I don't live in DC, but I will share anyways. The best thing about our house is our 2.5 acre lot. We have a long driveway and a huge yard plus woods with trails so the kids can ride their bikes all around our driveway and trails without having to go on the street. Also, we have awesome mountain views.

Anonymous wrote:I love all the light and windows in our house. Over the years, many people have commented, "it smells good in here" upon entering. But, I never bake, don't have candles, or any scents since I'm sensitive. Don't know what it is, but apparently it's nice enough to make people comment.

I'm intrigued, I want to know what your house smells like...I'll bet it smells like sunshine, soap and cleanliness. Ahhhh...

I heart my house; it's over 40 years old, but not at all dated. It has many levels and an unusual layout and floor plan. Nearly too much sunshine...so much so that our furniture fades, but a price to pay for a light filled, warm home. Visitors tell me my house is cozy and comfortable.

My kids and the neighborhood children run around in giant packs and play outside until dark. Lemonade stands crop up whenever. Moms and dads around to supervise. Best sited house in the neighborhood with privacy and great yard. Unbelievably caring, close neighbors.

coast=cost.

Space = hell to the ya, baby! Can't buy that.

Well you can, but it will coast you dearly.

2 acres

lots and lots of space

Funny that PP feels the need to mention negative here. So you are happy - good for you! The others need to get over it.

We love everything about our house. Our blessing is that we truly don't care what others think, as we LOVE it here!

Anonymous wrote:Dead body mixed into concrete for the basement.....wife has no idea.

Did you build the home yourself, PP?

Can't take credit for much of anything in my house because I have only been here just over a year, but I am grateful for:

Beautiful mature landscaping with super tall trees -- those trees are like my cathedral.

The laundry room is off the kitchen and steps from the main level master BR which is HUGE. Very large living and family rooms. Kitchen is large but not huge and has a built in china cabinet that I love (about 6' wide).

Crown molding in every room I think... I know it's in my master BA, all throughout main floor and basement, maybe everywhere but the laundry room?

9 ft ceilings on the main floor.

I also have hardwoods throughout the house...Baths & kitchen are tile (kitchen is a old terra cotta that friends love - I am glad it doesn't show dirt). Finished basement is carpet, but I might change that to hardwood. Foyer is a gorgeous walnut parquet with a beautiful diamondish pattern. I did refinish the foyer and it looks even more beautiful now.

I also have a large family room lodge-like stone fireplace -- it totally makes the room, along with the built in bookcases. Front of the house has matching stone, and contractors and visitors think they are beautiful -- I do too. I was kind of ambivalent about stone until I got this house -- now I love it. Have two other fireplaces, one in LR, and a white brick fireplace in the kitchen -- it was converted later to gas which is convenient, and it makes the kitchen very homey.

Thinking someday I will do a screened porch or sunroom out the back off the kitchen. If I do, I would love to do a stone wall up against the house or stone on the lower part of the walls below the windows to carry the theme. And I might try to turn the gas fireplace into a two sided fireplace (if that's even possible?) so it can be used in the kitchen and on the porch.

Love my house, I have to admit....it has truly been a blessing and it gives me a lot of joy. Even with all it's challenges and issues -- and there are many!!! I haven't told you about the dead squirrels in the attic, the invasive weeds that I've had to battle, the bad formica, etc... : )

Wow, if you have normal neighbors right next to you, that is absolutely priceless.

I have seen neighborhoods that look great "on paper" as they say. Unfortunately, one or two turned out to be Trashy Payton Place. If you find the "real deal" - stay! Don't move.

You can tell a good neighborhood by those who truly can afford to move, but don't. Those who have no options, stay. And sometimes make things miserable for others. Those who move first chance they get is an indication you might consider running, not walking.

We did a renovation that is very attractive from the outside. It is particularly attractive from the sides , which are visible from both sides because of the way our street bends, and our neighbors have all commented how much they like it. I am pleased that we not only added space that we need but enhanced our neighborhood.

We also really liked the way our kitchen turned out. We made it larger and added an eat in area to the front of our house instead of moving the kitchen to the back, as most of our neighbors have done. It keeps us living in the original part of our house and brings us closer to the life of our street, instead of always hiding in the back.

100 year old house with all the old-school touches but in perfect shape. It also has huge windows and perfect light. Hard to come by combination.
The neighbor who is OCD about yard work and the fact that the two houses next to us are at least 300 feet away doesn't hurt either (yet still in the city).

Dead body mixed into concrete for the basement.....wife has no idea.

That it's ours, great kitchen, yard and the best neighbors!

Anonymous wrote:Huge windows in the back...Backs to parkland and a lake. In the winter, we can see the bald eagles swooping down to catch fish .

That's awesome! I want to live in your house! Let me if you ever decide to sell it.

Huge windows in the back...Backs to parkland and a lake. In the winter, we can see the bald eagles swooping down to catch fish .