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My ideal house would cost a great many thousands of dollars and therefore, even
if I am very successful in life, I do not suppose that I shall possess it for a
very long time. However there is no harm in dreaming, especially if the dream
provides the driving force to turn fantasy into fact. As I live in Singapore,
i would like my ideal house to be situated either on one of the residential
estates, right outside the bustle of the city center, or on one of the coast
roads so that the cool breezes from the ever beautiful China sea could waft
through my windows. Wherever my house was, it would stand in it sown grounds so
that I would not, on any side, be over-looked by neighbors. The gardens, with
which it would be surrounded would be very beautiful, full of colorful tropical
flowers; orchids and canna lilies and with many glowing flowering shrubs such as
bougainvillaea and frangipani. There would be tall leafy trees for shade and
underneath them, my private swimming bath would be built, where we could relax
and swim in the heat of the day. there would be pleasant paths winding through
the green grass and comfortable seats where my family and I could rest, when the
day's toil was over.
The house itself would be built of white stone which is both cool and
weather-proof. It would be on two storeys, because I like the habit of sleeping
upstairs. It would embody features from both the Eastern and Western worlds. In
front of it, I would have a large path with cool concrete pavings for the floor
and a roof and sides of hanging creepers to which the humming birds would come
in the still of the evening and keep company with us as we sat in the twilight.
The main sitting-room would lead off from the patio divided from it by
sliding glass doors. The floor of this would be of parquet which is easy to keep
clean and cool. Here, there would be comfortable 'easy chairs' in bright gay
colors, many occasional tables and a cocktail cabinet, so that I could
conveniently serve drinks to my friends. From the sitting-room, the dining room
would lead. This, too would be suitably furnished in bright, cool colors. Both
these rooms would have large electric fans from the ceilings and many standing
fans besides. they would not be air-conditioned because this, all through the
day creates too artificial a contrast with the temperature outside and would
not, therefore, be healthy.
The kitchens and servants' quarters would lead off from the dining room and
be connected to it by a long passage so that neither the noise nor the smells
from the part of the house would reach our living quarters. the kitchen would be
very modern and up-to-date with every mechanical device that money could buy.
Washing machines, cookers, refrigerators, mixers, polishers, garbage disposal
units; none of them would be stranger to my kitchen. All would be work-saving
and cool so that my wife and servants' work in the kitchen would be a pleasure.
On the second floor, I would have three air-conditioned bedrooms, each one
with an attached bathroom and a shower. These bedrooms, two for my family and
one for visitors would be carpeted and furnished with comfortable beds. Although
mosquito proofing is not strictly necessary, I would have this too to ensure
extra comfort and peace of mind. One of the rooms would be equipped as a nursery
with gaily decorated furniture and walls bright with flowers, so that the hearts
of my children would be glad. The walls in the rest of the house would be in
plain pastel colors, because such shades seem to make rooms appear larger and
cooler.
At the back of the house, I would have a double garage with water pipes
leading to it so that my cars would always be kept clean. Beyond this, in a
scheduled spot in the garden not attached to the house at all, would be a
separate building of one storey; simple and clean and neat. This would be my
study, sparsely furnished with just a desk and a chair and my book-shelves.
Here, I could not only work, but also rest and be at peace to contemplate my
ideal house and the great happiness which it had brought me. |
