What does it feel like to go from having 1742 square feet of finished living space to 600? ...Crowded.
So here I am, over a year into my lease and I absolutely love apartment living. Yes there are downfalls: No dishwasher, laundry in the basement, no garbage shute and next time I would certainly get something with a balcony. But other than that, I love it.
I wasn't sure how I would adjust, going from brand-new-townhome to old-one-bedroom-apartment, not to mention the vast difference in space (only 1250 square feet less...), but I have. In fact, more than have, I really love it. I don't mind being in something small, in fact, in some ways it's nice: forgetting something in another room doesn't require much effort to go retrieve it, cleaning takes far less time, and it forces me to get creative with my storage solutions.
That said, another bedroom to store all my clothes and shoes would be nice. An option I looked into when the house sold but figured the extra $400 would be better left in my pocket versus spent basically on a closet.
That said, my parent's basement is housing over half my stuff: extra shoes, a Christmas tree, a washer/dryer set, all my artwork, decor items, etc. Not that I don't want those things with me, but space is a serious issue and I have sort of had to adopt the mindset: if you bring something in, something has to go. I have even started to build up, as when in a tiny space you certainly cannot build out.
Of storage solution purchases I have made are three garmet rolling racks (purchased at 50% off each), a chrome shoe rack (see below), four faux-leather cube boxes with lids and a ridiculously heavy Ikea armoir that I scored off Kijij for $30.
I'm currently trying to reorganize my apartment and get things in better working order. I just purchased some new curtains for my bedroom and rolling racks (metallic silver, versus black) and want to start working on my closets. I thought it might be fun to take you with me on this little 'adventure'.
Here are a few snaps of my place that I've posted on Instagram:
Front foyer (using dining room chairs to make a bench).
Decor deets: Loblaws vase, Ikea sticks, TJ Maxx miniature table, vintage lamp from my grandparents, Loblaws sequin pillow, Dollarama silver/white pillow sham & Home Sense fur blanket.
The fantastic view.
Bathroom shelving and art.
And here is a picture of when I first moved in (yikes!), versus now:
I wrote this September 2011:
I'm downsizing. The time has officially come for me to live on my own, and I'm excited. Really, really excited. I've never lived alone and it's not that I didn't want to, it's just that the way my life path traveled, it didn't happen, however, it's happening now.
I've been working with a Realtor for months upon months looking for a condo. I've seen many properties, with and without my realtor. I have yet to find the 'perfect' condo to purchase. So, in an event get out of my parent's house and on my own, I have decided to rent for the next year. Initially, I was very snobby about this idea. Me? Rent? Even though I've already owned? I wasn't having it (snobby, yes, I know). However, after spending over two months living at my parent's house (for the first time in almost a decade), I think it's safe to say both parties will benefit from me moving out (ha!). That's not to say my parents aren't great, they are, and I'm so grateful for them taking me in and letting me live (rent free!) with them, but it will be so nice to have my own space (and they can have theirs back, too).
My apartment hunt began in the remaining two weeks of August. I was hoping to find something for September 1st (or September 15th at the latest). After seeing at least 15 properties (ghetto, after ghet-toe place) I almost settled. I'd been to an apartment building in China Town and it had everything I was looking for... almost: one bedroom, hardwood, nice layout, bathroom counter space and a big closet.
Right. Not so much.
The closet was about 2/3rds the size I had at my parent's place, and I had already been living with about 1/8th of my wardrobe over the summer months since moving from my house (everything else was still at my house). How on earth would I make such a tiny space work?
But the rent was well priced, and the (underground) parking was cheap, and I was close to downtown... but something just didn't feel right. However, feeling frustrated and tired, I decided to call the Super and arrange a time to go see it, again. It must have been fate because two hours before I was suppose to go see the apartment again, I found something else. I immediately called and long story short, it was available. I was there within 30 minutes to view it and loved it. I felt it. I got that feeling that you're suppose to get when something is 'the one', and this was certainly it. From there on out, it was paper work and waiting (oh, and packing, of course, lots and lots of packing).
And here I am, at the end of September and moving into my new place. MY new place. The kitchen is small, there is no counter in the bathroom (pedestal sink), but it's mine. And to name off a few high-points: it's newly renovated, I have brand new berber carpet in my bedroom (and wood and ceramic everywhere else), the view is amazing and it's in a hot-n-happenin' part of town. Oh, and did I mention it's all mine?
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Outfit deets:
* Fresh top (from Winners) which I've had for several years but don't think I've worn on the blog.
* DIY denim shorts which although I made them a couple years ago, I never wore them much and now I'm wearing them frequently; case in point, out dancing two weekends ago.
