A Swiss billionaire has bought what may be the ultimate toy for his children. The Daily Mail reports:
For anyone who has shed blood, sweat and tears creating a creaky play house for their beloved offspring, this beautifully sculpted version will come as a hammer blow.
Costing £150,000 [about US $232,000] - almost as much as the average house in England and Wales - the two-storey timber structure has double glazing, solid pine flooring with underfloor heating, and 400 decorative bulbs.
Inside there are four rooms, including a large living room with a stone chimney that is illuminated by red LED lights, custom-made furniture and TV equipment.
The fully-fitted kitchen has mod cons including fitted cupboards, a hob, fridge, sink and microwave and the two bedrooms, one on a mezzanine level, have two beds each for sleepovers.
The Wendy house now standing in Gstaad was built by a British company for a Swiss billionaire who gave it to his children as a Christmas present. It is an exact replica of a chalet the businessman owns in the foothills of the Alps.
There's more at the link.
I don't know how the locals in Gstaad plan to 'keep up with the Joneses' on this one! Given that one has to be extremely rich to afford to live there, will we see a rash of 'my-Wendy-house-is-better-than-yours' structures breaking out like pimples all over the Swiss landscape?
Peter
So sad. He meant well but took out all the joy of doing it themselves. With that sort of money he could have hired a good carpenter and laborers to assist so the kids could actually see how things are built, and feel a sense of pride in accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteOh well-Huck Fin meet the Jones.
There is a similar "oh my God that's a playhouse?" just off Woodrow Wilson's place in Stanton VA. (Don't think it was his kids', I expect it belonged to a neighbor)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow - quite pretty little brick place. On the back wall is a faded mural in that 20s-ish Romantic style that's not quite Nouveau, but still pretty.
When you got it, use it I guess.
But yeah - I like the idea of having the kids help make it. :)
Good heavens. That's the price of a reasonable new car more than my actual house cost.
ReplyDeleteAh well. Must be nice. :)