LATE FEBRUARY 2010 Fethiye
BLOG 20: shopping fast and furious
Now, at last, what I’ve come for: shopping! L turns up at the appointed time (what do you know!): 9 a.m. Firstly, we’re off to an architect’s design studio where I’ll choose kitchen layout, tiles, surface finishes etc. A guy sits at his desk with pc on the table in front of him. Yes, sink here, cooker here, fridge/freezer there, cupboards over here. What colours? Green would be nice, a bit different. What about matching green tiles? No, better have beige ones, they’ll go better with the marble floor. Hey presto, with a few clicks of the mouse, the kitchen appears on screen. This is fun! And it’s real, (or will be) - not just a pretty image. At last, the villa is taking shape. Never has a kitchen been designed so fast!
Next stop: a place that sells white goods. We whizz around the shop. Huge fridge, gas cooker that will be supplied with gas from a large cylinder installed in the cupboard adjacent to the cooker, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave. Written down, ticked off, done!
Next stop: furniture. We’re shopping at a rate of knots. My head is spinning, but this is L’s job and she’s good at it. Choosing furniture is a bit trickier, firstly because there are more items, secondly there’s a much greater choice, and thirdly I must decide whether I want to pay more for something I really like. The ‘basic’ range of furniture is included in the villa price but there’s a ‘medium’ price range and a ‘deluxe’ range. Where possible, I stick to the ‘basic’ range but it’s hard to remember that I won’t be living here full-time. As I’m rushed from one floor to the next, I draw breath and think, actually – I’d like more time. In fact, a lot more time. If all this is coming from the overall villa price, I’d like to explore other shops at my leisure – perhaps some that have a real Turkish flavor. Ideally, I’d like to look for, say, wrought iron furniture, perhaps upholstered with oriental/Turkish fabrics – I’d like to give the villa more of a unique, oriental Turkish style. Not possible, no time – those aren’t the shops we deal with, says L.
Everything must be chosen in these last few hours. Can’t help but think: “if your bosses hadn’t wasted time earlier we wouldn’t have such a rush now”, but I’m really keen that there are no more obstacles to the villa being ready for occupation by the end of June. What about lighting? ‘No’ says L, ‘no time – anyway, you’ll be pleased with the lighting that comes with the villa.’ Guess, I’ll see – if unhappy, there’ll be time to change lights once the villa is actually built. Just passed an interesting lighting shop with intricate coloured lanterns in the window. ‘Let’s stop there for a minute – look at those lanterns!’ ‘No time’, says L ‘– we haven’t chosen bathroom tiles and bathroom fitments yet.’ I take another deep breath.
Next stop: large store with bathroom tiles, baths, toilets, basins, vanity units, showers, shower screens and a million and one other bathroom related items. My single top-of-the-range item that I just can’t resist is one of those fixed unit extra large shower heads that you stand under and it gives a great extra wide shower experience. I’ve always admired them – we’ll have one in the ensuite for the main bedroom. Yes!
It’s weird, shopping for a whole house in one day. At first it was exciting and exhilarating. Now, it’s exhausting. There’s no time for deliberation. What tiles for the bathrooms and cloak room? Should each have a different style/colour/type? No time! Easier to have everything the same. Is that a good idea – give the villa a unified bathroom style? Don’t know, no time to consider! Must move on! What’s next? Outdoor furniture! Another shop, let’s go!
Next stop: Electronic items? TV, DVD player, hairdryer. After that, crockery/cutlery/ pots and pans, toaster, bins and more.
Unbelievably, we have completed our shopping by the end of the day. Don’t ask me what we’ve bought. I wrote the items down on my floor plans during the process and will have to review them in the quiet of the flat later- and the cost of the extras that I succumbed to. Phew! But the mad rush means that I won’t have to return before we come on holiday at the end of June – to stay in our very own dream villa. Let’s hope I don’t regret my choices. We’ll have to live with them for a long time to come. We stopped for a quick snack earlier. Now we sit down for a Turkish meal, but my mind is on the beautiful villa that I’ve just finished furnishing. Wow!
Next stop: Palm Court Apartment. Never mind reviewing my purchases. As my head hits the pillow, I’m asleep. I dream of toilets and shower heads.
Tomorrow I head back home to tell OH of my exploits. I’m looking forward to telling him that I bought all the furniture and fitments for the villa in a day. Oh, and by the way, there’s a change of location and a few other things. . .
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. . . to be continued . . .usually posted on Thursday
