We neglected to take any actual photos of the space, but a video was taken, so here is a semi-blurry shot of our new kitchen. Well, not OURS, but one very similar to it. I love the triangle it’s creating and the open feel. Over there to the left is our den/studio space with a kick-ass shoji door that slides shut. So. Freaking. Cool. Here’s a blurry close up:

When you turn around, the living room seems small – but we think it’ll be great for our awesome sectional and perhaps a small round table with four chairs (Eames-style with dowel bases?). Ignore me, I was busy space planning. Oh! This space has 9 foot ceilings (I’m 5’3″) but the one we are renting is on the first floor with TWELVE FOOT CEILINGS and finished concrete floors. I’ll have to think of some interesting way to paint, eep!

There are only two large windows in the space – well, actually the one we will get has Juliette balconies in the living room and bedroom, so they will be taller and have a door in the middle – so the den at the back of the apartment where you enter is a bit dark (there’s no ceiling light!) but hopefully we’ll be able to remedy it (perhaps with the pendant we have in our current living room?). The view out this living room’s window on the third floor wasn’t too bad and is similar to the one we will have, save that we’ll be street level.

I used to live around here for almost three years, and this street, while a main artery between pockets of the city, wasn’t too bad – the windows are double paned so the noise will hopefully be not too bad.

You may remember my last apartment, before the boyfriend and I moved in together, I had a huge problem with my upstairs neighbor.. While that’s always a possibility here, I’m really, really, REALLY hoping that the twelve foot ceilings will allow for a bit of a space buffer. Right now I’m more worried about where we’re going to store a ladder to get that high to clean. Oy.

We move in at the end of June, which is a busy work month all together for me: Company retreat to Annapolis, a company trip to Philadelphia, and a friend’s wedding the weekend before we move… It will be a busy month indeed! Until then, we’ll be cleaning and packing and I’ll be daydreaming of fun stuff to do with the new apartment. Can’t wait!!

So anyway, he is moved out. It was tough, all the stairs and all the heavy stuff. I’m still catching up on sleep and trying to ease the pain of a pulled shoulder. But his new place is awesome — he has a garage to himself that is attached to his apartment, crown molding, a great dining room with a bay window. He’s on the back of the community so he backs trees and this morning we opened the windows and let the breeze and the sound of song birds fill the air. It was peaceful, relaxing and everything that we both needed. Beats Alexandria any day.

Moving went as well as it normally can. It was stressful, hot and not fun — but it’s done. His huge 8 foot couch is being delivered today, and hopefully there is room for it!

Glasgow sofa by Marlo

It’s a very nice sofa, big enough for 5’3″ me and 6’7″ him to sprawl out and watch his new tv. I’m excited. We are heading out to Ikea now, so happy fourth to everyone!

Photo by micklerlop

You would think I would be good at this by now. You’d also think that I would know what I want instantly, and not have to view every apartment complex from here to China.

Let me back up. I have this constant desire to keep moving. It started as soon as I graduated high school, and has progressed into something more mature each round. First it was just moving out of my mom’s home and into an apartment shared by 3 other girls (ugh). Then, it was 4 different apartments shared with random people, mostly girls, throughout college. After that, a friend and I were supposed to move in together in Charlotte. That flopped and I lived with him and his step-sisters, 2 dogs and 5 cats for a summer… then I was back in school in D.C., living in another dorm apartment. Once that was finished, I moved in with the roommate from hell, who I thankfully only had to live with for five months. Then I found what I thought was a great place in Alexandria, except it was surrounded by idiots who don’t know how to drive and a population that consists of mostly non-natives. Headache.

During those 3 years of swapping apartments I was always hoping I would be able to move into a place of my own, and I was always scoping out and checking out places in the area for pure enjoyment. I like checking out the decor and stylings of apartment communities–Industrial loft spaces in Arlington, high rises in Alexandria, expansive garden style communities in Fairfax. Once I got into my own place, I began decorating immediately, but as time drew nearer to my moving date (2 months away!), I decided there was no sense in investing in the space anymore.

So finally, my lease is almost up. Over the past couple of months the boyfriend and I have been looking at place after place. This past weekend was no different. Of the four places we checked out for my upcoming move, I have not been able to narrow it down at all. I manage to remove one or two, maybe even get down to one last place and think I have made my decision, and then an hour later I have decided that no, no — I want all my options back, because the living room space was much bigger in that one place, but the kitchen hasn’t been updated. That other one has a large bedroom and a den, but the other one is a much nicer community and has a better floorplan. And then I manage to narrow it down to one — that one with the view of the lake on the top floor with the vaulted ceilings and the newly remodeled kitchen — and then I think about the gym, or how the living room is the same size as I have now.

My dilemma is, where do I make the sacrifices? One of the places had a huge, and I mean HUGE, living room, closet, bedroom and bathroom… But it had a kitchen that was 15 years old. But it was gated! And had a great gym! Do I sacrifice the kitchen to get more space?

It’s so difficult to make a decision.. I have about 2 weeks to make one, before my self-set deadline is up.

Do you have any tips on choosing the best apartment? What do you look for when moving into a new space/area?