* Sam Edelman 'Sophie Low' wedges (new, ish!) which I absolutely adore. Not only are they comfortable but they are stylish and a lower heel than I'm used to. Seen with white skinnies & two shades of green. (BTW, size down about half a size, I totally could have gone with the 9.5).
* Accessories: various bangles & Gucci shades.
It was simple: two
bedrooms, a balcony, in-unit washer and dryer, hardwood, higher level
floor, within the city and within my budget. Those were the things I
was looking for in a condo. It wasn't too much to ask for, but for my
budget, it was a little sparse looking.
I had been working with a realtor for about a year, on and off...
most recently, on. He sent me listing after listing (automated, to
match my specific criteria) and nothing fit the bill. We went to see
place after place after place, one came close, but ultimately, nothing
felt like 'the one'. Although I was in no rush to buy (I love where I
live, but ultimately I am renting and owning is ideal), it was getting a
little frustrating after a place I thought was maybe the one, slipped
through my fingers. Turns out it was not the one and that happened as
this was about to.
Then I found it. The one.
A brand new build, located
in the city and not even started yet. The downfall? Will be ready in
November 2014. The optimistic spin: more time to save even more money
to put down (and have a smaller mortgage in return).
I walked into the sales office a few weeks ago on a Wednesday evening after getting a
spray tan with no idea what was about to happen. I thought maybe I
would go in, get a price list, find out I couldn't afford it and walk out.
Not the case. At all.
I told the sales woman I needed a two
bedroom, but that a one bedroom plus den might work. We looked over the
floor plans, prices and options. I started to get excited. The
smallest one bedroom plus den was pretty nice. And within my budget. She
told me the higher the floor, the more expensive. Now, since I currently living
in a high-rise on a high floor, I'm only interested in moving somewhere
with a view. The view I have now is pretty awesome, and it's so nice
to be up high and as a safety factor, I like that I can leave my bedroom
window open at night. Then she told me only the 11th floor was
available for this unit. All other units were sold. My heart dropped.
I probably couldn't afford the 11th floor.
She showed me the price list.
Then my jaw dropped and I tried to hide my excitement: I could afford the 11th floor.
I
knew I couldn't sit on this, as it was such a great deal, it could be
sold the next day if I didn't act immediately (there is only one of this
unit, per floor, and all other floors were sold). I gave all my
information and we made an appointment for me to come back three days
later to seal the deal with a deposit and signature (and to call them if
I changed my mind). I took my sales package, price list and floor plan
and bustled out to my car in excitement.
The following evening I met with my mom to tell her what had
happened, show her the sales package and share my thoughts. By the end
of our two hour coffee sesh, I convinced her I was serious and this was
it. She took the paperwork home to share the exciting news with my
dad. On Saturday, I asked my parents to come with me to the sales
office where I would be putting down my deposit and signing the
paperwork. It was such a surreal moment and so very exciting!
So, enough chatter, here are the deets:
* One bedroom + den (aka walk-in closet / dressing room)
* Hardwood floors
* Granite counter-tops
* Stainless appliances
* Breakfast bar
* In-unit washer & dryer
* A balcony off my bedroom (sliding doors) and living room (regular door) with glass railings
* Indoor salt water pool
* Gym
* Underground parking (which you purchase on top of your price)
So now I just have to be patient and watch the next two years fly by (ha, right)
before I can move in. I'll keep you up to speed on the progress and
all the fun details and ideas I have (I certainly have time for it).
Pssssst! Those photos above? That's me standing exactly where my condo will be built. Exciting!
And here are a few from the sales office & signing my paperwork:
Outfit deets:
* Sirens sweater which I purchased in the fall and didn't end up wearing it nearly as much as I thought I would over the winter.
* La Senza trapeze top which I wore out to the movies a couple years ago with cropped jeans and also with a pair of my favourite skinny pants and chunky cardigan.
* Stitches skirt - this is stretchy, double-thick cotton and I have it in several colours. It's also the base I used to make my feather skirt.
* Aldo wedge booties which are one of my favourite pairs of boots I have, so much so I asked for them in black for Christmas (and got 'em!) and wore 'em with a leopard dress. These ones have been worn with pink pants and with a skirt in the fall without tights.
* Accessories: F21 tights (which got a hole in them on my first wear, here, in the toes -cheap-), Guess bangle, PharmaPlus beaded bracelet, Pandora bracelet, Swarovski bangle & gifted square bangle.
I totally forgot about this pictures and they have come in real handy as I was kind of grasping at straws as to what to blog about today. Always nice to have outfit shots that haven't been used... mind you, I'm long not wearing tights anymore and this outfit is from February.
Here's a fun fact though, this is the outfit I was wearing when we sold our house/the night we signed the papers.
