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I love the house but get real who in their right mind would kids down on the first floor with doors. Read todays papers. Put them in the quest room and move quest in kids room. That is the only problem I have with this house.

Posted by JoAnne – January 2, 2008 6:50 PM

Yikes,What Happened?I have been watching and learning so much from all of HGTV designers!I recall, Less is better!Need pathways that flow& not turn sideways to walk through rooms!Way too much furniture-Looks too busy!! If I won, I would definetly hire HGTV designers to make over the rooms. Well, the patio is a cheerfull yellow and pretty. My hubby and I could sit and breath in the beautifull scenery.He worked in steel mill for 43 years,had heart surgery.4kids&12Grandkids. Lived in Ohio , sure would be great climate!Especially with ostoarthritis.All hubby has is a small fishing boat, but he enjoys that.If it is meant to be, I say God Bless you all!PS> I voted for Kim!!! I felt so bad when she walked through the mud. Carter is cute, and when you people laugh,it is so up-lifting!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR to all HGTV! Fondly, Mrs. Richard Manley Sr.

Posted by Judy Manley – January 3, 2008 1:31 AM

Beautiful home but definately need to remove half the furniture and accessories. Way to much!!!!!!!!! and who wants to spend all their time dusting all those things when the outside is where you want to spend all your time. Needs to be simplier for the carefree surroundings.

Posted by Elizabeth – January 3, 2008 10:33 AM

I agree that the HGTV house is very busy. Less is more in this case. I enjoyed the house but feel that there is so much going on with all of the furniture, its hard to focus. The design of the structure is amazing though, hats off to HGTV for making someones dreams come true!

Posted by Erin – January 3, 2008 1:10 PM

It might be someone else's Dream Home, but it is not mine. As much as I would love a beachfront property, I don't want this one. Decor is appropriate for the keys, but the floorplan is awkward. Too many levels/stairs. No privacy once the rest of the development is finished. i hope whoever wins loves it. I'm not even entering this year.

Posted by Barb – January 3, 2008 2:54 PM

I don't understand this promotion. No one but a millionaire could afford to win this house. Unlike last year, there is no cash included to help pay the enormous income tax bill($800,000 federal and $200,000 state for many states) That would be due in April of 2009. There is no office in the house and it's 80 miles from a city where one could be employed. The Florida real estate market is in the crapper and 2008 is supposed to be much worse. If the house can't be sold, could you get a million dollar mortgage?

So, be careful what you wish for.

Posted by Jeff – January 3, 2008 4:24 PM

I absolutely love the yellow stripes! So sunny and cheerful. Speaking of sunny... did you use Sunny's goodtime paints for that? The colors look familiar. That's what I use and I've had the best experience with them. Her colors are the best I've found anywhere and with any brand... and her glazes and how-to book and website teaches how to do it. It's so easy, I didn't ever have to pay $1000's of dollars to get a decorator to do it. She also has stensils that actually make the image look hand painted, so it's really the bestf ind I have run into. She is based in my town... Richmond, Va. So I feel lucky . I have actually met her and she is super talented and I think it's great that shes willing to share her talent with all of us amateurs... we may not be amateurs for long (; It's amazing what a color can do to the feel of a space....... Oh, here is her website:

http://www.sunnys-paint.com/home.html

P.S. I have tried a lot of her techniques that she has in her book and they turned out REALLy well (; She has a blog site too, which I am going to join today. I am in the process of revamping my apartment and so I'm trying to get all the tips I can (: Hope this helps some folks, and Happy New Year, Emily

Posted by Emily – January 5, 2008 7:37 AM

i love the dreamhome. it would be the perfect home for my husband and grandkids to get away to and play and relax.

Posted by sher miller – January 7, 2008 11:29 AM

Glad to see I am not the only one embarresed by the dream house as a designer!!!
Come HGTV you shold have seen the presentation first before the implementation.

Posted by charlie – January 7, 2008 12:23 PM

Jeff's email posted on 1/3/08 is right about the taxes on this house. And don't forget the home owners insurance where all the hurricanes come in. HGTV should build a more practical house that an average person can afford. Any suggestions as to how someone can afford to keep these homes you build ?

Posted by Carol – January 7, 2008 2:59 PM

I agree with Jeff and Carol. I absolutely LOVE the house, but along with so many people, there is no way my husband and I could afford to keep it! After graduating from college and recently getting married it would be wonderful to get to move into a home where you would not have to buy anything or fix it up. Not to mention it is paradise! Have any of the previous winners kept up with the payments and are they still living in the homes? I think the prize should be expanded and more realistic. If you actually win you should be able to have help with payments and taxes to be able to keep it. I love everything about the home, but I know I wouldn't be able to keep it financially without help. Great house and decorations it is a true dream home!

Posted by Julia – January 9, 2008 12:24 PM

i loved the house, but not in the years i have left on this earth could i pay the taxes or home insurance. there must be some one out there who could design a home that wouldn't brake the rest of us to own one of your grand give aways. also some of us can't do the stair thing any more. (smile)

Posted by i. thomas – January 10, 2008 4:24 PM

The house is very nice, and a bit busy. I think it would be interesting to know how many of the previous winners are still living in the dream homes that they've won (good point Julia). I thought at one time there were postings of past winners indicating whether they decided to keep the house or not? Just curious.

Posted by sharon – January 19, 2008 1:28 PM

Let's get real for those that think HGTV should build a home that is more practicle or affordable for the average viewer. For one it wouldn't draw as many viewers in. HGTV is a buisiness making money not a charitybecause HGTV has already stated that it doesn't intend for the winner to keep it but rather for the winner to sell and have more money than they might have had in the first place. This will allow the winner to build their own affordable dream anywhere they see fit and they wouldn't necessarily have to completely relocate. It just wouldn't be a practicle sweepstakes. For example, wouldn't it be nice to win the home, sell it, pay the taxes off then take the money and put away a nice retirement nest egg and if you have children be able to pay their college education without worrying. The sweepstakes makes perfect sense to me and I hope HGTV does it for many, many more years to come. If you don't think it's practicle don't enter the contest!

Posted by E – January 23, 2008 3:14 PM

Thanks for all the 'constructive criticism' from others. I really appreciated the voicing of the business of the furnishings and accesssories.
The cost factor and the multilevel design are also negatives. I haven't seen any houses that are designed for even a middle class income or an older population. They are fun but not what I would want...

Posted by Helen – January 26, 2008 11:21 PM

love the home,we already live in key west, would love to win with the intention to live there at least a year, we own our home here with our son so together we could keep it it we won, it our 7th year entering the contest sure hope to be lucky.
the teams sure did a wonderful job putting it together, blessing to the winner coming march.

Posted by noelle/will plagens – January 29, 2008 1:43 AM

Being in a wheelchair, it would be VERY HARD for ME to enjoy this house. No way could I get upstairs! UNLESS an elevator was installed somewhere...???
I like most of the house, but, there is way too much furniture and "stuff" in it; too much going on to really relax and concentrate on the beauty outside.
Yes, I'd love to have it; I'd actually have a home of my own, then!

Posted by Dorothy Keller – January 31, 2008 1:16 AM

Beautiful home! Was in Key West last year for a wedding. Very relaxing atmosphere and weather was great. Would love to visit again and stay in "our dream home" with children and grandkids. House is plenty big enough for our clan of sixteen!

Posted by Pat B – February 8, 2008 6:23 PM