Looks like a mansion to me! I agree about the window treatments...they are for a very specific taste. I'd redo those for sure. The house is absolutely gorgeous!

OH I see, you are asking what we like about this fancy house?

I like the floors. I like the MBR fireplace. Not much else appeals to me.

I dislike a floor plan where you have to have a railing of any kind on the main floor.

I don't see a lot that needs to be done physically to the building. A lot of the little things might help - like way too many pillows on the bed.

You might need to do some re-thinking of your marketing. This house appears to be much larger than just-out-of-college people would want to take on in the way of keeping clean. Maybe for 15-20 years out-of-college, when one could afford to have someone come in a do those windows every 4 months!

jim....I'm actually going to go look at THIS house 2-nite. It went under contract in 3 days....but not because of the price or location. I want to see how it "feels"....what the designer did to make it stand out.---------------------I just don't see it.

Is this typical of a "smaller" home that you spiff up and sell for a profit? This home doesn't look to me, to be a candidate for much in the way of imrovements, that a just-out-of-college young person would be glad you had done in advance of the purchase.

If your talents are improving homes, I'm surprised you chose this one, but I'll play along. I don't like any of those valances at all.

I don't care for any of the light fixtures.

I don't care for the molding up in that "fancy" ceiling in the dining room.

But, but, but,.... the house looks so finished... and new and move-in-ready. Floors gleam, looks spiffy.... what value is there to add?

I'd have to look in person at the quality. It reminds me of some D. R. Horton Homes I saw when we were looking at houses. They were poor quality, but dressed pretty. Not saying that has happened here. I'd be looking at that.

I'm not a fan of stucco or an outside I have to paint, but I know that is more common in Colorado.

It's simply not my style of house. We're in a two story. I've told dh I want to go back to a one story next time.

I do like porches and maybe a deck.

I don't like cleaning windows. There are a lot of those. Lighter colored wood floors are easier to keep clean than dark ones.

I would scout out places to plug stuff in. One house we looked at had extension cords all over the basement and also to his out side carriage lights on the garage.

I don't see any carriage lights on the house. I do like some outdoor lighting.

I just saw your comment. Does it have a great view?

adellabedella.....no view at all....just pine trees.

*I also think it should have a tile roof.

*I like bathroom vanities that are taller or have feet.

Have you had spring break yet? My next door neighbors were advised to get their house on the market before spring break. It sold in four days. This house may simply have been listed at the right time for the right set of lookers.

I dislike the railing curlicues and the puny light fixtures. I want to see better drama, larger scale. This house is set up for a distinctly traditional style of furnishings, and it will be tiresome to make it more modern or stylish.

All the swags and valances have to go. I really like the informal vibe of the flooring but there is a disconnect between it and all the frou-frou curlycue lighting.. I would keep the floor and simplify all the lighting. I would also, for the same reason, replace the wrought iron railing with something less formal.

This is a home in the forests of Colorado right? and so would try to connect that with the house. Both sets of outside stairs land on a concrete slab of no consequence so I would have at least one of them land in a bigger deck with space for lounging and entertaining. Perhaps the shorter one that goes off to the left.

I live in a hot real estate market and it stuns me what people are buying and for what price. In many of them there is "nothing to see".

To be quite honest....someone may have purchased THIS house to flip. Expensive, BIG homes are down about 33% & they're starting to climb back up. I know several people who live in a large house for 2 years then sells for a $400K profit, no capitol gains...then buys another one.

A house benefits from having a beautiful entry door. This one is not only weird, but also the only archtop in the house. Mirrored walls in the entry? Ick. Another ick to the ledge beneath them.

The house is a conglomerate of styles -- Craftsman heavy-footed squared bases with *round* pillars? (Where's the rest of the bungalow?) What is that gratuitous *peak* with the enormous gutter returns?

I don't want an exterior door in my MBR. It reads 'danger', and it connects public deck with private bedroom. I don't like decks anyway: Bugs, wind, sun, and a lot of maintenance. Most are not deep enough for furniture, and any furniture blocks the view from the interior.

I like stained wood trim in a historic home. It's distracting in this house, with all the different 'eyecatcher' ceilings. All the chandeliers are hung too high, and I don't want a lot of grease-collector chains or globes in a kitchen.

The cooktop has zero 'laying space'. Why set this obstacle in the middle of the workspace? The kitchen is too small for the size of the house. The laundry room has more useful space!

The floor looks like different kinds of wood were used; they didn't take the stain evenly. It's cheaper not to set tile floors diagonally -- and they look it.

