I would like to comment about the homes.... (fit in, apartment)

[froggin4colorado]

On another post in another thread, someone had mentioned Colorado homes. I am throwing my cents out there for anyone who wants it (thought I might get lucky with our economy...).



The floor plans...I have never understood them! Who in the world created the home where all you see is the garage, a front door, and window for the front view?! Or the bi-level? What common sense thinking did that come from?

I understand the architecture from the 50s and down...where homes had separated rooms. Back then, you wanted to hide the kitchen. Got it, don't like but I understand the logic of it back then. But these homes built in the 70s on up...?!

You walk in a house and have to decide immediately- up or down...I don't want to live on ground level..but half below ground or 4 feet above the ground. I want to carry my groceries up the stairs like I was living in an apartment???? (Sarcasm) I want all of my shoes to collect in front of the door... (sarcasm)

Or...LOOK at my garage...don't I have a nice garage?! and check out my front door? Doesn't it look inviting? NOT

[lizmyer]

I agree totally. The houses they are building nowadays have no character. They aren't interesting to look at, and to me, it would be hard to have pride in a house that looks just like everyone elses. You can do all the landscaping in the world, but if your house has a bad floorplan, there's not much else you can doI'm sure putting them almost on top of eachother does not help matters in the least. I am so partial to craftman style houses. They've got charm, individuality, and for the most part, their owner are so proud of them. It's too bad you'd never find one on the northside where I live.

[Charles]

How about rinky dink little closets so you can have a family room and a living room and a bonus room and also a dining room and a kitchen eating area? I'd bet the average person uses their dining room five times a year. Many living rooms are treated as if they are cordoned off with red rope so nobody sits on grandma's fine couch (which she may put plastic on) or touches her tea cart.

I think a lot of house layout is a result of market research from which people have to have an "entertainers dream" at the expense of practicality and livability.

[lalahartma]

I agree. I think the mass produced hoome layouts are yucky. But to many people, a 3-car garage is a status symbol and cars are an important par tof their lives!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by lalahartma

I agree. I think the mass produced hoome layouts are yucky. But to many people, a 3-car garage is a status symbol and cars are an important par tof their lives!

How is a 3 car garage a status symbol? I just want a place to shelter two cars with enough room on the side for a workbench, bikes, lawn mower, etc.

[lalahartma]

_I_ don't think it is, but some people seem to think so.

[COflower]

Blame the damn builders.

I used to sell windows and doors. You see, builders would hire crack pot architurists (?) whatever, during the "spec" days, they would build a house, no matter that it doesn't work for the land but they built it.

You should see the wrong part of my house. It's just wrong, they put the window too close to the fireplace. yeah, by about three inches too close.

When I used to work in windows and doors, you have NO IDEA. I have seen human feces in (yes) Snowmass houses. I have seen people not use the facilities. Portapotties right outside?

I sat there and went "WHY"?

Over ten years later I still don't get it.

BTW, I love my dark bedroom under 4 feet. It's dark, it's my Cave. Sorry but I love it.

[Charles]

A three car garage is not big enough. Two big cars (my F-150, wife's 2008 Sequoia) can barely (and I mean barely) fit in two bays. Add six bikes, scooters, a workbench, a tool box, skateboards, lawnmower, gardening tools, two strollers....not enough room.

I'll trade a dining room and a living room (heck, and even a bathroom) for an extra garage bay.

[lalahartma]

Originally Posted by Charles

A three car garage is not big enough. Two big cars (my F-150, wife's 2008 Sequoia) can barely (and I mean barely) fit in two bays. Add six bikes, scooters, a workbench, a tool box, skateboards, lawnmower, gardening tools, two strollers....not enough room.

I'll trade a dining room and a living room (heck, and even a bathroom) for an extra garage bay.

Sounds like you need an extra house.

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by froggin4colorado

You walk in a house and have to decide immediately- up or down...I don't want to live on ground level..but half below ground or 4 feet above the ground. I want to carry my groceries up the stairs like I was living in an apartment???? (Sarcasm) I want all of my shoes to collect in front of the door... (sarcasm)

Or...LOOK at my garage...don't I have a nice garage?! and check out my front door? Doesn't it look inviting? NOT

I live in a split level home. It was built that way because it's on a slight slope, and not for stylistic reasons. If you're such a poor decision maker that that sort of thing causes you anxiety, then don't buy a split level.

Also, I have my garage in the front of the house because that's where the STREET is. I guess I could someday wall up the front and make a driveway all the way around to the back of the house just to appease you. Let me think about it.

I'm picturing a whole town, designed by froggin', filled with homes with nothing but walls in front and all the doors, windows, and other architectural features in the back, facing the neighbors. Brilliant. Then we can paint big psychedelic murals on all those street-facing walls. Oh, yeah, and NO split-levels, anything on a slop will have to be up on stilts or completely undergound.