My Ideal Country House/Home

This piece was done as exercise number eight for Ariele Huff's online Write about Your Life online class. Comment from Ariele to Paul: "How lovely…the house and the description. I’d love to use this piece as an example of a really good description of a home."

The hand-carved wooden doors depicting two women dancing in traditional dress welcome you to this magnificent piece of architecture we call “Grandma’s Home.” The doors are decades old, and I am told they have proved to be reliable conversation starters. Above are the vaulted cathedral ceilings and the hand-sewn makuti thatched roof, made from the sun-dried leaves of the local coconut palm tree, indigenous to East Africa. Large-scale tableau maps of Kenya and Africa hang on the well-polished hallway walls—a virtual feast to the eyes. A cluster of grand and dazzling Latika lanterns hang from the rafters, completing the African décor.

In the main living area, a Seabrook sofa set supplemented by a custom wood cocktail table and a glass Italia side table on a vintage Persian carpet make visitors feel welcome.

The kitchen designers of this country home paid great attention to detail. The materials, finishes, and colors are simple yet sophisticated, and its functionality and user-friendliness match the minimalism and beauty. All appliances are stainless steel, and the home is well ventilated and warmly illuminated with low-hanging Arabian pendants. One could easily mistake it for upscale city property.

The large mahogany bifold doors on one end of the kitchen create an intimate connection between the house and the garden. Granny has planted a variety of native tropical ornamentals in this casual courtyard garden. The overarching mango tree on the far end provides a much-needed shade in addition to the annual supply of juicy tropical fruits.

Indeed, it is a sight to behold.

Paul Mugendi is a long term resident of Everett, Washington, works for Boeing, and is an aspiring freelance writer.

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