New Home Design

Island living. I can't say it is perfect, but it is certainly challenging.

Tobago is a completely different culture, in terms of the people. They love their heritage and to a certain extent the older heads are still respected. While I live in the city, interestingly I prefer the country life here. In some parts, like L'Anse Fourmi, I am reminded of the stories my mom would tell me. She did not grow up in Tobago, but the simple living as a little girl growing up among boys, helps me to visualize how she lived in the 1960's Point Fortin.

L'Anse Fourmi is very quiet and a bit underdeveloped. The villagers are very close and on a Sundays it is endearing to take a walk and talk to some of the villagers there. Did you know that some of the eldest people in Tobago live in L'Anse Fourmi and Charlotteville. These are not rich folks, but they are wealthy in wisdom, health and experience.

Now you have a personal account of a Tobadadian (copyrighted). I might add that unless you have a taste for adventure, you would never really learn Tobago... you have to get up and get out!

I did another home. The idea stemmed from a recent disappointment and I had to channel that energy somewhere. It has some pretty unusual features and too many windows. Right now, we are living at a time where we need to have some sort of cooling system, or boiled alive. I call this design the Double-Tapper. First, I took too long to finish it (I did not even design the doors and put in a gate), secondly, I want to upgrade my current apartment design to maximize the space, I will post these soon.

Take a look below and tell me what you think!

I almost forgot, it has: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, living and dining, kitchen, washroom and storage, double parking, patio, and an office. I did not take much measurements but I estimate its about 2,300 sq ft.

Front

Back

Kitchen/Dining area and living room

Dining area and stairs to the bedrooms

Scene from bedroom 1

Bathroom 1 

Lisa Marie Bonapartte©2014

Tobago Beach Home 2

Nothing much to say here, except I think white houses with splashes of colours are "designingly" better that super bright canary yellow.

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Tobago Beach Home

In Tobago, I found that the majority of residents here build massive homes with lots of little apartments and charge really high rents. I have been to some places where it is about 12 feet long by 8 feet wide with one window for $1,500 a month. And I have seen slightly larger for about $300.00 more. One place is a one bedroom with a little window. That goes for $2,200 a month. And if you protest they say, "That is my price, take it or leave it."

So, I decided to 'build' a home on Google Sketchup, because somewhere I think there is potential to have a home and apartments, but make it 'liveable' and get the maximum out of your tenants and home without having to run A/C for an entire day.

I saw a piece of land by the beach, it is very large, so I thought what if I to purchase a piece from it  about 30 ft across and about 80 plus feet long. It is narrow, so the home that I built, will be pretty long and narrow, there would be minimal yard space, but will still have enough parking for all. I am not finished with the design yet, but I am pretty happy how its coming along.

The bottom apartment is for rent, this is the side facing the beach.

The unfinished design

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Small Home on a Caribbean Island

Just in case you think I have nothing better to do than post my 3D Home designs, or brood about being unemployed... you are right. Doing projects on Sketchup beats sitting at a desk all day, being watched over by a jumbie/creative director who is breathing down my back. Yes, that last statement will win me no favors, but so is being too nice.

Lately, folks from the cold regions are hoping/wanting to retire in the Caribbean. They eagerly, grab, no buy what is left, and hire a local to be a cleaner/maid/house nanny. This has happened before... hmmm. Anyway, sometimes the pay is good, and the person is treated well... ok, that is going into too much red tape. Here is a little home I designed on a whim, I slept and drooled and snored on it like I do with all the others, so I hope you like it. The LandRover was designed by a guy named Rogue, he has a whole bunch of vehicles on Sketchup, and he is one of the best in that department, hands-down.

Feast your eyes:

It is built for a small piece of land

Check out my shutter windows

Ample kitchen area space is a must, in the Caribbean

Living/Dining room. Couple or Single

Restroom on your left, closet on your right

View from the Bedroom towards the kitchen

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Final Take On the Tiny piece of Land...

That is no longer for sale. Do you remember this? Well I did a second version, and I am happier. I included parking for two cars, two bedrooms, a look out, and a cute T.V. space.

The kitchen remained the same, and I added shutter windows. I was always looking for an excuse to design with shutter windows because in the Caribbean, the humidity could be merciless. The only way I can see that being defeated is to have shutter windows and a high ceilings. I also have the option of A/C. Air Conditioning has its benefits, but soon there will be an increase in energy costs with T&TEC raising the bill, and I am looking for simpler ways to design homes with as little materials as possible, I hope this clenches it. Later, I am going even simpler, it will be my third wooden home design with a distinct Caribbean flair, and yes there will be shutter windows. I can't wait!

Now for CafféLatté Magazine's Minimalist Caribbean Home.

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Part 2 of the Post-Stress House

I am working on some new stuff so I am cruising. Yesterday, I finished the house and I liked it but I was disappointed. I felt I could have had two bedrooms instead of one roomy bedroom, so I made preparation for it in the event I may need to add a 2nd Bedroom in another version of the design.

