An Afternoon at Dream Home
Hey folks,
The online crew arrived in Albuquerque on Sunday, and it’s been sunny and in the mid 60s ever since. Snow from last week’s squall is still visible on the mountain tops and, when we first arrived, was scattered about the desert landscape like cotton balls.
I don’t want to give away too much information about HGTV Dream Home 2010. But I must say … “Wow.” Sonoma was cozy and definitely designed with a family in mind. This sprawling 3,900-square-foot compound screams rock star to me. The kind of secluded getaway that might make the likes of Jay-Z and Beyoncé supremely happy.
And when I say getaway, I mean out there, in the middle of the desert and surrounded by nothing but mountain ranges. Sure, you may see a few luxury casitas as you stare westward from the courtyard, but they seem nothing more than mere twinkles at night. And the only sounds? Song birds chirping, crows cawing and the wind, whistling through the low pinon pine. And if you are lucky and listen very closely, you may catch the howls of coyotes, as they communicate back and forth from some distant den. We were fortunate enough to hear just that on Sunday night. Unforgettable.
I am sitting here, on the floor in the kitchen at this moment, eavesdropping on our still photographer Eric Perry, as he chats with our interactive planning director Jeannine Pace, and our panoramic photographer Bruce Cole, announcing the next room he plans to shoot for the 360-degree tour. Our photographers have discovered that sunrise and just after sunset are the best times to capture the detail and set the mood in snapshots.
My companions’ voices bounce down the corridors and seem to echo around the house – these 16-foot-tall ceilings give the home an interesting acoustic effect. But it feels comforting to hear the chatter as I jot down this quick note to you. And it helps me to envision just what this home might be like when its new owner fills the space with the laughter and conversation of loved ones.
Hope there will be a rain barrel(s) to catch all the Monsoon rains in the summer!
Last years Dream Home was so full of Grace that I can only imagine
what Linda and the rest of the team have in store for this year.
It would be a true dream come true to see it in person (as the very lucky winner of coarse!) so I'll just keep my fingers, toes and anything else I can cross crossed and hope like everyone else who enters.
wow
How much land is there with 2010 dream home?
I also read some comment about snakes? What kind? Are there lots of them?
After paying the Income TAX on the furnished house, the 500K, and the car. What is left to pay local Real Estate Tax? Does HGTV pay that in advance????
It doesn’t look like it, or any of the homes you’ve given away are disabeled friendly….What kind of jobs are available in the area?? Can the winner sell the house right away or is there a time limit????
An old saying comes to mind…THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH…!!!!
After paying the Income TAX on the furnished house, the 500K, and the car. What is left to pay local Real Estate Tax? Does HGTV pay that in advance????
It doesn't look like it, or any of the homes you've given away are disabeled friendly….What kind of jobs are available in the area?? Can the winner sell the house right away or is there a time limit????
An old saying comes to mind…THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH…!!!!
I have seen this Home and the previous home, all I can say is that this one became the best model, practical to local ecosystem, the kitchen is beutifull and functional, but I would change the sitting area in the kitchen, for a extended semi rounded that will give a little bit more space to the guest…. more like I) . Decoration in the entire house is funky and Calm all at the same time appropiate to the parties and to be cozzi at home. The house trully invites you in to be happy. It also takes away the desert feeling, and made it more like a miami and malibu touch…It needs a pool area… and vouala!!!! The girls room beautifull decoration (fan celling Desaster) the rest beutifull.. the guest room.. wow.. amazing tile work. Funky, if i lived over there… i would be worried about the guest wanting to live there… beutifull work.. Bathroom nice, nothing out the world, but still millionaire feeling, and Masters…. avarage but the sitting area for the coffee and sunrise… ++++++++++++.. I definetly will love to live in that house…. I hope the person that gets it… appreciates it.. as much it with the love and entusiasness it was built… (sorry for the typos, im from PR.)
Explaining more about the kitchen the counters hould have a little bit of l) area to be able to serve and put the glass and have the rest.. but love the idea anyways.. uhh the tiles in the entire house is beutiful the colors became my favorite..
The job is done woundefully … and beutifully.. love, passion and fun shows up…. thank you for beutifull art.
I was so excited to see this beautiful home in the Sandia's, words could not describe!! This is a gorgeous home with the most most breathtaking views…wishing…hoping… This is my very favorite part of the country and waking up to the views are unlike any in the world- soothing, rejuvenating, mystical, magical, spiritual, a blessing all in one. Ahhh, I am so happy this is the dream home for 2010- and good fortune and joy for the winner of this lovely home in this very calming environment..God Bless
Come on… it is a nice home…. but the spaces are such a waste… A sun rise room? A sitting room with fireplace in the entryway? Which room shows off New Mexico's SPECTACULAR Sunsets? And the Lavender room? UGH… sounds like the Color Correction host went crazy in there! The "casita" is so wierd…you can see the toilet from the bed… WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?!?!?! If HGTV wanted to build a southwest dream home they should have followed the areas cultural heritage and built a hacienda style home with a center courtyard, or at least built an adobe style property wall around the home, for some added style. So much left out, not thought out, or ridiculous. I do have to say that the kitchen and great room are very well done, but the cooktop should have had a grill rather than a steamer. Who needs a dedicated steamer? Finally, I'm so tired of caucasian hosts BUTCHERING the language! I KNOW HGTV has latino hosts and hostesses, that would have at least brought the feeling of the culture through with language. Madrid is not pronounced as mad-rid…. It's MA-drid….. carnitas are pronounced like carn-E-taas, not carnidaz. Norteno is pronounced like nord-TEN-yo…not norteenyo. UGH! I could have done a better job producing this episode with a hand-held camcorder, and planed out this home to utilize the scenery, and the local culture in much better ways! As dream homes go, this one is the poorest of any so far.
I agree about the Casita. I don't get it: why is the toilet the first thing you see when you walk in, not much privacy for a seperate little house.
I think I would acid etch that glass wall. And I'd build a perimeter wall or plant more trees around the house to ease the wind. It does get windy on that side of the Sandia's during the spring. Also, is there a paved road up to the home? It didn't look like any other homes were in the general area, so I'm guessing it was dirt road up to the home. Which would be a problem for someone not used to driving in the snow or mud during the winter and rainy season. I'd have also like to have seen one more bathroom in the main house instead of that supposed Jack and Jill bathroom. Isn't a Jack and Jill supposed to connect two bedrooms?
Wow. Wonderful. Whimsical and definitely Warming. From the video walk-through(s) to the layout, contemporary design yet charming with bold characters to the landscaping and exterior architecture as if it's always been there, I am completely floored. Oh, and the GMC this year is nothing to sneeze at, how beautiful. Wait are you seriously giving that much cash away!?! If I were to win I would think I'd died and went to heaven and live the rest of my days probably in a daze still saying, 'someone pinch me now'. The scenic view is absolutely majestic.
My family and I LOVE this dream house!!!!!! Great Job to everyone that helped put it together!
This is truely a Dream House, I am dreaming of winning it. The location is so beautiful, and the Home only adds to the beauty. The designer's and architector' have done a magnificent job.
This is not only my dream home, but it would be a dream come true for me in so many ways!!! To finally be able to help others and myself would be a life-changing event.
What a beautiful house! So modern and casual. I hope that it has a rain barrel or two setup.