If I had billions and billions of dollars . . .

I'd donate to charities.
No, really, I would.
Then I'd travel the world . . .
And then I'd build a house, but not just any house, THE dream house.

With the move looming (so um . . . it's JANUARY not March . . . eek!), Chris and I have been house-hunting like fiends . . . to no avail *sigh* I mean, it's all good--it will work out, house or rent.

Yes, people HAVE asked us why we aren't starting out renting, and, yes, we HAVE considered both options.  Basically, we have friends out there who know the area REALLY well, contacts we're keeping in touch with, and we are not impulse buyers at all.  Through research and conversation, we've determined the areas we'd like to live, and have been given thumbs up by locals.  Also, we kind of hate the thought of the renting blackhole, especially since, with the current economy out there, renting is often MORE expensive than a mortgage. We have a friend out there who has offered to investigate any possible purchase for us, and we would take a trip out to see the place.  So, yes, there's a plan, there's a TON of research going into this, and a great deal of thought, prayer, etc.  So there's that. Speal over.


And, really, we're not asking for much . . . 1000+ square feet (I mean . . . at least the size of our current 900 square foot cottage), three bed, two bath, maybe? Oh, and a kitchen larger than a closet would be DIVINE. Please and thank you.
Chris has kind of taken over the house shopping deal--he checks tax, area, water, the works. After months of doing the dirty work myself, I've handed it over, and, wouldn't you know, he's doing a splendid job? He's even narrowed down which areas are risk-zones for tsunamis. I am not even kidding.
Me? I'm in it for the kitchen.
And space.
But mainly the kitchen.
Please and thank you.
No, it's not that I LOVE kitchens, but, quite frankly, if I'm going to spend most of my day in there, I'd like it to be a little pleasant. Ladies, you know what I mean . . .


I try not to reach beyond reality when it comes to home planning, but, oh, Pinterest--you devious little website--has made this dream house thing way too much fun.  The hubs and I have dubbed it "The Mead Hall."
Yes, it was inspired by this scene from "Thor."
When we have unmeasurable wealth, we're totally buying a plethora of cheap coffee mugs to smash in jubilation.
Not joking.

So, without further ado, I present:

THE MEAD HALL 

Behold mine Mead Hall, perched in the trees of an ancient forest, its bright lights twinkling in the twilight . . . 

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And this would be there for any vamps from Twilight . . .  yeah, sorry not a fan . . . but I'll spare you the rant.

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BEHOLD MINE KITCHEN!!!

Large, spacious, and, gosh and golly, I'm a sucker for wooden detail . . . and big windows . . . and wooden ceilings . . . aw, crud, the whole thing is awesome . . . Just hand it over!

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Spiral staircase up the three that grows in the center of my house? Dude, yes, totally have one . . .

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Every billionaire needs a secret spinning door in their library . . . what, you DON'T have one?! I pity the fool! This is the highlight of billionaire-ness. Seriously. 

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Ah, the family room . . . I think they call it "rustic chic." I love it. I mean just obsessed with it love it. Hunting cabin with flare? Oh, gimme gimme!

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And game room  . . . we'd need a pool table, our five gaming systems (yes, it's true--Wii, N64, PS2, GameCube, and Super Nintendo . . . we're old school nerds), and a couple of computers for Chris's WoW hobby . . . and, um Guild Wars 2 anybody? Am I the only person ridiculously excited about this????? OMG can't wait! And . . . um . . . the room? Better than Guild Wars 2, and that's saying something! I love the contrast of the sleek built-in booksheves with the wooden beams in the ceiling.  The more books the better!

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I'll now take you into the guest bedroom, where you'll be staying.  Please, make yourself at home and leave us a message or a doodle on your chalk wall. If I had it my way, the walls wouldn't be white--probably a spunky green, but, hey, I don't have a guest room or a chalk wall, so we'll stick with the photo . . .

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The guest bathroom . . . I'd probably add a spash of bright color because, alongside "rustic chic" by other obsession is ridiculous amounts of bold colors--especially shades of green and blue . . . Oh, and squid . . . I have a ridonkulous (see? beyond ridiculous) obsession with squid . . . mainly the "man-eating" Humboldt Squid . . .

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And now we seek the sanctuary of the Master Bedroom . . . seriously, sanctuary is the best word for this place.  My golly.


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We bring nature into the Master Bath with the treated wooden counter and add some modern flare with  the paper lanterns . . .


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And then we bath in this sucker and hope no one's in a helicopter playing peeping Tom . . . I'd never come out . . . especially if it has those bubble jets . . . and, you know, since it's my dream house, we're going to say it does. And it's six feet long. Just because I want it to be . . .

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And, because we are hoping, one day, for mini mes (mini us? ok ok . . . KIDS), this nursery would be so fun! But not in pink. Can't do pink. Not at all.  Blue please. Or green. Are you sensing a theme of my favorite colors?  Love grays with bold pops of blue green, and white.  I just love the open, spunky feel of this room and the fact that it can be incredibly verstile.



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Every house needs a nice home office/art room -- a place where you can escape, relax, and just be creative . . . or, you know, file taxes or something . . . 

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  And, of course, the backyard.  I'm thinking a little enchanted forest with a splash of Japanese Garden and a touch of modern zen  . . .



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And that, my friends, is the Mead Hall. 

What would your dream house look like?