How our New Apartment Looks Before Decorating

It’s official! Our house is now in the hands of the new owners 🙌🏻. Many folks seem to be shocked that we decided to take a break until we build again, in an apartment. I will tell you though, I am enjoying the simplicity and peacefulness of this cute modern place (and can’t wait to show you how I’m decorating it). Before I get to how our new apartment looks before decorating, I would like to update you on my mom.

I’ve had to step away from my blog for a couple weeks due to my mom entering into hospice care at my loving sister’s house. I’ve been having a terrible time articulating words on here, so I decided to just give myself some space. My beautiful mom passed away peacefully recently, and to be honest I am just taking my day one hour at a time. My mother’s death comes at a time when there are many large changes going on, but she told me how proud she was that I was taking steps NOW to simplify our lives. I know for sure my mom was very attached to our home, but she also agreed it was time to sell.

Dear Mom,

I know you hear this, so I just want you to know again how much I love you, miss you, and I thank God for all of the time we shared together as mother & daughter, and special friends.

Love, Julie

Here’s a beautiful bouquet our realtor left for us on the kitchen island along with a book containing all of the photos used for our listing. This was so incredibly thoughtful and a huge surprise that we will cherish…

Now that my eyes are are all red with tears, let’s cheer up with our little apartment pad before we moved in. It’s a brand new, very modern building, so everything is clean which has made me so happy 😊. Our kiddos rented an apartment down the hall from us, so we get to spy, I mean see them often. I’m not a huge fan of the door color scheme, but I’m getting use to it. By the way…that is the Fall wreath I just recently gave away. Let’s go inside…

When you enter the apartment (we are on the third floor), the kitchen is to your left. It’s a wide open bar “gully” kitchen that opens into a large laundry room. I have fallen in love with the beautiful dark modern cabinets. You probably remember how we painted our cabinets at the house? That was fine, but there’s nothing like new cabinets. I also love the HUGE refrigerator, built-in microwave, and stainless steel, deep basin, undermount single sink. Here’s our old kitchen from the house in case you want to look back.

Just an FYI-I will be sharing the new pendant light fixture over the kitchen bar area, soon. The one that is there is too bright, and I want something more my style. Thank goodness they allow us to switch them out while we are here 😉. We are also changing the track lighting over the little eating area that you’ll see below in a second.

Can you tell how excited I was in that photo a few weeks ago to get into the apartment? I kind of felt like I was in my 20’s again when Rick and I got into our very first apartment. I think this place is making us feel younger and I’m not kidding. Here’s the cute patios, and balconies the apartments have, and a photo of the pool which is open, but it’s a little too late in the season now. I’m looking forward to decorating our balcony for every season…Halloween is first.

Okay enough of that fancy stuff, let’s get back to the kitchen…look at all these fresh walls I get to decorate 😊. I’ve already made this little nook my cooking station, and I made my Beef & Peppers in the crockpot just a few days ago. Isn’t that tall pantry cabinet on the right nice? I’m a little shorty, so I use a step ladder.

Oh…one thing I must tell you is that our washer has an “agitator” which I thought they didn’t make anymore. I am so happy they do, because it works great, and I’ve noticed our clothes get more clean because it keeps them from tangling up.

I also should mention that we are slowly purchasing shelving units (one is going in the laundry room-I will share soon) to help with organization and storage issues. We purged and sold about 20% of our belongings, and the kids took about 30%, but the other 50% is still too much, so we have rented a garage to store things in for the next house. Purging feels SO GOOD.

I will be sure to share all of the shelving units we like after we set them up. I have realized that I’m pretty good at utilizing a small space to it’s full potential. The best advice I can give for storage is to not forget how tall your ceilings are. We are blessed with huge 9ft. ceilings in this apartment, so my shelves are using the space all the way to the ceiling. Stay tuned I will share it all.

Below you’ll find our living room, and little eating nook. I can’t wait to show you how I set everything up. You aren’t going to believe this, but I like the set up more than the house 🤭. I kind of feel like I’m on vacation here? See that track lighting? It’s already GONE (or in storage I should say). Adios buddy…you didn’t stand a chance! I promise to share the chandelier soon.

What do you think about the laminate wood floors??? They are grey, and not warm colored like I prefer, so I’m thinking about an electric fireplace in here 🔥. I do like the thick width, and laminate wood floors stay so much cleaner, and don’t scratch as easily. We had actually installed them in our first house in 1997 believe it or not, and they were beautiful.

Okay…I don’t want to be selfish, or nit picky, but I HAVE MY OWN HUGE BATHROOM NOW RIGHT OFF MY BED AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Sorry Rick…I love you like crazy, but this baby is mine…and check out the huge, did I say HUGE, walk-in closet attached. I didn’t get full shots, but that lady goes 8ft. to the right and 3 ft. to the left. I already took the door off, and I’m decorating the inside, so I hope you SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss this neat idea I have up my sleeve for a dressing room…

Here’s that huge closet I am revamping into my favorite spot in the house (okay apartment, but it seems like house to me). I never had a closet this size before. The closet is 3 sizes larger than the one I had at the house.

TIP: Just because a room is stereotyped into a certain category it doesn’t mean you have to follow along. In other words…that closet, and another huge storage closet in the apartment, are both getting fully utilized as more than “just closets”. I’m thinking outside the closet.

The other huge closet is below, but here’s Rick’s bathroom that I’m transforming into a WORKING MAN BATHROOM. He said he loves his shower, and I found him the perfect non feminine shower curtain from Target. Again…stay tuned because his bathroom is almost finished.

Here’s our office space right off Rick’s bathroom, and he loves having his 2 offices next to one another, ha ha.

Here’s that other huge closet right outside our master bedroom that I am transforming into something for myself 👩‍🦰 and yes, the door is coming off. Stay tuned.

My sweet friends…I need to sign off. Thank you for helping me take my mind off of my heartache. Please stay tuned for full throttle decorating including our new master bedroom, and so much more. Here’s a sneak peek of the one corner in our bedroom where plants are part of my plan (my mom always had plants when I was growing up).

By the way…that large oval mirror was original to the house, but we took it off the bathroom wall many years ago and used it for our bedroom decor. I roughed up the edges a little to give it that vintage look-it’s extremely heavy, but that shape is so stunning especially with the old fashioned bed frame, and warm sconces.

Here’s one to cheer me/us up…

Our Fridge Fiasco

Mom’s Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe