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.
Wherever my house was, it would stand in its own grounds so that I would not, on any side, be over-looked by neighbours. The gardens, with which it would be surrounded, would be very beautiful, full of colourful tropical flowers; orchids and lilies and with many glowing flowering shrubs such as bougainvillea 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. 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 colours, 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 colours. 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 colours, 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.
