Your realistic house

We had the thread of the dream home, but my wife and I are starting to talk about a new home, probably build one. We have 3 boys and this 1600 sq ft home we are in is getting smaller every day.

The question is if you were to build a home what are the extra features you would want? Obviously the bedrooms, kitchen, family room, and bathrooms are standard. Would you forgo a gameroom, formal living room, formal dining room, study? Are you a minimalist or do you need everything? This is a question we are facing because what we want in the area we want is going to be $180,000 to $220,000.

Ideally I'd look for a practical design. Our house was built in the 1980's so it has all the useless, traditional features. A big living room (never use), and smaller family room (always use). A big formal dining room (never use), and a smaller kitchen dining area (always use). We used to use the dining room as a play room for the kids, but they're older now and they can play in their rooms or in the highway.

I'd just like a house where the size of the rooms is somewhat related to the amount of time you spend in them. I'd love to get rid of all the compartmentalized areas and have a large open space that can serve multiple roles.

I'm with you on the rooms. Our current house has a large family room that is open to the Dining room. It is the entire middle of the house. It is great when we have company because it is basically one large room. Problem is there is no where for the kids to play either in the family room or their rooms.

I am guessing you don't have girls.

What if HE likes to cook? 

It was a joke, I don't have kids. Not yet anyway. 

Obviously, you don't know many men.

I enjoy cooking. In fact, I'm a much better cook than my wife. She agrees and tells me all the time.