A real hobbit house

19 years ago

There is a picture on the back of the latest issue of Fine Homebuilding, with a full article and more pictures online.

I'm ready to move in, myself. My dream house. Well, in reality I'm have a true arch top radius door, but otherwise this is it.

Rosefolly

Here is a link that might be useful: Fine Homebuilding article

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Comments (10)

frances_md
19 years ago
It is a beautiful house. I would love to live in it. Thanks for the link.
disputantum
19 years ago
Very fine work. I wish they had said what the cost was.
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Hobbit cottage in Fine Home Building mag
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I've had the dream for many years. I thought it would be great to move into in my twilight years or whenever I wanted to "retreat to my summer estate". I could almost live without electricity, but a water source (including bathroom) is another thing. Chemical toilet? Ew, but doable. Porta pot? Yuck, and it would have to be disguised as an outhouse. The existing septic tank is actually a short distance from the area I would build the tiny cottage, so that's an idea. $$$$ Fireplace for heat? Sounds romantic but fireplaces can be alot of work, even a small one. Plus a fire hazard, esp. if I was 98yrs.old and might fall in it. Propane heat and stove? I imagine there are lots of codes to adhere to when installing a propane tank. But the thought of a little breakfast room with tall leaded glass windows on three sides, looking out onto the gardens is such a draw. Sigh.
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Speaking of hobbit gardens...
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By all means. You are all invited to tea. I don't think I would build a stone house here in earthquake country, but one can dream. I will say that now that my kids are grown, I value details and craftsmanship and natural materials in a house much more highly than size. If I had a generous house budget, I'd rather build a small perfect house than a big house anyday. And there is a small but growing movement of timberframe houses here in the US. I subscribed to a couple of magazines on that subject for a year, before we decided to stay where we are. I had a sort of timberframe/craftsman hybrid with clay/slip walls in mind. We put solar panels on the roof of our house instead of moving, and also instead of taking a vacation trip. So I'll just stay home and enjoy my garden, and feel better knowing that there is such a house somewhere in the world. Paula
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Meghan From my experience it's a toss up. I've had more bad luck with them than good. I do have a couple of bushes that I bought years ago that are still flourishing. For the most part I have given up on grafted roses because for me they grow beautifuly for 3 or 4 years and then they just go down hill after that and start throwing up Doctor Huey sprouts. I have some beautiful Dr Huey specimens that I gave up on trying to dig out and decided to go with the flow with it. Trained properly they are quite beautiful!! LOL!! There are only so many Dr Huey that a person can live with. I now only buy own root roses. Maybe it's just me!! LOL!!
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Another movie house that charmed ...
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I second Lord of the Rings! Bilbo's house is homey and charming, and I was thrilled to find that people actually construct hobbit houses. I keep telling my DH that we need to build one for ourselves. (When I first read the trilogy, I admired everything elvish, including the soaring palaces. At a significantly older age, I have become a hobbit, sans the hairy feet.) What a fun thread this is, luring a long-time lurker out!
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sheriz6
19 years ago
That house is a dream come true. What magnificent work! The window, the door, the stonework - it's too wonderful for words. Thanks so much for posting it, I will be looking at it wistfully for some time to come *g*.
woodnymph2_gw
19 years ago
Fantastic! I particularly like the library....
amy_nj6
19 years ago
Fun note: From the addresses mentioned in the article,
it seems the Hobbit house is somewhere in an area called
the Brandywine Valley.

How appropriate!
rosefolly
Original Author
19 years ago
Oh Amy, that is perfect!

I'm ready to move in. I love timberframe houses with all their wood beams and arches and the air of lasting generation after generation. Make the other end of the main room opposite the library an eat-in kitchen, throw a wing with two bedrooms and a bath out the back in a T, and I'm ready to move right in. It is my dream house.

I've thought what I would do with the round door, practicality vs utility. You know those moon gates, a full circle opening above the actual gate? I'd use that as inpiration, a full circle wooden door, but attached side panels going straight to the floor, maybe the wood a different color, perhaps painted to match other trim on the house with the round part left natural wood. That way you could have two hinges, not a single hinge to be stressed. Even better, one wouldn't keep tripping over the threshold when stepping in and out on the way to tend the hobbit-style herb and flower garden.

Rosefolly
rouan
19 years ago
This is the kind of house I would really love to live in! I like your idea about the door, Rosefolly. It would be more practical without ruining the design.
yoyobon_gw
19 years ago
I think I would change the round doors to arched doors to make it more liveable for me......other than that, I just LOVE it too!
The coziness and permanence of the stonework really speaks to me. I love a home nestled comfortably into nature....one that seems to grow from it's environment rather than looked "plunked down".

Thanks so much for such a wonderful link!
Yvonne
ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
It is in the Brandywine Valley-a beautiful area about an hour east of here-near the famous Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine Museum, home of the Wyeth collections. The perfect site for such a charming little house.
robinwv
19 years ago
I want one!

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A real hobbit house

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frances_md

disputantum

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A real hobbit house

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