Building a Castle in the Sand

As I watched the northern wall of my master bedroom be taken apart like a Lego project plan in reverse, I am amazed to see a vision solidifying. It has been a while since I’ve turned my design eye to physical objects. A door and three windows are now laying in a scrap pile next to a new gate in the backyard fence to be hauled off Monday. In their place is a set of double french doors flanked by 36″ sidelights that has created the effect of putting the room at the steps of the pool. It takes a little imagination to see the smooth mix because of the cheap beige carpet the previous owners slapped in the house with a coat of paint hoping to sell it sooner, but once the travertine is in you’ll see the blend of textured marble across the limestone patio into the water. With new twelve foot span of glass, leaving the light on in the pool or some moonlight with a little wind will bounce the reflections of waves across the bedroom ceiling, a perfect nightlight.

Lowe’s called today and my special order shower faucet is ready to be picked up. They weren’t that special I just have the uncanny ability to pick things that are not what most people would choose. Most faucets are chrome or that faked antique brassy finish. I used to be very into gloss black and chrome, but my tastes have aged and subtled down into matte off-black and brushed stainless, but the black is now an accent not the base. As I imagined where I would always want to be to set the tone for the bedroom design, I found myself on the beach at a five star resort, and sand becomes the background color in stucco textured walls and the flooring, a timeless rhythm of the moon pulling waves across rocks. Back to the faucets, the accents to the walls and floor I want to be modern so there are layers of new, shiny built on ancient foundation. I went with the Purist line from Kohler in brushed chrome which no one stocks. (Most people must have no sense of style, or no commitment to it and just settle.) The lines are very clean and on the sink faucets the controls have a nice taper that blends into the countertops, which we are going to build molds for stained concrete so the sink and surface are one piece. On the sink faucets, I am still deliberating on whether to go with the single line handles or the “plus” shaped ones to match the two t’s in my name. Choices. Preferences. Decisions. So many new calls on things I’ve never had to think about. That is why I am enjoying this so much. Design you can live in.