Ok You are Harry Dresden and you are going to spend 200K on a brand new house for yourself. You picked a prime location that is at the convergence of three helpful ley lines, away from innocent bystanders most times, in a part of Chicago that is easily accessible and covers a half acre lot (so plenty of room, but not ridiculous like the Marcone or White court mansions). There is already a long occupied house on the lot that can be heavily remodeled, but still retain "most" of the threshold benefit that the house had accumulated. (ie - location is nearly perfect).
What are the key elements of the design? Assume you are Dresden's architect and are designing him the right house.
Obvious Bits
1) The house will be built of thick stone or similar sturdy material that is not flammable.
2) Doors will be heavily reinforced security type doors - although not obviously so
3) Good wood burning stoves provide central heat and/or the basics of a stove/oven in the kitchen
4) Good spacious underground basement for the laboratory
5) The lot will be surrounded by a 5' tall brick or stone wall that will (slightly) slow down attackers, keep out ghosts, and give some degree of privacy so neighbors are not easily annoyed by the zombies attacking
6) the place will look like a residence, not a fortress.
7) multiple guest rooms
Big freezer to hold the pizza
His 200K is gone the moment he files his taxes, so I'm going to assume a reasonable, middle-class-budget accommodations based on the sale of an existing house.
1. Base the overall design of the house and its feng shui on Mac's place so that maybe, just maybe, Dresden can keep a water heater and working lights.
2. That wall around the house should be a circle, for obvious reasons.
3. A sprinkler system that is hooked up to a tank of holy water (for Black Court vampires).
4. A garage, hopefully, so that he can stick the Beetle somewhere aside from on the street, where it seems to get messed up frequently.
5. This probably goes without saying, but a big swing set, with monkey bars, one of those wooden fort things, and all of the assorted equipment for Maggie.
6. Mouse-sized doggy doors.
7. Bunk beds.
8. This wouldn't necessarily cost money, but Dresden should spend some time scrolling the walls with the right runes so that Bonnie can effectively use the house as her skull. Instant Smart House, literally.
9. A really, really, really, really good fire suppression system.