It's hard to believe that house has been someone else's home now for over two months. I thought I was going to have a super hard time letting it go, walking away from the first house I've ever owned, the first house I really made my own. I went back and forth in my mind as to whether I should keep it (buy Mike out) or start fresh. Every thought ran through my head: would I regret selling it? Would I lose money if I sold it and then bought something else? And if I kept it, could I handle the memories that house held?
Ultimately I decided I did not want to stay there (and neither did he) and we sold it. The day before we closed officially I was there alone packing up the last few items that remained and it was certainly emotional. As I filled up my car and locked the door for the last time I turned around to the house that used to be mine. Ours. With tears in my eyes I said my silent good bye and drove off forever.
And you know what? To this day, I haven't experienced much sadness over it at all. It's as if owning that house ran it's course and I think because we had it on the market for so long (eight months) it was just a relief to no longer pay a mortgage and rent. The first month after we sold and I only had to pay rent was like, 'Wow! I have some spending money!' (and not like I'm rich or rolling in it or anything like that, but it sure is nice to not be tight every month anymore). I think it also helps that we sold the house to this beautiful, sweet couple who were so happy and grateful. That's just the icing on the cake.
Have you ever sold your house? Did you find it hard to move? Did you miss the house?
Me in my old bathroom | Stairs
The house I have lived in for the past five years was for sale. It is now sold. Today is the closing date.
Trying to sell the house ourselves has been really tough. Not only is the situation difficult, obviously, but having to work together and coordinate schedules to host open houses, ensure the house is clean and pay the bills doesn't make it easier. Fortunately it's been as smooth as likely possible, considering the circumstances.
It's with mixed emotions that we finally sold the house. After being on the market since August, I didn't think we would sell in the dead of winter, but we did, and to a super sweet couple. It seriously makes the deal even sweeter to sell to people like them. Knowing your home is going to people who love it and are excited? The best.
Last night I went to the house for the last time. It was an evening filled with emotion. Excitement because finally after many months this is a step forward, some form of closure and, let's be honest, more money in my pocket each month (no more paying a mortgage and rent). However, on the flip side, sadness and old memories of what that house used to be.
As I walked around the empty rooms, I remembered the good times I spent there, the nice features and various projects and hobbies I started in that house; I learned how to sew, I started a blog, I had a walk-in closet (and two other closets for overflow, and a room dedicated to all my shoes), I started painting canvases, and more. I tried to absorb the last views I would take of each room, hoping to hold onto the memory of how it looked, every nook and cranny. I took photos of each room (although I have photos of it furnished) just to have, then loaded up my car with any remaining items I had to take. Then I said my good byes, locked the door and walked out of that house for the last time ever. It was a definitive moment, and a bittersweet one at that. It's hard to say good bye to your first home but it's exciting to say hello to what's ahead.
I wrote the following post last month, but never posted it:
February 10th
Today is such a good day!
Last night we got an offer on our home, and we accepted!. The first paper (ahem, official and not just verbal) offer. I am too excited. It's been a while since I've felt a high like this. I've spent this morning faxing paperwork to the lawyer, getting advice, scheduling an inspection, sharing the exciting news with friends and drinking a large tea in under three minutes flat. Woot, caffeine!
It's been such a long winded road trying to sell our home. We listed it in August 2011 ourselves and hoped for the best. After a month on the market, and not much activity, we decided to drop our price. We started holding open houses every weekend and we got a lot more visits. Still though, no offers. We pushed through the fall and there was interest, but nothing serious or worth settling for.
In December an offer slipped through our fingers and I kicked myself afterwards. In January an offer was ridiculous and we turned it down. All the while continuing to pay the mortgage and for me, also rent (expensive!) on top of that.
When we got a (verbal) offer this week from someone immediately after seeing the house, we negotiated and accepted. While waiting for the paper work, the deal fell through and it was pretty heart breaking (and frustrating). However, we had a 'back-up plan', that being another couple traveling from out of city (and province) to come see our place (and a few others). Fortunately they loved ours the most and made an offer within 24 hours of seeing it. After going over the details, making a couple changes, we accepted and are supposed to close in just over three weeks! Excitement ensues!
Selling the house is totally bitter sweet. It's the end of something huge; our first home, my place of residence for the last (almost) five years, the house I made a home, the last piece of joint material item in our marriage, and more. It is the materialistic item that officially symbolizes our split and it's kind of strange. The first offer we ever got had me jumping in excitement and immediately after, in tears! It was such a bittersweet moment. That offer fell through, among a few others, and I've had time to adjust to really selling the home and letting it go. This time around felt a bit different, almost like I'm more ready to let it go. The people that are buying the house are so sweet too, and I think that really helps. It's so nice to sell your home to a couple you connect with, like, and are genuinely nice people. Sounds kind of cheesy but it's true!
