Ever since 1997, the Home and Garden TV network has hosted an annual sweepstakes that gives away a fully furnished, custom built dream home that is valued at more than $1 million.  Starting January 1, viewers are invited to enter the dream house sweepstakes online.  The house is then awarded in a March telecast.

Dream homes of the past have been built in idyllic locations across the U.S.  This year’s Dream Home is a ski lodge located in Stowe Vermont.  In addition to the home and all its furnishings, the prize package includes a 2011 Acadia Denali and $500,000.  Despite the cash prize, most of the past Dream Home winners have been forced to sell their prize home due to tax bills. 

Tour the HGTV Dream Home for 2011 in this YouTube video and read more about it on the HGTV website.

Remodeling a tired-looking bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  If you make the right choices, a little bit of money can go a long way.  Here are some bathroom remake tips that won’t break the bank:

For more budget-minded bathroom remodel ideas, read Bath Makeovers Under $2000 at the Better Homes and Gardens website.

Some people never outgrow the dream of living in a treehouse. The book New Treehouses of the World, by Pete Nelson, provides a glimpse into the some of the most unusual and creative treehouses from around the world.

Author Pete Nelson is a treehouse expert and owner of TreeHouse Workshop, a Washington company that builds custom treehouses and conducts workshops to help others design and build their own treehouses.

He also operates Treehouse Point, an environmentally-friendly treehouse retreat center.

Learn more about Pete Nelson’s treehouses at the Treehouse Workshop website.

Surveys by fitness professionals have found that most people have a better chance of staying in shape when they have a home gym.  Whether it’s a dedicated fitness room or a corner of a basement, garage or bedroom, a home gym is the most convenient place to work out. 

Here are 5 tips for creating a home gym that will inspire you to work out more:

Visit Home-Designing to see pictures of some inspirational home gym designs.