Very interesting to hear the story of your 'perfect house'. I don't think I've ever been struck like that, but I have picked up some fantastic ideas for mid-house plant rooms from the homes in Brazil. In Canada, we can grow some tropical plants indoors and I've always felt a home is more comfortable with live plants within.
And also interested in the category of expenditures that you place your 'extra money' into.
RE: What would you do if you had ‘a little extra money’?