The MBA would be cold -- over-sized, drafty and exposed, with all those windows. I love my plain jet tub; not sure about this 'recliner' model. I don't want to clean that gigantic shower, and I don't want a window in a shower. The single gigantic mirror over the MBA sink/vanity looks cheap. Is there only one sink?

I don't like the window treatments.

I'm a shower only type of person so the big jet bathtub wouldn't appeal to me.

I don't like that big round thing that the light fixture is hanging from in the second photo.

I don't like the island in the kitchen where the stove is. It already has the bar, so it's almost like there are two islands. I'd rather see the stove installed along the wall with the rest of the appliances.

I agree with you about the light fixtures in the kitchen.

I'd like to see something done to the fireplace in the bedroom. I love old brick, so maybe that or some sort of stone work. As it is now, it blends right into the background and I think it should stand out a bit more. I'm also not crazy about the cabinet area right next to the fireplace. It's fireplace, cabinets, door and they seem to be fighting each other for space and look crowded together. I think I would have left the cabinet area out and either left that space a blank wall or installed double doors. French doors might look good there.

I realize it's a mountain home and they often don't have traditional landscaping such as lawns, but I'd like to see some flowers, native plants, shrubs put in around the house even if they were just in pots scattered around the deck. Some built in planting beds would be a nice feature, also keeping in mind that mountain homes need to be as fire safe as possible which would mean looking at fire resistant plants. Also deer resistant. I've solved the deer problem by putting flowering plants in big pots on my deck.

What I do like is that gorgeous laundry room, the wood floors, all the built in cabinets, lots of windows, the rounded doors at the entrance and the huge deck (a hot tub out there would be nice),

Overall, it's a lovely house and has a lot of nice features that you could scale down and use in your smaller, starter homes. Let us know what you think after seeing it in person.

It's a beautiful house but not my style or taste. I don't like all the wood. I don't mind wood flooring but just not that color. I like more cool toned colors. :)

I like the tub too and that it's by a window. I like all the big windows it has. I also like that it has a laundry room.

Nicole, I think most people didn't understand your post. To clarify, she's not interested in the decor of the house, she's interested in what features in the house that you like that could be incorporated in a smaller house. I agree, the tulip light fixtures caught my eye, too. Really dislike them. Don't like the long mirror either. Would rather see individual mirrors over each sink flanked by light fixtures. As to the built-ins in dining room, I would normally say no because I wouldn't be able to use the furniture I already own and love. However, if your clientele is normally young people just out of college, they would not have accumulated furniture and built-ins could be very helpful.

The house looks fine. Just move it to a location with less snow.

Nicole, further up-thread you said, "This is the house I'm going to see tonight," and I think you intended for there to be a link. There is none. Can we see the small house?

Ideas: Interesting front door. Stone walkway. Wrought iron railings? Any of these can be incorporated into a small home.

Also, I think you can certainly get ideas about light fixtures.

I don't especially like wood trim, but maybe that might appeal to a buyer in a smaller home?

sjerin.....I'm actually going to go look at THIS....BIG....mansion 2-nite. Get a close up look at it........any ideas are for future projects.

I've never seen "2-nite" written like that, haha. Took me a second.

Everthing Chisue said.

Plus, the walkway up to the front door would be more pleasing if the 'bricks' followed the curve instead of being so obviously stamped in a grid with no regard to the curve.

3rd picture down, where you're looking into the kitchen. That metal air return (?) grill on the side of the island stands out way too much. Should have been painted to blend in to the wood and disappear.

Incidentally my daughter would be in your demographic and one of her "musts" is a 2nd floor bedroom. As a young woman she does not feel comfortable sleeping on the first floor.

I dislike the lack of color. All that beige paint. Yuck!!!! I also would be unhappy with the varying ceiling levels. Less indoor "architecture" would let me enjoy the views outside. It would also make the wood trim less distracting.

Unfortunately, my favorite part probably won't translate well-a lot of windows. Usually not enough wall space to have very many in smaller homes. Plus they'd be expensive to install, and it racks up heating/cooling charges.

We looked at it...............seemed cozy....not big. The biggest room in the house was downstairs, long and skinny and unfinished! The whole neighborhood was overall GORGEOUS! Every house was just PERFECT! Soooooooo.......it was the neighborhood that sold it.....nothing about the house really stood out.

Sorry, but I’m really confused. Were you interested in buying this home? If it’s already under agreement how could you go see it? And why? And you think this hiuse would be appropriate for just out of college-aged kids? I must be dense as I really don’t know what the scenario is or what or why you are asking. Sorry.

