Vecpuiša dzīve ...
« previous entry | next entry »
May. 21st, 2004 | 06:02 pm
Every guy who is single is aware of the rules of early bachelor living - thou shalt have at least one piece of homemade furniture, thou shalt use any available floor space as overflow closet, thou shalt mount an animal head on the wall, and thou shalt recycle pizza boxes as place mats.
But single guys also know - or should know, anyway - that when college or trade school ends and gainful employment begins, those rules go out the window, along with the moose head and the pizza boxes.
But since the odds these days are that bachelors will remain so longer than in the past, it's imperative that they live well now instead of waiting until they are married or settled down, experts say.
"The life cycle of the bachelor is getting longer," says James Heidenry, executive editor of the men's magazine Maxim. "Men are waiting to get married now, especially on the coasts. ... It is a cultural phenomenon that a lot of men are seeing friends waiting, so they don't want to jump the gun.
"Instead of a two-year courtship, now you'll see a four- or five-year courtship, and now that women are waiting till they are 32 or 33 to have children,
it kind of gives the guys a Get Out of Jail Free card," he says. "So it is worth taking the extra time to make sure you are living in the right setting."
The keys to living right? Paying attention to style, location, practicality, entertainment and comfort, Heidenry says.
Milwaukeean Chad Curran, 30, seems to have captured all five of those elements in his sophisticated and design-savvy bachelor pad.
For Curran, manager of an automotive dealership, outfitting his 1,900-square-foot condo in the old Nelson Brothers Furniture building downtown was a labor of love.
All the condos in the building are loft style with hardwood floors, exposed duct work and original Cream City brick. In addition to that ambience, Curran's has a balcony that overlooks the Milwaukee River and the RiverWalk.
"I decorated my condo with a lot of different prints. Most of them have a party or automotive theme to them," he says. "I have a pretty cool martini print above my bar/wine rack that seems to evoke a lot of conversation and gets everyone in a good mood."
Curran says a smart bachelor will incorporate the personal touch in his art and decor. In his case, that includes dozens of photographs of gatherings with family and friends and his game room.
"I'm big into the outdoors, so I needed a place to put all my hunting and fishing memorabilia," he explains, adding that the game room also holds a foosball table.
Practical priorities
Making the best use of space is important to 35-year-old Nick Seidler, a bachelor who lives in a duplex in Wauwatosa, Wis. He emphasizes practicality and entertainment as priorities in his living space.
"My home is kind of small but perfect for me," says Seidler, assistant director of student activities at Milwaukee School of Engineering. "For my job I spend a lot of time with groups of students, arranging activities and so on, so I'm out most of the time. My place is two things - somewhere for me to sleep, and when I'm not working, somewhere for me to relax. I'm all about functionality."
In addition to his 500 or so DVDs and 1,000-plus CDs, Seidler has a collection of sci-fi knickknacks and an old-style collector's edition Dr. Who pinball machine.
Beyond having things he simply likes in his home, Seidler insists that functionality also means having things that can take a beating.
"Since my whole mind-set is that I want to enjoy myself in what little time I am at home, I like to have things around that are OK for people to handle and touch and play with," he says. "I'm not a slob or anything, but even my loveseat/couchlike chair is covered with a dark feltlike fabric. It's comfortable. If an accident does happen, it won't be ruined."
Heidenry applauds Curran's style and Seidler's logic, but said those bachelors who are just starting out on their own should concentrate on the basics.
"Men have it a little tough, I think, because most men are slobs," Heidenry says. "Even though Maxim celebrates the slob in every man, if you want a decent bachelor pad you definitely need ... a decent couch, an ottoman, floor lamps in your living room space, for example."
Contemporary comfort
It took him more than two decades to nail down his tastes, but 53-year-old Dan McQuillen has figured out that for him comfort means contemporary.
McQuillen lives in a 1,250-square-foot condo north of downtown Milwaukee.
"I lived in the country for 23 years on an acre of land," says McQuillen, who is building trades supervisor for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "My art consisted of scenery, landscapes.
"My furniture was all much more traditional. Now it's all contemporary. I have the all-leather living room set, black leather. Yes, it is easy to clean, but I also just like the fabric and the sleek modern style."
Bachelor Nick Scotti, producer and host of the Style Network show "New York Nick," says quality items in the wrong setting can look just as bad as a home full of junk.
"You should have as little clutter as possible," Scotti says. "Stay away from carpets for a number of reasons. You don't have to vacuum. Hardwood floors are more easily cleaned, and they look good. They add a masculine touch."
The smart bachelor, Scotti says, will also make sure his wall color matches his personality.
"I think color is really important," he explains. "Go to a paint center and discuss it with them, because sometimes colors look different in natural light than they do in a store."
"Blues and greens are warm peaceful colors. If you're a dude with a bad temper, then stay away from colors like yellow."
Curran, the car dealership manager, urges aging bachelors to consider the purpose of their homes when picking everything from color to furniture.
Curran got outside advice when decorating and outfitting his place. Look and space were more important to him than the latest gadget ... except, of course for a good dishwasher and washer/dryer set.
"I have found that as I get older, the ability to have a good place to entertain is more important than having the loudest stereo," he explains. "My condo is very open and can - and does - comfortably entertain 75 people.
