Rock The Block - General Discussion

[chessiegal]

32 minutes ago, LennieBriscoe said:

If truly a separate room and no sink, yuck!

It's a few steps away from the sink/s in the bathroom just as if there was no wall. I never closed the door on mine, so there was no difference.

[3 is enough]

I read an article about the show last year.  Evidently a lot of the plumbing is not hooked up when they film the reveal. So it’s all just for show and some fixtures will most likely be removed before they actually put the house on the market. 
Makes sense because moving plumbing is a big time consuming job and they don’t have a ton of time to get the rooms ready.

Edited March 21, 2023 by 3 is enough

[Madding crowd]

I think the added patio earned the win; I would have added chairs out there for effect. I really wouldn’t want a ballroom sized bathroom; too hard to keep clean and I don’t spend enough time there. I don’t know anyone who has a tiny room just for the toilet and wonder if it is a regional thing. I don’t think I would like it because it would seem claustrophobic and possibly smell. The bedrooms were fine, I like to hang art on my walls so I prefer just painted walls. I would love a coffee center in my room. These houses have weird narrow hallways and strange layouts to me. And finally if I had a secret room I would make it a cool library or game room not a laundry.

[SusanwatchingTV]

3 hours ago, LennieBriscoe said:

1. We built our house in 1988; never heard the term "water closet." On the cusp, I guess. 

2. I don't watch enough house design/buying shows, because "Rock the Block" is the only one where I've heard the term (not "Lottery Dream Home" or "House Hunters International"). 

3. If truly a separate room and no sink, yuck!

4. Double sinks or not, "water closet" or not, the thought of sharing a bathroom for any utilitarian purpose (brushing teeth; using the toilet; etc.) baffles the cra...bejeebers out of me. Go away until I'm done! 

5. I find the term "water closet" rather Victorian. God forfend anyone on TV say "toilet" (unless it costs $7000, and then they'd better!).  (But then, apparently even the word "shower" is giving way to "wet room.")

Books:

1. I've never heard of placing books backwards, thus being unable to discern any individual  title, so as not to offend another! I wouldn't invite such nincompoops to my house in the first place!

2. I wouldn't advertise so blatantly that I am not, in fact, a reader! Skip the shelves, skip the books, and find a wall paint shade somewhere called "Edge of Book Pages." 

3. I have an entire wall of bookshelves in my living room, all books with their spines and titles facing out. I have never thought of them in terms of color or size, but in terms of type, subject, and author; aka, as books. Call me crazy! 

So I may be out of date and style, but I know enough not to block a valued window view with a fireplace---so that people could face that way for the now-reduced view! 🤪

WC

1.  I don't know where you live. Perhaps this is a regional difference?  I visited France in the 80s and it was very common there to have a room for the toilet.  It didn't surprise me at all when we started looking at buying a new home that it had that feature.

2.  I never watch Lottery Dream Home or HHI so I can't say about those, but a lot of the shows I watch do have that feature.  Not all, but a lot.  Still, it probably is regional, and definitely in the newer homes and higher-end properties.

3.  The WC is a closet-like space in the main bathroom. It isn't gross to me, in fact, to me it's gross not having a door to keep the airborne contaminants confined to that room as much as possible.  You use the facilities, put the lid down, flush, then open the door and immediately go wash your hands in the sink that is just outside the door.  This way your toothbrush and other things in the room stay cleaner. 

4.  I also appreciate the extra level of privacy this extra room affords.  My husband can walk into the room and not see me there (and vice-versa) win win.  Our master closet is through that room. I can pee and not be visible if he is still getting dressed.

5.  Victorian?  The word for a bathroom or public facility (as we would say in the US) in many countries is WC which stands for Water Closet.  I've come across that term in many of my travels over the years.  Here in the US we use that term primarily for a room with just the toilet, but I don't find the term victorian at all. 

Books:
I'm a reader, so I've laughed at this too. My own collection of nearly 5000 books are arranged by subject and definitely have the spine facing out.  But, this is TV in the year 2023. Everyone everywhere is offended by everything these days.  Plus these designers don't care about books, they care about looks and they like this look better.  I don't know why.  I agree with you that it's stupid.
 

[Grrarrggh]

2 minutes ago, SusanwatchingTV said:

 Plus these designers don't care about books, they care about looks and they like this look better.  I don't know why.  I agree with you that it's stupid.

The "designers" don't really care about looks or books IMO. They care about blandness and not having to bothering coming up with a true design. Easier. 

