History Page 2
Design
I drew plans for the room design, the windows and doors, kitchen, baths, etc. All design errors are mine, except for one wall Made moved while I was in America. Even so, it works well. Made took my ideas, filtered them through his knowledge of what could be built in Bali and what materials were available, and improved everywhere. He went with me to choose fixtures, marble, material for curtains, linens, everything. When he built the second house in 1997 he used all the knowledge gained building the first house and several other similar projects to refine the original design. Made has been much sought-after since building my first house to build for other westerners, and rescued a partly constructed hotel of 45 bungaloes by redesigning and overseeing construction.
Building in the third world is not like building in the USA. The experience was a university degree in patience. Nothing seemed to go according to schedule, but eventually most of the work was finished, except for the lower bath, so I was able to live in the house.
It was wonderful, except that the hot water heater didn't arrive for several months. That was not so bad, Bali is tropical and I was fairly accustomed to cold water showers.
Around this time, I contracted with an English landscape designer to build the garden. I gave him a rough plan, and he spent the next six months building. Third world, remember? The finished product was amazing, with flowers and exotic plants carefully placed to accent the house, the ponds, streams and waterfalls. As the years have passed, the garden has matured, and seems timeless and natural. The sound of falling water provides an accent to each day, and the colors and scents of the garden come inside, as the gardener cuts flowers and foliage for arrangements in each room.
Finishing Up
The next job was mine: to furnish the house. I have simple tastes, and didn't want to clutter the spaces too much. On the top level, I had a teak roll top desk built to use for an office, and bought a set of folding teak chairs and a simple but expandable table for dining. Two steamer chairs for the veranda and a lot of big pillows seemed enough for me. Later I designed and had built a queen size bed with built-in storage.
For the mid level, the Master bedroom, I had a 4-poster bed made from teak, and put a couple of easy chairs (teak and rattan) on the veranda. A built-in bookshelf and an area above the staircase leading down completed the room, A large teak amoire in a vestibule outside the room serves as storage for hanging clothing, linens, and more. The floor is a colorful red-brown swirling marble. Walls are white.
On the lower level there are three rooms; a sleeping/living room, the kitchen and the bath. For the living space I bought an antique Javanese daybed, and had an extension built, with mattresses for both, combining to form a queen bed or separated for a full bed and settee. Antique teak chairs and a round table on the veranda serve for dining, playing cards, etc. In the bath I installed an antique teak amoire for clothing storage.
The bathrooms were fun.
Mid-level bath floor is a continuation of the red-brown marble. The walls are blue, countertops are white marble. The shower is large and open, with a pebbled floor. Two large windows open to provkde light and ventilation.
The lower bath is very elegant, with white marble floors and counters, a custom moulded tub surfaced with light blue-green flat pebbles. It is designed with a comfortable back angle, and the faucet is at the center, so the tub is very comfortable for two. A large carved Javanese bed frame surrounds the mirror, back lit. I designed the tub with the faucet in the center, on one side, and each end angled for comfort. The tub is comfortable for one or two adults, and a long warm bath is incredibly relaxing in a tropical climate.
12 volt halogen spots discretely light the rooms at night. The large expanse of windows bring in natural light as well as the near constant sea breeze.
