The 2009 HGTV Dream Home — a new, fully furnished, custom-designed California Victorian-style home — will be given away early next year. And it will be located in the wine country town of Sonoma.
(Information about the eagerly anticipated location of the home is now available at Dream Home central on HGTV.com.)
The 3,600-square-foot, two-story home incorporates the charm of the old with the lure of the new. Filled with the innovative ideas, architecture, art and design that make HGTV Dream Homes so exciting and unique, it includes:
* Three bedrooms
* Three-and-a-half bathrooms
* Home office
* Formal dining room
* Parlor
* Gourmet kitchen
* Eating area that encompasses the cozy family room, featuring a built-in fire place and home theater
The spacious master bedroom and sitting area have picturesque views of the Sonoma Valley hills, famous for growing world-renowned winegrapes. The inside flows through to the outside by way of porches, which allow one to enjoy the shade while looking over a luscious landscape of mature trees and an endless medley of flowers — providing a sense of a fresh spring morning.
“Just a short drive from the beautiful city of San Francisco is one of the most scenic and flavorful areas in the country,” said HGTV Dream Home planner Jack Thomasson. “A myriad of outdoor activities, indulgent spas, world-class dining and wines, art and culture make Sonoma THE place to live an amazing California lifestyle.”
The picturesque town of Sonoma is considered the birthplace of California wine country, and the Dream Home is being built by celebrated vintner, builder, developer and philanthropist Steve Ledson, whose signature mix of historic splendor and modern-day luxury is showcased in his iconic Ledson Winery, Ledson Hotel and numerous showpiece homes and developments throughout Northern California.
The 2009 HGTV Dream Home is part of Ledson’s most ambitious undertaking to date, and located where Ledson is currently building a prestigious 53-lot subdivision. Armstrong Estates is a re-imagining of Sonoma’s heritage neighborhoods, built at the site of one of the town’s most historic landmarks.
“Armstrong Estates has been a dream of mine,” Ledson said. “I wanted to add to the character of the historic charm of Sonoma, by extending its historic feel throughout the project. And one could only dream that I would be chosen by HGTV to build the 2009 Dream Home.”
“All of my life, I have always believed in giving; that is why our family set up the Ledson Family Harmony Foundation for Children. To be able to play a part in the giving of the 2009 HGTV Dream Home is quite rewarding for our family. I can’t express how exciting it is going to be for me to hopefully shake the hand of the winner.”
Ledson’s family has been farming in Sonoma County since the mid-1800s and is currently farming more than 5,000 acres of land between Sonoma and Mendocino counties. In addition, they have built numerous residential and commercial developments over the last 40 years. Ledson Hotel, designed and built by Steve, was named one of the Top 100 Hotels of the World by Conde Nast Traveler magazine within weeks of opening.
Ledson also designed and built the famous Ledson Winery, which is known throughout the world as “the castle.” It’s a Gothic-style, 16,000-square-foot, four-floor castle that features a staircase similar to the one seen in the movie “Gone With the Wind.”
