This dream house just felt like home

WOODINVILLE —Quinn's Crossing and Nolan Woods are not located far from each other. Both developments bear the imprint of the Seattle Street of Dreams. But at Quinn's Crossing in Snohomish, the frenzy is peaking as the 2007 Seattle Street of Dreams opens today for the thousands eager to see the extravagant homes and gardens, which this year boast eco-friendly features.

In Nolan Woods, on the Woodinville street that hosted the 2005 Seattle Street of Dreams, however, the chaos is long gone and day-to-day life has taken over.

The Seattle Street of Dreams is a nearly annual, monthlong event on one street in a different location each year showcasing luxury homes, gardens and décor. The homes — usually four to six — are for sale.

Michael and Erin McMillen never have attended the Seattle Street of Dreams and can't quite relate to the fervor that accompanies the show. But as the owners of "Tamarack Lodge" — featured at the 2005 show — they have a coveted perspective that the hordes of visitors won't ever know.

To the McMillens, their 5,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house with spectacular exposed wood beam architecture, 25-foot ceilings, a wine room and five fireplaces is simply home to them and their 9-year-old daughter, Jasmine.

"The design fits our lifestyle: very, very open, with no formal rooms really," said Michael, 37. "Our decision was purely based on walking in the front door and feeling like we were home."

Neighbors tell them people came by to gawk at the homes after the 2005 show ended, but the street is now gated. No one ever has rung the doorbell and asked for a tour of their home, they say.

Making it their own

Perhaps surprisingly, Seattle Street of Dreams homes can come with their own set of quirks and imperfections.

The McMillens' house came with drapes designed for the show — and they don't cover up the windows. A wine room is still stocked with hundreds of empty display bottles. A pot-filler faucet over the stove was not hooked up when they moved in, a decision made to prevent overzealous show visitors from flooding the counter.

And a one-year warranty from the builder covers issues such as pocket doors that weren't installed when the McMillens looked at the house and an uneven section of wall.

But the house's place on the Street of Dreams also means it has more advanced technology than most other homes in its $2.2 million price range, Michael said, and was a big part of the house's appeal.

Michael, who used to work in video-game design, and Erin now run the family foundation, the Robert B. McMillen Foundation, which is involved in education, medical research and social service.

Owners of a Street of Dreams house might have trouble if they aren't at ease with technology. Lighting switches in the kitchen are labeled to help them track which switch works for which room. A small touch screen in the kitchen can control music throughout the house, and also lets Michael and Erin keep an eye on what Jasmine and her friends are watching on a television upstairs or see who is at the front door. Machines controlling the systems hum in both the master closet and in a crawl space upstairs.

The McMillens have co-opted several luxury touches admired by show visitors two years ago for more practical uses. A doggie shower in the garage is too big for their Chihuahua Joji, but it comes in handy when Michael needs to rinse off his scuba gear. The house doesn't have a coat closet and they don't collect wine, so they use the first-floor wine room to store coats. They eat in the kitchen, even with guests, so they turned the dining room into another seating area.

"We don't live in a museum," Michael said.

They've also personalized the house for their own tastes, installing new flat-screen televisions that are hooked into the house's multimedia system. They hired a muralist to paint a bunny-themed scene on the walls in Jasmine's room. They plan to add more shelves in the library to accommodate their books and would like to add movie-theater-style seating in the entertainment room. They'd also like to add a playhouse to the expansive, landscaped yard.

Décor for living

The McMillens moved from a smaller house in Bellevue, so it's taking time to fill up the new space. A fuzzy white area rug warms up the great room, comfortable club chairs occupy the dining area, and art and family photos hang on the walls, but the massive entertainment room holds mostly Jasmine's toys. The patio by the so-far-unused outdoor grill is still empty.

Unlike a trip through the dazzling Seattle Street of Dreams, it feels like people live here. Joji's dog pen takes up part of the hallway upstairs. Michael's scuba gear hangs in a guest bathroom. An organizer on a desk in the kitchen holds stacks of mail.

And Jasmine dances through the spacious great room and kitchen, turning cartwheels, doing handstands and playing with Joji.

"I think people feel welcome here," Erin McMillen said. "They feel relaxed."

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com