Remember when I had all of these plans to post pictures of our newly renovated apartment? Well, after I got distracted taking pictures for the housewarming party, the party got into full swing, and then life got into full swing and well, our house never got picture-worthy clean until this weekend. I came home from being out of town for a week to find the house spic and span!
Camie, being the awesome roommate that she is, went ahead a cleaned the joint up and posted a photo tour of our cute cute apartment. Isn't she the best?
I will refer you to her for the tour.
The Outside
The Neighborhood
Entry and Kitchen
Living slash Dining
Upstairs Shared Spaces
Camie's bedroom
My Room (not as tidy/beautiful as I'd like but still pretty snazzy)
The Exit
I love our new house, and I hope you do too!
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Pie Hole
Welcome, One! Welcome, All! To our brand new apartment in beautiful, historic Capitol Hill. After examining the features, we have christened it The Pie Hole.
J'taime The Pie Hole!
Let me explain. Our fab apartment makes up the top two floors of a row house. The house itself bends around the corner of North Carolina Ave, onto A street. The result is our apartment ends up being shaped like a slice of pie. Wider at the front of the house, and narrowing to a point at the back. Its kinda like a double-decker slice of pie. To add to the "pie" effect, the floors also slope slightly toward the back of the house. It is pie-like is every way. So of course, that means I LOVE it.
It is also, really old (hellllooo, Historic District? show some respect here, you young whippersnappers!). And a rental. With an absentee landlord. Which makes it just the eensiest bit of a hole. I can't really blame it. I mean, who among us couldn't use 10 grand worth of work done? (rhinoplasty anyone?) But, even without major surgery, its quite amazing what you can do with a Magic Eraser, some contact paper, and a coat of paint. Really quite amazing!
The Pie Hole never met an angle it didn't like. Except that fuddy duddy, Right Angle. Talk about a Par-tay Pooper!! The Pie Hole was right not to let lame-o Right Angle show his boring face anywhere in the whole house. Instead, we get the excitement of those wacky brothers Acute and Obtuse. They are so much fun!! Decorating is like super, duper, SUPER exciting. Camie (our resident interior designer) is really getting to flex her designer muscles!
Ok, so are you ready for a tour? YAY!! A Tour!
After coming in and up the first flight of stairs, you enter the The Living Room (Pie Crust view):
Features include:
The Living Room, other direction (Fruit Filled Center view):
Features:
The Kitchen:
Features:
The owner has an odd love affair with spherical sconces. They are in the oddest places, such as this one here:
It has been removed, because it is WAY ugly. And was totally blinding.
Twisty stairway up to the second level:
Features:
Back bedroom:
Features:
Bathroom:
Features:
Front Bedroom (Window View, not such a great picture):
Features:
It only makes it that much more loveable that I walked to the Eastern Market (DC's premier outdoor market) on Saturday to buy all kinds of delicious local fruit and veg that I promptly cooked up into some really yummy salad and soup. And tonight I ran laps around Lincoln Park while checking out all of the eye candy who were ALSO running laps. So it's super cute and super fun. But it's also totally going to make me eat better, buy local, hang out with my neighbors, get all skinny, and meet some hot jogger boyfriend. The Pie Hole will make all of my dreams come true. Just you wait and see.
J'taime The Pie Hole!
Let me explain. Our fab apartment makes up the top two floors of a row house. The house itself bends around the corner of North Carolina Ave, onto A street. The result is our apartment ends up being shaped like a slice of pie. Wider at the front of the house, and narrowing to a point at the back. Its kinda like a double-decker slice of pie. To add to the "pie" effect, the floors also slope slightly toward the back of the house. It is pie-like is every way. So of course, that means I LOVE it.
It is also, really old (hellllooo, Historic District? show some respect here, you young whippersnappers!). And a rental. With an absentee landlord. Which makes it just the eensiest bit of a hole. I can't really blame it. I mean, who among us couldn't use 10 grand worth of work done? (rhinoplasty anyone?) But, even without major surgery, its quite amazing what you can do with a Magic Eraser, some contact paper, and a coat of paint. Really quite amazing!
The Pie Hole never met an angle it didn't like. Except that fuddy duddy, Right Angle. Talk about a Par-tay Pooper!! The Pie Hole was right not to let lame-o Right Angle show his boring face anywhere in the whole house. Instead, we get the excitement of those wacky brothers Acute and Obtuse. They are so much fun!! Decorating is like super, duper, SUPER exciting. Camie (our resident interior designer) is really getting to flex her designer muscles!
Ok, so are you ready for a tour? YAY!! A Tour!
After coming in and up the first flight of stairs, you enter the The Living Room (Pie Crust view):
Features include:
- Bay window
- Hard wood floors throughout house
- Built in wainscoating ledge (7" deep)
The Living Room, other direction (Fruit Filled Center view):
Features:- Fireplace
- Stairwell from entry way below
- Ample Sculptural art display area on top of stairwell.
The Kitchen:
Features:
- Cabinets, Cabinets, CABINETS!!!
- Pretty great view out to the cute backyards of our neighbors
- Good appliances (fridge keeps food cold, Oven is great, dishwasher cleans dishes!! electric stove - eh, when you can't have gas, electric will do.)
The owner has an odd love affair with spherical sconces. They are in the oddest places, such as this one here:
It has been removed, because it is WAY ugly. And was totally blinding.
Twisty stairway up to the second level:
Features:
- Butt-firming workout
Back bedroom:
Features:
- Great pie-tip angle making bed placement really ... um ... exciting!
- Huge windows perfect for hauling a box spring through
- Very nicely sized closet
Bathroom:
Features:
- BIG mirror to match my BIG ego
- Great shower with amazing water pressure and lots of heat
- Lots of storage space under that huuuuge counter for our ribbons and bows
Front Bedroom (Window View, not such a great picture):
Features:
- Two good sized closets
- Some of that nice ledge/wainscoating we saw from the living room
- A bay window
- TWELVE foot ceilings
- Very good sized, and chock full of my new besties Acute and Obtuse
It only makes it that much more loveable that I walked to the Eastern Market (DC's premier outdoor market) on Saturday to buy all kinds of delicious local fruit and veg that I promptly cooked up into some really yummy salad and soup. And tonight I ran laps around Lincoln Park while checking out all of the eye candy who were ALSO running laps. So it's super cute and super fun. But it's also totally going to make me eat better, buy local, hang out with my neighbors, get all skinny, and meet some hot jogger boyfriend. The Pie Hole will make all of my dreams come true. Just you wait and see.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Managing Expectations
Camie called me the other night. She said, "I just wanted to tell you that I'm getting really excited to be roommates!"
"That's great!" I said, genuinely pleased. "I'm excited too! I guess this means that you've been having fun living with Anna?" Cam had to move out of her apartment a few weeks early, and has been staying with her former roommate Anna before we move to our new place at the beginning of September.
"Yeah! We've been to the pool every day, and we make our favorite drink -- which is DELICIOUS! -- and its just so NICE to come home and have someone there," she gushed.
"Wow, that does sound like fun! Anna really is the best. Didn't she also make you fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast too?" I asked.
"Yeah, she said that those were her breakfast of choice. Who was I to disagree with that?"
"Who indeed!"
After I hung up the phone I realized that despite Anna's saintliness, a bad precedent is being set here.
I believe I'm going to have to take Anna aside and ask her to introduce some behaviors that will help transition Camie to what life will REALLY be like living with a roommate. The first step will be to immediately stop making tasty snacks and being all companionable. The second step will be to use all of the hot water and take an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. The third, and I think most important step to attune Camie to what it will be like living with me, Anna will need to start talking (or singing, or tra-la-laa-ing) to herself as she grand jettes around her apartment.
Although it will go against Anna's very grain to adopt these measures, I think it's best to manage these expectations now. I don't want to find Camie sobbing by the front door and calling Anna's name after the movers leave us with all of our boxes.
"That's great!" I said, genuinely pleased. "I'm excited too! I guess this means that you've been having fun living with Anna?" Cam had to move out of her apartment a few weeks early, and has been staying with her former roommate Anna before we move to our new place at the beginning of September.
"Yeah! We've been to the pool every day, and we make our favorite drink -- which is DELICIOUS! -- and its just so NICE to come home and have someone there," she gushed.
"Wow, that does sound like fun! Anna really is the best. Didn't she also make you fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast too?" I asked.
"Yeah, she said that those were her breakfast of choice. Who was I to disagree with that?"
"Who indeed!"
After I hung up the phone I realized that despite Anna's saintliness, a bad precedent is being set here.
I believe I'm going to have to take Anna aside and ask her to introduce some behaviors that will help transition Camie to what life will REALLY be like living with a roommate. The first step will be to immediately stop making tasty snacks and being all companionable. The second step will be to use all of the hot water and take an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. The third, and I think most important step to attune Camie to what it will be like living with me, Anna will need to start talking (or singing, or tra-la-laa-ing) to herself as she grand jettes around her apartment.
Although it will go against Anna's very grain to adopt these measures, I think it's best to manage these expectations now. I don't want to find Camie sobbing by the front door and calling Anna's name after the movers leave us with all of our boxes.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wherein I am Jealous of Myself
So remember the super perfect apartment on Capitol Hill that Camie and I were hoping your righteous prayers would get for us? Well, someone out there must be doing something right, because although we ultimately decided not to go with that specific place - we ended up getting an apartment that's EVEN BETTER!
Blocks from Eastern Market, steps from Lincoln Park, the top two stories of a Victorian brownstone, hardwood floors, fireplace, a kitchen that's not a galley kitchen and Loads of Charm - this place is really going to be great!
And really, location couldn't be better. If we walk out to the middle of the street, instead of seeing the Capitol, we will see this little gem:
Know what that is? Perhaps, you don't recognize the building. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. Marble + Ionic columns doesn't exactly narrow it down in this town.
