amy Coburn, you're one BAD SISTER!!!
Gotta take these floor plans and let them marinate in my mind for a couple of days. This was definitely worth the wait!
I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy!!!
Coop, hope you have the opportunity to see these floor plans before leaving for Phuket. Can't wait to get your input.
OK Marie Miller, what's your verdict?
Ed In Oregon, GLennNYC, Luba, BBSteve, Katydid, Rene loves and lives Green, Diane, Diana, Lovelykitty, Brenda, Kat, Cindy, and all bloggers, what do you think?
MARY, MARY, MARY,
No more complaints from me! I'm satisfied.
Ed in Oregon, Look at the kitchen and Great Room, the master suite and the sunrise room. Do you think they will have glass walls?
If so, that's waaaayyyyy better than chocolate. I'd give up chocolate for that view!
Three car garage, does that mean HGTV is giving away three cars with the house this year? The casita looks smaller than I expected. Maybe it's just the perspective next to that large house.
Ed in Oregon, If I were to win that home, I would be satisfied with the one car HGTV gives away with the home. But a golf cart and clubs and a pair of binoculars, well that's another story!
I'll give you an A+ Lynn. I noticed they updated the Dream Cam today too! This is what's called a good day! I didn't notice a living room per se in the plans?
EDINOREGON – Yay! Another A+…you're the best! Heading over to the Dream Cam again…happy you are staying on top of this!
Living the Dream!
Wow, love the plans…they even have a room for recycling!! Happy, happy, Joy, joy (sheilagg1/sagg99)
So good to hear from you, Ingrid from Sonoma, and BoBo too! Sounds as if all is well for you, other than an empty and lonely Dream Home. Certainly not for long, I hope. I hear Marie Miller may be putting together a plan of some sort to buy up all the raffle tickets, if it comes to that!
Keep in touch….
I wonder if they will put a patio on the roof, some homes in AZ. have that feature…from the back patio,you are able to climb up a spiral staircase to the roof to further enjoy the sunsets
Sheila Griffin-Dawson, What a great entertaining feature that would be (roof-top patio). Do you think we would ever get rid of the people who came for a visit? Especially those who offer to sleep on the floor? Now they'll change tactics and offer to sleep on the roof-top patio.
Okay, okay, I'm little behind the curve this morning, what's all the excitement about? My morning's been hectic from the get-go, and now the housekeeper is here early—so, poor thing, I sent her right out to the casita and told her to start there—I've got some very important blogging to do!
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, hgtvpro has floor plans, I'm on my way right now, as we "speak"—thanks Lynn.
Lynn Coggin, since I couldn't actually give you an A+, I did the next best thing—a thumbs up!
Now I've had a FEW minutes to digest all the exciting new info and floorplans, so here are some quick thoughts: YES, a Home Theatre where I can watch HGTV in high definition on a mega-large screen!
I like the traditional Pueblo style design feature of the motor court. The Sunrise Room, off the Master Bedroom (facing East, I assume, and appropriately named) is perfect for lazy mornings and a gradual reentry into the day. A modern-day necessity is the Home Office, where I can do all of my important blogging duties, with its own little "entry foyer", closet and of course courtyard access. Now, what is the room between the laundry and second bedroom—storage and/or mechanicals? The useful guest casita is quite separate from the main house…good for some, preferably "closer in" for others.
(on to Part Two…)
I was checking out the webcam, and it seems the photo on the HGTVpro is different than the webcam…I don't see the seperate casita, or the garage…am I missing something?
Also great outdoor views (I'd imagine) and outdoor dining access from the centrally located Dining Room. Lessie, the "walk-thru" pantry between the Kitchen and Dining Room was a more common feature (now making a comeback) in large, older homes called a butler's pantry. The walled patio area off of the Kitchen/Great Room is bound to have striking views, and perfect for those al fresco afternoon and evening Sangria and Sunset Serenades.
