... currently accepting suggestions for better names for said location than "the condo".
1) The Comfy Aesthetic
From the moment I saw the Zillow photo of this view (with the floors and the big windows looking onto the balcony + trees) it said "this is where your friends will come in for long nights of excellent conversation, fun, and food. And from our second day of ownership (photo) it is already a tried and true location for those long deep talks.... the kind that bring us together and tighten the connections that make us human.
1.5) (Bonus) Look at those faux wood floors!! brand new and exactly what we would have picked had WE done the remodel!!)
1.9) When we toured the house, the hall intersection said to me "This is where you'll find yourself sitting with the whole family. Half in - half out of the bedrooms, just talking and magnetized just by each other's presence." This is a warm, welcoming family place.
The spare bedroom means we now have the room to have kids. I've set up the bookcase my parents made me for my second birthday (it was a dollhouse then) with my collection of children's books on it...
2) STORAGE.... so much STORAGE
We've got a pantry!! (and liquor cabinet!) There are SHELVES in the GARAGE. (which fits BOTH the car and my e-bike!). The master bedroom's closet has double rods AND built in shelves on one side allowing all our clothing to fit and me to downsize from 2 dressers to one!
As the clincher, this nook fits BOTH my musical instrument collection AND ALL of my music books (including my collection for piano teaching!) Couldn't have made a more custom fit if we had tried. And speaking of custom....
3) I am now invincible. (We bought a power saw.)
Home ownership has always held the tantalizing promise of DIY projects and extending my creativity and ingenuity to larger scale and more practical customization. I don't think I expected to be this excited or empowered this early in the experience. Isaac and I were discussing the fit of the entertainment center when he made the most excellent proposal. "Hey! Do you want to do violence?" Using the "couple brain" I knew what he meant. "The jigsaw will arrive Friday" we said together at the exact same time.
We wanted to downsize to a Queen bed, and my next adventure was cutting the Purple mattress (my favorite) down to size. Accomplished with a lot of sweat, scissors, and the non-powered saw. Our bed is on the floor for now (Ikea has exactly ZERO of the bed frame we want). .... which leaves me dreaming of cutting the King frame down to Queen size before upholstering the headboard for max lounging comfort. The feeling of invincibility is a crazy good feeling and I promise to never shut up about it.
4) Cats, Cat Figurines, and Cat-like Behaviors
(are you surprised?)
5) Living Here
We've really just begun this stage of our life but it already comes so naturally. The counters hold our kitchen gadgets so perfectly. The layout is so functional. An art + wine date went down fabulously in complete comfort.
And with the piano moved in, table set up, and sawn-down entertainment center all in their spots, it's a panorama of absolutely cozy comfort.
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