What does your house....

or place of residence look like?

I thought it would be interesting to see where everyone lives (as long as you are comfortable posting such pics on line).

Here is my place. It was a custom built house completed in 1989, and we are the second owners. The people who built the house had an architect in the family who lived in Barbados, so there are styles/features in the house that have a different feeling from many houses in my part of the world.

We moved in near the end of April 1996, and unless something drastic happens, we will probably retire here. The house is a ranch (one floor), and has 2,500 square feet of living space, an oversized two car garage, and of course a full basement that is partially finished (adding another 2,500 square feet of space if we ever wanted to finish it - no need right now). The lot is 100 feet wide at the road, and 270 feet deep.

Now for some pics!

Here is the house from across the street. The lot was native bush when the subdivision was built, and our lot was one where a great deal of care was taken to preserve as much of that wooded area as possible. There is a small area of bush out the front, so the house is sort of tucked in from the road where you don't see most of it.



Here is a shot down the drive - it's a patterned concrete drive and I could park a lot of cars on it. It's also a lot to clear in the winter when the snow is 2 feet deep!



When you get closer to the house, you can see more of the front...



Here is the front door and gardens - won't be long until the planters are gone.



If you imagine walking around the left side of the picture above, you can see the side of the house as it opens up to the back yard.



There is a good section of bush out the back of the lot, so it insulates us from the farmer's field beyond - at least in the summer when we have leaves.



As you walk around the back of the house, you come upon the two level deck (yes, it's a mess with all the leaves down from the storm the other night).



This upper level of the deck is right outside the master bedroom (see doors to the outside) and we sit in the Muskoka chairs to have a coffee in the morning during the spring and fall (too hot in the summers).



Here is a shot showing the back of the house.



In this closer view, you can see the solarium area that is all windows (not an add on sun room, but a planned part of the house), and three sky lights in the roof. This is where we eat our meals most days and admire the view of the back out the large windows.



Here is a view of the small garden near the house, where the large branch fell and hit the house last week. The square thing in the photo is a backstop I use for archery practice.



Here is a shot from where I shoot at that backstop (from 30 meters, but I can get 50 meters if I need to).



Finally, here is a shot off the left side of the deck in the photos above, looking back at the yard.



So, that's the outside of my house. Hope you enjoy the tour!

Now, let's see where you guys live!

Al

[Mark]

This is my humble pad. 12 years old, 15 year mortgage ....

2500+ square feet, 5 bedrooms, 2 baths. Has a nice size 2 car garage and a backyard the size of a football field.

Can you even see the house behind the tree?

Backyard .... kids love playing soccer and football there. Also served as a motocross track once. LOL

Back Porch ... waiting for the "Fall" & cooler weather. I enjoy sitting out there and reading a book.

[JJ Irani]

Beautiful pics, Al and Mark. My little 2-bedroom affair would fit into your backyards with so much room to spare.

JJ

Here's my place. We took possession in late May and although it's our third house in five years, it's the house I plan on living the rest of my life in. We bought the house from the original owners who paid CDN$48,000 for it in 1970. When I saw that in the documents it made me cry cuz even if we ever sell this place, we won't see that kind of ROI. It's the only house of it's kind in the neighborhood and was built on land previously belonging to a convent.





It's approximately 2,600 square feet with half the basement finished (an additional 800 sq/ft or so). It's got four baths, four bedrooms, a huge eat-in kitchen, main floor mud/laundry room, two fireplaces (one in the master suite), double garage long enough for two 1970s era boatmobiles and then some, and in the back we've got a 36'X18' pool, a 10'X10' cedar pool shed and a raised deck that's over 60' long and 12' wide (at the widest).

[JJ Irani]

Beautiful place you have there, Johnny.....must love that cute pool....trying to picture all my grandkids having a blast in it along with little Charlotte!!

Thanks JJ. We have been very lucky to be able to have a place like we do, considering there's just the three of us in a large, four bedroom house. We are VERY fortunate!

Thankfully C LOVES the pool. It would really suck if she was afraid of the water. However, it does eat up the majority of the back yard and provides a hazard (it's law we have to have it 100% fenced and gates locked). So this time of year, when it's too cold to swim, it kinda sucks having it in the back. However, with all those 25C and hotter days in the summer, it sure is nice to jump in after work each day!

