A house is a home in the making. The bustling racket of hammers hitting nails, drills powering through walls, and saws ripping through wood that ricochets between frames and crevices is an overture to a symphony of dinner sizzling on the stove, laundry tumbling in the dryer, flames crackling in the fireplace, and laughter echoing throughout rooms and corridors.

The spectacular house that Murphy Brothers Contracting is building in idyllic Armonk is well on its way to becoming Westchester Magazine's DreamHome 2009. The home will feature the latest interior and exterior amenities, upscale home furnishings, top-of-the-line appliances, and lavish fixtures. As soon as the last ornamental trimmings are added, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will open Westchester Magazine's DreamHome 2009 to the public for four weeks of house tours. Proceeds from tour ticket sales will benefit Open Door Family Medical Centers.

In the coming four months, we invite you in to become virtual visitors to Westchester Magazine's DreamHome 2009. In these following pages and on Westchester Magazine's DreamHome 2009 dedicated Web site, get an intimate look at the construction and decorating process of the home and learn about the newest trends, technologies, and appliances with which it is being equipped.

Like what you've seen so far of Westchester Magazine's DreamHome2009? See it all in place and in action. Go from virtual visitor to tourist extraordinaire starting on May 1, 2009 when Westchester Magazine's DreamHome 2009 opens its doors to public tours and becomes the county's must-see destination this spring.

Over the course of four weeks, interactive tours of the house will feature seminars on new, energy-efficient window technology; tutorials on paint trends and color combinations that soothe or inspire; talks on the newest developments in lighting design that can transform any room's ambiance with the flick of a switch; and much more.

Come observe live cooking demonstrations that will teach you how to create an elegant, simple meal in no time. Learn about cutting-edge, integrated electronics that add fun, flair, and function to your home. Finally, see what experts and representatives from the American Society of Interior Designers and the American Institute of Architects have to say about the trends, "dos," and "don'ts" of home renovation and construction.

Be sure to check out our calendar of events, and our Web cam video stream showing live DreamHome 2009 updates. Also make sure to purchase your $20 tour tickets, all ticket proceeds will benefit the Open Door Family Medical Centers, whose mission is to provide quality health care and human services at affordable prices to community members, particularly the economically disadvantaged.

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