Feast your eyes!

Psssst: Many of the lighting fixtures I designed to fit the slightly odd decor. I also design the furniture as well, since I believe that most people would like to have rare original pieces. :-).

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Post-Stress Home

We were offered somewhere to buy, the seller positively saying, "Yes you will get it." Only to rescind the offer a few days later. During that period we went to see it, and it was a pretty small plot of land with a very old house on it.

So, with my Google Sketchup© mind in full gear, I thought of a layout for a fictional newly married couple who wants to build their own home. There was no room to expand across, so I thought about going up. In that way, they can still have covered parking, own two dogs, have a wash room, and still comfortably hold a party. In addition, because the area is near to the city, I want to have as much light passing through the home.

This home has parking, kitchen, dining, lounge areas, toilet/bath, washroom and one bedroom with space for more if needed.

The City Escape

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

Finally!

We are having a long weekend due to Carnival! However, I used this opportunity to finish the last three homes. Hooray!

The Tropical Family Cave

The Executive Sanctuary

The Brooklyn Influence

The second home was shown before, I simply have the back being shown. In the top picture, Tropical Family Cave, there are two vehicles I did not design. The red one does not have a name, but the suv was done by BmrCT, it was a different colour but I did it in yellow it can be found in Google Sketchup©.

2012©LisaMarieBonaparte

A New Design

Do you get creative block? I am a sticker for creative block. I find it weird that I am the most creative when I am thinking about many things and I am trying to organize myself, does this mean I am bi-polar? I hope not. Folks in the Caribbean do not treat you with understanding if you are mentally ill, it comes with an insensitivity chip and they can be quite brutal.

I used to be like that when I was younger, but when I experienced meeting someone who was mentally ill, I was surprised and even a little scared. Eventually, I found that those I met were some of the most smartest persons I have ever spoken to. It just so happens that they have a little spark in their brain wiring that needs adjusting with medication or in extreme cases, shock therapy. From personal experience, I found that they were willing to answer any of my questions, and discuss their 'illness'. All they ask is that you show them a little respect and understanding.

Lesson: One of the first steps to combatting fear, is to take small steps towards it with your intuition in check.

Now don't get me wrong, I am aware of some violent mentally ill folks, and you can tell almost immediately. Its like this: Will you jump into the sea if you spot a shark, so that you can show that you are not afraid of it? I won't. Trust your gut feeling, sometimes. For an effectively gut feeling, you have to train it, work on it, mold it. Eventually, it gets better.

Saturday, I did some chores, and I started a new home design. For this one, I did a new dining table set. Have a look, and Good Night!

Glass Dining Set with Stone Base

2011©LisaMarieBonaparte

Unusual House Design

I love Google Sketchup! As soon as I finish a personal project I start another one. Sometimes, I implement what I dreamed of the night before, other times I just experiment just to see if something will look awkward or uniquely gorgeous. I have about 10 - 13 such projects this year, last year in 2010 I designed about 22 houses. The year before, in 2009, I did a few strange ones. Personally, I think I have gotten better in terms of layout and structure. The only thing is that I put a little too much windows.

In Trinidad, windows are quite expensive, so you may see a new large house with a vast wall and very small windows. When you go inside, you will see a ceiling fan and outside that small window you will see an air conditioning unit. Once I lived in a home with A/C in my bedroom. The house had large windows, and lots of space and light allowance. I only used the A/C on one condition, you see at nights, there were some crazy looking insects and grasshoppers, and we had alot of trees in the yard. In addition, at the time there was a vast dense forest hill just up the road. And I am not a fan of insects of any kind. So it was better to sleep with the windows tightly shut and the A/C blasting. All you had to do was snuggle up with a thick blanket, which I had, or two sheets, doubled and you rolled up in them like a gyro wrap. Oh I can just see it now, it was a very comfortable home.

Actually, I am trying to avoid a thought in my head, and I feel time is of essence and I feel odd. Social wise, I sometimes feel inadequate about some people. Its not that I am afraid of them I just feel that I am a gnat and they are a big Tarantula, and that they may just judge me, unfairly. Sometimes, I am the African Beetle and I look at the bougie-like people as houseflies, something to be swatted. Its like I am supposed to impress them, and I don't want to, I just want to be that big ol' African Beetle and say whatever I like and how I feel. But, it irks me when they just sarcastically roll their dried yellowed eyes at me. 

Oh well! Just another day to play the time away.

I call this house The Napoleon. It is small in size and big in space:

3 Bedrooms
Bathroom
Living Room
Kitchen
Sizable yard space
Outdoor washer/dryer annex

2011©LisaMarieBonaparte

Almost Done

Sometimes when the creative block, become the creative snore, I simply defer to Google Sketchup or Illustrator. Sketchup, however, has been much more addictive, and I have been creatively satisfied by it, like an Aloe Juice addict. Usually, I do one home, or maybe three with details and unusual furniture, can you imagine 6 homes! In vivid detail down to the TV and kitchen sinks and cupboards, and don't forget the windows.

