If you were building your own house.. what special features would you add? - General

[QUOTE=codenamecueball;42470203]no mk wiring devices all the way[/QUOTE] But look at all the switches! [url]http://www.legrand.us/adorne/select/switches.aspx#.UlXUqVCsh8E[/url]

[QUOTE=woolio1;42470247]But look at all the switches! [url]http://www.legrand.us/adorne/select/switches.aspx#.UlXUqVCsh8E[/url][/QUOTE] ugly and american

[QUOTE=codenamecueball;42470267]ugly and american[/QUOTE] LeGrand is a multinational company... They weren't even founded in America! They were founded in Limoges!

All doors on the exterior of the house should have like RFID or NFC locks so you can open/close/lock them with a card/maybe a phone. not sure if its practical/possible but coming from someone whose house could be broken into fairly easily due to shitty doors, it sounds nice

[QUOTE=dwt110;42470528]All doors on the exterior of the house should have like RFID or NFC locks so you can open/close/lock them with a card/maybe a phone. not sure if its practical/possible but coming from someone whose house could be broken into fairly easily due to shitty doors, it sounds nice[/QUOTE] They exist, and they're commercial! [url]http://www.kwikset.com/Wireless-Technology/HomeOwners/index.aspx[/url]

Assuming I could afford it for my own house I would include some of these things: Attached greenhouse for overwintering plants [t]http://lawrencemodern.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/decoster_attached-greenhouse.jpg[/t] A nice reading room with a big fireplace [t]http://cdn.media.kiwicollection.com/media/property/PR005617/xl/005617-01-library-fireplace.jpg[/t] Herpetology/aquatics room with floor drains, tank racks, water filtration, separate climate control, etc. (probably does not apply to you) [t]http://www.agamen.nl/projectimages/985_reptile%20room.JPG[/t] [t]http://www.napalm.at/imgs/terrarien/ps08.jpg[/t] Geothermal heating [t]http://www.mills-inc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Thomas-Flores-Geothermal-Heating-and-Cooling.gif[/t] I would take a lot of features from the center for the environment at my college, such as observation towers, large glass walls, and balconies with tables/chairs and a grill. [t]http://www.catawba.edu/academic/environmentalscience/images/environemental2.jpg[/t] [t]https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/12938_178368371247_5222339_n.jpg[/t] [t]https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/12938_178368166247_6251658_n.jpg[/t] I wish I had more pictures from in the center, I like the exposed piping and duct work it actually looks pretty good with the rest of the decor [t]https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/12938_178368296247_8276388_n.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=woolio1;42470350]LeGrand is a multinational company... They weren't even founded in America! They were founded in Limoges![/QUOTE] Now, I'm out of luck my setup doesn't support these switches. Not because of voltage issues, I assume they have models which support up to 250v, but my ceiling fan will probably kill itself when it runs from a dimmer switch.

[QUOTE=Merijnwitje;42476401]Now, I'm out of luck my setup doesn't support these switches. Not because of voltage issues, I assume they have models which support up to 250v, but my ceiling fan will probably kill itself when it runs from a dimmer switch.[/QUOTE] They sell normal switches too.

Watch every episode of the spinoff show Grand Designs Trade Secrets. They basically just show off the coolest house shit the whole time rather than mostly builders stomping around in the mud and complaining about late glazing. Interior lighting design is often-overlooked, but is important. Don't make lighting the last thing you consider- make it one of the first. It makes a massive difference to how a room turns out. See a lighting designer. Seconding the recommendation of geothermal heating and dimmer switches.

No staircase - monkey bars over a foam pit. Oh you want to go to bed? You gotta work for it! Just kidding, but seriously I have always wanted an observatory to look at the stars.

[QUOTE=frozensoda;42502714]No staircase - monkey bars over a foam pit. Oh you want to go to bed? You gotta work for it! Just kidding, but seriously I have always wanted an observatory to look at the stars.[/QUOTE] You can buy home observatory domes. Some dude in my uncles neighborhood has one and it looks awesome. Something like this: [img]http://i.imgur.com/vefWrJk.png[/img] You can get them in any degree of automation if you don't want to bother looking for things. Just type in and they'll go. You should totally install one of these for you and your kid Garry if that's your thing.

A winter garden for sure. Also since you want it to last 30 years you gotta think about an energy concept and since you're pretty well off I think an underground heat pump can and will work, depends on your location.

a round window.

Use Kingspan or Celotex insulation with aluminium tape, much easier to install if you measured it all out right, run the tape over ANY gaps, its really good and lets out very little heat :D (we are using it to insulate our house + grandad has been using it for years as a builder)

Is your ant farm still alive? If not, make a new one built into the wall. The one you built a while back looked so cool.

Here is an example of using solar and wind power to complement each other. Tis [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4qfhbgb-BM"]Les Stroud[/URL].

To go with that full surveillance someone mentioned which I think would be a great idea, possibly a panic room somewhere near the bedroom. If you do it I wouldn't confirm it to anyone though. You're rich and well known. It only takes one of these twisted little fuck ups to get banned on the wrong day or some shit and they'll flip. That may be overkill but fuck. If you're making your house, a tiny reinforced room somewhere isn't too much extra.

