Oh No They Didn't

Considering that I really like design, it makes sense that I would enjoy touring homes that make up the Denver Parade of Homes. Now... Nate does not like architecture and design as much as I do, but I drag him along with me anyway. (thanks for being a trooper!) Yesterday, we visited a few houses that are not too far from where we live... and my heart hurt after touring one home in particular.

* We toured this house... and it wasn't too bad... except for a shoddy paint job in the living room (I can't help but notice since I painted houses for a summer one year) and lack of trim in key places *

Sometimes I get a little... ok... a lot fired up while touring houses, because it's obvious that not much thought goes into some of the designs. I really like how some of the model houses take off doors for your convenience of touring the model... but the real reason is that the architect/designer did not leave hardly enough room for the door to swing into the space. Yikes... that really pushes my buttons! I mean, it's not really a good thing that you're trying to hide the fact that, in order to close the powder room door, I'll have to wedge myself between the wall and the crapper and repeat again after using said crapper in order to get the heck out of there. Now why don't you just put all of the doors back where they belong and not try hiding something from people who are paying so much money for a new house, okay? Thanks. :)

Don't even get me started on laundry rooms that have no shelving/cabinets/sink. Ugh!

* Loving the recycled glass tile (minus the colors) on the stair risers *

With that being said, not all of the Parade houses are entirely thoughtless. I've actually seen some really great things while visiting houses on the Parade of Homes the past few years. Recently, with the demand for "greener" houses... we saw one house incorporate a lot of recycled materials and still be aesthetically pleasing (bonus!). I am still not sure which house has been my favorite over the years. I've still yet to tour the perfect house, but in order to get the perfect house.... I'll probably have to design it. Even then, it probably still won't be perfect. Argh... we can't win!

* The scale of this bedroom is nice... plus it has a neat little built in desk in the window! I love, love, love built-ins *

Out of all the houses that Nate and I have seen at the Parade of Homes over the years, one that we looked at yesterday took the cake for worst thing we have ever seen! Talk about turning away prospective clients, because the way you staged the house is not for everyone.... it was the straw that broke the camels back for us really really disliking this house! Whoever designed this bedroom might want to think about making a few changes....

* I know it's difficult because of the orange walls and bedding, but notice the jersey on the bed *

I will give the designer a little break, because this house may have been staged before Jay "Crybaby" Cutler left the Broncos... but come on, you've had time to change it. Get yourself a new jersey for that bedroom and things might not be so bad. Now, the thing I dislike worse than tiny bathrooms and door swings that make you do the "truffle shuffle" in order to close them is Jay Cutler! Gross!