Street of "Affordable" homes

Dh and I enjoy going to these shows of homes that the builders put on.  Not that we intend to drop five hundred thousand dollars (This is affordable these days?) on a new house.  We are perfectly happy where we are.  But we go shopping for ideas and inspiration.  Robin's egg blue is the new color, with bark brown.  And there was one lovely bedroom in ecru, oatmeal, and charcoal with a painting of a poppy over the bed, a red vase on the dresser, and on the nightstand, a magazine with a red picture on the cover.  Don't know how long you'll want to keep a June, 2011 copy of Home and Garden Digest on the nightstand, but it sure gave the room some punch!

In the master suites, they are still installing huge tubs, but they are no longer the jacuzzi jetted types.  And, though it seems like madness to me, the builders are still trying to sell us on outdoor living.  OK, it's July 25.  People are still skiing on Mt. Hood, a mere 90 minute drive away.  When I went to get the paper this morning, at 5 AM, I was greeted by thunder and lightning.  This is NOT an area where outdoor living makes sense.  Really.  No matter how many fire pits and uber barbecues and stylish lounge chairs are scattered around, it's still too darn cold!

Another thing that makes no sense is the concept of rooms that no one will live in.  The "sitting room" just off the front door which is too small for any social event, and wayyyy too fussy for comfortable lounging.  I guess it's where you would seat Queen Elizabeth if she ever comes to visit.  Take the plastic off the chairs, first. 

And these "Great Rooms" with the twenty foot high ceilings - a pain to heat or cool of course.  And who wants to sit in a great draughty echoing chamber for a comfy family evening?  The only thing I can see those rooms being used for is big parties.  And how often do you have 40 of your closest friends over for a pleasant dinner?

On the other hand, I saw many lovely mud rooms off the garage with masses of storage space.  And several builders have realized that it makes sense to put the laundry on the same floor as the bedrooms because that's where most of the laundry is created anyhow.

But best of all is coming home to our dear home with our comfortable furniture, and our dated but satisfying color scheme, and being so grateful that we are not in debt up to our eyeballs!