We’ve pretty much given up on our new house dream — for this season at least. The Austin market is overheated and overpriced (we hope), and we’d rather wait for things to cool down. Like, maybe on Christmas Day. Despite swearing off any more home tours, I found myself drawn to a particular house like bubbas to the rapture, largely because I spent two or three months trying to get into the same stupid house last year before it was finally yanked off market. What kind of realtor won’t allow people to come look at their awesome and amazing house for sale?
The kind that has something to hide.
When you look at the pictures, you guys are going to flip, because this place looks like the second coming of Christ. Let me try to explain why it’s really just this hellish house 2.0…
Entry = incredible. This house was built in the 70s by a “designer.” Hmmmm, not an architect. Ok. Who cares? The neighborhood is a stunner, and even though buying this place would financially destroy us, I am already making plans to sell a kidney.
Upon entry we are informed by the listing agent that the owner installed all the custom *cough* lighting. It looks like Beetlejuice barfed all over the place, but whatevs. It’s just light fixtures. And hideous tiles. And ugly doors… but it’s all cosmetic, right?
The owners also built this delightful concrete island, with custom beetlejuice uplighting. I want to take a sledgehammer to the entire kitchen — which is teeny tiny, by the way. Count the cabinets… sike! Many are just for show.
Pop quiz: where is the master bedroom? Answer: in a labyrinthine hidden door BEHIND THE FIREPLACE. wtf???
The house is surrounded by incredible decks that overlook the yard — only problem is that I’m afraid my foot might go through a board (did I mention I might have to sell Ben’s kidney to buy this house, too? no money for repairs). Also there is a weird stairway that goes to the bottom deck, and the opening is only four feet tall. Ike has no problem fitting through the Willy Wonka door, but even shorty me is screwed. We are informed that the “designer” meant to do that because it’s “funny.” Why was this place not built by an architect???
Speaking of the yard, it’s actually pretty great, except for the rickety death fort and the weird drainage ditch that runs across its full length. Oh, and it backs up to a main road.
But we haven’t yet discussed the main, uh, focal point of the home. Hmmm… what’s that I spy through those windows?
Oh, it’s just a 2.5 story waterfall running through the center of the house. Seriously, ya’ll, this thing is SO MUCH BIGGER than it appears in the photo. Like almost 30 feet tall. Check the chairs for scale. Notice the stairway through the window. And then look at the green water and imagine this thing backing up in the middle of your house… Do you think this is cool? I admit it’s pretty spectacular — like it’s a SPECTACLE. But it is also very very weird. And BIG.
Still, I think I might get over living in fear of a septic meltdown if this place were cheap. Or in any way functional. Instead, it was built by a “designer” who valued a giant waterfall over kitchen space, who hid the master bedroom behind the fireplace, and who built rooms you could only see from the outside. The whole house is like a labyrinth of doors and useless rooms. It’s bizarre.
If the price drops 100k, then I think we should buy it, right? And judging by the alternating looks of shame and terror flashing across the listing agent’s face, it just might.
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I’ve seen many many assaults on the professions of interior design and architecture, but this one takes the cake. There is so much makes-no-sense going on that the visual processing center of my brain has shut down.
oy.
the waterfall thing is just dumb.
maybe the price will come down enough that you can gut it and have an architect re-do it the right way.
As someone who (barely) survived househuting in Austin, this house is so bad that I am having flashbacks.
My husband theorizes that too many recreational drug users in Austin’s freewheeling 70s heydey had access to cheap land upon which to build. This post brings his theory to life.
Wow. Am I crazy that part of me still kinda loves it?
Not crazy at all, Collyn. Judging solely by the pics, I was convinced (as was Karly) that this was the house… and then we went in.
Words cannot describe the insanity.
Save the kidneys for me. I agree with #3. Bad drugs. You really had to be there – hence the kidney need (maybe).
Damn, maybe I’m crazy, but I love this place. Knock down the fountain of doom and build yourself a sexy interior courtyard. If the price drops 100K that is.
I agree with naomi. That fountain is a monstrosity, but otherwise I quite like it, especially the concrete kitchen island. Then again, I seemed to be the only person living in Greater Boston who actually liked the brutalist City Hall building.
Wow. So, from what I’m hearing, is if you lower your standards by a lot, I think this house would be perfect for you guys. WTF…concrete island? Bedroom behind the fireplace? Oy vey. How long has this been on the market and what is the price?
On the market for a week, priced way too high for what it is.
There’s a lot of awesomeness in there; there’s also a lot of crap.
Nick, I love brutalism, but the island is wack — the pictures are very flattering!
I like the livingroom. Was the designer trying to punk future buyers or something.
It has potential though. If y’all do buy it make sure you nuke the water fountain. It almost looks like a shrine.
Im speechless. Dont give up vital organs for that please!
Erin, thanks for reminding me about the crazy tree house again. This is the third or forth time I’ve visited that post, and it always makes me LOL.
Also, I selfishly hope the price drops so that you buy it and we can see the revamp process. XD
Yeah, I don’t like the waterfall, but I like the rest. I love the idea of a secret room, maybe not the master bedroom, but a secret library or something …
Ok, I’m apartment hunting now (aka cracked out on craigslist) and I wanted to post pictures that I took of potential living situations on my (mostly unread) blog, but wondered, is that a weird invasion of privacy of the folks who currently live there? I mean, some of them weren’t even home while I snooped around their place. I noticed y’all usually do exterior shots but kinda forgot about that living room picture (mostly because it makes me feel all ooogy). Or like, do realtors mind? I mean, it’s free publicity but also free critical commentary, so it’s a toss-up. Or is this all just an artifact of my anxiety about 1. not having an apartment in 15 days and 2. privacy?
Hey Amy, I get where you’re coming from — for sure. For this house I just used the mls pics, so the images were already out in the world. For the other houses I’ve posted, I’ve either used the mls pics or taken pictures when no one lived there. So, I say feel free to snoop (and post pics if you like