HGTV.com: I can't tell you how excited HGTV.com is to host the exterior of Dilbert's Ultimate House. I understand that this project has been years in the making - can you tell me how it first came about? How did it move from concept to reality?
Scott Adams: It started with frustration over my own house. I don't remember which annoyance was the final straw. It might have been the smell of the cat's litter box in the master bathroom, or it might have been my $800 energy bill for one month. But it dawned on me that modern houses aren't designed for the way people live.
I thought that an engineer like Dilbert could design a much more practical, healthy and energy-efficient house. Since Dilbert can't speak for himself, I decided to let Dilbert readers suggest what they'd like to see in Dilbert's Ultimate House. I collected all the suggestions and put them together for this project.
HGTV.com: Now that Dilbert's Ultimate House is about to become a "virtual" reality, what has been your contribution and involvement - you've been pretty hands-on, right?
SA: I served as Dilbert's point of view and came up with the high-level requirements for the house. I wanted it to be as environmentally friendly as practical, easy to maintain, suited to Dilbert's lifestyle, and great to look at. It also had to serve as "wife bait" in the sense that some woman might want to marry Dilbert and overlook his personality just for a chance to live in his great house. I solicited suggestions with my Dilbert Newsletter and then sorted out the best ones. Since then I've been working with Heartwood of Danville, to turn it into a virtual reality on the net.
HGTV.com: Tell me a little bit about the house - what sets it apart from someone's basic concept of a dream house or ultimate house?
SA: First, we got rid of all the "museum rooms" like the formal dining room, fancy foyer, and the front room where no one ever goes. We used the extra space for the things that almost everyone wants these days: a roomy home office, a home theater, exercise areas, a craft room, and yes -- a special room just for the cat's litter box. Then we made sure we used the best thinking in energy conservation and environmental practices.
Convenience was a huge consideration, too. So everything from the plumbing to the wiring is designed for easy changes later. Then we added some fun ideas that make you scratch your head and wonder why no one already thougth of it. For example, the house has a special closet off of the Great Room for storing a fully-decorated artificial Christmas tree all year. It's on wheels, so you just have to push it out and plug it in.
HGTV.com: Two documents featured on Dilbert.com are the source work outline and home suggestions from Dilbert Newsletter subscribers. What are some of your favorite features of Dilbert's Ultimate House (and why)? How about the suggestions from readers - did some stand out to you?
SA: The most common suggestion from readers was that the kids' bathroom be completely tiled and waterproof, with a drain in the center and a hose, so you can just spray some chemicals and hose the whole thing down. Apparently that design is already used in some places.
We also have a soundproof Quiet Room with a window to the kitchen. You can put the kids in there and let them go wild without spoiling adult conversation. Or if you have a family member who insists on learning to play the drums, it doubles as a practice studio.
The funniest suggestion was microwave ovens with no shielding, so you can warm the residents of the house from the inside out. But I don't think we'll use that one. Another suggestion was round picture frames so they never need straightening.
HGTV.com: In the time that Dilbert has become adored by millions of fans, I'm sure you've had some adventures or maybe even misadventures in home remodeling, decorating and the like - do you have an experience or two you'd like to share with us?
SA: Anyone who has had a contractor work on the house understands that the phrase "I'll be there on Monday at 8 AM" really means "I'll call you on Tuesday and tell you that my truck broke down. Then I'll make another ridiculous promise that you'll believe because you want to." I recommend that if you ever need major work done on your house, sell the house to someone you don't like.
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