Dream House

I've been investigating the computer game The Sims, before I take the plunge and buy it. One of the things that sounds most intriguing is the ability to design and build your simulated family's house, down to minute detail. If only real life were so accomodating....

I've thought quite a bit about our ideal home. Just for fun, I'm going to describe it here.

Our ideal house would be in an established neighborhood in a small town or a suburb, like the one in which I grew up. I abhor modern, cookie-cutter developments with big, look-alike houses and puny trees, which are all too common around here. I want a neighborhood old enough to have tall oak and maple trees lining the streets.

Our house would have a big backyard where the boys could play. There would be several trees in the backyard for the boys to climb, one large enough for a treehouse. Part of the yard would have plenty of sun where we could plant a garden.

How odd. I've just realized that so far, I've described my childhood house.

There are differences, however. For one thing, I want a flowering pear tree, a Kwanzan cherry tree, and forsythia bushes, so I could enjoy my favorite spring blossoms. I want a huge, shady front porch, with comfortable white wicker furniture and a porch swing, hanging plants and windchimes. On hot Saturday afternoons, I'd relax there with a glass of lemonade and a book.

Inside, I want a lot of space. It's what we lack most here. It would be nice to have a living room for guests although, truthfully, we don't do a lot of entertaining these days. Still it would be great to have a nice place away from the chaos of the family room, where the TV, VCR, and some of the kids' playthings would be. We would have a dining room for dinner. We'd eat our breakfasts and lunches in the breakfast nook off the kitchen at a table with a view of the backyard through French doors.

The kitchen! A kitchen with enough cabinets and counter space is my dream. I would love an island to separate the kitchen proper from the breakfast nook, with a rack for pots and pans above it. A fullsized freezer next to the refrigerator and a dishwasher (another thing we currently lack). Double sinks with a window above so that I could look out back when working there. An industrial caliber gas range with two ovens.

We'd have at least five bedrooms: a master bedroom for Tab and me, one for each of the boys, and a guest room with a comfortable bed always made up with fresh sheets and an empty bureau for our guests.

We'd have at least three bathrooms, one of which would be off the master bedroom for Tab's and my exclusive use. I'd also want a room we could use as an office where we'd keep our filing cabinets, desks, and computer.

Other rooms we'd love to have:

A windowless room in the basement that could be turned into a darkroom for Tab.

A playroom for the boys.

A library or reading room (to be less pretentious) with floor to ceiling shelves, comfortable chairs, and good light for reading.

I can see this house so clearly in my mind. I can imagine us living there, playing in the backyard, and sitting on the porch on summer evenings. I have to believe that it exists somewhere. Perhaps one day we will find it.

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