[SusanwatchingTV]

3 minutes ago, Grrarrggh said:

The "designers" don't really care about looks or books IMO. They care about blandness and not having to bothering coming up with a true design. Easier. 

LOL  You're probably right. :)

[Madding crowd]

The designers are lazy. As I mentioned before there are websites that sell books by the foot by color and they are for decorating, no offensive names. I am a huge reader but can promise if I am in the market to buy a house I will not feel compelled to stand in front of the books mesmerized, I will check out the house. I think they do it because it seems trendy, no other reason.

[chessiegal]

Years ago, my Community Outreach group decided to collect books and then sell them back to members of our club at meetings to raise money. That turned out to be one of those things that was good in theory. After much time and few sales, someone found an interior designer who bought them all for staging. 

[LennieBriscoe]

I thought I would like this show more than I do.

I miss the shows that took us to the retail and wholesale sources where we saw the various lamps and paint chips and marble or granite slabs.

Heck, we weren't  even told what a $7000 toilet offers, let alone where to buy one! 😅🚽❓

Found it! It's a Kohler. The show got a bargain! 😄

https://www.kohler.com/en/products/toilets/shop-toilets/numi-2-0-one-piece-elongated-smart-toilet-dual-flush-30754-pa?skuId=30754-PA-0

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by LennieBriscoe

[Grrarrggh]

No colour in a single bathroom?! The shower in the wet room is going to be breezy and cold, especially with such a big room. 

[seacliffsal]

It was during an earlier season of this show that designers put a washer/dryer in the closest and won the episode.  Now we are seeing the impact of that as all of the designers had a w/d in the closet or closet adjacent (I have never seen this in real life).  I guess the next big thing will be a clothes steamer in every closet along with the w/d.

As soon as they built out the balcony and put in the double french doors I wanted that team to win.  I am A-OK with a smaller bathroom and closet if it means I can have a balcony!

[carrps]

On 3/15/2023 at 6:54 PM, 40Love said:

Hubby kind of implied that in episode 2 when he says he'll just keep building what he's told to build. He looks physically tired and emotionally over the whole thing. 

I almost thought he looked like he'd been crying in this episode, but I think he's just exhausted. I think they're overextending themselves. And, again, who wants to live in a hotel? I sure don't. I like my living spaces to have a little personality.

I wouldn't be sold on a house because it had a urinal. I wouldn't buy because it does either. It's just wasted space for me, so, I guess it's a negative. 😄

I liked the green bedroom/bathroom if they'd take the lariat stuff out. I sincerely doubt she wanted the lariats from the beginning. I also really liked Michel and Anthony's bedroom. It had a cozy vibe, and the balcony extension was a super smart idea. I didn't like Page and Aussie's bedroom much. But I hate having semi-permanent fixtures like that slat wall. It's very restrictive. Plus, I agreed with the annoying twins that the rest of the room looked awfully white (and builder-grade) with the plain white walls.

[meep.meep]

On 3/21/2023 at 5:09 AM, LennieBriscoe said:

Another thing: Since when did Americans start placing toilets into cubicles or even separate rooms, and then start calling these spaces "water closets"?

We aren't British/Euro. 

And no, a urinal is NOT something that belongs in a home. 

 

 

I just watched two episodes of Million Dollar Listing LA from 2018.  Out of the house porn shown, half the bathrooms had toilets in separate rooms.  One even had a urinal.

I think we do it.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I just saw a photo of the rock wall in the Baeumler's living room.  My opinion is it's hideous.    Can the house support that much weight?    If I was looking at that house, I would ask the builder how fast they can remove that hideous rock wall, and fix all of the other 'features' the Baeumlers added.    

For laundry, in an expensive house, I want a laundry room on the main floor, with proper drainage, and venting for the dryer directly outside for easy cleaning.  

Edited March 25, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[Grrarrggh]

6 hours ago, carrps said:

But I hate having semi-permanent fixtures like that slat wall. It's very restrictive. 

I know the furnishings don't matter (not that the prices at the end can be trusted anyway....) but I hated that they didn't do a headboard on the bed. How freakin' uncomfortable must it be to sit or lean against those sticks?

[40Love]

On 3/21/2023 at 11:19 AM, LennieBriscoe said:

I've never heard of placing books backwards, thus being unable to discern any individual  title, so as not to offend another! I wouldn't invite such nincompoops to my house in the first place!

