January 27, 2008 | Filed under: Because They Pay Me, DC! DC! DC!, Good Things Come to Those Who Are Impatient Whiners
OK, OK, OK. I know. I apologize for the delay. Contrary to Jennifer’s concerns, I am not suffering any personal tragedy, unless you count fighting The Plague for the last week, coupled with far too much work to do in my last two weeks (because I am one of those stupid people who actually cares about wrapping up my projects before I am no longer employed there), and the remaining precious moments dedicated to sleep or having a social life. And fear not — my real life people aren’t any more up-to-date than you all are. In fact, I told my parents about the house after I told you. See how special you are?
First, let’s quickly cover That Which We Do Not Talk About. Do not worry, Tracy, I didn’t quit my job in a blaze of I Hate You All glory. I love my job and I mostly love the people I work with, even the creepy old guys who probably have inappropriate thoughts about me while they’re with their wives. (Yes, really. No one looks at you like that on the elevator and thinks only innocent thoughts about you.) But, I’ve been there for five and a half years and it is time for me to try my hand at something new, lest I turn into a lifer there. (I believe we’ve talked about this before.)
In the way that pretty much everything in my life goes, I keyed in a on particular type of job I wanted and then worked worked worked to make it happen. In the end, that job didn’t happen and I ended up with something that I didn’t know existed, but once I knew about it, wanted even more than my previously-zeroed-in-on target.
(Sidenote for those of you who do not fully grasp my networking compulsion prowess: At a friend’s birthday party, I met a woman whom I knew by reputation, but not personal connection. I called her later in the week and re-introduced myself. We talked about career stuff, what I was looking for, what advice she had, etc. About a month later, a former colleague of hers mentioned wanting to hire someone with prior experience at my organization, did she happen to know anyone? She called me to see if I was interested in talking to him. I was, and now her former colleague is my new boss.) (Which reminds me, I should probably send her flowers. Or a bottle of wine.)
Enough about boring work stuff, onto the Oh My God this is the most money I’ve ever spent on anything panic fun.
I have many issues (hard to believe, I know), but “inability to commit” is not one of them. I sketched out what I want and don’t want in a property, where I want to live, and how much I was willing to spend. My Realtor and I went out looking at properties a grand total of three times over two weekends, even seeing some properties more than once! (Quite a change from the DC real estate market I left, where you had to be prepared to make an offer on a property that you saw once for 20 minutes during the first — and only — open house. Thinking about it for a few days pretty much guaranteed that someone else had snapped it up. For more than list price.)
I found several places I liked, didn’t get my top choice, and made an offer on this one. It meets all of my Must Have criteria, a couple of my Nice To Have criteria, and has none of the Not On Your Life items. Much to my surprise, the seller accepted my offer the next day. No haggling over price or settlement date, just a couple of minor items that were easily resolved. And, just like that, I am no longer homeless.
All pictures are courtesy of the listing agent, so if you don’t like the camera angles, blame her. But not until after we settle — I don’t want her mad at me before the transaction goes through.
That’s my house there, on the right, with the white picket fence.
Ha! Oh, I make me laugh. Yeah, that’s my house…twenty years from now, after I write a New York Times bestseller and earn eleventy jillion dollars. Really this is a picture of the front yard of the condo building. My point here is — trees! grass! cute residential neighborhood!
Living Room
The green wall has got to go. It’s not terrible, I know, I’ve seen much worse, but it’s not at all my style.
More living room
Taken from the front door.
Eat-in part of the kitchen
Standing at the front door, turned 90 degrees to the right, looking into the kitchen.
Work-in part of the kitchen
I’m not wild about the paint color in here, either, but it can wait.
Hallway
Off of the left side of the living room, opposite the entrance to the kitchen. Closet on the left of the hall, bathroom on the right. Bedroom straight ahead. The bathroom is in need of some updating (Hello, 1936 shower! Who knew people had indoor plumbing back then?) but that project can wait until such time as I have cash money to spend on anything that’s not the mortgage.
Bedroom
Not pictured: 1/3 of the square footage in here. I promise, the bedroom is bigger than a queen-sized bed. Also a candidate for painting, but I have no idea what color.
