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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Before & After
As my grandparents prepare to sell their home, they are slowing cleaning it out. They have us family over frequently to go through things and pick out items we might like to have. There have been several trips over there and several scores made, thanks to their generosity.
On my most recent visit, as I was looking around the basement, I saw this very old, powder blue book case that was housing stacks upon stacks of paper. I stood there staring at it, envisioning what it could be, but wondering if I would actually take the time to DIY it or if it would just be another, 'I'm going to do this-project' that gets put in storage (or a box!). I ultimately decided it would be a great storage solution for my small apartment and that I would make something of it.
I asked my Poppa if I could take it home and he looked a little stunned. Pointing to the bookcase he said, 'This thing? You want this?' and I smiled and nodded. Turns out, my great-grandfather built it decades ago and it was handed down; making this piece even more covetable, family history. He emptied all the papers from it shelves, dusted it off and I managed to pack it into the trunk of my car. I got to work almost immediately sanding it down and painting black (a can of paint I already had) and after a couple coats and some touch-ups, she was ready for decorating!
I have to say I'm pretty pleased, the overall project took about three hours and the end result is so worth it. When I showed my grandparents the pictures you see here, they couldn't believe it and seemed quite pleased with my project; I certainly am.
Style at Home does a cool comparison between rooms that are decorated almost identically, but the price tags differ vastly. Can you tell which room is high versus low?
* The rooms on the left are the ones with the low price tag.
Could you live in 500 square feet... with your spouse? That`s not much space, but Erin & Danny do it really well. It`s quite impressive. I don`t know E & D, but their place is amazing and can you believe they`ve hosted a dinner party with 20 people? What! In 500 square feet? How is that even possible? I`m amazed so I had to share.
We finished decorating our tree and living room a few nights ago, and I'm so excited to share the photos with you! I'm not really one to do a different colour scheme each year, but I love adding to the collection we already have and enjoy collecting trees and reindeer. The accent colour in our house, on the main floor at least, is orange (sound familiar?), so I like to keep things flowing with that. We don't do a 'theme' tree, and while this surprises most people (thinking I of all people would have a matchy-matchy tree) we love the mish-mash of our tree with all our unique, sentimental ornaments we've collected over the years. Take a look.
{ I used a large jar from our wedding candy buffet and filled it with extra Christmas balls }
{ our living room }
{ favourite ornaments & silver glittery trees in our front foyer }
So here it is. My shoe room. Yes, we call it a room. Tucked away in the basement storage room (not necessarily glamourous, but super funcational and not in anyone's way ... and might I add keeps my shoes organized and easy to find) is where I keep my shoes. When we moved into our house (almost four years ago), my birthday was coming up and my parents asked me what I would like for my birthday. I told them one thing, "Shelves. For my shoes." They obliged and bought me four eight-foot long shelves, and hubs installed them for me. Since then, the shelves have multiplied and wrap around the room. There have been three installments to get this to room to what it looks like today: (1) putting up shelves (2) adding more shelves and (3) shifting shelves closer together to incorporate a fifth shelf plus another wall of shelves. It really is a dream and I absolutely love it (and do feel very lucky). Want a tour?
{ while I'm no stranger to heels, a girls gotta have some fresh whites }
{ I'm a huge fan and plan on getting these as my next pair }
{ these are some of my OTK boots, they don't stand on their own, so I fold 'em }
{ the wedge wall + boots }
{ I'm sure you remember these? }
I have recently developped a small obsession with burlap. It's textured, it's cheap and it's oh-so-trendy right now for home decor. After seeing multiple DIY projects involving burlap, I hit the fabric store and got myself some for my own DIY.
This is so simple, so quick, and so awesome. All you need is a hot glue gun, a frame, a small piece of burlap (to fit your frame) and some sort of embellishment (a coin, ribbon, a bead, a button, etc. Be creative!).
{ burlap, $4/metre }
{ thrifted frame, $3 }
{ I pulled this 'coin' off an old candle }
Cut burlap into size of frame's window (mine is 3x3)
Using your hot glue gun...
... Attach your embelishment to the burlap
Insert burlap square into frame
Voila!
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