Our thoughts...
Joy and I wanted a house that is semi-private. I personally wanted a long driveway leading to the house so that in the event I have a party, my guests can park along the driveway, away from the main road. We were lucky enough to have picked this house that has only one immediate neighbor and a long driveway.
It was important for us that our neighbor is not very close to the house for during parties or when we are watching movies with our friends, our home theater system tends to play loud. When Joy and I were still renting our townhouse in Glendale, we would always get complaints from our immediate neighbor pertaining to our music level -- even when we were watching at 2 o'clock in a Saturday afternoon.
We have added
Around December of 2004 we have started to add the window shutters. We have also installed numerous automatic light switches where when you walk into a dark room (e.g. kitchen, bathroom, etc.) the lights would automatically come on. So you don't have to turn the light switch on.
The Whole House Music is complete and fully functional. Music can be controlled from any of the computer available in the house. Currently all bedrooms except the master has a computer, including the kitchen which connects to the house network via wireless and the garage computer.
ADT alarm system has been installed since the early days of the house. Intrusion and fire sensors will dial the local police and fire departments for added security. We had one incident where Joy accidentally burned the fish in the oven. The house filled with smoke, and she was skillful enough to finally put our fire extinguisher to work --- and it worked! She was able to put out the fire from the fish inside the oven, but the smoke triggered the alarm, and surely minutes later, the Santa Clarita fire department came knocking on the door. Thanks ADT!
Currently we are in the process of constructing a dedicated home theater. Watch out for pictures pretty soon.
In the future
A mid-sized swimming pool is in the pre-planning stages. Window shutters for the rest of the room are planned. Intercom between rooms and the garage. Music to be available outside the house, and security cameras to be installed in various locations in the house. And last but not the least, perhaps, lighting control for the whole house. hmmm...