Actually the Dream Home is in Sandia Park, New Mexico.

Good catch, terriks. Temporary brain fuzz. I had the dream home open in another window and still wrote it down wrong. I really have to lay off the mulled holiday wine. ;-P

The fact that it is in New Mexico really caught my interest, because I always love seeing lynninnewmexico's pics of her home, and have become very interested in the idea of moving there.

DH and I plan to retire to Arizona or New Mexico...and I was excited to hear the dream house would be in NM. (Like I'd stand a chance of winning!) But after viewing it, I'd pass.

I just don't like the contemporary architecture and decor. I guess I'd rather have a traditional adobe home, with exposed beams and rough hewn walls. The natural touches they did here are nice, but it's too cold for my taste. And I HATED the landscaping. I realize desert landscapes are drought tolerant, but they didn't do that place any justice with what they did. All IMHO, of course.

I used to love looking at those HGTV Dream Homes back when they first started the contest. They really were "dream homes'. Last year's house featured was a bit uninspired, but this year's is downright ugly to me. The remote location they chose makes the house seem eerie and haunted rather than a secluded get-a-way retreat.

The building itself looks like a prison. They should have used just a tad of color on the exterior and there is sooooooo much more one can do with xeriscaping. They just plopped down some cheap, crappy plants sparsely distributed. Some of them look like they are not going to make it.

But, I love their interior design furnishings with the use of local artisans for many of the architectural features and artwork. I'm glad they did not try to do 'theme rooms' and kept it simple and elegant.

I am puzzled by the layout of some of the things they chose. Why are there barn doors on the bathroom from the bedroom with a tub in the way? There is no easy way to close them from the inside of the bathroom. Seem like a lot of running around to do. Why is the microwave placed under the oven rather than in a more convenient spot?

Overall it it impressive it impressive despite the fact that the exterior needs some paint and lusher plantings.

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Xeriscaping Forum

I personally love that house, the clean lines, the airiness; it's not over accessorized like some of the previous ones.

I'm pretty sure it's not going to be super popular and
it will get a lot of criticism.

Terriks is right, the new dream home is in New Mexico. Actually, if you win it, you'll be neighbors with my best friend. I haven't seen it in person yet, but have done the photo tour online.

DillyDally's comment on the house color made me chuckle. Unlike most other places in our country, out here we like our homes to be one of the colors of the earth, so that they blend into the landscape. That's so the focus is on the beautiful views, instead of colored houses that stand out. Anyhoo, that's just the way we think out here. I definitely love to see nicely or even brightly colored homes elsewhere, though.

That said, this newest dream home is certainly a very Contemporary one. I like many of it's features, including the theater room, but prefer a more Spanish Colonial or Western home myself.

The biggest problem I see with the Dream Home is it's back patio. The overhead covering is minimal and that will be a huge PIA out here come Summer. This is a High Desert area, not Low Desert like Phoenix, but our elevation is high (probably 5,000-6,000 there at the house) and the sun, is intense in the Summer, which is May through the end of September, at least, here.
Out here, we like the major part of our patios to be covered. We also like windbreaks for our patios, either natural ones like trees or walls. I wonder how windy that patio will end up being?

Another potential problem I see with the house is it's glass garage doors. From a security standpoint, you don't want everyone to be able to see if you're home or not . . . or what you have in your garage. JMHO. Even a security gate at the driveway won't keep potential burglars totally away. My best friend has one out there, so I know.
Lynn

I love it! Especially rhe tall windows and ceiling and open floor plan. The floor plan is not too practical. It seems like you would need more kids bedrooms and baths before you would need 2 laundry rooms and a hometheatre rooms.

I LOVE this home! Now....having said that....the master bedroom seems a little "too" cozy, well done, just too small. I like that it all flows together! :0)

The master seems to small? Not to me. Of course...I've always lived in older homes...this is the "newest" house I've ever lived in...and it was built in 1966.

I'd love to win that house...I like the lines and finishes.

Arizona is one of my favorite places. We try to vacation there in Feb/March almost every year. (Haven't been to NM.) But I have to agree with others - this "dream" house does nothing for me.

"The building itself looks like a prison." LOL! Yes! Usually with the dream houses, I think, well, if I won it, I'd sure take it. Not so sure about this. I do like the extreme isolation of it and the vast desert surrounding it, but like nothing about the house itself. I find it cold and ugly and institutional. It's unfortunate, because the southwest style can be so warm and exotic if done right. Or maybe it's just too contemporary for me, and I don't really get contemporary. To each her own.

Am I just lame, or did they not post a floorplan of the Dream Home on the HGTV site. There is the "interactive" floor plan that you can click on the see the different rooms, but no labeled floor plan that I can see.

Jenswrens: I know where the dream home is and, believe me, it's NOT extremely isolated, nor does it have a "vast desert" around it (LOL). It's actually in a home development with a number of other homes around it . . . although, I do have to admit, it's not plunked down in the middle of suburbia. They've just taken some pics of the views that don't include the homes around it. From what I can see in the HGTV pics, I'm not all that impressed with it's views, although there might be some better ones that have a house or two in them they chose not to publish. Back when my best friend and her DH bought their lot out there, most were ten acre parcels. I'll bet this new little development (San Pedro Ridge) has 2-5 acre lots . . . or maybe even less. BF's son is a realtor. I'll find out the scoop on it. But, what I do know is that it's on the east side of the Sandia Mountains, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, just north of Paa-ko Ridge (home development and) golf course. It's also about 10 minutes north of the turn off to the Sandia Peak Ski area.
Lynn

Ahh, tricky real estate ploys at it again! :-) Knowing that, now I really don't like it. Oh well, at least I could dream about desert views for a moment. Shucks.