All right, so that’s the quick tour of my new home. I’m having the floors refinished before I move in (far, far easier to do with no furniture to move and no stuff on which mass amounts of wood dust will collect), and then I have to paint. This is where you come in — any suggestions? Obviously, things will have to coordinate somewhat, as you can see all the main spaces from the living room.
I’m keeping the same bedroom furnishings I had in California — reddish-pink duvet cover, eggshell pillow shams and bedskirt, and very girly artwork (this and this and a black-and-white painting of a flower) — in part because I’m frugal and in part because I doubt very much that I’ll be permitted to have this feminine of a bedroom when I have to share it with someone. (I’m speaking purely hypothetically here. I do not have anyone in particular in mind for this bedroom-sharing arrangement. Why, do you know someone? Is he cute? When can I meet him?)
In the living room, I want something warm and cozy and probably in a highly-saturated color. It needs to match … um, the floors, I guess, as I have no furniture and no decor to speak of. It’s exciting, but somewhat troubling, as I have eighteen different ideas and only one room to decorate. Chocolate brown leather couch! No, wait, chocolate brown on the walls and … something … for the couch! No, wait, dark wood tables with Tiffany box blue walls! No, wait…!
Seriously, send your suggestions. And wine. And maybe an interior decorator.
Posted by Daily Tragedies @ 1:12 pm | Make a Comment
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Yay! Pretty, pretty, pretty! I’m so glad you were just busy moving into a lovely new place and not barely hanging on to life. I do love the color in the hallway (it’s on the walls of my music room and puts me in my happy place.)
January 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pmHaven’t moved in yet — I’m sure that will be another whole (complainy) post unto itself!
We’re set to settle at the end of February, after which the floors will be refinished, after which there will be painting, and then, finally, I’ll move in. At least, that’s the current plan.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pmCongratulations!! The place looks awesome. Has it really been that long since I talked to you? Thanks again for the food. Maybe by the end of February I’ll be able to leave the house and help you move in or paint or something.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:23 pmI would totally offer to help you paint (no, really, I would), but that would involve airfare. Recent transactions suggest I’m not responsible nor wealthy enough to be trusted with such things.
I agree that the hallway color is rockin. Also, LOVE your Tiffany box blue, chocolate combo idea (already using it my bedroom!!)…I suggest changing that green wall (or maybe all of them) to the Tiffany blue and getting the chocolate brown couch…it will be classy and last forever. Of course, I’m not sure that the red and the blue will look good together at all…
One way or another, it looks amazing. Can’t wait for more details!
January 27th, 2008 at 10:27 pmYay, you! The place looks awesome. And I love those prints in your bedroom. Where did you get them? I would love to have something like that for my new bathroom. Or in my new superhuge walk in closet.
I’m with Horrible Warning — I like the Tiffany blue walls with the chocolate couch. Gorgeous!!
January 28th, 2008 at 8:10 amCongratulations! How exciting for you. Now of course, you must keep us all updated on the progress of the remodel.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:38 amI know what is going up on the walls of several of the rooms….
January 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pmHa! I might have to commission some art once I know what color scheme I’m dealing with…
January 28th, 2008 at 5:00 pmAnd since i do commissioned art (and have prints available for the smaller rooms), i think you need to hurry up and get those color schemes done! I’m doing a massive (6 feet by 5 feet) commissioned peice right now, so yours would be next in line….
January 29th, 2008 at 9:15 amCongratulations!!! It is gorgeous. SO ENVIOUS! Would you be ready for your first houseguest in two weeks? I may have to go to DC on February 15th and as a poor gov’t employee any chance to save on my travel budget makes the elected officials happy.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:35 amYah-hoo! Congratulations. It’s a beautiful home. I am very happy for you. Your first house, that which is your very own to do whatever you damn well please (well, pretty much) is awesome. I love the red wall, but you’ll have to live with it awhile and see what you are drawn too. Houses, like people, have spunk of their own and I’m sure that you will get a feeling for the colors that feel good to you. Now the countdown begins, ay? Well, enjoy this fun and exciting time. Congratulations.
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pmTotally random question - but are you painting yourself? Because yeah, I would be nervous to paint after the new floors are in. I’d be more apt to paint the walls with reckless abandon on the old floors. LOL
February 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm