How the other half lives . . .

[limewave]

We live in a small cape-cod home built in the 1960's. There's one bathroom for all of us. One living room. 2 bedrooms.

Over the last year I've had friends building a house about 2 miles from us. The house is nearly completed and they have moved in. We went for a quick visit earlier this week and this afternoon I'm taking the kids there for a swim.

My kids were BLOWN away by the home. DD thinks it's actually Cinderella's castle as every single room (including the bathrooms) have crystal chandeliers. There are 4 suites: The master suite which includes bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, walk-in closet for him and her. A Paris-themed and Lakeshore-themed suite that both include a master bedroom with walk-in closet, bathroom, and 2 children rooms with their own bathrooms. The last one is more of an apartment that has 2 bedrooms (each with their own bathroom) living area and a separate kitchen.

The pool has lighted fountains and a waterfall. There is a shooting range in the backyard. Outdoor kitchen. Of course all of this sits on the lake front. I haven't had the full tour yet, but I'm sure I'll get one this afternoon!

After our first visit, I spent the rest of the night scrubbing our floors and vacuuming the drapes. I love our little home, but wowzers!

Seriously, what do you get them for a housewarming gift? I really want to welcome them to the neighborhood, but everything I can think of to give them seems podunky.

[beccaB]

I live in a tiny house too..5 people, a few of them teenagers! One bathroom. A not so well liked thinker once said, "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger"
As for a housewarming gift, how about a fine wine and gourmet food basket? People can always use consumables.

[indysteel]

Yeah; I have the same reaction when I visit my best friend at her 7,000 square foot home that she shares with her husband (no kids or pets). They have a pool and tennis court. They bought it about the same time that DH and I bought our much more modest (but still really nice to us) home. She lives in an affluent suburb while the town I live, well, not affluent. It's a bit of culture shock.

As for a housewarming gift, I'd go with a bottle of wine and something homemade, like cookies,....or nothing. Honestly, I only got a handful of housewarming gifts when I bought my first house. With my second (the one I got with DH just before we married), I got nothing. I'm not entirely sure they're the norm anymore.

[tulip]

Bake them homemade bread. I like the sound of your house better.

[jessmarimba]

Can you give them a gift card to a neighborhood cafe or something? To me that seems less like giving them money and/or something they don't need and more suggesting the more charming aspects of where they'll live in a way that pretty much forces them to experience it.

(And trust me, I'd probably find your 1960s cape cod more appealing than their place...new houses just don't have any personality!)

[Biciclista]

I'd give them some of those super cleaning pads to keep those chandeliers clean (I wouldn't give them a housewarming gift, really). I like your house better too. My house is a lot like yours except we have the good fortune of two bathrooms. smaller houses cost less to heat for one thing!

[limewave]

(And trust me, I'd probably find your 1960s cape cod more appealing than their place...new houses just don't have any personality!)

Normally I don't care for new houses either but they actually did a lot of architectural detail in this home, it is stunning.

So I'm thinking about getting them a gift basket from the "Cheese Lady." It's a small local business and she has the BEST cheese. My favorite thing is to get fresh goat cheese, roasted tomatoes in olive oil, and flat bread (all at her store) to make home made pizzas. It's super yummy and decadent (and within my budget).

[indysteel]

smaller houses cost less to heat for one thing!

Seriously. My friend mentioned once how worried she is about plumbing issues because they have SIX bathrooms/halfbaths. Why they bought a house that large for just the two of them is beyond me. When she first told me they were buying it, I have to admit that I reacted somewhat negatively. She interpreted it as envy, but my feelings were and remain far more complicated than that.

[ny biker]

Well, I had a friend in college whose family had a huge, expensive house on a giant parcel of land. He once described his father as a ball of hate.

Happy homes come in all shapes and sizes.

[Catrin]

... When she first told me they were buying it, I have to admit that I reacted somewhat negatively. She interpreted it as envy, but my feelings were and remain far more complicated than that.

Why would 2 people need all of that? I can understand wanting something nice, but really, 6 bathrooms for one married couple? Do they perhaps envision having one of their parents eventually moving in or something? It sounds like a great... multi-generational home (for lack of a better term). Perhaps this is just my own background showing, I just think all of that would be so hard/expensive to maintain properly.

I've only seen your house once, but I liked it

[Owlie]

Why would 2 people need all of that? I can understand wanting something nice, but really, 6 bathrooms for one married couple? Do they perhaps envision having one of their parents eventually moving in or something? It sounds like a great... multi-generational home (for lack of a better term). Perhaps this is just my own background showing, I just think all of that would be so hard/expensive to maintain properly.

I've only seen your house once, but I liked it

No, I agree entirely. But maybe my laziness is showing.

[Biciclista]

7 bathrooms would be better. You could use one a day! put signs on them "Sunday" "Monday" etc so you didn't get mixed up.

[Owlie]

7 bathrooms would be better. You could use one a day! put signs on them "Sunday" "Monday" etc so you didn't get mixed up.

And then you don't have to clean them as often!

[zoom-zoom]

No, I agree entirely. But maybe my laziness is showing.

Ha, I totally agree! I HATE housework!

Honestly, I think massive houses are kind of gross and reek of conspicuous consumption, which is so 1990s. Even if we had the good fortune to be able to afford a mansion there's no way we'd do it. I couldn't live in something over 2k square feet and not feel guilty. There are so many in need (people and critters) that I'd rather help. Dumping money into a big home, then dumping more into the cost of maintaining said home...no way.

[ny biker]

And then you don't have to clean them as often!

Once I lived in a rented condo with 1.5 bathrooms. I never used the powder room, so all I had to do was dust before guests came over. Also I kept my bike in it.