I came close to building my own house when I renovated a three-story condo in a Victorian brownstone. I was limited by the external walls, but I pretty much got what I wanted on the inside.

My father-in-law was an architect and homebuilder -- he drew up plans for our dream house, which was a Tudor with a couple of circular rooms and turrets. Probably just as well we never built this house -- I don't think it would have been the most practical house on the block (most hulking, maybe).