Nesting With Grace: Miniature Luxuries Amplify Comfort by Christine Brun on Creators.com

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Nesting With Grace: Miniature Luxuries Amplify Comfort

Nesting with grace means different things to different people. I would like to suggest that by introducing just a tiny bit of luxury into one of your private spaces at home, you could achieve a wonderful vacation sensation that lasts and lasts.

In fact, "staycation" has slowly seeped into the vernacular since the days of uncertainty following 9/11. For years now, we've seen lots of people choosing to stay close to home due to security scares and the economy — and many have come to like it.

Indeed, once you try something out due to necessity, you might find yourself fond of the changes. Who hasn't substituted an ingredient in the rush of getting dinner on the table and trying to avoid an emergency trip to the market only to discover that the substitute was a hit?

There are a few things that we do every day that can become immensely pleasurable. We sit down with our roommate, family or spouse for dinner if not every day, then very often.

How and where we eat is important. Make sure that you have a suitable place for a sit-down meal. While many people in tight spaces tend to eat from a plate balanced on their lap or a TV tray, it's better to find a way to incorporate some kind of flexible table. Many drop-leaf tables and cocktail tables convert from 17 inches to 29 or 30 inches tall. I recently found a Pembroke table that expands from 20-by-32 inches to a fully extended 64.5-by-32 inches.

Fold-down leaves are supported by traditional wood knuckles when raised, allowing two people to dine. When the leaves are raised, the top can be turned at right angles. Then, after the hidden catches are released, the table extends to allow six people to dine.

Taking a shower or bath is another daily ritual that can be made into a pleasurable routine. There is almost no amenity more valued than a remodeled master bathroom. It might be a well-positioned window with a view that allows that mini-break to happen. It could be the addition of another sink so that two people can prep at the same time.

It could be the addition of a heated towel rack or a lighted makeup mirror that delivers a little bit of hotel-style luxury.

The pictured corner bath allows a playful geometric twist to a bathroom layout. The stainless steel corner bath is 60 inches long, 60 inches wide and 24 inches deep and uses a limited amount of space while still delivering an exceptional soaking bath. Two can use this bath, which is fabricated with a flat-bottom design in the space allotted for one standard 60-inch long tub. A hot soak at the end of a busy week enjoyed with a cup of tea or a glass of wine would rival any four-star spa!

For other folks, an upgrade might mean the installation of a halogen light over the toilet to allow for reading. I installed a classic red wall phone by the toilet partly as a joke but partly because my husband routinely got early-morning calls while he was getting ready for the office. It was nice that he could stay in the warm bathroom to take those sometimes urgent calls.

Soothing heated floors are not so exotic any more. You can buy pre-built pads — something like an electric blanket — to warm tile, stone, engineered wood and laminate floors. Not only does the warm floor feel decadent in the early morning, but it can also be an energy-efficient move, because it heats only the space that needs to be heated rather than the entire house.

And finally, treat yourself to a soft, thick bathrobe and luscious towels. Even if you can buy only one great towel, you'll experience delight every time you use it. Go for a bath sheet, which is in the neighborhood of 35-by-60 inches, instead of the standard 27-by-52-inch bath towel. It not only does the job more efficiently because there is more towel surface, but it can envelope and keep you warm after a shower or bath.

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.