..So lately, I've been dreaming. Not metaphorcally but rather, quite literally. It may sound like nothing to, well, almost anyone - but for me it's the return of an old dear friend that I thought had been lost to the ravages of sea. Where sea is my oft crazy life and distracted mind.

When I was a kid I used to dream - boisterously, frequently and most creatively. I chalk it up to all the adventure filled, fantastical books I pored over on a daily basis, coupled with an ever creative school curriculum. It produced an over active imagination, { the one thing I didn't lose growing up..much to the chagrin of some!}.  Mostly aware of when I was in a dreamlike state I would control the elements of my dream. I could pause them at will, continue where I left off the next day or days after and I could always, always fly.

Then one day the dreams just stopped. 

Now they are back and I am awaking exhausted yet abuzz. First thing every day I text a friend and tell her what I dreamt - like a person learning a new language who is excited to share the verb they perfectly conjugated. 

But me being me, one of my recent dreams involved a kitchen. The broader narrative was of me living in Paris, in an artist studio and creating...just creating whatever came to my mind and heart. I was a visual artist, I think perhaps a painter. Which is laughable because I have never been good at drawing or painting. However, there was a distinct moment in the dream where I saw the kitchen and paused. It was modest, makeshift, loft like, with lots of raw materials - woods, steel and brick. It was rustic and yet beautiful.

I have searched high and low for a picture of a kitchen that even barely touches on what I saw in my dream and have been unable to find one.I did find one that contained elements of what I imagined, albeit a lot more polished and stylin'.

<img src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kitchenenvy/parisdreamloft1.jpg" alt="paris loft" />
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via <a href="http://www.apartmentmodern.com/2657/100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo.html/kitchen-100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo">apartment modern</a></span></p>
In my dream the kitchen was underneath the loft mezzanine, much like this one. The metal work was dark and the floors concrete. This apartment has a lovely, rich dark wood floor but it gives off the same feel as the space I imagined. 

<img src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kitchenenvy/parisdreamloft3.jpg" alt="paris kitchen dream" />
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via <a href="http://www.apartmentmodern.com/2657/100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo.html/kitchen-100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo">apartment modern</a></span></p>
Brick, wood counters and metalwork were textures that all stood out distinctly in my dream. This space is decidedly more polished than the one I envisioned. My space was a live/work space so the sink washed both dishes and dirty paintbrushes. The kitchen had to be less than precious.

<img src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kitchenenvy/parisdreamloft4.jpg" alt="paris dream kitchen" />
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via <a href="http://www.apartmentmodern.com/2657/100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo.html/kitchen-100-square-meter-loft-in-sao-paulo">apartment modern</a></span></p>
This bold, mod-ish side board meets liquor cabinet was not in my dream. But, a unique accessory such as this is a bold punch of whimsy. It reminds me of the spirit of imagination, the dare to dream - to let ones mind wander and willingly form abstract ideas 