I continue to think about designing the first home I actually got to create, not just to decorate, but to design to make it livable. Months went by during which I focused on types of edges on countertops and tap design, which I thought were very important aspects. It is almost laughable to think about how much I knew while actually knowing very little. Then, talking to a different person led to researching filtration systems from Water Filters Adelaide. At the same time, he finished plumbing our kitchen, and I remember nodding to him with appreciation, like, yeah, sure, maybe later. I didn’t mean to dismiss him, but I guess I didn’t think there could be differences among waters, you know? Clear and wet? That’s about it.

Years later, I moved into homes where everything seemed to be just fine, but there was this feeling that something just didn’t feel quite right, although I couldn’t quite put my finger on what that something was. It could be this feeling that there is something heavy in the air, this residue left on the water that left white spots, no matter how much you cleaned it. Or maybe it is this change in temperature when you travel between rooms, like you are traveling between seasons, while others simply live within one. This is something you don’t pick up on until you live on both sides of it.

The Slow Shift in What Matters (Usually after a Few Mistakes)

Sometimes I feel like you can’t appreciate home design until you’ve lived enough places to know what it is that slowly falls apart. I know I once cared about pendant lights and shades of warm white paint. The thing that actually affected how I felt on an everyday level is something like this: The air. How about waking up to drinking water that tastes like metal? How about where the humidity stays lingering in the house?

It's funny: you don't feel these things immediately. It's cumulative. Comfort sneaks up on you, and discomfort does too.

I remember one of these friends’ homes, it's just one that looked great on the outside, one of those homes that could take a great picture. The thing about staying there overnight? Not very glamorous. The dryness of the air to make your throat feel scratchy. A bathroom that fogged up immediately and stayed that way seemingly forever. This type of thing affected every room within this home, like there were microclimates within this home that worked well together. They weren't necessarily doing something wrong, but didn't pay enough attention to it early on.

This implies that after they realized this, they realized nothing but this.

Water Leaves Clues (Even When You're Not Looking)

The thing about water is that it's a telltale. Or maybe it's a tell on the house. The hard water, definitely. You're cleaning wrong when you look at what's actually happening. The water is leaving its own signature on everything. These specks that can't be polished out. The shower glass that frosts over but isn't actually fogged up. The stone that develops these faint stains that you can tell yourself have always been there but you know they haven't.

I've lived in one bathroom where faucets were so bad that I didn't know how bad they were until I got one to compare to a new one that I bought. That is almost unfair. You pay money to buy something because it is supposed to last, and you are wearing it out while you aren't paying any attention to it.

However, the other side of this equation, clean water, makes these simple tasks seem almost innocuous by comparison. How much water? A glassful to drink, enough to wash vegetables, enough to make a cup of coffee. You don't necessarily notice at first that you can't taste any flavor in your water, that you aren't finding chunks left over at the bottom of your kettle. You will.

Then it is one of those intangible luxury experiences you get to enjoy but wouldn’t necessarily feel moved enough to talk about.

Air: The Most Invisible, Most Obvious Comfort Indicator

I am not sure what point in time I became a person concerned about air, but this is what I am talking about. It could also relate to having experience with both well-designed spaces and badly designed spaces. Then there is air you can breathe. Then there is the air you feel. Then there are homes where you feel like you have air on your shoulders. Then some homes feel airy but aren’t cold. Finally, some homes dry out your skin to the point that you are drinking water to feel like yourself.

Bad air conditioning is something that does not exist in photographs. It is something which you feel around your temples, within your lungs, within your sleep.

An effective heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is unseen, but one thing that can make a very well-equipped home into a luxury home is an effective heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The air is circulated softly and not blown. The temperature is constant and not fluctuating. The system is whispering, not roaring. The humidity level is appropriately set, and everything, including hardwood floors, kitchen cabinets, and books, will last longer. Now, when everything works perfectly, maybe it is time to upgrade your kitchen, and you can find creative ideas here.

I heard somewhere (BAS, perhaps?) that indoor air quality is suddenly one of the big wants. This is like hitting a chord, you know, because we're finally on the same page that designers have been trying to tell us all along: if it doesn't smell right, it doesn't matter how pretty it is.

Filtration Systems: The Introverts of Home Worlds

They are almost shy, if one can say such a thing about a system. They do not call out to draw attention to themselves. They are definitely not something one can brag about. They are what will make other things work. A filtration system will make almost every area of life better. You simply are not necessarily aware of how much. There is less dust floating around. Fabrics last longer. Natural fibers retain their natural smell and feel.

The amount you have to clean simply lessens without you having to change a thing. The filtration of water is making subtle but incredible improvements, not only to devices and plumbing fixtures but to skin and hair. The shower is a whole new experience. The dishes are clearer.

I can remember thinking that something is suddenly working better in my dishwasher, but it is just due to the difference in water quality. It gives one a feeling of familiarity and continuity in a home setting. Perhaps, because this is more comforting than exciting.

The Effect of Things Not Going Right

A house doesn’t disintegrate like a bomb. Oh no, it’s a more subtle thing than that. First, there’s a small bump somewhere around a door frame. Then there’s a smell of dampness somewhere around a wardrobe. A window is slightly more opaque than it used to be. You wipe something clean, but it doesn’t feel right after that.

Since it is slow-acting, you can brush it off until you realize. Then, when everything is right underneath, there is a different kind of house. The house ages more slowly. The house maintains its composure. The air does not fluctuate erratically. The water does not leave any traces. Sometimes there is a sense of composure being developed rather than dispersed. As to what better words are to describe this experience than this thing called stability, I don’t know. It is nowhere close to being exciting to talk about, but it is very comforting. This is pervasively rich.

Where I End Up Every Time I Think About This

Sometimes I find myself in a home that’s been thoughtfully planned to take into account this, this air, this water, this filtration, you know, and I will realize that I haven’t been paying attention to this building that I’m actually in. This is what it’s all about. Good design will almost completely disappear into the background in the best possible way. It will work for you, not against you. You won't even know about the temperature. Or humidity. Or water quality. Perhaps this is what we can take home.

The luxury you feel, not the luxury you see. A home that doesn’t constantly remind you of its flaws is a home that lets you live better without having to make a big show out of it. To tell you the truth, after detours and missteps, this is what matters to me.