view the current issue in Adobe PDF version - Eujacksonville.com
view the current issue in Adobe PDF version - Eujacksonville.com
view the current issue in Adobe PDF version - Eujacksonville.com
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
notes from <strong>the</strong><br />
bachelor pad by troy spurl<strong>in</strong><br />
‘Closer’ by N<strong>in</strong>e Inch Nails, ‘Echoes’ by P<strong>in</strong>k Floyd, and anyth<strong>in</strong>g by Portishead and Barry<br />
White. Do you know what <strong>the</strong>y have <strong>in</strong> <strong>com</strong>mon? They are great pieces of music and musicians that<br />
you can rely on when you are feed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> kitty (“lovemak<strong>in</strong>g” for you romantic types). At m<strong>in</strong>imum,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y set a great tone when you are try<strong>in</strong>g to seal <strong>the</strong> deal. Whoa, decorator dude, why are you talk<strong>in</strong>g<br />
about music and sex? Well, my bro<strong>the</strong>rs, it’s time for us to move <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> bedroom. The place where<br />
it all happens--and I a<strong>in</strong>’t talk<strong>in</strong>g about sleep. No, I am talk<strong>in</strong>g about creat<strong>in</strong>g an environment where<br />
she wants to remove all of her cloth<strong>in</strong>g, climb <strong>in</strong>to your bed, and “bahm -chicka- bahm- bahm.”<br />
But we’ve got a lot of work to do before that happens. Face it; right now she hates everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
about your bedroom. The dirty clo<strong>the</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> stacks of old Sports Illustrated magaz<strong>in</strong>es, <strong>the</strong> fl oor that<br />
has not been vacuumed, a coffee cup from yesterday morn<strong>in</strong>g (or last week), <strong>the</strong> litter box that needed<br />
to be changed two weeks ago, and – most importantly – your bed, <strong>the</strong> <strong>com</strong>forter, and <strong>the</strong> sheets<br />
you have on <strong>the</strong>m. Yep, she hates <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y feel, <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y smell, and <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y look! And<br />
when <strong>the</strong> girlie no like <strong>the</strong> bedroom, you no get <strong>the</strong> girlie (at least not twice).<br />
So let’s start with just an overall feel<strong>in</strong>g for our bedroom. We want it to tie <strong>in</strong> with our liv<strong>in</strong>g area<br />
{ }<br />
However, under no circumstances should you place a bed angled<br />
<strong>in</strong>to a corner. I don’t care if your girlfriend, mo<strong>the</strong>r, or gay friend<br />
who watches HGTV told you it was a great idea. It is just wrong.<br />
that we have been work<strong>in</strong>g on for <strong>the</strong> past four months. I th<strong>in</strong>k for guys like us, with places like ours,<br />
it is smart to go Asian. Reds, browns, black, dragons, Asian symbols, swords, sculpture <strong>in</strong> wood, a<br />
water feature (could be a founta<strong>in</strong> or a fi sh tank), a “liv<strong>in</strong>g” tree (bamboo or palm) and a few pieces<br />
of chrome accents. F<strong>in</strong>ally, with this <strong>com</strong>b<strong>in</strong>ation it is always good to add a dash of white. So kick<br />
back and let me lay it out for you.<br />
I believe that bedrooms must be symmetrical. The symmetry br<strong>in</strong>gs harmony, peace, and a<br />
sense of balance. See how this Asian <strong>the</strong>me already is work<strong>in</strong>g? It be<strong>com</strong>es a retreat from this<br />
chaotic world <strong>in</strong> which we live. So, with that <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d, let’s place <strong>the</strong> bed on <strong>the</strong> center of <strong>the</strong> wall so<br />
that if you were to lay down you would be able to see <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong> front of you, past your feet. I can’t<br />
stress <strong>the</strong> importance of this placement. If you have a room that runs narrow and you have no o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
choice <strong>the</strong>n plac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> bed on <strong>the</strong> largest wall (from <strong>the</strong> door we see <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> bed) that will<br />
work too; just not as effectively. However, under no circumstances should you place a bed angled<br />
<strong>in</strong>to a corner. I don’t care if your girlfriend, mo<strong>the</strong>r, or gay friend who watches HGTV told you it was a<br />
great idea. It is just wrong.<br />
18 MAY 2008 | eu jacksonville monthly | at home<br />
With <strong>the</strong> bed now <strong>in</strong> place let’s tackle your chest and/or dresser. If it is possible, we are go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
place <strong>the</strong> chest on <strong>the</strong> same l<strong>in</strong>e as <strong>the</strong> foot of <strong>the</strong> bed. Are you follow<strong>in</strong>g me? If not, get some tape<br />
and lay a l<strong>in</strong>e on ei<strong>the</strong>r side of <strong>the</strong> bed that cont<strong>in</strong>ues <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e at <strong>the</strong> foot of <strong>the</strong> bed. Place <strong>the</strong> right<br />
hand side of <strong>the</strong> chest on that l<strong>in</strong>e (you should now see <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> chest from <strong>the</strong> doorway) and<br />
