Fantasy Open House #6: The Artisan
Well, so far it looks like most of you want to buy “Sophia’s Harbor.” Let’s see what you think about “The Artisan.”
One thing to keep in mind–especially as you look at this house–is that Homearama homes are almost always over the top and a little ridiculous if you try to compare them to normal houses that are built for regular folk like us. It’s like they’re on decorating steroids.
Basically, you’ve got 10 homebuilders who all want to make the biggest impression, be the most memorable, and get the most votes. After the show, everyone who toured the houses votes on their favorites, and awards are given out to the homebuilders who got the most–sort of like what we’re doing here this week! This one really went out of its way to get noticed.
House #6, built by Artisan Estate Homes, features a whopping 9,000 square feet and is on the market for $2.1 million. The home was planned, built, and decorated by Rick Seitz, who has won Best Interior Design awards multiple times at Homearamas past. (I think you can catch a glimpse of him in the kitchen.)
The home was intended to exude “an atmosphere of French and Italian lakeside living.” Check it out for yourself and see what you think!
What do you think? Would you buy this house if you had $2.1 million? It’s time to vote!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE AND SEE THE RESULTS SO FAR!
Okay, I saved the biggest house for last. Tomorrow you’ll get to see Chateau Tourelle, which was designed as “an authentic French castle.” No kidding. It’s a lot of fun to gawk at. So be sure you don’t miss it!
If You Missed Any Other Posts in the Homearama Fantasy Open House Series:
- Homearama!
- A Fine Room for Fido: It’s a Dog’s Life at Homearama!
- Fantasy Open House #1: The Sanctuary
- Fantasy Open House #2: The Manier Sherridan
- Fantasy Open House #3: The Hampton
- Fantasy Open House #4: Pavan Kunj
- Fantasy Open House #5: Sophia’s Harbor
- Fantasy Open House #6: The Artisan
- Fantasy Open House #7: The Chateau Tourelle
If You Missed Our Fantasy Open House Week in Birmingham:
- Open House #1: French Chateau in Birmingham
- Open House #2: Shook Hill Mansion
- Open House #3: Sleek Greek Contemporary
- Open House #4: Southern Traditional
- Open House #5: Homewood Manor
- Open House #6: Rockledge Estate
- Open House #7: Old Leeds Ridge
- Open House #8: Stately Brick Traditional
If You’re New Here: Hooked on Houses features decorating inspiration, celebrity house tours, fabulous before and afters, real estate news, fantasy open houses and more fun stuff. I hope you’ll leave a comment and introduce yourself!
June 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Other than the outdoor spaces, I hate it.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I think my favorite so far was the first one this week. Of course I would move right in today if I had the chance. Thanks for the peek! Susie H~
June 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I would be so freaked out trying to use the bathroom next to that statue. And I’m not sure I’d be comfortable trying to watch a movie in the dark with the other characters watching me either. I did like the rest of the media room, though. Like you said, the house is pretty over the top. Too ornate for me!
June 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Like the gardens & fountain / pool. We’re not to sure about that statue in the bathroom either! That movie theater does’nt look like the type to watch “Cars” in… they should of had “The Godfather” or something else playing!
Karla & Karrie
June 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
No thank you. Only room I like is the theater room.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Oh boy, you Homearama folk really like your frescoes, don’t you? This really is over the top. Every surface is gilded, frescoed, coffered, trimmed - and some are all of those things! The ceiling details in this house are just too much. That library - I don’t think I could relax and read a book in there. I guess I just like simpler things.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Oh Julia! Throw in a suit of armor, and you’ve got Buckingham Palace! I was wondering where the Queen might be lurking, when, oh my gosh, I saw the theater! It’s Madame Tussauds!
June 26th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I was trying to find something I liked, took a second look at the tv’s mounted above that bar (I thot it was scoreboard sfor a minute) and then saw Rocky and Darth Vader peeking out of their corners in the media room and it scared me and I was outta there!
blessings, Shay
June 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Wow. It’s a bit much (particularly the library and the theatre…the statues are downright disturbing) but at least it’s an impressive much, as opposed to a boring trendy beige much.