This is what the current project looks like:

As you see, I have one more plot to layout, that may take me 2 weeks depending on the details and if I want to design more furniture.

2011©Lisa Marie Bonaparte

New Views

This is the project I am still working on. It is what I call a Semi-Pyramid Modern Contemporary home. There are stairs that lead straight to the beach. They are in the midst of trees. (I love stairs and trees, there is such an ethereal feeling, but it can also be dark. I still have to do a jetty for it, it will just take time. As you can see there is transport by helicopter, then there is a main wooden gate entrance. And for a little thrill I put an infinity pool at the entrance.

Here are the features:

Two guest rooms, one of them with two beds

Three bedrooms

One master suite

Wash/Restroom (to save space upstairs)

Two bathrooms

Living Room

Kitchen/Dining Room with children's (activity) table

T.V. Room

Infinity Pool

Helipad

Patio

That is all I have for now, but if I get the fancy, I will try to put another bedroom somewhere. What I forgot, was water storage, however, the whole set up should be run by Solar Energy.

Materials: A little sketchy, but the true beauty lies in natural/quarry stone, wood, concrete, red brick, aluminum, steel (mainly for foundation and structure), granite(?)

2011©Lisa Marie Bonaparte

A MINI UPDATE

From Friday 8th July 2011 to Sunday 10th July 2011 was my district Convention, plus I volunteered so I was busy. 

In addition, I have decided to close my FB (Facebook) account, it is not officially closed as yet, since the FB admin is so very generous to wait 14 days to see if I really want to 'divorce' them. Turns out they have a lot more red-tape to reactivate after you have stated that you want to deactivate your account. I can't help myself, I was a super FB 'Weed' Addict. I would 'smoke' it in the morning, 'smoke' it in the night, 'smoke' it whole weekend too! It was too much, especially when my friends would meet me and say, 'Girl, you are always on FB'. I just did not want to be known as Lisa Marie the FB 'Junkie'. So there...but then like Anita Baker's song, 'Caught up in the Rapture of Love', a former schoolmate of mine is getting married, and guess where I got the invitation? Facebook! I got all the details, plus to bring something to drink....and wear white. I am even wondering where I can begin to find a white outfit in an 'elegantly casual style'. I am stocky and thick, so it would be wise to start looking from now...The only problem is...I have 14 days to rethink my deactivation of FB decision.

Back to work at my favourite joint. I can't say how pleased I am to be there, everyday is an adventure.

I am glad to finally return home to one of my current projects, a Semi-Pyramid Home on the top of a hill done in Google Sketchup (I tell yah! This software Rocks!!). I have been going at it for about 2 to 3 months now, and I am ready to kick the bucket and start something else, on the other hand I am anxious to see the finished product. The Master Suite was completed last week, and this week I have two bedrooms, a restroom and a laundry area to start. Hopefully, the project is completed by month-end. Have a look! 

In due time, you would be able to see the finished home.

2011©Lisa Marie Bonaparte

Modern Contemporary Beach Home

I am absotivley obsessed with beach homes. To me they are like the Absolut Vodka advertisements in major magazines (something that I look forward to). Some folks like forest living, and some like living in the desert, and others admire ranch living. What I did was designed a home with all the city amenities in a contemporary setting, on 3 acres, near the beach.

This home design comes with:
-kitchen
-3 car garage
-welcome area
-home office
-3 spacious bedrooms
-1 master suite
- wash room
- basement lab
-T.V. room
- pool
-tennis court

It is ideal for large families, and reclusive ones. As usual the inside is bursting with colour, to me white was too bland.

New Home

A very simple home that is cosy and comfortable and has made good use of the yard. It has 4Bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and a sizable kitchen. The washroom is downstairs, giving the living area more space. There is also a backdoor with stairs in case of emergency. If you want to see more pics, stay posted! Of course it would be lovely to get contributions as well.

Google Sketchup

Is an amazing product. It is like AutoCAD but way easier. During my stint at home, I have designed several homes, plus I am into apartments. I must confess, that I love to do kitchens and baths. Swimming pools are ok as well, but with WASA restrictions, I will have to "restrict" the size as well, so that I don't get "charged" for wasting water.

This particular 3 leveled design has 4 bedrooms, two toilets, one bath (WASA restriction), kitchen, dining and living room, lots of lawn and paved space. It is quite contempory and has one roof, so I guess it should not cost much. White walls outside and colour bursts inside. This is my favourite design style because I spent alot of time on it. On the top floor there is room for a private home office and library.

Materials suggested are wooden floors, marble kitchen counters, stone sinks and bathtubs, and tiles, preferably natural colours, plus lots of huge windows. Like Frank Lloyd Wright I want to bring nature in so I always encourage lots of large windows.