Coffee with Castle and J.K. Rowling

‘Oh my god. This is quite possibly the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted. It’s actually kind of fascinating. It tastes like a… (pauses to sip the coffee) it tastes like a monkey peed in battery acid. Try some?’

—Castle

(Not long after that Castle purchased  a high grade espresso machine for the precinct)

What are the similarities between J.K. Rowling and Richard Castle?  They are single parents. They got custody of their teenage daughters. They both have brilliant minds. They write fictions. Although, only one of them is a “real” writer (You-Know-Who) while the other one is the lead character of a fiction TV show, Castle. On top of that, they both love coffee.

But I do know one thing different though. When Castle is not solving homicide case in the precinct and kicking some murderer’s butt–pardon my language, he is at home writing his novels. On the other hand, waaaaay before Harry Potter happens, J.K. Rowling is known for her fondness of writing in a cafe.

The idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for awhile is just bliss

–J.K. Rowling

Oh, this reminds me of what happened last week.

I went to this place with a friend of mine. It was an underground cafe located one floor below a traditional market in Kanazawa, Japan. The stair led to the doors was so narrow it was easily missed. Once I entered the cafe, I was surprised. It was different than what I had in mind. The presence of rustic wooden chairs, a hand-me-down-look couch, handwritten menus from torn carton box, small bookshelf, old piano at the corner, acoustic guitars standing on the floor, ceramic figurines on the shelves, hot coffee in the handmade Japanese pottery cup, everything just created a harmonized design.

Anyway, I never went back to the place anymore since my first and last visit. What I love the most is the fact that it is a cafe yet it feels like home.

Coffee.. Cafe.. Home.. Work.. Inspiration..

Mmm.. It got me thinking…

what if J.K. Rowling reverse the concept?

If one day I have a chance to tell her this or maybe just through a letter, here’s what I’m going to say:

Hi Ms. Rowling,

I know how much you love writing in a cafe, why don’t you try to create a cafe-inspired working space in your own house? It saves your time and opens 24/7. On top of that, you don’t have to change your pajamas when you don’t feel like it and no one will care whether you are barefoot or not. Especially nowadays when privacy is a rare thing and so much not your privilege anymore. The concept is not trying to put “the real cafe” design into your home office but only the influence. Like this:

Maybe it reflects more of my taste than yours. To be fair, I have never met you before so I do not know you personally. And if one crazy day you have this bizarre idea of flying this never-heard-before person from out-of-nowhere place to work with you, well I am more than willing to change the concept to meet your satisfaction. Of course, it also means I am going to need more time researching but, that’s okay, I won’t mind to stay a little longer 🙂 I realize renovating a room or having a detached home office built in your yard needs a lot of work and commitment. But hey, who knows, maybe you’ll end up like it.

or something like that.

This is not necessarily only for J.K. Rowling. If you are a young rising writer or blogger, this idea might also suits you. If you are not a cafe person, just find another great influence that will help you with your writing and infused it in your working space.

Hmm..I think I am going to follow my own suggestion. Right now, the only working space I have is my futon. When I am working on my design assignment, books and papers are on the futon and the laptop is on my lap. I hope this won’t stay forever. I’ll figure something out.

Thanks to Castle and J.K. Rowling for being my inspiration today. Maybe in different time and different world I would have a chance to sip a cup of coffee with such brilliant people.

A girl can only dream 😉

 

Charity By Design

New Year. New Resolution. New Post.

What is the best way to start a blog if not by something positive, such as charity, right?

I am not talking about giving away big fat checks but more like helping with what you already have. Your heart, time, and skill. I, myself, prefer to do charity by design even though I do not have that much experience in this matter.

But, I saw a chance and grabbed it.

Sikola Mangkasara or School of Makassar, Indonesia. A non-profit institution where young children and teenagers are educated to always believe in what they are capable of, have positive attitudes, honor moral values and be in the best version of themselves. The institution was founded in January 1st, 2008 by a group of bright young women.

 Happy 5th Anniversary !!!

Notice the house below? Yes, they use the humble abandoned house to accommodate their activities. Thumbs up for the staff for being brave and creative!  Planning a renovation finally can be done with the help of others, mostly through donation.

But, I volunteered to help in designing the interior while another bright young girl, Amalia, helped with the architectural features. Different story with Mr. Realist. He had his own way to help and it included with his favorite thing in the world, donuts. Yup, D-O-N-U-T-S. He made sure that all of us, especially the kids, had happy tummies all the time.

–any kind of help counts 🙂

It was such an amazing experience working side by side with a group of people who have great intention —I am proud to call them friends of mine and, of course, my husband.

Anyway, these are the 3D renderings from the ongoing project.

Front View

1F Floorplan

Raised floor, Hall, Kitchen+Storage Room, Indoor Bathroom & Toilet for Girls, Outdoor Bathroom & Toilet for Boys

2F Floorplan

Office, Separate Bedrooms for the Boys & Girls

So, if you are somewhere across the globe laying down on the beach, sipping a delicious drink, and wondering what you are going to do with the extra money in your pocket or you just simply want the same opportunity to do something that is actually great and fulfilling..

maybe..

just maybe..

Sikola Mangkasara is one of the best places for you to start.

Want to know more about this awe-inspiring place? Please click here. Nope, not here. There!

Cheers!