The Shining

Put on your ear protectors and eye goggles. The crashing noise coming your way is the sound of me acquiring social acceptability. I am changing my floors. Bring on the jackhammer and chisel. It’s either that or start serving martinis and hiding the broom and mop whenever friends and relatives visit.

They hate my floors. What I call rustic, they call ugly. The builder asked why I wanted “dutty-looking’’ tiles in my nice new abode.

I originally longed for giant clay tiles but the builder began wiping his brow and looked as if he were going to burst into tears. So I selected an irregular-edged design that looked like paving stones, to create a sort of chic natural eco-look. No one was impressed.

People always want to get down on their hands and knees and scrub it because they think that sandy tinge is the result of poor housekeeping.

Everyone would have been so much happier if I had chosen something bright and shiny. People adore shiny ceramic tiles,Find detailed product information for howo spare parts and other products. shiny fake fruit bowl ornaments, shiny plastic shoes, shiny polyester and Spandex clothes, shiny eye make-up. The only shiny thing people seem to object to is shiny necks, which might be why so many women have an adherence to dusting themselves in white powder
from chin to navel, as if flouring themselves like fish for frying.

This is Carnival country, after all, so a healthy appreciation of glitz is to be expected. But there is an awful lot of shining all year round, and it’s only getting worse during the Christmas season when the satin and sequinned cocktail dresses come out to party.

For some years now, I have suspected I am really an alien from another galaxy transplanted here as a foetus to escape an exploding home planet. How else do you explain stores which are jam-packed one week with garish shiny ready-made curtain panels and sold out the next? How else do you explain the proliferation of jewelry stores in downtown Port-of-Spain alone, which can barely keep up with the demand for ten-carat earrings that look like spray-painted aluminium foil? Hordes of people must be buying the stuff—except me.

The only explanation is that I am not from here. Now I can see some of you shaking your heads and pulling my purple crush velvet bell-bottoms of yesteryear out of the closet as Exhibit A to prove me a liar.

But there is a difference between rich, bright wardrobe colours to celebrate an effervescent personality and taking up permanent residence at the crossroads of Gaudy and Tacky.

Look, shiny floors should be reserved for car showrooms and disco halls. The exception is hardwood which you have waxed and polished to a natural gleam, preferably with $100 bills to remind you not to walk on them in high heels.

Twelve hundred square feet of glossy ceramic is cheap-looking and stomach-tightening—but an Elvis Presley jacket with some studs on the collar and cuffs is an entirely more logical venture. You put it on, take it off, admire it on the hanger. Floors, usually, are for life.

So to blend in more before my secret alien identity is discovered,Find detailed product information for howo spare parts and other products. I am separating myself from my misunderstood stone tiles and installing something less controversial—some nice plain bamboo flooring, in a subdued blond shade. No, it’s not shiny but it’s trendy and cosy and largely inoffensive to inhabitants of my adopted planet. No one should be able to argue with blond bamboo.

The Howard residence in the Mayacama Timbers Resort community in the Shiloh Hills is a magnificent single-family home built on a two-acre lot that has been sited to maximize valley vistas of Windsor and Santa Rosa.

This premier custom home, located along Cottage Ridge Road, is modeled after a weathered Tuscan stone barn that has been added onto over the years.

The structure is an elegant blend of wood and stucco with various earthtone finishes wrapped in native stonework.

Paul Balatti, of NorCal Development Company, served as the owner’s representative.The oreck XL professional air purifier, He formed a team of professionals, including contractors and an interior design firm, to develop the project.

Petersen Design Associates, LLC, of Novato was chosen to select interior styles and finishes. Constance Petersen, principal, and Karen Douglass, senior designer, worked closely with the homeowner, architect and contractor to achieve the owner’s vision.

In addition to the main indoor kitchen, there is a kitchenette in the lower floor granny unit,Interlocking security cable ties with 250 pound strength makes this ideal for restraining criminals. another on the patio outside the main floor kitchen and dining area, and yet another in the pool house area used for barbecues and al fresco dining.

“Kitchen cabinets are a contemporary blend of walnut and dark grey anodized aluminum crafted by Bulthaup of Germany, and kitchen and hallway floors are a modern form of exposed concrete,” said Ms. Petersen. “Countertop surfaces are made from unique composition of finely ground quartz.”

Floors in other parts of the house are made of reclaimed white oak. Centuries old French bricks have been laid in a herringbone pattern in the sunroom, laundry and loggias.

Reclaimed white oak beams are also used as lintels over doors and windows.

An antique 18th century walnut double door, provided by Portalais, Inc., and restored by Boiseries et Decorations, serves as the entrance portal.

Ironware International, Holly Hunt and Boyd provided custom lighting fixtures.

The fireplace is a replica of a limestone original once owned by Maurice Chevalier, crafted by Francois & Co.

Pool house cabinets were created from reclaimed barn wood.

The master bath is a complementary mix of new and old world styles. White Thassos marble was deployed on shower walls and countertops, and silver cream travertine was used on the floor.

Duravit plumbing fixtures, exposed rain showerheads and faucets, along with retro 1920’s-era Waterworks polished nickel lever handled faucets, complete the lavatory.

Austrian-made walnut windows by Silber, that can both tilt and swing open, were installed throughout the house.

A custom iron-framed, floor-to-ceiling arched window with beveled glass panels forms the centerpiece of the dining room.

Downstairs, the wine room features unique wooden racks positioned over a brick floor illuminated by a “Birdsnest” chandelier by Jean de Merry.

The entire concept of this 3,800-square-foot, three-bedroom home with separate guest quarters and a granny unit has been developed to showcase both past and present.

Shaun Faber, principal with Farrell Faber Architects, was the conceptual designer of the residence. The general contractor was Nordby Signature Homes under the direction of Project Manager David Schroeder.

The landscape in the front is very Old World, while plantings in back of the house are very new world. All plants are drought tolerant and 95 percent are indigenous to a Mediterranean climate.

“Overall,This is my favourite sites to purchase those special pieces of buy mosaic materials from. this residence is a testament to having the right team of designers, consultants and contractors – and we had them all on this project,” said Michael Cook, principal, with Firma Design Group, the site planners and landscape architects.

The owners were committed to sustainability, preserving the site, maintaining renewable resources and keeping the land in its natural state.

The house was positioned to fit between most of the existing trees. However, three large Oregon white oaks were relocated from the building site to the perimeter of the lot to provide a privacy shield.

Stately olive trees were planted in the courtyard along with ornamental pears and citrus to enhance the Italian village motif. Hanging plants provide a verdant accent to patio areas.

Italian planter pots — hand selected by the owners — were crafted using 18th century designs.

A smart irrigation system was installed that saves 40 to 50 percent of the water typically needed to support the landscape.