have a nice path up <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> bed. Do <strong>the</strong> same th<strong>in</strong>g with your dresser or desk on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
side.<br />
I gotta say it fellas, I HATE a desk <strong>in</strong> a bedroom, it is so college dorm! But if you must, you<br />
must, and that is all I am go<strong>in</strong>g to say about it.<br />
Now, we need to place some bedside tables on ei<strong>the</strong>r side of <strong>the</strong> bed. I don’t care if <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
low, high, or mismatched. If <strong>the</strong>y are mismatched, make sure that <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>the</strong> same height, o<strong>the</strong>rwise<br />
it will look junky. Okay, with <strong>the</strong>se pieces now <strong>in</strong> place let’s address light<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Light<strong>in</strong>g is everyth<strong>in</strong>g! We want to create <strong>the</strong> right mood and if you have not taken my advice on<br />
anyth<strong>in</strong>g else listen to this. I am go<strong>in</strong>g to give you my biggest secret. At Lowes, <strong>the</strong>y have a polished<br />
chrome table lamp that is awesome. It is sleek, modern, and looks very high end. You can expect to<br />
buy two for less than 45 bucks a piece. It has a white short drum shade with two light<strong>in</strong>g pulls that<br />
drop symmetrically. Hence, we have two bulbs per lamp. Put a 15 watt bulb <strong>in</strong> one and 40 watt bulb<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. That gives us altoge<strong>the</strong>r three light<strong>in</strong>g options, one with each pull: 1. Turn on <strong>the</strong> 15 watt<br />
when <strong>the</strong> deal has been sealed. 2. Use <strong>the</strong> 40 watt bulb when you are read<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> bed or need a little<br />
more light. 3. Turn on both bulbs when you are gett<strong>in</strong>g dressed for a night on <strong>the</strong> town, need to fi nd<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g, or want to create your latest submission for x-tube. Bro<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>se lamps can handle it all!<br />
Okay, <strong>the</strong> bed! White sheets are a must. C’mon man, it is <strong>the</strong> only white th<strong>in</strong>g I am putt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> room so free it up. They assure her that what she is ly<strong>in</strong>g down on is clean. So save <strong>the</strong> colored<br />
sheets for when you have a live-<strong>in</strong> or get married.<br />
Spurl<strong>in</strong>’s Asian-<strong>in</strong>spired bedroom<br />
For your sheets, I want you to go over to Home Goods. It’s on Southside Boulevard by <strong>the</strong><br />
Avenues Mall and <strong>the</strong>y have high-end 300-plus thread count sheet sets (fi tted, top, and two pillow<br />
cases) for under 40 bucks (30 if you look really hard and sometimes 20 if you walk <strong>the</strong> clearance<br />
aisle and luck is on your side). Just a short word on thread count: <strong>the</strong> higher <strong>the</strong> count <strong>the</strong> softer <strong>the</strong><br />
sheet and that is all you really need or care to know about thread count. Make sure that <strong>the</strong> sheets<br />
are 100% cotton. They will get softer and softer with age. Soft sheets are your friend. While you<br />
are <strong>the</strong>re, go to <strong>the</strong> pillow aisle. They have Joseph Abboud pillows that are a down syn<strong>the</strong>tic (feels<br />
like down but no fea<strong>the</strong>rs stick<strong>in</strong>g you <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> head and <strong>the</strong>y are allergen free). They are amaz<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are 12 dollars a piece. It is a steal, so buy four. “But dude, we only have two pillow cases <strong>in</strong> our<br />
sheet set!” No worries, while head<strong>in</strong>g up to <strong>the</strong> register you will pass <strong>the</strong> sheet aisle aga<strong>in</strong> and see<br />
packages of two pillow cases for under seven bucks. So, with your new sheets and new pillows <strong>in</strong><br />
hand, put a smile on that face pee-wee, ‘cause you have just changed your life.<br />
But we aren’t done. Don’t get all cocky th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g that Barry is go<strong>in</strong>g to be s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> bedroom<br />
tonight. We are a month out. Keep your door closed and use <strong>the</strong> multiple surfaces we created previously.<br />
Remember movie night? Well, now she doesn’t have to br<strong>in</strong>g her own pillow, Mr. Abboud has<br />
remedied that. Now go rent Into <strong>the</strong> Wild (don’t wait for Netfl ix) at Blockbuster, stop at Liz Grenamyer’s<br />
new take-home gourmet (919 K<strong>in</strong>g Street, <strong>the</strong> cross is College) and pick up some of <strong>the</strong> best<br />
food <strong>in</strong> Jacksonville. I had <strong>the</strong> pork tenderlo<strong>in</strong> and it was <strong>the</strong> best I have ever had. One serv<strong>in</strong>g will<br />
feed both of you for under 11 bucks. Add a bottle of w<strong>in</strong>e, a loaf of good French bread, and bro<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
she may take you <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> wild…