I think you may be misunderstanding the whole backward book thing. It's not something people are doing in their homes. It's something Home Improvement shows do when displaying their designs on TV. They turn the books around so the titles can't be read by the viewers at home. I personally believe it's to avoid the possibility of offending anyone, but don't know for sure. They just want to show books on the shelf as a staging style so the shelves are full.

As for the episode, I'm happy Michel and Anthony won... although it's a big "no" for me on that urinal. Loved the ombre walls.

I liked the bathroom fireplace from Page and her partner... also liked the large walk-in closet the hotel couple included. I wouldn't be able to fill it. But, it's nice.

I hated Jon's green bedroom. Yuck! 

All the teams put in washers and dryers because that's what won the Twins the challenge last year. But 2 laundry rooms seems silly and wasteful to me. But, I'm not rich. So maybe I don't understand the struggle of having your w/d on only one floor. 🤔 

Edited March 23, 2023 by 40Love

[Feline Goddess]

I didn’t see a floor drain in the wet room. 
 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Feline Goddess

[LennieBriscoe]

On 3/22/2023 at 5:09 PM, meep.meep said:

I just watched two episodes of Million Dollar Listing LA from 2018.  Out of the house porn shown, half the bathrooms had toilets in separate rooms.  One even had a urinal.

I think we do it.

I yield! 😄 🤫

I nonetheless don't like the boxy  design but much more so not the concept behind it. I don't need to hear the sublime noises of another's...🚽

If it's a totally separate room with toilet and sink, well, that's a powder room! 

Also, big 👎 to a washer-dryer combo in a clothes closet (and where was the outside venting?). I'd  rather use the space for its intended purpose. I did like the tall spinning shoe storage. 

Seriously though, folks: Looks to me with the locations of these "RtB" houses that toilets, closets, fireplaces, marble this and marble that should be the least of the potential  buyers' concerns. I'm thinking maybe a major concern might be a dependable future water supply. 🤔 💣

 

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by LennieBriscoe

[CrazyInAlabama]

I keep wondering about the view when other parts of the subdivision are built?   

I want my walk-in closet for clothes and shoes, not my laundry room.   Even with venting, it's still going to be damp in the closet. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[carrps]

2 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

I keep wondering about the view when other parts of the subdivision are built?   

I wondered the same thing.

[Madding crowd]

22 hours ago, 40Love said:

I think you may be misunderstanding the whole backward book thing. It's not something people are doing in their homes. It's something Home Improvement shows do when displaying their designs on TV. They turn the books around so the titles can't be read by the viewers at home. I personally believe it's to avoid the possibility of offending anyone, but don't know for sure. They just want to show books on the shelf as a staging style so the shelves are full.

As for the episode, I'm happy Michel and Anthony won... although it's a big "no" for me on that urinal. Loved the ombre walls.

I liked the bathroom fireplace from Page and her partner... also liked the large walk-in closet the hotel couple included. I wouldn't be able to fill it. But, it's nice.

I hated Jon's green bedroom. Yuck! 

All the teams put in washers and dryers because that's what won the Twins the challenge last year. But 2 laundry rooms seems silly and wasteful to me. But, I'm not rich. So maybe I don't understand the struggle of having your w/d on only one floor. 🤔 

I have seen numerous designers websites , Pinterest and Tv shows where designers suggest have a wall of inward facing books is the newest style in libraries. I don’t agree but it is all over. In my latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens one of the featured houses has a bookcase like this in one room and a regular one in another. I don’t think we are misunderstanding, it is a trend. 

[40Love]

43 minutes ago, Madding crowd said:

I have seen numerous designers websites , Pinterest and Tv shows where designers suggest have a wall of inward facing books is the newest style in libraries. I don’t agree but it is all over. In my latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens one of the featured houses has a bookcase like this in one room and a regular one in another. I don’t think we are misunderstanding, it is a trend. 

Okay, thanks. 

[buttersister]

2 hours ago, 40Love said:

I don’t think we are misunderstanding, it is a trend. 

🤮

[LennieBriscoe]

"Johnny, can you go get me 'Oliver Twist' to read?"  

"Uh, sure. No problem. Ummmm.... So, okay. How wide and tall is it, again?"

From elledecor.com:

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/a15064781/backward-books-trend/

Edited March 24, 2023 by LennieBriscoe

[catrice2]

I've actually watched quite a few shows where the homeowners are thrilled with having the laundry off the bedroom, so I thought it was the new trend. Go figure.  I grew up with it being in the basement....or the area between the garage or in the garage...so that is where I think it belongs if you cannot have a separate laundry room. 