How about I give you a hint and show you the inside ...
Got it now? Ok, then let's grab hands and jump up and down while we scream, "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS! LIBRARY OF CONGRESS!"
As a librarian, THIS is the ultimate. Living within yards of the Mother Ship ... well, ironically, there are no words.
I couldn't be happier! I think our apartment is going to be a raging success! So thanks everyone for being so extra-special-super righteous so Cam and I can have a swank pad to chill in. You're all invited over for mocktails (or cocktails, if Camie has anything to say about it).
We move September 6th. So if you're in the area, and are interested in getting some free pizza that day, I know a way we can arrange that.
Blocks from Eastern Market, steps from Lincoln Park, the top two stories of a Victorian brownstone, hardwood floors, fireplace, a kitchen that's not a galley kitchen and Loads of Charm - this place is really going to be great!
And really, location couldn't be better. If we walk out to the middle of the street, instead of seeing the Capitol, we will see this little gem:
Know what that is? Perhaps, you don't recognize the building. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. Marble + Ionic columns doesn't exactly narrow it down in this town.
How about I give you a hint and show you the inside ...
Got it now? Ok, then let's grab hands and jump up and down while we scream, "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS! LIBRARY OF CONGRESS!"
As a librarian, THIS is the ultimate. Living within yards of the Mother Ship ... well, ironically, there are no words.
I couldn't be happier! I think our apartment is going to be a raging success! So thanks everyone for being so extra-special-super righteous so Cam and I can have a swank pad to chill in. You're all invited over for mocktails (or cocktails, if Camie has anything to say about it).
We move September 6th. So if you're in the area, and are interested in getting some free pizza that day, I know a way we can arrange that.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Is It Spring Already?
I just read this quote by Carson Kressley. (You'll remember him as the loud crazy one on Queer Eye) He said,
He's so wise. And look! Look what I did! I refolded all of my sweaters, organizing them by style and color. I know! I'm a little in awe of myself, too.
Before:
And After:
I refound a whole bunch of sweaters by doing this. It was like I gained 1/2 a wardrobe! (You might also notice that my shirts are also organized by color. I did this a long time ago. But I highly recommend it ... it's easy to maintain and feels like you are shopping in your own closet when everything looks so pretty!)
I got so energized by my tidy closet that I decided that I would also tackle the china I had strewn all around my desk. I unpacked it last year to see how much I had inherited from my grandmother, and well, just never got around to putting it away again.
Before:
And After:
This still needs a little pretty-ing up, but seriously, it's a MAJOR accomplishment to have even cleared up the space.
It's a whole new world here at Chez Gretchen. I'm going to try to be more dedicated to cleaning. Because I really like it when my house is clean. And I'd be clean all of the time, if it weren't for the fact that my dislike of cleaning is kind of a bully. So things get ... um cluttered. And messy. (And hairy. Holy cow ... I have long dark hair, and it is all over my apartment. I can't believe I'm not bald. Fortunately, if I do go bald, I have plenty of hair on hand to make myself a wig.)
To keep things tidy, but not deprive my slothful self, I've decided to follow this cleaning regimen and devote 10 minutes a day to cleaning. A lousy 10 minutes of scrub-a-dub-dub and then I can go back to watching Gossip Girl. My little matchbox apartment will be sparkling in no time!
"If you have and organized closet and a balanced checkbook you can rule the world!"
He's so wise. And look! Look what I did! I refolded all of my sweaters, organizing them by style and color. I know! I'm a little in awe of myself, too.
Before:
And After:
I refound a whole bunch of sweaters by doing this. It was like I gained 1/2 a wardrobe! (You might also notice that my shirts are also organized by color. I did this a long time ago. But I highly recommend it ... it's easy to maintain and feels like you are shopping in your own closet when everything looks so pretty!)
I got so energized by my tidy closet that I decided that I would also tackle the china I had strewn all around my desk. I unpacked it last year to see how much I had inherited from my grandmother, and well, just never got around to putting it away again.
Before:
And After:
This still needs a little pretty-ing up, but seriously, it's a MAJOR accomplishment to have even cleared up the space.
It's a whole new world here at Chez Gretchen. I'm going to try to be more dedicated to cleaning. Because I really like it when my house is clean. And I'd be clean all of the time, if it weren't for the fact that my dislike of cleaning is kind of a bully. So things get ... um cluttered. And messy. (And hairy. Holy cow ... I have long dark hair, and it is all over my apartment. I can't believe I'm not bald. Fortunately, if I do go bald, I have plenty of hair on hand to make myself a wig.)
To keep things tidy, but not deprive my slothful self, I've decided to follow this cleaning regimen and devote 10 minutes a day to cleaning. A lousy 10 minutes of scrub-a-dub-dub and then I can go back to watching Gossip Girl. My little matchbox apartment will be sparkling in no time!
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