A Very Special House – It’s Called a “Home”

My father-in-law, Byron Bloomfield, is an accomplished and now retired architect.  I’ve heard stories and have seen some of the custom homes he envisioned, designed, and built throughout his diverse career, and have grown to appreciate his unique and very creative eye.   Last December, we were out visiting him in the San Diego area, and in the after dinner socializing, the family started talking about the Internet and doing searches on our names.  Byron said that we’d never find any about him on the Internet!  Someone grabbed a laptop, and Googled “Byron Bloomfield”.  What came up surprised us all!

A Photo of the Byron Bloomfield House

My husband and his family have shared many stories about building this 16 foot wide home that ran over 100 feet long, following the “S” curve of the hill.  The lot was considered unbuildable, but Byron had a vision.  I’ve  heard stories about the challenge of building the rock wall for the driveway, the problems that they had with birds trying to fly through the glass walled house, and all the really fun family memories that were created there.  When Byron decided to leave his professorship at the University of Wisconsin and move his family to Colorado, they sold the house intact, fully furnished, taking only their clothing and a bit more.

Finding this photo on the Internet was such a special moment for Byron.  He marvelled that a house as young as this one could be considered historical.  He was touched that someone thought enough of his work to want to share it with others. 

I’m not sure exactly what prompted me to share this moment with you, but I do think it’s a combination of the holiday spirit creeping in and my frustration with the negative housing press that we are bombarded with.  So much of the media focus is on the money. 

And I don’t know about you, but my home is a memory book, a place I kick off my shoes, enjoy my family and friends, and really appreciate having a warm place to lay my head at night.   As real estate agents, we talk all day about marketing, selling, buying, and financing homes. 

Yet, ultimately it comes down to one of the most important questions I ask buyer clients as they are deciding to make an offer on a home. ”Can you imagine waking up in this house?”

And if the answer is “Yes“…    

It’s called a Home.