McMansions (countertops, tudor style, bathtubs, colors)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Your house sounds very classy to me - and something which will stand the test of time.

Well, to tell you the truth, I feel so overwhelmed by all the people (younger than me, at that!) w/ these much more expensive homes . . . I hesitate to entertain b/c I feel like my house is not going to "measure up" to what they are used to! And I used to never feel that way. I think most people find my love for 18th C passe (I would live in Williamsburg if I could!)

So thank you for your very kind words. If you like rice-carved beds and mahogany furniture . . . you would feel at home in my house!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Homewardbound66

I'd consider your house. Its sounds lovely and has "CHARACTER," which seems to be the missing factor in a lot of the newly built homes today.

I am a huge fan of small house designs by Susan Saranka. Her homes can cost as much to build as a big homes and its because of the details she incorporates into her designs. Did I mention I'm a HUGE fan, oh yes I did. If we had the money she's the one I would go with.

I also like some of Donald Gardner's homes.

Another good one was Frank Lloyd Wright even though his homes really aren't practical, they are special. I love homes fitting in with nature and not trying to out do it. (i.e. Homes on top of a mountain instead of nestled into it.)

But it seems everyone wants more elaborate roof lines and facades than my home. I used to visit my Auntie in DC every year, and I fell in love w/ all the townhouses and Georgian homes . . . then throughout VA . . . all I ever wanted was an 18th C. Georgian, LOL!! The plan is really just a big box! Straight up and down and the hipped roof.

I have been told my home looks like a Bank. Hee Hee. Just so happens, I used to go into the big Georgian bank in our little Southern town . . . and swoon over the cherry paneling and marble counters . . .

[TampaKaren]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Well, to tell you the truth, I feel so overwhelmed by all the people (younger than me, at that!) w/ these much more expensive homes . . . I hesitate to entertain b/c I feel like my house is not going to "measure up" to what they are used to! And I used to never feel that way. I think most people find my love for 18th C passe (I would live in Williamsburg if I could!)

So thank you for your very kind words. If you like rice-carved beds and mahogany furniture . . . you would feel at home in my house!

You sound like a kind-hearted person and your home sounds charming (notice I said home).

I went to a house warming party last Saturday night. Nice young family just bought an 8500 square foot 5/5.5/5 house on 30+ acres. All the people there were putting on the ritz, i.e., Rolls, limos, and personal bling bling. The sadest part is they yelled and argued at each other the whole night...truly miserable people. I left feeling really good; grateful for my friends and family; and for what I don't have.

I guess this is the real dividing line between a McMansion and a home.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

You sound like a kind-hearted person and your home sounds charming (notice I said home).

I went to a house warming party last Saturday night. Nice young family just bought an 8500 square foot 5/5.5/5 house on 30+ acres. All the people there were putting on the ritz, i.e., Rolls, limos, and personal bling bling. The sadest part is they yelled and argued at each other the whole night...truly miserable people. I left feeling really good; grateful for my friends and family; and for what I don't have.

I guess this is the real dividing line between a McMansion and a home.

Your post gives credence to the cliche, but true saying, "Home is where the heart is".

[Tesaje]

A huge house on 30 acres qualifies as a true mansion. McMansions are oversized houses for the size of the lot.

Too bad about that couple but there are couples who are happy and bicker with each other constantly. You never really know what the real dynamics are between a couple.

As for the Georgian house, the beauty of classic architecture is in its elegant proportions. A house of 7 gables can be pretty or if poorly done, rather ungainly.

[Noahma]

someone earlyer in the post used 10,000 and up as the mc. mansion sizes. There are very small amounts of houses of that size being done anymore. A Mc. Mansion in my oppinion is a production home (IE built multiple times) that has no real architectural style. The custom homes that I have designed tend to be very thought out, and take months in the preliminary phase. They typically are only built ONCE. They can range from 3600 feet up to 10,000 on rare occations.

There are production builders that build what I consider Mc. Mansions. They use cheap materials, usualy are bland Architecturaly speaking IE all stucco, or brick. they are used with maybe three other floorplans, and rotated per lots.

[TampaKaren]

Originally Posted by Tesaje

McMansions are oversized houses for the size of the lot.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Briolat21]

Yeah, that's what I would agree with as far as a definition. The wikipedia entry on the first page (link) nails it. I don't think it has to be oversized for the lot, as again, my house is about 3600 sq ft, on 1 acre ( I think its quite appropriately sized ) but we do have the requisite 2 story foyer, with the 2 front extra gables (the only reason we got that elevation was that it got us floor space inside because they bump those gables out) and even had we "maxed" out the finishes inside, they'd have never been much more than upper middle class. (Again, no travertine). Instead we went super cheap on the inside finishes, and will finish those ourselves over time.

We're very realistic about what we built, and I don't even think of McMansion has perjorative any more, but as a statement of fact. I don't like it when people assume I have no taste, I have a lot of taste, but not the money to afford the architectural details I would really like. As such, its a matter of priorities, and ours was space, land, and affordability - and the McMansion gives us all three.

That being said, I think our McMansion is no more bland than any other "neighborhood" home built with a number of other similar homes. The expression "tract" home really says it all -- they have 8 designs, they rotate them, and sooner or later your house is just like 3 or 4 others in the neighborhood.

[m00se]

Originally Posted by Briolat21

Yeah, that's what I would agree with as far as a definition. The wikipedia entry on the first page (link) nails it. I don't think it has to be oversized for the lot, as again, my house is about 3600 sq ft, on 1 acre ( I think its quite appropriately sized ) but we do have the requisite 2 story foyer, with the 2 front extra gables (the only reason we got that elevation was that it got us floor space inside because they bump those gables out) and even had we "maxed" out the finishes inside, they'd have never been much more than upper middle class. (Again, no travertine). Instead we went super cheap on the inside finishes, and will finish those ourselves over time.

We're very realistic about what we built, and I don't even think of McMansion has perjorative any more, but as a statement of fact. I don't like it when people assume I have no taste, I have a lot of taste, but not the money to afford the architectural details I would really like. As such, its a matter of priorities, and ours was space, land, and affordability - and the McMansion gives us all three.

That being said, I think our McMansion is no more bland than any other "neighborhood" home built with a number of other similar homes. The expression "tract" home really says it all -- they have 8 designs, they rotate them, and sooner or later your house is just like 3 or 4 others in the neighborhood.

Well spoken Briolat21. I find it amazing that in what is meant to be a "freedom of choice" society so many spend so much time berating the choices of others and am wondering if some of those criticizing the choice of others perhaps are unable to make similar choices.

It's so simple to move on to one's preferred choices instead of beating down the other guy's choice. There is something "right" for everyone and no need for dissent, just move along and build what you like. Oddly the so-called McMansion dwellers seems to be minding their own business instead of berating smaller homes.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by ProLogic

$650k for a Mansion?! Thats wayy cheap! Here in the bay area you can get a.. decent home for that much.

Mansions in Dallas run into the millions, and real estate is "cheap" here.

The McMansions in my parents' neighborhood run between 1.3 and 1.6 million, and they're about 4-6k sq ft on 1/3 to 1/2 acre plots. They look ridiculous.