So, pending the inspection goes well, I will be moving the last of my stuff out in a few short weeks, which also means some major packing needs to get done over the coming weeks. Eep! I feel happy!
Today is such a good day!
Last night we got an offer on our home, and we accepted!. The first paper (ahem, official and not just verbal) offer. I am too excited. It's been a while since I've felt a high like this. I've spent this morning faxing paperwork to the lawyer, getting advice, scheduling an inspection, sharing the exciting news with friends and drinking a large tea in under three minutes flat. Woot, caffeine!
It's been such a long winded road trying to sell our home. We listed it in August 2011 ourselves and hoped for the best. After a month on the market, and not much activity, we decided to drop our price. We started holding open houses every weekend and we got a lot more visits. Still though, no offers. We pushed through the fall and there was interest, but nothing serious or worth settling for.
In December an offer slipped through our fingers and I kicked myself afterwards. In January an offer was ridiculous and we turned it down. All the while continuing to pay the mortgage and for me, also rent (expensive!) on top of that.
When we got a (verbal) offer this week from someone immediately after seeing the house, we negotiated and accepted. While waiting for the paper work, the deal fell through and it was pretty heart breaking (and frustrating). However, we had a 'back-up plan', that being another couple traveling from out of city (and province) to come see our place (and a few others). Fortunately they loved ours the most and made an offer within 24 hours of seeing it. After going over the details, making a couple changes, we accepted and are supposed to close in just over three weeks! Excitement ensues!
Selling the house is totally bitter sweet. It's the end of something huge; our first home, my place of residence for the last (almost) five years, the house I made a home, the last piece of joint material item in our marriage, and more. It is the materialistic item that officially symbolizes our split and it's kind of strange. The first offer we ever got had me jumping in excitement and immediately after, in tears! It was such a bittersweet moment. That offer fell through, among a few others, and I've had time to adjust to really selling the home and letting it go. This time around felt a bit different, almost like I'm more ready to let it go. The people that are buying the house are so sweet too, and I think that really helps. It's so nice to sell your home to a couple you connect with, like, and are genuinely nice people. Sounds kind of cheesy but it's true!
So, pending the inspection goes well, I will be moving the last of my stuff out in a few short weeks, which also means some major packing needs to get done over the coming weeks. Eep! I feel happy!
{ all the now-free hangers }
Something I dread doing is laundry. It's not the simple task of washing the clothes and hanging them to dry (I don't mind this so much, it's certainly rewarding to see all your favourite clothes clean and yes, I must hang almost everything due to my height - one small shrinkage for some could be a very large shrinkage for me), it's the daunting task of finding a place to put the clothes once they are clean. It's no secret I love to shop and have accumulated tons over the years, it's the storing of all these clothes. Currently, I use half of the walk-in closet, 9 (out of 16) drawers in our bedroom furniture, the office closet (sweaters, hoodies & jackets) and 3/4 of the spare bedroom closet (dresses). Wow, writing it out makes it seem like even more (ha).
On Saturday, I was folding massive piles of laundry, dreading the part where I'd have to find a place for it all, when I started to clean out one of my dressers. Just out of nowhere, I started to purge. I went through all those drawers and made a huge pile of stuff. I didn't stop there. I marched into our walk-in closet and went to town. I was ruthless - and it was shocking. I made two piles: donate & consign. I ended up with two massive garbage bags full of clothing (donate) and a spare bed piled with clothes (consign). - over 200 items. I literally spent all day and night purging and cleaning - exhausting but well worth the end result.
I invited a girlfriend over to paw through everything and she took 32 items and it barely made a dent. The best part? I still have closets full of clothing (that I love) and have made space. Yes, it's still full, but I can actually push hangers to the side and slide the clean clothes in without using my bicep muscles. Score.
{ spare bed full of clothes - this picture was taken after my friend took home her share }
{ more clothes & one of the two garbage bags }
{ I reorganized my drawers and pulled out the bottom one to
find missing undies and tops I thought I'd lost forever - woohoo! }
{ AFTER: walk-in closet}
{ AFTER: dress closet }
As far as organization goes, I keep like-items together and colour coordinate in my closets (I find this helps for getting dressed). In the picture of my walk-in, I have two clothing bars. On the top bar I keep sleeveless tops that are colour coordinated which run into button-downs/oxfords. On the bottom bar I put tops with sleeves and cardigans, also colour coordinated. Above the top bar is a shelf where I keep all my 'in-rotation' purses and clutches. I didn't get a chance to tidy this up so I didn't photograph it.
The dress closet is colour coordinated and for each colour and I go from sleeveless to sleeved and if there is anything with a pattern, it goes at the end of the colour block.
What you didn't see:
* Sweater & jacket closet (I didn't go through this closet as I'd cleaned it out not too long ago)
* Drawer organization (I'll save this for another post)
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