Duggar Family House

The Duggar family house is a unique residence indeed. It comfortably fits reality television stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 18 children. Imagine what it takes to build, organize and clean this type of house.

The Duggar family in front of their new home.

The Duggar family is the focus of the reality show on The Learning Channel, 18 Kids and Counting. However, before they got their own show chronicling their lives in Tontitown, Arkansas, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar started imagining their dream home. They wanted a place where all their children could eat, sleep, study, pray, play and live without stepping on top of each other. They also envisioned a home where they could all sit down together and eat a family meal.

Most of all, the Duggars wanted their new home to be a learning project and a family affair that everyone can work on together. They put their noses to the grindstone and started designing their 7,000-square-foot home from top to bottom, inside and out, and they got what they wished for. TLC was even on hand while it was being built and when the family moved in, chronicling the events with the special, The Duggar Dream Home.

The Duggar family prides themselves on being debt-free and not using credit cards to pay for anything. Because the Duggars already owned the 20 acres their new home sits upon, there was no need to seek out loans to pay for the house. Instead of hiring contractors, they sought out family and friends to help construct the all-steel home, which was built from two do-it-yourself kits. Their appliances were purchased at auction for a mere fraction of the original $100,000 cost. They scavenged store and restaurant closings for items including a serving line and swing doors from a Kmart that went out of business and a canopy from Schlotzsky's Deli that shut down.

Through budgeting and saving, the Duggar family paid for a majority of the new construction and furnishings but received some sponsorship from the Campbell's Soup Company, Huggies Diapers, Home Depot, Sears and Home Decorations Collection among others. In an attempt to keep spending low, the family cooks most of their meals from scratch and makes their own laundry detergent, among other items.

A breakdown of the Duggar's new house:

• The exterior is white and the roof is green.
• There are 20 six-foot by eight-foot windows throughout the house.
• The two eldest Duggar sons, Joshua and John David, installed a studio room and sound system throughout the house.
• The general kitchen countertop measures 4 1/2 feet wide by 20 feet long.
• There are two sinks, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers in the kitchen.
• The house also boasts an industrial kitchen for use with larger groups.
• There is space for two 18-seat tables.
• Coca-Cola provided a soda fountain that sits in the kitchen.
• The house has nine bathrooms.
• The playroom sports a pool table, climbing wall and slide that connects to the boys' bedroom upstairs.
• There are four washers and four dryers in the laundry room.
• An intercom system was installed so the family can communicate with each other.

Justin Duggar playing on the counter is his family's kitchen.

With all of the people living in the house, there is no need for housekeepers or gardeners. Each person takes a turn completing those tasks with individual chore charts. All family members have their own jurisdiction with each chart outlining chores and goals for the day. The younger Duggar children buddy up with an older sibling to accomplish some of these tasks. The goal is to teach all of the children responsibility.

The kids' charts or checklists also outline each child's schedule for the entire day including meals, music, schooling, family time and worship. Instead of an allowance, each child can earn money by accomplishing what is on their list. They get a minimal amount of change for completing schoolwork, chores and other tasks. At the end of the month, however, it can really add up.

Having this large of a family means there needs to be some rules or guidelines in place. The family's website has the complete list of the Duggar's house rules, which includes:

• Always use kind words and actions.
• Praise others for their good work.
• Thank God for what He has given you.
• No mocking, arguing, complaining or blaming others.
• No yelling, screaming, throwing or scowling.
• Don't go to bed angry.
• Have J.O.Y. ("Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.")

One of the key places in the Duggar family house is the prayer closet. This is where each adult or child can go and spend some private time with God. This is not unusual for a family as religious as the Duggars. Known as devout Christians, family members are followers of QuiverFull, an evangelical movement that teaches that all children are blessings from God and should be welcomed.

The QuiverFull movement also stresses family organization, homesteading and homeschooling, all of which is prominent in the Duggar household. Modesty also plays a strong role with Duggars, as well as chaperoned dates, no kissing until marriage and the strong disapproval of using birth control.

The Duggar's home may seem like a mansion to most -it is large and full of fun and fancy things- but it is also full of love, which above all the rest, is the most important thing in this family's lives.

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