Please tell me that it’s more than 2 months because that’s how long it’s been since we moved and my house still looks like this:
I think I almost preferred it when things were in this state:
Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. Or not.
Hi, everyone, how was your weekend? Mine was busy, busy, busy. Last week, I strained my back so I had to rest it and got very little done around the house. I was determined to make up for it this weekend, having forgotten that Ikea + Home Depot in the same weekend = one grumpy husband. He got it over it though because that allowed us to get a bunch of little things done which makes us both happy.
The first thing is we installed temporary shades on all the windows upstairs so we’re not living like exhibitionists anymore(!) We’re planning on getting custom shades at some point (we did this in our last house and it was so worth it) but in the meantime, we needed something other than newsprint and scotch tape!
(Before and After)
We went to Home Depot to get some basic roller shades but found these temporary shades from Redi Shade. I am so clueless I had no idea there were such things on the market! They’re brilliant because you don’t need screws or brackets. They’re peel and stick! And they’re only $4! (I swear I am not being paid for this. I was just so happy to find them that I had to publicize it in case anyone else was in the same boat – and as clueless – as I was.) Now I won’t lose my mind while I wait for the custom shades!
Second, I got the huz to remove the light in the eat-in kitchen. It’s a fine light (it’s heavy as hell and I’ve seen some similar ones around here priced pretty high) but it was just overwhelming in the space and it completely clashed with our table and chairs.
As you know, I’ve been looking for lights but I’m having the hardest time making any decisions. I don’t want to just buy something just to make do but I couldn’t take looking at this light anymore. So, out it went and it opened up the room so much more. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me – even if there’s a hole in the ceiling. I’d rather look at that!
We also lined all the drawers and shelves in the kitchen, moved a couple of wall sconces, replaced all the burned out bulbs . . . like I said, lots of little things. And I finally found my memory card reader so I can start uploading all the photos I’ve been taking around here. So life after moving is slowly getting better, one little thing at a time!
Happy February, everyone! Can you believe it’s already February?!
(Photos: From the Right Bank)
Sorry, Right Bankers, no post today as I’ve got no internet – or telephone or tv, for that matter. Thank you, Comcast. (I’m at the temp apartment packing things up and using the internet connection while I can!) Hopefully, I will be back up and running by Monday but if not, you’ll know why. I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend. I will be trying to get out from under all the piles of stuff everywhere. (I take back everything I said about how much I love moving!) I will hopefully see you soon!
The move-in has begun and so far, everything is going well. Most of our things seem to have made the cross country trip intact and it’s nice to see my own things again. Well most of it anyway! (“What the hell is that?” has been asked a lot around here!)
So what exactly am I doing while everyone’s doing all the heavy lifting? Aside from directing traffic, sketching floor plans and trying to keep the Frenchies out of trouble, I’ve been very busy with this:
Labeling rooms, drawers, boxes and pretty much everything in sight. This organization nerd is in heaven!
By the way, did you notice how lovely the gray turned out on the kitchen cabinets? I’m so happy I decided to paint them!
Okay, I’ve got to get back to my Sharpies and Post-It’s. We’re still camped out at the temp apartment but I should be blogging from my own new home tomorrow! I hope you’re all having a good week!
(Note: the photos in this post are entirely unrelated to the topic.)
As corporate housing goes, we’re in a pretty nice one. But living in a temporary apartment still kind of sucks. Aside from the general inconvenience of not being in my own home, I’m offended by the decor. I can’t help it. For someone who lives and breathes design, fake plants and mass produced “art” are an assault on the senses. Am I right here, people? I do kind of feel for the company that manages these rentals because there’s really only so much you can do with a corporate apartment. But, still . . .
Also, do you remember those Ikea commercials where a big, lanky dog is chasing a ball through a tiny kitchen? That’s how I feel trying to play with the Frenchies. There’s no room for my fat little guys to run around. I never had a problem with small spaces before but now I’m old and cranky and I need my space. So all the more reason I need to get in my new house ASAP.
Okay, that’s all for my little rant today. I just want to point out that all of these photos are via Head Over Heels, a treasure trove of the complete opposite of ugly interiors. The last photo makes me want to turn my closet into a gallery. A great idea, no?
I was really starting to doubt it would ever happen but it did. We finally closed on our new house!!! We haven’t moved in yet (we’re having some work done on it first) but I had everyone lined up and waiting to get started so it’ll be a frenzy of activity now and we should be moved in the week after next!
Here are some of the reasons I fell in love with this house. (I forgot to pack the charger for my SLR so all I have is my iphone for now. So sorry for the picture quality.)
