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Original poster

What 1 thing would you want in your dream house?

149 replies

Egog · 29/12/2014 00:45

DH and I just bought our forever home, it's in our dream location, lots of space, huge garden... but it's falling apart. (The only way we could afford to buy here!) We've got a wonderful builder on board, and we've renovated before, but I wanted to canvass opinions- if you were taking a house back to its bones, what would you include when you re-did it?

It's a 5 bed Victorian detached with all the original features, albeit mouldy and crumbling. I can't wait to renovate the huge old windows, DH is excited about installing a kitchen island. I'm after inspiration- what would you be most excited about putting in?

OP posts:
SinisterSantasBusyMonth · 29/12/2014 00:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BackforGood · 29/12/2014 00:51

Ideal world?
I'd want a top of the range heating system that you can set differently for different rooms, but was powerful enough to keep everywhere warm and with enough hot water when needed. Id like to be able to have towel rails on when heating wasnt, and heating only in rooms when it was needed, or at teps it was needed.

scarletforya · 29/12/2014 00:57

Fireplace in the bedroom.

MetallicInk · 29/12/2014 00:59

High ceilings with bay window for my Christmas tree and a walk in wardrobe with ensuite from the master.

Original poster
Egog · 29/12/2014 01:05

I'm making notes. There's a fireplace in each of the bedrooms, and while I don't think they're all currently in working order they're definitely staying.

Heating-wise the radiators are useless, I think we're going with an eco-friendly version of central air if we can find the right supplier.

And yes to library, although it may be more of a reading nook unless I can convince DH to convert the lean-to!

OP posts:
cece · 29/12/2014 01:09

One of those built in vacuum systems. The type where you have a socket in each room and move the hose around the house. The dirt is then sucked down to a central collection point.

I'd also put a laundry chute in so I could slide the laundry from upstairs straight down to the utility room.

calendula · 29/12/2014 01:42

We had one of these vacuuming systems but got rid of it. The big hose is far more hassle to drag round the house than a hoover.

My dream house would have a sauna.

AlleyCat11 · 29/12/2014 01:53

A big bath

butterfliesinmytummy · 29/12/2014 01:59

A walk in pantry. I have one and wouldn't live without it. Also a bath under a skylight and a terrace with a fire pit and outdoor cinema screen ....

DropYourSword · 29/12/2014 02:01

I lived in a house with the built in vac-it's not all that!

CadleCrap · 29/12/2014 02:11

Yy to the island bench, make sure you put power sockets in/on it.

A second for walkin pantry,

coolaschmoola · 29/12/2014 02:15

Another for walk in pantry, although I just property porned a house with a WALK THROUGH pantry that leads to a bar room at the back of the garage! It was huge and beautiful (the pantry - the bar room would be turned into a library).

Now to win the lottery....

ilovemydoggy · 29/12/2014 02:22

Walk in wardrobe and dressing room. Then I could arrange all my clothes into items and colour. I could dream away about iY now

KoalaDownUnder · 29/12/2014 04:08

Swimming pool.

(Probably not a practical suggestion for you, as I live in Australia.)

In a colder climate - outdoor heated jacuzzi.

DropYourSword · 29/12/2014 04:09

I'm in QLD. Definitely a swimming pool!

RainbowInACloud · 29/12/2014 04:13

Utility room, boot room ( but we have 3 boys) walk in pantry.

mupperoon · 29/12/2014 04:17

A spiral wine cellar!

CheerfulYank · 29/12/2014 04:21

A huge stone fireplace!

PastPerfect · 29/12/2014 04:47

Two things I have which make a huge difference to domestic life are a walk in pantry and and a Laundrey room.

The first means we have space for a second fridge/freezer - helpful for batch cooking - and a wine fridge plus space to store extra food items and equipment So the kitchen is never cluttered.

The Laundrey room has the washer/dryer, a sink, kitchen cabinets and space for a couple of drying racks - it's so nice to have somewhere to store the clothes between drying and ironing and store the Hoover and ironing board.

LadyCybilCrawley · 29/12/2014 05:06

A chauffeur

LadyCybilCrawley · 29/12/2014 05:08

But if that's not on the cards:

Walk in pantry
Laundry room
Laundry chute
Library
His and her bathrooms - oh my goodness this would be DEVINE
Steam shower

Shockers · 29/12/2014 06:03

A boot room with a dog shower.

Underfloor heating in the bathrooms.

Real fires in living rooms.

An AGA.

Wonkyparsnip · 29/12/2014 06:13

When we were building a house we had a pantry and a walk in wardrobe. Gutted we never did it.

sleepywombat · 29/12/2014 06:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

deadwitchproject · 29/12/2014 09:53

I can't decide on one thing as there's so much I would like to do with an ideal house, if any of the below appeal to you:

laundry room on same level as bedrooms, play room for children/snug for teenagers, compact en suites in all bedrooms, utility attached to kitchen, walk in pantry, large garage/workshop space for DH, separate office, downstairs cloakroom for coats, shoes etc. with WC and Shower, megaflow, sedum on roof, indoor endless pool.