My roller coaster ride

Ever since I got married, my ultimate dream was to have my our own house… a house and or a town house perhaps. Being married to an architect, every one probably thinks that would be an easy job but I guess, everything isn’t really easy for me and my hubs.

Hubby and I both grew up from a location that is quite far from the school we go to. At a young age, high school that is, I have to endure the rigors of commuting from Laguna to Manila, where my school is. My routine, obviously was house and school and vice versa. No time to do much lakwatsa, much to the content of my mom With that in mind, we promised not to give that kind of experience to our kids. So even if we can buy those affordable houses in the south or far north of Manila, we are maintaining a rented house here in the Metro so the kids can enjoy more time with their school activities rather than deal with the stress of going through traffic each and everyday of their lives. I guess when you are a parent, you have to really look after what’s good for your children rather than satisfy your own personal dream.

However….

As the years go by, I thing it’s about time to revisit that grand dream of mine and think of being more practical. Nothing bad with that. With the property boom, there are a lot of condominiums around our vicinity and even if I am not really a “condo girl”, I have to adjust a bit. It’s just a matter of mindset, dontchathink Hubby keeps telling me that I am the only who refuses to take a look a condominiums. Okay fine, I shall open my mind and prepare myself. That wouldn’t be hard. It’s not like their stealing my dreams away…. It’s more of tweaking it a bit.

This would probably end my emotional roller coaster ride. The stress of trying to find the perfect house, that fits our budget has really given me a lot anxiety like casters attached to my computer chair, I feel like I can swivel, go forward, sideward but in the end I go back to where I started. House hunting can be draining at times.

So if my family is happy with a condo, then condo it shall be Good luck to us!

Finding your own space

I just came home from a fruitful but tiring tripping with hubby and my boy — who wanted tag along,  in search for an office space. Yup, an office space for my hubby. It’s been ten months since he started his own architectural practice and now it’s about  time to expand a little, so finding his own office is already a must. It’s exciting but at the same time there’s a hint of fret of what the future has in store for this new business venture.  But we are very much optimistic with all the prospects  at hand and with God’s grace, I know hubby will be a success.

Finding your own space be it your office or your home, is always an exciting experience. After our tripping, both of us sat down and did a brainstorming session for the office look.  The decor, lighting, fixture and furniture, everything should have a hint of the owner’s character.  Like in your own home, the receiving room or living room is the space where guests can see the owner’s distinctive characteristics.

As to your own space and sanctuary, it is always essential to find a space where you can feel tranquil and lets you express your creativity or your personal ideas. The place you live and work should be something that you look forward to go to everyday, that is why your personal touch is a requirement.

Like in my home, my personal sanctuary is my bedroom. No matter how cluttered the kids are in the other areas of the house, as long as my bedroom is quiet and free of clutter … I always look forward to lying on my bed every single night. Oh, I know the gentlemen have a different perspective… others look forward to spending time inside their entertainment room, or the den or even the garage. I know of some men who loves to hang out at the garage with their male friends. That’s why they make sure that they have their beer fridge there and wants every detail of this space perfect up to the material used as their garage floor coating.

Whether it is your workplace or your home, always find an area where you can have your personal touch, a space you can relax, be creative and will make you feel good

Building a house

The process of building you own home could be an arduous task but exciting at the same time. Like most people you want your house to be unique but more importantly it should meet you and your family’s specific needs. A lot of things should be taken into consideration before you start building, just think of the investment you are putting into, so better be certain in all the decisions that you will make.
As I constantly accompany my husband in meeting with his clients I have learned a couple of things that helped him and the home owners build their dream homes. Most of his clients already have an idea in their mind as to what their house would look like — sometimes they would bring with them photos or magazines which inspired them.

Choose a reputable contractor/architect – Gone are the days, when you only hire carpenters to do construction. A qualified contractor/architect will be cheaper in the long run since you will avoid any rectification in the latter part. Ask around, get referrals from your friends, I am sure you will find a reputable person whom you can trust and work with.
Working on a Budget – everyone is working on a budget, the easiest way to work within it, is to separate your “needs” from your “wants”. The excitement of making your house really beautiful can truly be overwhelming but you need to control the urge. Know your priorities, the beautification process can follow once the house is built. Slowly but surely your house will be the way you want it to be.
Be involved with the design – your home is not just a place to live but it reflects your personality and style. The architect is there to put into perspective the design you have in mind. They will implement your design based on your specifications.
Ask questions. It’s your home that you are building not the architect’s home; it is your right to ask anything that bothers you. A good contractor should be willing to answer all your queries whenever possible.
Monitor the progress. It is best that you keep an eye on the construction as often as you can. This way you can catch mistakes early. Remember it is easier and cheaper to correct mistakes early on rather than wait. Call the attention of your contractor immediately.
Furniture and Fixtures – the best money saving thing can do is to not include these things in the builder’s contract but put in an allowance for installation. This way you get to choose your own lighting fixture, kitchen fixtures, faucets, toilet bowls. You can even buy things specific to your needs, like if you need a bath tub, walk in tubs, your own spa or whatever your requirements are.
Setting the time frame — Be prepared for setbacks but let your contractor know that you only tolerate minimal delays. Your contractor should have presented you a schedule in the beginning, let them know that you are monitoring this.
Soon, you will have the house that you have been dreaming of. Don’t worry if most of the furnishing are still complete, as long you have all the necessary things to make your home ready to live, that’s acceptable. You will soon be able to furnish your house one at a time.