Better Loft Than Never

In the early 2000s, when turning urban industrial spaces into lofts was the coolest, hippest new trend, I opted to do the boring, sensible thing instead and buy a small house. It was a tough decision and a very close call, and part of me has always been resentful that I never got the chance to transform, partition, and decorate a huge open-concept loft space.

Tenthouse Magazine

Combine that regret with an even more improbable desire to live in one of the large, canvas, high-ceilinged “tents” that are so common in African safari camps, and you can probably guess where this was headed.

No Kids = Endless Possibilities

When you have no kids (and a pact with your partner that things will always stay that way), you can have everything you always wanted, no matter how impractical. The beautiful but “unrealistic” design choices that always get immediately shot down by anyone with children— those are all suddenly back on the table!

And I’m not just referring to the fact that kids are messy and ruin nice things, I’m talking about Big Picture stuff here! Like, no longer do you have to worry about “maximizing” your square footage in a boring maze of kids’ bedrooms and banal playrooms. No, you can use the space any way you choose!

I envisioned the downtown photographer’s loft I always wanted, mashed it up with the tented safari camps I love so much in Africa, threw in an adjacent parlour for quiet reading and casual entertaining… and suddenly I have a master suite, complete with cathedral ceilings and a fireplace, that encompasses the entire second floor of the house.

No Kids = Freedom

When building a custom home, you might encounter people along the way who try to make you consider HYPOTHETICAL CHILDREN you don’t even know, saying things like, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, it’s not what families with small children are looking for and it’ll hurt the resale value of your home.”

What?! Shut up — do you mean to tell me that couples with small kids would rather have additional bedrooms instead of an OVERSIZED CHAISE LOUNGE in a bay window or an entire corner devoted to an ANTIQUE INDIAN MIRROR and a tiny Turkish tea set?

Did I Mention We Have No Kids?

This is blowing my mind. Next you’re probably going to tell me that people would rather have a garage to park their cars in instead of a series of classical fountains and cobblestone pathways meandering through whimsical courtyards!?