[LennieBriscoe]

The day my washing machine spewed sudsy water all over the floor of my laundry room off my kitchen was the day I was glad we hadn't  bought a house with the laundry room on the second floor! 

[CrazyInAlabama]

So, I made the mistake of watching the basement challenge.   I had to turn it off when the Baeumlers made it into a wellness center, complete with a sunken tub, and a big smoothie bar.     Are they kidding?   Sunken tubs are often removed during a remodel, and putting it in the floor on a basement slab is a big mistake in my opinion.   

The bar being a breakfast bar, and the kid's playroom wouldn't fit any of their kids.  Why would the kids want to hang out in the basement, while the parents are getting massages?  The massage tables, and sauna, and workout area is interesting.  How many people have a need for two massage tables at home?   The shower is massive, and the sunken tub is a big miss for me.  I wouldn't touch a house with that sunken tub in the basement.  

I think the Luxe men's basement is a little too over the top.  A third kitchen that's as big as the upstairs kitchen, and a wine wall.   Who is going to maintain, supply,  and clean three kitchens?    The speakeasy was interesting, but could have been used for something more useful, and not so closed off.  

I like Page's ideas for the basement.   Mitch and Page turned it into a fun family room, with a smaller kitchen.   I like the swings instead of bar stools to sit on, and I think it was cute. Did the swings actually move?   The small third kitchen area is just the right size for the family room/ basement. I like the golf simulator too.   I think their space is the most fun, and useful for the entire family. 

I liked Jon's ideas until they decided to put in a dining table banquette in the corner of the main room.   It's in the wrong place for watching TV or movies, and half of the seats have their back to the TV area.   Put in a huge sectional for watching movies and games, not a banquette.   So, a 4 bed bunk room in the basement for the kids?  I like the arcade games, but not the bunk room. And no dishwasher, or ice maker for the kitchen/bar area?   And having a full bar and the bunk room right next to it, may be a bad idea.  

 

Isn't this the episode with you-know-who judging?   Unfortunately, it is.   Winners this week were Jon and Kristina. 

I would have picked Page and Mitch's basement.   

 

Edited March 28, 2023 by CrazyInAlabama

[chessiegal]

41 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Isn't this the episode with you-know-who judging?   

Yes. When they introduced her I told my husband - she's a crook.

[40Love]

47 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Winner this week was Jon and Kristina. 

I'm shocked! I was sure the couple who built a hotel spa in the basement would win. 

[buttersister]

A bunkhouse? So was the extra bedroom and bath the value-add that won it?
Didn’t the farmhouse people also fail to put a dishwasher in their second kitchen? Dumb choice. But then. judges? LOL!

[Infiltr8]

So I liked the spa/gym idea but not for the entire basement… seems they could have done half spa/half entertainment area… I think 2nd kitchen ok but did not to be huge— I think kitchenette w/smaller appliances works and def need dishwasher— and I think at that price needs full bathroom in basement— 

 

[LennieBriscoe]

The best is some hybrid. 😀 For me, it would be the spa and the arcade games! 

I didn't like the swings because I can see people kicking the table to push off, and then crashing on the return! What's that? You're just supposed to sit still? On....swings? 🤔 Fuhgeddaboutit! 

I didn't think Michel and Anthony went far enough with their Speakeasy idea. One "secret" room doesn't scream, "Come and get me, Ness!" Boozy, dark, and sexy; take it from there. Kids, keep out!

I don't  know why anyone would want a full lower-level kitchen (OMG, don't get me started on the Italian 2-kitchens thing!), because who today wants to lug stuff downstairs to make any recipe requiring a FULL KITCHEN?! Or are the cupboards and refrigerator to contain duplicate herbs and spices and utensils and fresh vegetables and...oops! Triggered! 😆

Every time I see something on these kinds of shows such as the wood slats on the walls, I immediately think: Dusting all that?! (I didn't say I dust; I said I think about it!)

My One Major Lower-Level Item:

A swim-spa with resistance-flow to swim in place. 🏊‍♀️

https://www.swimex.com/residential-pool-gallery/

 

 

Edited March 28, 2023 by LennieBriscoe

[Madding crowd]

I thought all of the basements were too specific. Most people don’t get massages at home unless they are very rich. Usually people are at work during the day and with family at night and I wouldn’t pay strangers to come in at odd times for massages. The sauna and gym were nice.