This is the family room/keeping room – love the windows, fireplace and all the trees outside:
. . . and the mill work and arches:
. . . and all the built-ins:
These two are of the the living room. Here it’s looking into the family room. It’s all pretty traditional, right? It’s going to be very different for me but also very fun!
Thank you all for being so supportive through the frustrating process and also for all of your votes for the Homies! You all rock. I’m off to meet the painter, pick out tile and take some more photos. Yipeee! (Can you tell I’m excited?) Hope you have a fun day too!
Remember the poll I took to name my blog after my move? Well, the people have spoken and my blog will hereby be known as . . . From the Right Bank. The subheadings will be “to the Left Coast” and “to the Deep South.” Thank you to all of you who voted (there were 155 votes!) and left me comments. You gave me a lot to think about and it was enormously helpful to have your input.
(click for larger view)
So did you notice my new banner? What a great way to commemorate my move and the new official blog name, right? I owe it all to the talented and lovely Susie Quillin of EyeQ. I can’t thank her enough for such a gorgeous banner and for putting up with me during the design process(!) She also designed my twitter background and avatar with my two Frenchies!
If you need help with a design for your blog or business, you can’t do better. What I loved best about working with Susie was that she really listened to me and we bounced lots of great ideas off of each other so I feel like it was a real collaboration. She’s been designing for 20 years and particularly enjoys helping people who are getting new projects off the ground. Oh, and she also has a fabulous design blog which, if you don’t already know, you will love so be sure to pay her a visit there. Thank you, Susie!
I’ll be back tomorrow with a most inspiring house – you’re going to love it.
Hi, everyone, how have you been? I’ve missed you all and I have so much to catch up on and to catch you up on!
First things first, we’ve finally arrived in Atlanta! And for now we’re settled into our temporary digs. Being the nester that I am, it’s killing me that we couldn’t move straight into our new house but we haven’t closed yet. I won’t bore you with the details but it’s been delayed once so far and is tentatively scheduled for later this week. With the way things have been going, I’m skeptical. I’ll definitely keep you posted.
In the meantime, here are some shots of our cross country road trip.
I knew I was in the South when I saw this truck:
The Frenchies did very well and we had some pretty plush and some not-so-plush stays en route. Here are some of the plushier ones. Here they are at the W Seattle, contemplating downtown below, including the Rem Koolhaas-designed library on the left:
and checking out the five star digs at Turtle Creek:
I only used my iphone and some toy cameras and a Polaroid on the trip. These are all iphone shots so please excuse the poor quality.
By far the highlight of the trip was Marfa, Texas. I had wanted to go there for years so there was no way I was going to miss it while we were driving across Texas. I had been dying to go to the Chinati Foundation:
and to see the Prada Marfa installation:
It did not disappoint. Marfa is one of the coolest little corners of the world. And as you can see, we even got some snow while we were there!
I have much more to tell you about the move, the house, Atlanta, etc. in the coming days. Before I go, I want to say a big, huge thank you to all of the guest bloggers who were kind enough to fill in for me while I was moving:
Design Crisis (double thanks!!)
You’re all really the best and I consider myself lucky to have your support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Hi, all! Just a quick post to let you know the family has arrived in Atlanta in one piece! I have a lot to report and will be back blogging starting Monday but I wanted to say a quick hello and to thank you all for the well wishes and for checking in on me. I hope you’ve all been well. I can’t wait to catch up with you! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll see you Monday.
WE GOT THE HOUSE!
This week has been a series of phone calls, emails, faxes back and forth from everyone and their brother and lots and lots of waiting. But it has paid off – the sellers accepted our latest offer!!! We still need to do an inspection and I’m going to fly out there next week for it so we’ll just keep the champagne cold for now.
As I get ready to move, I wonder what our neighbors will be like. (Will they be cool or will they make my life hell?) I’ve lived in a lot of places and therefore, have had neighbors in both categories and many somewhere in between.
Our current house is the first house (as opposed to an apartment) that I’ve lived in as an adult and the best part for me, hands down, is what you don’t get with a house: neighbors on top of you. You apartment dwellers know what I’m talking about.
When we lived in Manhattan we had a neighbor who I would hear cursing and screaming on a pretty regular basis. It didn’t sound like anyone was with him so I concluded that he was either a) on the phone or b) talking to himself, both of which were disturbing propositions. The couple of times I actually saw him, he looked kind of scary so that certainly didn’t help matters.