In the Master Bath, I love the windowed and/or shuttered "look-thru" into the Master Bedroom, both for light, views and ambiance from the step-up tub. This was a feature in one of the apartment style beach hotel rooms I stayed in on my first Thailand visit, and it was wonderful.
With a dedicated Recycling Room, HGTV is giving us the opportunity to win and live a red hot and green lifestyle. Furnished in a cozy, down-home yet high-end Southwestern style, this is going to be ONE AWESOME Dream Home! Very Happy Turquoise Trails, for sure!
Thanks for the info Coop! I love the way you look at plans and then bring them to life. You see the final product rather than lines on a paper. The best part is that you share with us.
Enjoy your vacation!
COOP – I missed this comment somehow…all of the excitement from yesterday probably. I had also explained that I thought it was like a Butler's Pantry in another thread somewhere around here!?!?! They are definitely making a comeback in new construction and I see a lot of them in homes in the Philadelphia area since most of the houses around me were built in the late 1800's, early 1900's. I think they are a great use of space.
Now, about the walls, I am assuming from looking at some pueblos online that the walls are shorter rather than high. I have to believe that will be the case here so that the views are not obstructed. Thoughts?
I am so, so excited for this home…it is unlike any I have ever seen and I see houses inside and out all of the time…fantastic!
Living the Dream!
In the master bedroom bath the area behind the tub is open, or is that a glass block wall? I noticed the wall of glass in the greatroom, and master bedroom
Sheila Griffin-Dawson, good to see you here! I never would have known you are the former Sheilagg1…glad you shared that with us.
And you're right, hard to know whether that's window, glass-block, or simply shutters above the Master Bath tub….
Ok now I think I figured it out…the webcam is facing west, and we're looking at the master bedroom, sunroom, storage/mechanical room, and bedrooms 2 &3
I think the front door faces south, I'll have to go back and look at the lot# 87 to get a better perspective
Hi Sheila Griffin-Dawson,
Have you gotten a better perspective on the Cam? Will be good to know what we're really watching.
Dear Coop: As much as I want to comment on the critters and reptiles, I cannot even build up enough guts to type the word S*N*A*K*E!! Yikes!! I typed it!! You have no idea how afraid I am of them…I guess growing up in Georgia, we were taught to hate them! I remember one Easter morning having a special guest at our breakfast table! He was quite comfortable coiled up in my brother's chair to the right of me! OMG!! Thank goodness my mother was handy with a sharp edged hoe!!! I will never forget the experience & will never be able to accept them crawling across our path to the beach!! I know, they are no poisonous! Doesn't matter, they still slither!!
Is it only women who feel this way about snakes?! Can't stand them!!! But maybe that's the legacy we inherit from Eve after her experience with the snake in the Garden of Eden.
Hey Ingrid and Bobo: So nice to hear from you, but sad to hear your confirmation that Steve Ledson had purchased the Sonoma DH09 from the Smiths! But not so sad for the Smiths 'cause 2.2 million is a lot of money. I'm happy for them in that respect!! I had an inside informer telling me that Mr. Ledson was going to totally revamp the inside of the house. All new kitchen counters, and different flooring. Is that true? Are there workers at the house yet? Will it be Bruce Lee and the "Dream Team" that refurbishes the DH09? I would think that Mr. Ledson would want the 'Best in the West' and hire them!!
I own property in San Pedro Creek Estates, which is where the 2010 Dream Home is being built. I can attest to the beauty, magnificence and serenity that exists there. New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. Some say there are mystical powers there. You only have to walk out onto this land and see the 360 degree view of mountains to know that it is true.
I had hoped to build on this property when my husband and I retired. Sadly, he passed away four years ago, during his last year of work. I will not be building there now, and hope to find just the right person to sell this land to. It has one of the best views and most even surfaces for building in the community. Anybody interested, send me a note!
Hi Joy13,
Although your reason for selling your property in San Pedro Creek Estates may have sad memories, I hope you get a buyer for soon. Very soon.
Tell Jack to check out Church Street Cafe in Old Towne, Albuquerque or El Pinto in downtown Albuquerque for some of the best Southwestern food around!