The swing seats didn’t have room to swing, you would have to try to balance yourself while eating and not safe for kids. The Lux room was cool for a minute but I bet that speakeasy would never be used. Guests coming over would rather look at the view or sit in front of a fireplace. I liked the arcade games in the kids room space but noticed the bed room is set up for small young children but the bathroom had a really tall sink that they couldn’t reach.
 

Most of that area would need to be redone once your kids were school age. 
If I had a house that size I would appreciate a mother in law apartment for relatives or grown kids and/or a gym and theater room/library that could be used for all ages. Not everyone plays golf, drinks wine or needs numerous kitchens.

[chessiegal]

1 hour ago, Madding crowd said:

I thought all of the basements were too specific.

Bingo!

[buttersister]

With two massage tables, it felt like the resort couple were still building a resort. 

[catrice2]

4 hours ago, chessiegal said:

Bingo!

 I totally agree, but oddly the one that I could make work would be the one with the speak easy. For the others the spa theme went too far, especially with the little kid room that seemed out of place. The golf room was too much as were the swings. Maybe different swings? the arcade plus the bunk beds as if everyone has kids was one thing too many and the banquet seating was odd.

 

At least the other one was purely a lounge and entertainment space without trying to do so many different things. I feel like stylistically it matches the rest of the spaces they completed. 

[njbchlover]

1 hour ago, buttersister said:

With two massage tables, it felt like the resort couple were still building a resort. 

That's what I said.  I feel like the Baumler's are building a very high end AirBnB house instead of something that people would want to live in full time.

It's all sooo "zen hotel" like - too much white, beige and tan for my tastes.  

Also, there is something about them that just kind of annoys me.  

Edited March 28, 2023 by njbchlover

[chessiegal]

19 minutes ago, njbchlover said:

there is something about them that just kind of annoys me.  

There's something about one of them that annoys me, and it's not Bryan.

[kirklandia]

That wine rack was for show, not for go. Backlit?? Wine is supposed to be stored in the dark.

[ML89]

No one thought to turn it into a mother in law suite or add an office?

How exactly is a range vented downstairs?

No dishwasher again when New Kid Team got dinged on that the first time?

 

[SusanwatchingTV]

I think the correct team won, mostly because of the use of color and texture in the spaces and the more universally appealing look of the spaces, but I agree that it was weird that they didn't put a dishwasher in the space. We now have three kitchen spaces and only one dishwasher?  I wish they allowed the teams to go back and make final fixes or re-dos on the spaces before the final appraisals.  They could easily add the dishwashers and up the value quite a bit.

I totally agree that the Baumlers' missed the mark with the massage rooms. Who is giving these people massages at home? Yes, it's done from time to time, but not often. It's a waste of space to dedicate an entire room to that.  

I was really surprised no one did an office, no one did a MIL suite, no one did a teen suite, and no one did a theater room.  These things are pretty standard here, so maybe they were trying to stay away from standard, but it seemed like they all made odd choices, imho.

[topanga]

54 minutes ago, SusanwatchingTV said:

I was really surprised no one did an office, no one did a MIL suite, no one did a teen suite, and no one did a theater room.  These things are pretty standard here, so maybe they were trying to stay away from standard, but it seemed like they all made odd choices, imho.

IMO, those are things most home buyers would want. But maybe the contestants thought those things were too "basic" and wanted to make artistic statements. 

I didn't like any of the basements, but the winning couple had the bunk room, which was the room I liked the most. 

And I'm assuming there's still an area in the basement for storage that we just didn't see? 

[islandgal140]

I am totally shocked that no one did a home theatre! That is what I would want to see.

What do NKOTB and Kristina have against dishwashers?!?! My money is on them to win this. I hated their bedroom though. That color green was awful!  But I guess that can be painted over. 

I like Michel and Anthony's design but I can see now that their house is unlikely to win because it really isn't kid or family friendly AT ALL!  So it is not gonna to appeal to a larger segment of buyers. It is very sexy though. I loved their kitchen but frankly, if I was paying upwards of $2m on a home, I want quartz counters, NOT PORCELAIN. 