So on it went like that for at least a year and then one night we were watching NYPD Blue and when the credits flashed by, I saw his name. (I knew his name because it was on the mailbox next to ours.) So it turned out he wasn’t a homicidal maniac, he just played one on TV! He must have been rehearsing all that time. I think he should have had a talk with his agent because judging from all the yelling and screaming I heard, he was being typecast.
Our neighbors in Seattle have been really great and I’m going to miss them. Hopefully our new neighbors will be just as nice. Do you have any good stories about your neighbors?
Have a lovely weekend, all! See you Monday.
So, we’re deep in the throes of getting ready to sell our house and move across the country. With all that that entails, you’d think I’d have enough on my mind but you know what I’m thinking about? Magazines. (Priorities, shmiorities.)
I picked up Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and Southern Living while I was in Atlanta last week and really enjoyed both. I mean check out some of this deliciousness from Atlanta Homes:
Being a magazine addict, I love any excuse to subscribe to something new and I think a move to a new city qualifies as a good excuse. So, tell me, do any of you subscribe to these? Would you recommend them?
And what are the rest of you reading these days? By now you’ve all probably heard that Metropolitan Home is also shutting down. Even if I wasn’t its biggest fan, I still think it’s so sad that all these shelter magazines are biting the dust, one after another. Am I the only one who’s still not over Domino?
I have been completely blown away by all the gorgeous houses I’ve seen this week. I had no idea what Atlanta had in store! Here are a few highlights from my house hunt that just made me die. (They’re all from different houses.)
First this kitchen:
Seriously, have you ever seen such a beautiful island?
Then there’s this bathroom:
The tub, the Carrera marble, the gray cabinets, the beamed ceiling!
And last but not least, get a load of this garden:
This is someone’s backyard! In the city!
With its own creek! Could you just die?? Our realtor practically had to drag me away. I was ready to move in right then and there.
Unfortunately, none of these houses were right for us for various reasons. But we did find two other possibilities and we’ve made an offer on one! So now we wait.
Having accomplished my goal of finding a house (fingers crossed), I’m headed back to Seattle today where I’ll go into full moving mode! As some of you know, I love to move so I’m actually looking forward to the chaos that’s about to ensue. (I’m a freak, I know.)
Have a great weekend all and thanks so much for joining me this week! It’s been crazy, right? I haven’t had time to comment much on your blogs lately but I have been popping in on them so know that I’m there. See you Monday!
Most of you know that we live in a contemporary house in Seattle. It’s my husband’s favorite style and also one of my many favorite styles. I learned quickly however that in Atlanta, we’ll be going a different route. There aren’t too many contemporaries in the first place and everyone has also advised against it because there isn’t a big market for them when it comes to resale.
I’m fine with that because for me, part of the fun of moving is the chance to live in an entirely different home. In Atlanta, this means our house is going to be much bigger than anywhere I’ve ever lived and it looks like it’s also going to be a more traditional style home. Even though I’m a modernist in many ways, I am loving the houses I’ve seen so far. Here is a sampling:
And here are some of the features I’ve fallen in love with in these homes.
Verandas:
coffered ceilings:
wood burning fireplaces and built-ins:
wood paneled libraries:
I think I’m going to like Southern living!
I’m off to view some more houses today and will hopefully be making an offer on one soon.
Meanwhile, back in Seattle, it looks like my little house is going out with a bang. By now, I think you’ve all seen the Design Sponge Sneak Peek from Monday. And today, there’s an interview at Houzz. Thank you Houzz!
Well, we just wouldn’t be us if we didn’t pick up and move just as we’re getting comfortable. So that’s just what we’re doing. We’re moving!
I know! It kind of came out of nowhere for us too. Long story short: the hubs is changing jobs and it requires us to move to . . . Atlanta!
That’s right, I will now be one of them:
[For those of you who don't live in the US and therefore aren't fortunate enough to experience this slice of quality American television, these are the Real Housewives of Atlanta.] I’ll do my best to stay out of hair-pulling, name- calling, screaming matches in public places though.
I’m actually there – or here, rather – right now, looking for a house! I know! As you can imagine, I’m having a ball viewing all these homes. My brain is in overdrive, mentally remodeling, rearranging and envisioning myself in all of these houses!
It’s all very exciting but it’s also going to be hard to say good bye to our beloved house in Seattle. As we get ready to sell it (*sniff, sniff*) I’m over the moon that a sneak peek of it was featured at Design Sponge yesterday. I’m especially thrilled that it’s getting such a nice tribute before we go. Thank you, Design Sponge!
Phew! I think that’s enough excitement for one day! I’ll give you an update on my house search tomorrow. 
