McMansions (vinyl, granite, pool, heater)

[sundaze]

I saw this mentioned in another thread. What point would you consider the dividing line between a McMansion and a regular home? Does the style or location of the house have anything to do with McMansion-ness?

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

It is very subjective in my opinion. But here is an interesting link: McMansion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia:Copyrights - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, GNU Free Documentation License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Gurl]

It is very subjective in my opinion. But here is an interesting link: McMansion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia:Copyrights - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, GNU Free Documentation License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Great article. I even learned some new words:

• Garage Mahals
• Faux Chateaus

Too funny!!!

[radmod]

I basically agree with the article. The look of a bunch of overly large (3000+ sf) houses on postage-stamp lots (no room for trees to grow between houses, or sometimes in front or behind) is classically McMansionite. Some of the characteristics even effect modest new homes where street-facing, forward-thrusting garages and a profusion of oddly matching triangular gables makes the whole mess look jumbled and uninviting.

It seems builders can create houses with great features but very, very little style!

[Gurl]

Originally Posted by radmod

It seems builders can create houses with great features but very, very little style!

What gets me is house poorly some of these McMansions are built - something pointed out in the article.

During the Parade of Homes, I was really eager to see houses in the $800k+ range, and was really shocked at the number of corners that were cut. Just little things here and there, but WAY too many of them.

And it's a trend I noticed, even as I looked at pricier and pricier homes.

Even in Maida Vale, I was surprised to see some of the corners that had been cut.

It was almost as if some builders thought, "Just make it big, put granite in the kitchen, and the buyers won't notice the rest."

[dansdrive]

Everything I ever wanted to know about a BurgerKing Mansion o-p-s McMansion that I never wanted to know.

Question I have is what were they called pre 1980's? Big Homes, Land locked mansions, maybe Shoe Rack homes, not sure. Anyone know?

I really think they provide a function for their owners. They seem to like allot of amenities on the inside. They tend to work longs hours so trees, grass, walkways, are not required. Top 5 questions to ask ones self in in the market for a WendyMansion o-p-s Mc Mansion. Notice I left out the Hardy'sMansions for obvious reasons!

Top 5 questions; order is irrelevant:

1. Do I want a bird bath on the outside or a whirl pool tub on the inside?
2. Do I want a rock garden outdoors or granite counter tops on the indoors?
3. Do I want to see the Stars in the sky or a nightly movie in the theater room, oh my?
4. Do I want to walk on my lawn or in my double Master Bedroom walk-in closets as a pawn?
5. Do I want to Irrigate my 0.18 Acre or do I want the mutilhead Master Bath shower shakers?

Needless to say I love when the McMansion thread comes around again and again and again! One day I too hope to grab that gold ring!

[Funky Chicken]

The McMansion term makes me think of the following-

A house that's got too big a footprint for the lot size

A house that looks too tall when you first see it

A brick veneer front and the other three sides in vinyl siding

Pillars that are two stories high

A front load 3 car garage

Really bright landscape lighting

I know that John Wieland builds a very high quality home, but to me that's a McMansion.
They are always really close together.
They seem to place very little value on streetscape appearance (putting houses next to one another that just don't make sense).
I don't like the way they position homes on corner lots.
A Wieland home looks like somewhere I would need to go to get my Driver's License renewed as opposed to a place to live.

[anonymous]

Here's a good thread where someone asks the same question.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/gener...cmansions.html

IMO, A "McMansion" is when a house's durability, functionality and livability are sacrificed for the sake of a grand appearance.

[sundaze]

I think Tony Soprano lives (lived? is he dead?) in a McMansion.

[Moth]

Question I have is what were they called pre 1980's? Big Homes, Land locked mansions, maybe Shoe Rack homes, not sure. Anyone know

I don't think they had become so prominent yet. Houses built then were usually more conventional sized with style derived from some form of traditional. Basically the curtain call for the ranch home, the Cape Cod and the split level.