grrgoyl

Okey dokey. Now we've got a chance to catch our breath, here's the second installment of the second installment. My goal is to have you be sick to death of the word "installment." How am I doing?

We again have no name that I can recall, so we'll call this the Craftsman Two, alright?

Again, looked promising

This created the illusion a celebrity actually lived here

Front door love

Another stepdown family room. Especially disliked because, believe it or not, the TV is meant to go in that tiny cupboard to the left there (and your DVD collection in the equally diminutive one to the right). Show me the American family that would rather look at a fireplace than a TV. Srsly

Liked this detail on the desk though

The only dog I'd ever need

We speculated wildly about what was hidden under here, until I lifted it to reveal only extra furniture

This contoured ottoman was fabulously comfortable

We adored this master bath

How ironic -- cheaper soap, yet so much nicer looking (remember this half-assed effort from last weekend)

Look: A mirror in the master closet. It's like someone actually had some common sense

Love

Next up, the Tamarisk (actual name!)

The exterior is immaterial. All that matters is this, another cheapie doorbell on a $496,000 house

Don't get too excited,

kavieshana: No actual cookies in this one

This backsplash was pretty cool though. Each tile appeared to be individual

Ahhh, if it isn't our old friend, Ms. Seafoam

As we left, the realtor asked what we thought. "You might have overdone it on the seafoam," I said. His face fell slightly. Don't ever ask me what I'm really thinking

They must have run out of seafoam, though I don't know that I consider this an improvement

Not seafoam

What DID we like? Surprisingly a lot.

Totally dug this "Mad Men" console

Purty

Loved this river rock bath surround...except for the seafoam edging

This was also nice

The fireplace had an awesome metal tile surround

Don't think I've ever seen a brushed stainless steel fridge. Looked VERY high end

Now for the Hawthorne, which was very high on the likeability scale for all its cozy living spaces:

Cozy dining room. Note: Not a trace of seafoam

We liked this oven...

...but were puzzled by the lack of a range hood

Chipped plastic strawberry

The living room seemed a bit claustrophobic. Plus the TV goes in that armoire to the left, which I suppose is better than fighting for attention next to the fireplace

Fantastic reading nook at the top of the stairs

Fantastic computer nook, ditto

Were not fans of this tile

Sort of liked this girl's room until...

NO. WHY GOD, WHY?

Liked this green just because it wasn't seafoam

Not sure about this "art" that totally dominated the already tiny wall though

I almost hurt myself trying to take the phone off the cradle until Deb pointed out that it was a clock

Sink faucet that I loved in that other house (wait for it)

Big Daddy version in the tub!

Loved these electric boogaloo cat figures

The Hawthorne had a loft

Cozy play space. Or office. Or groovy Greg Brady bachelor pad

These chairs were super comfy

Previous resident, who liked the neighborhood just fine before all these houses were built

For our last two (in this installment), we had to enter a gated community, which meant going through the rigamarole of signing out a temporary pass card, blah blah blah. You'll soon see it really was hardly worth all the effort.

The realtor had these million-dollar bill business cards that amused Deb

The Christopher:

Love. It turns out this was about it

Although we did appreciate the work that must have gone into lining up this faceplate with the tile

I defy

kavieshana to find something good to say about this wallpaper. "Focal wall!!!"

Though again, props to you, brother

Toilet paper holder worth more than my car (kidding, I don't know)

Could almost be sent to Things that are doing it.com It appears to be two pairs of football players tackling each other....right on top of each other. IDK

Finally, Christopher's sister Alison:

Another challenge,

kavieshana

This is another popular trend I haven't mentioned yet: mini home theaters right on the landing. Deb said it was so parents could have some idea what their kids were up to (no doors to close). I don't care for it one little bit