Suzieque....I was just looking for ideas....for remodeling my smaller homes. I'm also....selling the house I live in, the sign goes up tomorrow. So I did take a look at this house to see what the appeal was.....and it was the area it's in. Backup offers are always welcome. I have a friend that was number 17...backup offer and GOT IT! :0)

nicole, you are a classy lady! I admire your taste :o)

No fru fru anywhere. Staging needs to be more generic. I don't like any of the paint colors, inside or out. I'd like to see greys, earth tones, cream or eggshell white. Color is such a personal choice.

I personally prefer a darker stain on the floors.. Unless you're in a resort area or beach area, then light floors are more appropriate. Also, I don't prefer the floors so dark that you spend your life tied to a dust mop . The really dark colors show every little speck.

The way this particular house is staged leaves me cold. It's obviously a McMansion, but they've got it furnished with doll-house sized furnishings. I know that's picky. But you asked. :))

If possible, have some sort of porch or covering over the front door. It makes it look more inviting.

Seems to me, clean lines, updated kitchens and bathrooms and a few gadgets like fancy faucets grab the attention of the younger buyer.

There's a show on HGTV called Good Bones. It's a mother/daughter team. They do some great work on a budget. They'd be a good team to check out for modern ideas.

This is a good example of a too much money and not enough brains house. We call them McMansions out here. It can't decide what style it really wants to be, neither in an architectural nor a decorative sense. The furnishings are a distraction. They don't work with the woodwork in my opinion. Too foo-foo.

I like the shower. Have no desire for a multi leveled platform tub, jetted or not. That narrow step up is an accident waiting to happen. I do like the large bright shower.

Not a fan of too many pot lights. Too many pendants also. I have a personal dislike for pendants over shiny granite. The glare would give me a migraine. LOL

I like the trim work and built-ins that are trying for the craftsman look. Maybe it would work if you stripped most everything else out. The floors, look like maybe cherry, are really nice. The rest is a hot mess.

To me, it's the opposite of being tastefully understated. It appears to be overdone in many ways and with many poor design decisions ( based on my own preferences).

I agree with the comment "not enough brains".

The floors are beyond beautiful. What a new college grad can afford and what they want are no where near the same thing in my experience. Jetted tub? What are the chances of a bathroom of spa proportions? That's HGTV fantasy. Stick to a shower/tub combo--go ahead and make it a glass enclosure--these kids are too young to comprehend the cleaning that will take. Home #2 they will stick to a curtain. They would no doubt be blinded by a double door so that would be an easy update. Everyone SAYS they want a fireplace, be sure it is gas ( so it MIGHT actually get used twice a year) and design a room where you can see both it and the TV--other wise you are creating a furniture placement nightmare. You'll have to put in SS appliances. Again they will learn the hard way the nightmare of keeping the looking shiny perfect but that is not your challenge. Do what you can to make it LOOK like a gourmet kitchen. Pot filler/wine fridge/ glass doors on some of the uppers..young professionals have little time for cooking so it is more important that it LOOKS cool than the practicality of the traditional work triangle. Counter seating on an island is a MUST. Be sure the island has electric outlets for charging devices. All the higher end finishes you can cram in will be most appreciated. Remember it is all about eye catching features. Reality and practicality will be learned AFTER they purchase their first home.

It's an odd premise to begin with: look at this big house and pick out the features you hate/love to put in a smaller house. What works in a large house may not translate to a smaller house. And if you are flipping houses for the just-out-of-college set, we here are the wrong demographic to seek info from on what they will want. A percentage of the group here would likely say to build in some glass shelves for their Hummel or Lladro collections.

Does anyone actually still live in that house? It looks as if it was poorly staged with the too-small tables and chairs. I realize realtors want things de-personalized.

The frou-frou window treatments should have been removed. I don’t care for any of the light fixtures. The utility room looked like the best feature and the lot and back deck looked very nice.

I agree outside. I was really struck by the tiny cafe table and two chairs in that huge dining nook. I was like, REALLY?!

Decor-wise, I like nothing about this house. Size-wise, I like the huge shower, the huge kitchen, the huge partially covered wraparound deck, the huge garage, the huge laundry, and the huge views, none of which can be “incorporated” into a small home.

I guess I didn't understand the original question either.

This house is higher end then a starter home. A starter home will usually have more limited space so the oversize rooms won't work. What translates to a fixer upper starter home is probably things like the wood floors.