Also, not a fan of the wood-and-tile lattice floor trend you see nowadays.
But sure, I’ll bite. I don’t love it to pieces, but it’s the most interesting so far.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Whoa baby! Can you say, “Over the top.”
June 26th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Wow! It is absolutely beautiful, it’s just really hard to imagine myself living there. I love the outdoor space and my kids would definitely use the fountain as a pool
June 26th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I really liked the detailing on the master bedroom walls. What was that? Hand painting? I saw it on one of the ceilings too. Beautiful…. I really liked the outdoor areas and the pool would be perfect for small children. I never thought about that before!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Too ornate. Blech.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
My favorite parts were the covered entry and the freestanding area in the backyard. Guess that means I won’t be moving into this anytime soon. In no sense at all would I want to live here - it felt cold.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Did Donald Trump design this? Way over the top. I wouldn’t mind having a life size statue of Harrison Ford though.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Julia, first of all thanks for visiting my blog! I am such a sucker for built-ins, although I found out with the ones in my study that they ain’t cheap, otherwise I’d have them in every room of my home, especially the bedroom.
Have loved looking around your site. My family is a huge fan of home tours in our area. The new and non-occupied homes are fun to tour but we really love the home tours of actual inhabited houses. I’ve gotten such great ideas (and a good case of house envy!)
Dawn
June 26th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
This house creeps me out. It should have been where Tony and Carmella Soprano lived. The sports bar would kinda be fun for big parties, though.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo
I really rather liked the over the top interior. Again, a silly kitchen like all the other silly kitchens, useless to people who cook a lot and clean their own space. The exterior design just seems ugly. Silly. Inelegant or even clumsy
If you’re going to go that far over the top (and I think that they did that very well), why not get a architect with some talent and taste?
Still of all the homes, this one was the most appealing. I’d only entertain at night, I guess.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I feel repetitive, saying that I love the ceilings. But I do, so very much. I also firmly believe that things with eyes do not belong in the bathroom. My MIL has a picture of Jesus Christ facing the toilet. He looks at me, and I feel awkward. That statue, while not Jesus Christ, is skeletal looking and weird. What is she doing, anyway? Playing a serenade in tune with my tinkles?
June 26th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
YUCK…..I do love the out door space though. Think Tony Soprano lives there ??
Kathy
June 26th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
You make it so hard to choose… another great house today!
June 26th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Love all of the handpainting and I actually really like the shashes on the lamp shades! But the theatre with those giant dolls creeps me out and so does the statue in the bathroom…. That’s like a set up of a bad horror film in of itself. I want to know who could afford this house?… Thanks for the great tour! Jen R
June 27th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Oh, I hate it. It’s disgustingly beautiful.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Too dark. Too stuffed full of stuff. Too much faux painting. Walk away and get a old farmhouse somewhere in the country….something light and airy!
June 27th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Run. I’d feel like I was living in the Vatican.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Didn’t care for this one.
Pat
June 27th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Ok … it’s the perfect house for someone. Dont get me wrong I would love to live in it but it’s just missing that “home” ness about it. It’s very grand indeed ! Maybe a bit too grand for my taste. Thanks for taking us on this tour of homes, I looked forward to it everyday and walked away with some very neat ideas I want to try. thanks Julia, Susie H~
June 27th, 2008 at 10:27 am
YUCK!! this is almost tacky! I keep picturing Wayne Newton living there.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
This reminds me a little of Hearst Castle in central CA. Fun to look at and maybe vacation at, but not an everyday home, really.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Another one where the facade and the interior don’t really mesh. I ADORE the interior, though. True, it’s not an “everyday” home, but that’s what I like about it. It reminds me of a (much) smaller version turn-of-the-century home of the Morgans, Vanderbilts, et al. I’d just throw out those tacky mannequins.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
beautiful facade–I don’t get the interior–its too busy for me. I can see where a lot of time and craftsmanship was invested though.
June 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
It had me at hello and I said goodbye in the bathroom…. What is that?! ugh.
The rest of it was WAY over the top like you said, but some of the room were beautiful. The theatre really creeped me out though.
Pass!
rue
June 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I’m speechless. That is a lot of stuff going on.