Your own secret man cave where you can go and do... manly stuff.

[QUOTE=MrFlashcat;42561914]Is your ant farm still alive? If not, make a new one built into the wall. The one you built a while back looked so cool.[/QUOTE] Big room where all the walls, the floor and the roof are giant antfarms. Fill the room with lava lamps and genetically modify some ants so they glow in the dark. Bonus points for having a massive bong bolted to the floor in the middle of the room.

[QUOTE=pentium;42432211]Intercom in every room with the master in the kitchen or in the entrance hallway. I planned out my dream home something like ten years ago. Need to modify the basement floorplan so there's a walk-in room under the garage for all the servers.[/QUOTE] my parents' house had an intercom system built in, that was really nice to have but it was installed in 1978 so it crapped out when I was about 10.

It would be neat if you installed a surround sound speaker and mic system into every room. Like have a sound engineer in and optimize it, then link everything to a HTPC full of your favorite music and the best voice command software available. Just say out loud "play *insert song here*" and have crystal clear quality music in every room. If you're into the whole smarthome thing it could just be linked with that for another layer of interaction

just remembered Thermochromic Color-Changing paint is something I'd add as well, I'd have lines throughout the house / or entire walls with the stuff AKA if its cold everything is blue, hot for red

If you're into media, you should have everything in the house capable of connecting to everything else. Ideally one day I'd love to have a small server hidden away where all of my movies, tv shows, music and anything else is stored, and anything that can connect to the router can access it so you can just play whatever you want all over the house for convenience sake, without having to keep track of DVD's seeing as it's always in the same place and you can just constantly update it from your PC. You should also get speakers in the kitchen/living room/man room and install them in the ceiling or some shit so you can play music in different rooms at different volumes or whatever, handy if you're moving around a lot so you can hear your music wherever you go. Other things are heated tile floors, dimmer switches EVERYWHERE (I fucking love dimmer switches), lava lamps are awesome and as is anything else off of the [url=www.mathmos.com]Mathmos[/url] website. Just warm ambient light in general is really great awesome. Also, space projectors: [img]http://www.geekalerts.com/u/astroatar.jpg[/img] You also definitely need a hot tub and/or a whirlpool bath, and Velux blinds are pretty damn cool.

[QUOTE=lew06;42620307]If you're into media, you should have everything in the house capable of connecting to everything else. Ideally one day I'd love to have a small server hidden away where all of my movies, tv shows, music and anything else is stored, and anything that can connect to the router can access it so you can just play whatever you want all over the house for convenience sake, without having to keep track of DVD's seeing as it's always in the same place and you can just constantly update it from your PC. You should also get speakers in the kitchen/living room/man room and install them in the ceiling or some shit so you can play music in different rooms at different volumes or whatever, handy if you're moving around a lot so you can hear your music wherever you go. Other things are heated tile floors, dimmer switches EVERYWHERE (I fucking love dimmer switches), lava lamps are awesome and as is anything else off of the [url=www.mathmos.com]Mathmos[/url] website. Just warm ambient light in general is really great awesome. Also, space projectors: [img]http://www.geekalerts.com/u/astroatar.jpg[/img] You also definitely need a hot tub and/or a whirlpool bath, and Velux blinds are pretty damn cool.[/QUOTE] I've just looked through the mathmos site and holy shit those lights look hideous.

[QUOTE=metallics;42620392]I've just looked through the mathmos site and holy shit those lights look hideous.[/QUOTE] Their lava lamps are awesome and I really want a jelly wash. Can't justify spending nigh on a hundred quid for one though.

[QUOTE=lew06;42622065]Their lava lamps are awesome and I really want a jelly wash. Can't justify spending nigh on a hundred quid for one though.[/QUOTE] Bought these for my bike so i can cycle in style [URL="http://www.mathmos.com/mathmos-bike-lights-circles-of-light-when-you-cycle-23386-0.html"][img]http://www.mathmos.com/images/P/mathmos_bike_wheel_lights.jpg[/img][/URL]

You could try X10 automation. Yeah there's a dozen other wireless automation standards and X10 is uni-directional but it's been an industry standard for nearly 40 years so you can find control modules for EVERYTHNG from light switches to curtain motors. Even the most modern revision still has full support for older modules and interfaces. Hell, find an X10 interface for the ZX Spectrum and you'll be right at home programming routines.

[QUOTE=Wolfyhound;42622129]Bought these for my bike so i can cycle in style [URL="http://www.mathmos.com/mathmos-bike-lights-circles-of-light-when-you-cycle-23386-0.html"][img]http://www.mathmos.com/images/P/mathmos_bike_wheel_lights.jpg[/img][/URL][/QUOTE] Now all you need is a stick and a rubber band and you can make it sound like a motorbike!

observatory on roof via huge skylights my dream room

A prisoner holding cell, torture chamber, and armory.