I don't see it in this house, but you can upgrade the interior of a starter home with rock features like an interior rock wall or fireplace.

I love wood accents in a home, but I don't think this particular home used it to their best advantage.

Also not seen in this house, but I love some of the rock back splashes in the kitchen or at least a nice back splash.

If you are replacing windows, you can add bigger ones or do something to allow more light in dimly lit areas.

Overall, I think this house is more of a mismatch of elements that don't work well together. There isn't much I would want to copy.

Outside playing....No one lives in the house right now. It sold in 1 day! The house 2 doors up sold in 3 days! It's an estate/deceased occupant sale. The photos made all the rooms look huge, using a wide angle lens, but....the rooms were pretty small and cozy, very plush carpet, beautiful wood floors and LOTS of rooms to make it a huge house.

Beautiful floors - don't like the iron railings, the fancy window treatments, soaker tubs in this area are going out of style - need a tub but when we were looking most soakers were for show only. don't particularly care for front door. Puny landscaping. This is not a house to my taste.

I love the wood floors! I also like the tray ceilings, but I'm not sure they would work very well in a small house or room. They may have used the small tables in the hopes of making the rooms look larger, but that idea back fired. I also love all the windows, but I would have to have some method of 'closing' them at night. I want to be able too see out in the daytime, but I do NOT want anyone to be able to see in at night. But lots of windows wouldn't work very well in a small house on a small city or suburban lot where the view would be the siding on a neighbor's house. Sometimes it's really hard to tell from pictures alone, what a room really looks like. This appears to have a semi open floor plan, and I like that idea a lot. Colors don't bother me one way or another. I would never chose to buy or not buy a home based on the existing interior colors (or outside, either, for that matter.). That is easily remedied, a fairly inexpensive 'fix'. The colors and window treatments are not what I would chose, but it I were considering this home for myself, they wouldn't affect my decision, one way or another.

Rusty

Sorry to disagree but I love this house. I'd take it just the way it is!

I'm thinking, a few new light fixtures to give it a more rustic personality to go with the streaked flooring. New window coverings. Finish the unfinished basement. It was FAR from perfect. A good example of one hand not knowing what the other is doing....or what I call a "thrown together mish-mosh". "Not enough brains".....that's funny!

I might post another one as I continue my search. I need ideas and hopefully my house sells "quickly" in this hot market....and I'll need a new home.

Agree about changing window treatments. I prefer white cabinets and trim. When I looked at this all I saw was a brown line around every room.

I would prefer no grass, but our kids are grown and gone. The deck and view looks fab. Deck needs furniture. Maybe a firepit and water feature somewhere.

Mostly it looks cold to me, not homey or welcoming. That being said, I'd take it in a heartbeat if it was given to me!

If not for all the elaborate valances and the laundry equipment, I'd think this is a builder's spec house. It's a mishmash of architectural styles, like many builder model homes. It has token landscaping, like all builder spec houses. It's shows where corners have been cut (small kitchen, tile flooring, stamped concrete walkway, cheap fixtures).

The realtor has dropped in a few 'clues' about how the empty rooms are intended to be used, like the patio furniture that says, "Here is the eating area." The bed shows Mrs. Buyer, "This bedroom will take a king bed." The shot of the huge garage will steal Mr. Buyer's heart.

You're asking what to take from this home to use in your smaller home flips. Personally I think the house looks like it's on the verge of being dated. Maybe it's just those valances all other that is throwing me off. The countertops and light fixtures seem dated but works with this house if you're going for a semi-rustic look in the woods look...which this house looks like, a house in the woods. I guess it would also depend on what your smaller home already looks like. I think you're doing this backwards, maybe show us the smaller house and then ask what to incorporate in to it.

always1stepbehind....I just thought it would be fun to critique THIS one...there's no personnel involvement that way. :0) If you don't want to then skip on by....

Someone liked this house and the one next door...it sold so quickly!

Wouldn't it be interesting to see how the new owners decorate/re-do the house? I wonder how many of the issues pointed out above also bother them. Oh well, some things we'll never know.

Honestly.....I'm attracted to the area, it's away from highways and homeless camps. The foliage is thinned and cleaned up, mitigation is ongoing. The HOA is low, the covenants are strict, the front gate is gorgeous. It had 2.7 acres of land with it. I'm only going to live another 20 years, so I'm not worried about it being dated. :0) I'm dated! Aaaahhhhhh......it was lovely....I like to look....and pick houses apart....it's a hobby of mine.