There is basic and then there is basic & ugly. Enter the Baumlers. Their basement was 75% spa and 25%. Where were the kids supposed to play? In that small room under the stairs? If they had just done the gym, sauna and full bath, and let the rest for family fun/relaxation, I think they stood a chance of winning. The massage room and gigantic bath were too much.  That might make sense in some ridiculous 25,000 square foot legit mansion, but not this one. I know Brian and Mika won overall S2 and they didn't win any of the individual challenges but at least their home was simply basic, yet functional, family friendly and well thought out i.e, had mass appeal. Any one can add their touches to elevate it to their taste. The Baumler rock wall is aggressively ugly and dominates the entire house. I can't see anything beyond it and it seems to be almost everywhere. It would be a PITA and expensive to remove.

Paige's deserved to lose just for those swings alone. 

[Mrs. Stanwyck]

On 3/28/2023 at 11:31 AM, Madding crowd said:

Most people don’t get massages at home unless they are very rich. Usually people are at work during the day and with family at night and I wouldn’t pay strangers to come in at odd times for massages.

Well, with the price of this home being somewhere between $2m - $3m, I'd say the potential home owners will be very rich.  My husband and I were having the same conversation and I pointed out that we are not the target buyer for these homes.  Then Allison came in and said she works out at home every morning and gets a massage so there you go.

I also thought you did not need another full kitchen downstairs but one of the judges liked that there was a full kitchen rather than a kitchenette.  Its a basement - a sink, a fridge and a microwave would be perfectly fine for most basement activities.  If you spend a lot of time down there eating, drinking and snacking, then a dishwasher would also be great because you know kids aren't bringing up dirty dishes as often as they should.

I thought Bryan and Sarah would have done better if they used half for their wellness center and half for family lounging and activities. 

 

[catrice2]

Well for those that did put a kitchen down there if they decided to have another bedroom or  make an in law suite  it would be easier to reconfigure that into a "mother in law" suite.  The speakeasy could be a bedroom,  it already has a living area, and they would just have to add on to the half bath or put a shower in somewhere. 

I agree about the office although I thought the winning team had a small office area?  I also think people are over home theatres.  Remember when crafting an gift wrapping rooms were popular in larger homes?  I don't usually watch this show, but do they redo every room in the house? It is possible there are offices in the main area upstairs, but it is just not one of the spaces they include in the challenges.  Some people don't like coming downstairs to work.  What I do like is that from what I can see each downstairs could have a separate entrance from down there, so if someone has mobility issues they could still get in there without having to navigate the stairs. 

I still believe of the four the speakeasy would be the easiest one for me to  change to something I want.  The others either lacked a kitchen, a bathroom, or had things (like the spa features/golf things, bunk beds) that would be harder to move around or remove.  Theirs would primarily be redecorating to my style. 

[meep.meep]

15 hours ago, kirklandia said:

That wine rack was for show, not for go. Backlit?? Wine is supposed to be stored in the dark.

Actually the wine was on a wall that didn't receive any direct sunlight so it should be just fine.  Compare it to the one the Baumlers did on the first floor in direct sunlight.

I thought they did get some time at the end of the show to fix up problems.  The NKOTB team can get a quantity discount on dishwashers.

The sad thing is that it's not the design but how each house is situated on the property that probably determines the selling price.  

[RowdyCam]

Has anyone found a link to the floorplans? I can't tell how many bedrooms and baths are in the homes. There may well be an office space somewhere.

The basements definitely needed a kitchenette (fridge, dishwasher and sink minimum) and a bathroom. Beyond that, a home gym and either a theatre room or hangout room with comfy seating like a sectional that could be adapted for adults, teens or kids/grandkids. If there isn't a mother-in-law suite somewhere upstairs and bedroom space is needed, that would fit too. My mother-in-law would not enjoy a bunkroom, but that was the best downstairs bathroom.

Edited March 29, 2023 by RowdyCam

[buttersister]

Alison liked the gym and massage room because she works out and gets massages at home. Of course. She’s not going to show her face in any of the popular gyms/clubs🤣

[Pine]

There could be movie room space upstairs.  Although downstairs would be the best space in these homes.   I cannot believe that Jon and Kristin once again didn't think of dishwasher!!!  DUH!!!   I would think that a nanny/inlaw area would be perfect.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Pine

[Madding crowd]

2 hours ago, buttersister said:

Alison liked the gym and massage room because she works out and gets massages at home. Of course. She’s not going to show her face in any of the popular gyms/clubs🤣

She also lives in Chicago ( or used to) , so massage places are all over. I still think even people who could afford a 3 million dollar house likely work and couldn’t have people driving out to their houses that often for massages. I bet that room would get repurposed or sit empty most of the time.