I bought Winstad Manor near Morthal and it's ok, but I get annoyed that there is no chest right next to my smithy outside where I can store ores, leather, etc. Is there some option to create a chest there that I am missing? I currently store things in the chest next to the drafting table outside but have to run around the whole house to get to it. I do hope that the outside chest is a safe one to use.

The only advantage that Winstad has over Breezehome in Whiterun is that I have an enchanter's room in it. A huge disadvantage is that there are no merchants to sell things to.

The chest by the drafting table is safe, just like any chest in one of your homes. No chests appear by the smelter. Best thing is to build a complete smithy in the basemant along with all of the storage. It's well worth it.

I just did this over the weekend. The basemant rocks! I was really reluctant to put the full smithing infrastructure in the basemant but figured I'd go through with it. Oh man! It is sweet! There's tons of cool storage for ores, safes for gold, jewels, jewelry, etc. I have to admit, the basemant is now my favorite room. Also built the shrine down there which looks really nice. There's the usual problem with lighting, but torches on the ground solve that problem. Also, the pet skeever showed up. I used to store all my smithing stuff outside by the drafting table, but I moved it all down into the basemant. Man, Hearthfire continues to impress me. It is a very impressive DLC for immersion and role play.

I have the full setup in all my HF houses and just like you it's my favorite room. Second favorite is the armory and it's in Winstad. Too bad you don't have the opportunity to add that to the back room, I'd do a family home with bedroom, kitchen and armory in the back. THAT would be my dream home.

Wow, thanks, it never occurred to me to build another smithy in the basemant. Currently the basemant is dark and empty. I will tend to fixing it up right away!

It's a really weird idea, right? You're putting in all this hot, iron working stuff in the basemant without a chimney etc. That really bugged me, but once you do it and overlook the obvious issues, it has a great 'this-is-my-personal, almost-secret-workshop' vibe. I don't think there's an option to install an Arcane Enchanter down there, but that would be the perfect touch. I really like the storage bins for ore and ingots. They just show up automatically, they're not listed as a separate storage option, a great surprise 'cause I love to organize stuff.

No arcane enchanter for the basemant though you have the choice of a tower or building one in your loft in a corner.

Once its fixed up, it becomes amazing. It just requires a lot of materials to get it up done, but once you get the Shrines, Safes and Smithy up, its great.

Since I don't go through the hassle of hand placing items in display cases all of my dragon priest masks are stored in one safe. Gems and jewelry in another, soul gems in one, gold and silver bars in one (I don't leave them lying about in an unlocked chest or drawer), 100s thousands of septims in one etc. The 10 safes you get downstairs is invaluable but takes a lot of steel and corundrum to make.

I would love to raid your house. SO much more profitable than statues of Dibella and jeweled amulets.

You are welcome to try however I would recommend doing it while he's not home. I haven't even started on all of the artifacts, enchanted armor sets of all types including multiple sets of enchanted dragonscale and dragonbone and my treasure house of enchanted weapons/artifacts as well. My 360 character is obscenely wealthy as well as powerful.

Edit: Oh, and the hundreds of gems I have are mostly flawless thanks to Prowlers profit.

If you have Windstad Manor I recommend "HearthFire - Windstad Manor - Fortified and Upgradable -by OH" and "Guards on Your home -hearthfire."

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/35079//?

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25140/?

Fish pen is great for Alchemists. It was always a pain getting the fish for the recipes. The house carl and any follower will also go swimming with you when you go in to harvest the catch. Yesterday my head got tangled with Jordis legs. After a protracted struggle she got away...