Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Jim Blandings, a successful advertising executive, lives with his wife Muriel and two daughters, Betsy and Joan, in a cramped apartment in New York City. Muriel plans to remodel their apartment secretly, but Jim initially rejects the idea, preferring a bigger space or a new home. The family is dissatisfied with their current living conditions, sparking the desire for a home upgrade.

Jim comes across an advertisement for new homes in Connecticut, and the family gets excited about moving out of the city. They decide to pursue the idea of purchasing and renovating an old country house to escape urban life. Their enthusiasm leads them to contact a real estate agent who shows them a dilapidated farmhouse called the Hackett Place.

Jim and his family buy the nearly 200-year-old Hackett Place for a high price, paying five times the local rate per acre, motivated by its historic significance. Their purchase surprises Jim’s lawyer and friend Bill Cole, who criticizes Jim for following his heart rather than making a rational decision. The farm is structurally unsound and requires major reconstruction.

The house has to be torn down before paying off the previous owner’s mortgage. The Blandings hire architect Henry Simms to design their new home, with Muriel insisting on four bedrooms and bathrooms. Throughout the process, unforeseen issues such as discovering a spring beneath the foundation and a lawsuit from the previous owner cause delays and increase costs.

Construction costs rise to $18,000, and the project faces multiple setbacks due to unexpected problems and the need for repairs. The family encounters difficulties like digging a well only to find a spring, adding to their stress and financial strain. The project becomes more complicated than initially anticipated.

Back in the city, Jim is assigned to create an advertising slogan for WHAM, a problematic product. Meanwhile, he begins to suspect Muriel is unfaithful after Bill spends a night in the house during a violent thunderstorm, with Muriel being the only other person present. These personal and professional pressures cause Jim to question his choices.

With costs soaring and the deadline approaching, Jim wonders why he wanted a country home in the first place. The stress of the project and his career challenges deepen his doubts, but he pushes forward as the family’s dream of owning a home in the countryside continues to see obstacles.

Gussie, the Blandings’ maid, suggests a clever slogan for WHAM—"If you ain't eating WHAM, you ain't eating ham”—saving Jim’s job and boosting her morale. The family’s efforts to support each other and maintain humor help Jim realize that some things are truly valuable when bought with the heart.

Despite numerous setbacks, the new house is finally completed. Jim and his family are able to move in and enjoy their new home, appreciating the improvements and the effort it took to get there. The family’s hard work culminates in a beautiful new residence that they can be proud of.

The film ends with the Blandings family and Bill enjoying the front yard of their new home, reflecting on their journey. Jim reads the book 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' and invites the audience to visit, symbolizing their fulfillment of the dream despite the obstacles faced along the way.