Anonymous wrote:A large house hastily built without any architectural consideration whatsoever, mixing a cacophony of architectural elements -- too many of them -- in a futile attempt to "look elegant."

+1
Typically built on a small lot with higher end versions of what is found on middle class housing, e.g., vinyl siding. Everything is larger but there is still no grace.

If you have to ask, then you don't have one.

Helpful links, thank you. I searched but never found those threads.

To me its a huge house in a development where all the houses look exactly the same and on small plots with no mature trees. Often the development has some cheesy name like "whispering lakes."

The Mc in Mc Mansion refers to McDonalds e.g. These are homes that are fabricated cheaply and quickly and are standardized.

And some visual entertainment

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/279361.page

Here you go OP:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/234493.page

A large house hastily built without any architectural consideration whatsoever, mixing a cacophony of architectural elements -- too many of them -- in a futile attempt to "look elegant."

This comes up periodically. For me personally it's as much about lot size/context as sq feet. In East Bethesda where lot sizes are 4 or 5,000 sq ft you can bet that a 3,000 sq ft tear down/new build can be a mcmansion.

A home built after 1990, at least 2 car garage, colonial, that has more than 3000SF on the upper level. Basically the ideal home that is standard in most areas but a premium in the DC area.

Anonymous wrote:In DCUM world a McMansion is any house bigger than yours

Anonymous wrote:A McMansion is a house. Where I would live is a home.

My "McMansion" is filled with a husband, three children, two dogs and three cats - I call that a home. I am currently sharing our sectional with two very comfortable dogs.

We have enough space for my children's friends as well as any stray that ends up on our doorstep - and they do tend to find our home. That's the benefit of space, to folk like us. YMMV.

A McMansion is a house. Where I would live is a home.

In DCUM world a McMansion is any house bigger than yours

I thought they were 4000 feet plus and low grade everything. According to DCUM, it sounds like a lot of people think it's anything post-1990 over 3000 sq feet regardless of quality. How do you define it?