I think this is where our terminology going to diverge.

Custom Home (to me): Designed by an architect to your needs. They are no "upgrades" everything is designed to be bad ass and the builder is given a spec sheet of all of the components to be used on the inside and outside of a house. You can take this to an extreme by providing hardscape design, landscape design, etc. from a Landscape Architect.

What you are describing is taking a builder's model and making modifications.

Two vastly different things.

If I was you I would consider going to an architect with your ideas and then bidding the completed drawings out with a few builders/contractors. In the end you will have a better house and it will not be a house you Frankensteined with suggestions from GFY. To go from schematic phase (cocktail napkin) to bid sets is not that much money (depending on your location and the total sq footage).

Another issue you need to consider is the building lot you are putting this house on and the houses around you. Putting a $1mil house in a $350K neighborhood will make you king of the 'hood, but when you try to sell it... you are going to take it in the shorts. If the neighborhood can not support the house you want to build... find another lot.

Good input but I haven't selected a builder, lot or design yet.

I'm working outside in with the final design and square footage being the last
thing we'll decide. In fact the McDaddy garage may require a 100% custom design? It may require getting the plan made by a third party ? But, maybe one of the builders can adapt one of their designs with their in house team ?

One thing I do know is I see a ton of houses that cost 600K and up that have weeds for the front yards and shitty trim inside and a $300 stove with but they have a 4200 SF house that sucks.

I don't need 2 master bedrooms upstairs or three family rooms because I'll only use one of each.

Anyway it's just a wish list and we'll use some that make sense to us :)

friggin hell, some awesome ideas in this thread.

I am about to build a contemporary villa, with infinity pool, solar panels, wireless broadband connection throughout, big screen tv, etc. This thread has given me so many new ideas. Thanks!

Verizon FIOS is faster than a T3...

The master bathroom with a tiny pond with a fountain, lights and stones to walk to the bath tub. I saw it in a villa in Bali. Pretty impressive :thumbsup

Nice !!!!!!!

Any More ?

Everyone has already mentioned some awesome ideas.

For me? Secret passageways :thumbsup

I'd get a 2 story mobile home....for people with money.

A space elevator.


http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ceElevator.jpg

I'd automate the whole thing with a computer named "HAL".