"Don't be afraid to ask for advice," he says. "Bottom line: You pay the bills and have to live in it."
But single guys also know - or should know, anyway - that when college or trade school ends and gainful employment begins, those rules go out the window, along with the moose head and the pizza boxes.
But since the odds these days are that bachelors will remain so longer than in the past, it's imperative that they live well now instead of waiting until they are married or settled down, experts say.
"The life cycle of the bachelor is getting longer," says James Heidenry, executive editor of the men's magazine Maxim. "Men are waiting to get married now, especially on the coasts. ... It is a cultural phenomenon that a lot of men are seeing friends waiting, so they don't want to jump the gun.
"Instead of a two-year courtship, now you'll see a four- or five-year courtship, and now that women are waiting till they are 32 or 33 to have children,
it kind of gives the guys a Get Out of Jail Free card," he says. "So it is worth taking the extra time to make sure you are living in the right setting."
The keys to living right? Paying attention to style, location, practicality, entertainment and comfort, Heidenry says.
Milwaukeean Chad Curran, 30, seems to have captured all five of those elements in his sophisticated and design-savvy bachelor pad.
For Curran, manager of an automotive dealership, outfitting his 1,900-square-foot condo in the old Nelson Brothers Furniture building downtown was a labor of love.
All the condos in the building are loft style with hardwood floors, exposed duct work and original Cream City brick. In addition to that ambience, Curran's has a balcony that overlooks the Milwaukee River and the RiverWalk.
"I decorated my condo with a lot of different prints. Most of them have a party or automotive theme to them," he says. "I have a pretty cool martini print above my bar/wine rack that seems to evoke a lot of conversation and gets everyone in a good mood."
Curran says a smart bachelor will incorporate the personal touch in his art and decor. In his case, that includes dozens of photographs of gatherings with family and friends and his game room.
"I'm big into the outdoors, so I needed a place to put all my hunting and fishing memorabilia," he explains, adding that the game room also holds a foosball table.
Practical priorities
Making the best use of space is important to 35-year-old Nick Seidler, a bachelor who lives in a duplex in Wauwatosa, Wis. He emphasizes practicality and entertainment as priorities in his living space.
"My home is kind of small but perfect for me," says Seidler, assistant director of student activities at Milwaukee School of Engineering. "For my job I spend a lot of time with groups of students, arranging activities and so on, so I'm out most of the time. My place is two things - somewhere for me to sleep, and when I'm not working, somewhere for me to relax. I'm all about functionality."
In addition to his 500 or so DVDs and 1,000-plus CDs, Seidler has a collection of sci-fi knickknacks and an old-style collector's edition Dr. Who pinball machine.
Beyond having things he simply likes in his home, Seidler insists that functionality also means having things that can take a beating.
"Since my whole mind-set is that I want to enjoy myself in what little time I am at home, I like to have things around that are OK for people to handle and touch and play with," he says. "I'm not a slob or anything, but even my loveseat/couchlike chair is covered with a dark feltlike fabric. It's comfortable. If an accident does happen, it won't be ruined."
Heidenry applauds Curran's style and Seidler's logic, but said those bachelors who are just starting out on their own should concentrate on the basics.
"Men have it a little tough, I think, because most men are slobs," Heidenry says. "Even though Maxim celebrates the slob in every man, if you want a decent bachelor pad you definitely need ... a decent couch, an ottoman, floor lamps in your living room space, for example."
Contemporary comfort
It took him more than two decades to nail down his tastes, but 53-year-old Dan McQuillen has figured out that for him comfort means contemporary.
McQuillen lives in a 1,250-square-foot condo north of downtown Milwaukee.
"I lived in the country for 23 years on an acre of land," says McQuillen, who is building trades supervisor for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "My art consisted of scenery, landscapes.
"My furniture was all much more traditional. Now it's all contemporary. I have the all-leather living room set, black leather. Yes, it is easy to clean, but I also just like the fabric and the sleek modern style."
Bachelor Nick Scotti, producer and host of the Style Network show "New York Nick," says quality items in the wrong setting can look just as bad as a home full of junk.
"You should have as little clutter as possible," Scotti says. "Stay away from carpets for a number of reasons. You don't have to vacuum. Hardwood floors are more easily cleaned, and they look good. They add a masculine touch."
The smart bachelor, Scotti says, will also make sure his wall color matches his personality.
"I think color is really important," he explains. "Go to a paint center and discuss it with them, because sometimes colors look different in natural light than they do in a store."
"Blues and greens are warm peaceful colors. If you're a dude with a bad temper, then stay away from colors like yellow."
Curran, the car dealership manager, urges aging bachelors to consider the purpose of their homes when picking everything from color to furniture.
Curran got outside advice when decorating and outfitting his place. Look and space were more important to him than the latest gadget ... except, of course for a good dishwasher and washer/dryer set.
"I have found that as I get older, the ability to have a good place to entertain is more important than having the loudest stereo," he explains. "My condo is very open and can - and does - comfortably entertain 75 people.
"Don't be afraid to ask for advice," he says. "Bottom line: You pay the bills and have to live in it."