And JJ, if you're ever over this way... you're always welcome. I'll even get a cot from the YMCA and let you stay in the pool shed!

[G Shearing]

Photo of a painting done by a friend.


Yes, I'm a Seadweller!! lol
I bought this vessel 40ft LOA to do contract work for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and found I liked being a "seadweller" or sea gypsy. It is very comfortable inside with a stateroom forward, saloon midships and galley aft.
Vessel is a bit of BC history, well I guess so am I
I just opened one of my favourites, a McEwan's Scottish Strong Ale. Well, a guy has to splice the mainbrace once in awhile

[Rockrolex]

Finally had a chance to take some pics of where I reside.

Front


Part of the back yard from the side


Back yard - No maintenance


Screened in porch. Great for summer eating.

[dman]

Home sweet home!! What time is dinner pops?

Very nice Casa Ed, beautiful!!

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by dman

Home sweet home!! What time is dinner pops?

Very nice Casa Ed, beautiful!!

\
Dinner? Cook? My wife makes the best reservations in town.

[Uncle-AJ]

Very nice and very colonial Ed.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

Very nice and very colonial Ed.

Thanks, Adrian. There's only one other similar to it in the neighborhood and we've done so much to ours that they don't look anything alike anymore.

The screened-in porch was a gift to me from Arleen. It was to have been a surprise. She contracted to have it put up while I was out of town for a two week trial. But the case settled on the courthouse steps. So I came home while it was still a work in progress. But I love it. It's a favorite place to eat breakfast and dinner during the spring, summer and early fall.

[pensivedoc]

My townhome is the right half of this building. I say "my" loosely b/c I rent. There are very good arguments for buying or building in the next year, but I've not really been set on where I want to be geographically, and didn't want to be stuck trying to sell a place if I decided to move. Anyway, I'm enjoying it for now. . .

[dman]

Very nice J, but where is the snow?

[RogerF]

Bah all your houses are crap compared to mine!!!!!!!!!


Right now I live here



but because I bought 3 new watches this year I might have to move to this next year

[dman]

You are assuming I am willing to sell my summer home Roger.

[Rockrolex]

I really like your current residence, Roger. It has that windswept je ne sais qua look. And it looks nicely air conditioned. Important for those hot summer days and nights. Where's the pool?

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by pensivedoc

My townhome is the right half of this building. I say "my" loosely b/c I rent. There are very good arguments for buying or building in the next year, but I've not really been set on where I want to be geographically, and didn't want to be stuck trying to sell a place if I decided to move. Anyway, I'm enjoying it for now. . .

Looks like a nice place, Jason. Two car garage, very nice.

If you want some advice, I'd say buy if you're going to be where you are for at least a year, especially if the real estate market in your area is reasonably strong. In addition to the tax benefit you get from deducting mortgage interest, your equity will almost certainly appreciate and you can apply the appreciation to a new place if and when you move.

[pensivedoc]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Looks like a nice place, Jason. Two car garage, very nice.

If you want some advice, I'd say buy if you're going to be where you are for at least a year, especially if the real estate market in your area is reasonably strong. In addition to the tax benefit you get from deducting mortgage interest, your equity will almost certainly appreciate and you can apply the appreciation to a new place if and when you move.

I agree, hence my "good arguments" comment. I'm looking at some places in a town that's about ten minutes away, but is probably a better real estate market.

[RogerF]

aahhhh the pool, cant forget about that

[dman]

LMAO!!!

[JJ Irani]

LMAO at your post, Roger!! Wonderful sense of humour!!

[RogerF]

ok, now you guys are hurting my feelings, those were serious posts :( Are you guys thinking that my watch money is better spent elsewhere?


mmmm maybe I need a faster car....

Ed, very nice looking place!

[Earl]

complimenti on your home Ed, very nice, spacious and homey I'm sure!

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Earl

complimenti on your home Ed, very nice, spacious and homey I'm sure!

Thanks, guys. But it's not nearly as big as some of the McMansions that festoon the area within 2-3 miles of my house.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Thanks, guys. But it's not nearly as big as some of the McMansions that festoon the area within 2-3 miles of my house.

It is big enough and cozy enough for me to call home though.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by dman

It is big enough and cozy enough for me to call home though.

It is if the price is right.

[dman]

I'll only visit on certain holidays and for the occasional dinner.