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Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts

Friday, June 5, 2009

More than Meets the Eye

I have promised some people that I will show our kitchen and so this whole entry is about the “only-fully-finished-and-furnished” part of our house. Not to mention my most favorite, most expensive thus my most loved part. A combination of both our ideas, Denden would like to describe our kitchen to have three parts, from the left, middle to the right.

The first part on the left is the where you get the supplies. Thus, the refrigerator and a rather big pantry cabinet with a number of all-purpose stainless inserts that you could easily pull out, one-by-one after opening the glass, aluminum framed door.

On the middle part the washing area with a two-bowl sink with drain and a very special faucet. Ever since, I have wanted a faucet like that from Ikea. A day with George on the streets of Soler, we saw that faucet. I am advancing a thank you to George, not only for the day in Soler, but for all the things he has done for the house construction. There wouldn’t have been a kitchen without the house. And the house wouldn’t have been finished this way, if it weren’t for him. Going back to the faucet, it was not exactly the Ikea faucet, but better, because it is stainless. It has a main outlet and two other separate openings, for the normal faucet and another for the handspray that you could pull out. A little more expensive but I didn’t have second thoughts of buying.


Underneath the sink are the cabinets with inserts where the dishes, plates and glasses are placed. We especially have a drawer for the cutlery with stainless dividers inside. A particular insert that we had is the magic corner to maximize the spaces for the two corners; we placed food containers, mugs and glasses here. Above is the spice rack I once mentioned before that hid the electrical panel beneath.

The first time we saw the doors, we imagined right away that it was what he wanted for our kitchen. The piano-lacquer doors were ordered from Ariston Hardware. Also the custom made pantry door. Special thanks to Henry who had been very helpful and accommodating to us. All the drawers and most doors are soft-closed. It’s like it has brakes even if you slam them and they will close slowly. It took some time installing these cabinets because the doors are fixed and couldn’t be adjusted, and the inserts need to be fit and aligned properly. And so, my handyman installed the door handles himself because we didn't have a carpenter to finish it off.

A black and white kitchen, whose idea is that? Some might not notice but what makes the white cabinets stand out is the black countertop right in the middle. Right? It is not made of granite but of synthetic stone, a black Tiffany Marble countertop. These are cultured stones, measured, custom built and molded into one piece. From Stoneworks, thanks to Uncle/Sir Jes.

Lastly, the cooking area. Underneath the cook top are two big pull-out drawers for the pots and pans. And small pull-out condiments rack where we put oil and the liquid condiments. On top are open-shelf cabinets for other materials and utensils.

This is the reason why I look forward to going home after office to cook dinner, even for just two people. It is our dream kitchen, exactly what we want and where we want it. We're proud and happy that it turned out the way we drew the layout back in November. I said it this more than meets the eye because, it doesn’t only look good on the outside, but it is very functional on the inside. Papa mentioned the other day that we should have a dirty kitchen outside, so that we won’t have to use the kitchen. Denden and I looked at each other and we both agreed to disagree. This is not a show kitchen, but our dream kitchen: and we will use and enjoy every part of it, every day.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Dream Come True


You could call the house a dream come true, but I am not posting any pictures yet, and this isn't about the house.

More than I that, I am referring to our favorite couple with their very beautiful and lovable baby who spared a day and slept over our house. It has been years since we both slept on the same room, on the same bed... and this time, there are two men and a baby with us.

A lot has changed over the years. But I am definitely sure, there is one thing that won't.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Goodwill

After two years and four months, I said goodbye to another place, we considered home. The first year there was full of fun and happy memories with Kuting and friends: experimental cooking, countless of dinner nights, parties composed of 6-7 people and so much more. The wedding preparations all took place in Goodwill: painting of the souvenir pots, the making of the invitations with sisters… looking back, it makes me smile.

During the second year, it was just the two of us. Well, except for sleepover nights with Ikoy and my sisters. But more than that, we experienced living as husband and wife: going home, cooking dinner just for two people, doing house chores together, sleeping every night with the thought that it is just him and me.

This day, we packed our things and said goodbye to Goodwill. Always remembering that it has been a witness to an eventful chapter of my life.

I especially thank our landlord, who had been very good to us.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Paglisan

Halos tatlong taon ako sa bahay na ito. Naaalala ko pa nang pilitin ako ng bestfriend ko na sumama sa kanya mag-apartment. Matagal ko nang gustong magkaroon ng sariling kwarto, at para masubukan kong mabuhay na mag-isa, sumama ako sa kanya. Pero hindi naman talaga ako naging mag-isa. Dahil sa paglipat ko sa BR, nakita ko na pwede ka palang magkaroon ng kapatid kahit na hindi mo kadugo. At napatunayan kong ang mga totoong magkakaibigan ay hindi talaga nag-aaway sa kahit anong aspeto, dahil lahat ay nadadaan sa lambing at maayos na usapan.

Bawat sulok ng BR ay mayroong alaala. Ang unang sala na hindi lamang lalagyan ng mga sapatos kundi naging isang ”Welcome Home” pambungad sa akin. Ang maliit na kwarto at banyo na naging lalagyan ko ng gamit kahit hindi ko naman masyado natutulugan. Sa mga unang buwan, naging saksi ito sa madaming lungkot at sakit ng buhay ko.

Ang kusina at dining table, na nakaranas ng hindi lamang iba’t ibang kainan kundi madaming masasayang bagay. Ang shelf na parang sari-sari store dahil laging puno ng mga de lata at pagkain. Ang blender na gumawa ng mga magic concoctions, at ang "one-cup" coffeemaker. Ang isang shelf na puno ng mga litrato at mga bote na may ibang ibang disenyo ng buhangin mula sa Boracay, litrato ng mga magagandang alaala at mga bote na gawa ng mahahalagang tao.

Ang tunay na sala na may refrigerator. Ref na puro litrato pa din ang pinto, ang pinanggalingan ng mga eksperimentong mga luto, ang ugat ng samahang hindi ka magugutom kahit minsan. Noong una’y may kama ang sala pero naging tirahan ng mga bugoy. May malaking bintana na tanging paraan para makita mo ang magulong mundo sa labas at maisip na ligtas ka na sa loob.

Nang umalis ang bestfriend ko, naging bahagi ng buhay ko ang malaking kwarto at napakagandang banyo na gusto kong palaging malinis. Ang paboritong kutchon ni iko na gustung-gusto nyang gulungan at gapangan. Itong kwartong ito ang nagpatulog sa akin sa mga malalamig na gabi at madalas, kasama ko ito sa mga tuwa at saya ng puso ko.

Masakit sa kalooban kong umalis ngunit kailangan. Sa aking paglisan sa BR, kasama ko ang lahat ng alaala sa loob nito, bawat sulok, bawat kwarto. At kahit na magkakaroon na ako ng bagong apartment, hindi ko makakalimutan ang BR, dahil naging malaking parte ito ng buhay ko.