Flat denials

 Nat says

Ilove home-decorating magazines. They market a great dream of refinement. Just by looking at them I can live vicariously through the rich, famous and very refined. For a few moments I too can have a view of the ocean or the mountains, not the parking garage of the condominium next door.

My fantasy apartment - it must be an apartment for me - has huge rooms, high ceilings, magnificent views and is furnished with chairs that go with, if not match, my sofa. Apartment living has always seemed so much more sophisticated, probably because weekends aren't spent up to one's knees in mud and dirt digging up weeds.

I would have a white-marble bathroom with one of those Japanese toilets that washes and dries your bottom for you. There would be a special crystal glass for toothbrushes and the toothpaste would be hidden from view. Tooth decay has no place in a truly genteel life.

But then, judging from those pictures I see, the rich and famous live free of clutter like shoes, bags or keys. Their books are always put away. There's a place for everything and everything is in its place.

No wonder those places don't exist in my world.

I have shoes piled up in my entrance hall - but not, thankfully, outside in the corridor where my neighbours leave their shoes before crossing their thresholds. A stool on which I fantasise my friends sitting graciously to tie their shoelaces is currently taken up by my gym rucksack and a plastic carrier bag full of clothes that has been waiting to be taken to the dry cleaners for three weeks now.

And on the round table that should serve as a pedestal for a bouquet of fresh flowers, I've got a plastic bowl for keys, tissue packets, toothpicks from the last restaurant I had dinner at and some cough drops. And then there's the toilet paper that is sitting on the floor because I've no space to store a jumbo package bought from the local superstore.

I guess by now you know that I have a very backward, unsophisticated, technologically inferior loo. We won't discuss the odours because they are easily outdone by the lingering smell of the khao kluk kapi, or fermented shrimp paste fried rice, that was cooked up in my kitchen last weekend.

The truth is, no matter how sophisticated and genteel apartment living may be, no one has designed a condominium for the Thai middle classes. I know there are a couple of luxury projects coming up that banish the servants to the back part of the flat so they can smell like shrimp paste while the rest of the place is fabulously fragrant with fresh-cut flowers but, let's face it, not everyone can afford to live that way.

Those of us who can only look at home-decor magazines have to make do with what we can get.

I would like developers to consider the following for upcoming residential projects:

1. A Buddha room.

While I know Thailand is a country of many religious beliefs, most of us are Buddhist and it would be nice not to have to put my Buddha on a shelf above my television.

2. A place to put one's shoes.

Wouldn't it be nice to walk down a public corridor without having to trip over the neighbours' flip-flops, bicycles and potted plants?

3. A kitchen with a window.

I would love to have ventilation so good that guests wouldn't be able to tell what we're having for dinner the minute they walk in.

Cat says

 Ifeel very lucky that I have my own apartment in

Bangkok, which I bought after years of looking for something unachievable - a perfect flat at the right price. It is virtually impossible to find all you require in one apartment - as much as I love my flat, it only meets 80 per cent of my requirements.

When it comes to finding an apartment, many people make the mistake of rushing the search process, and consequently ending up living somewhere that doesn't meet all their needs. Having been through the process, I think there are few points to consider carefully before going shopping for your dream apartment. It is important to know what part of your fantasy you can afford and what very practical and real issues will affect your decision.

Don't bother beginning to look for a place until you are sure just exactly what you are looking for.

In my opinion it's essential to first decide on the location, which can narrow down the search by helping you concentrate in your desired area. It will save you a lot of time, as opposed to picking random places in random areas.

I would recommend you make a list of your requirements and write down every characteristic you want in your ideal apartment. Don't get too wild, though: you may be able to find a private pool on your balcony in Bangkok, but asking for a fireplace in your sitting room will be a bit over the top!

Try to prioritise what you would really want, take that list and choose five "must have" items. For example, if you must take your pet dog or cat with you, then pet-friendly apartments are your only choices. In Bangkok, most condominiums don't officially allow pets.

Now take the remaining items and simply number them in no particular order. For example, no public restaurants on the ground floor of the building, sufficient car park spaces, a bright unit on a higher floor, a big kitchen with a window, sizeable bathrooms, smart communal areas - ie no shoes outside everyone's front doors! After all the items are numbered, go through the list and ask yourself if item number 1 is more or less important than items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and so forth. Eventually you'll find the top 10 most important requirements for your dream apartment.

With a list of your absolute "must haves" - and "wants" - in hand, you will be more than ready to browse ads, or contact an estate agent to find your dream apartment!

When viewing an apartment, make sure to take notes both outside and inside the property. I feel very strongly that you shouldn't be able to see air conditioning units from outside the building. Modern designs allow developers to hide the units on the roof of the building. Look at the common areas inside the building to see if they are well kept. In the cases of new developments, look for the quality of materials used in the common area.  Picture your belongings inside every apartment you view. Some places may be unfit for your particular combination of items, and you don't want to find this out when it's too late! Alternatively, look for a development that sells as a bare shell and design the interior according to your liking.

Never take an apartment that you have doubts about or are not satisfied with. Unless you must move in by a certain day, there is absolutely no reason to speed through and take whatever is available, as there are probably other options you are yet unaware of, as well as the possibility of many more opening up.

Want an opinion on something? Cat and Nat can be contacted at

NnaSWild@aol.com.