I wanted to share some pictures of the new apartment (almost) totally empty that I snapped before moving the bulk of our stuff inside. I took these on Wednesday the 15th, right after letting ourselves in with our new keys for the first time. They’re not great photography, but they’ll give you an idea of the layout and wall colors (both of which I love!).
After entering the main door, you come up a set of stairs (under a skylight) into the main room (living room/dining room/kitchen) . . .
. . . where an excited husband and an able-bodied moving-helper (otherwise known as John, my brother-in-law) are inspecting the space.
Those are my beat-up silver flip-flops by the front stairway. I love them and simply can’t throw them away even though they look like they’ve participated in a dog fight followed by a cat fight followed by a rabid llama throwdown.
I love the warm neutral color on the walls of the main room. I love the window treatments and light fixtures, which came with the place.
As I mentioned last week, everything about the apartment is better than I remembered.
Off of what will be our dining area, there’s a porch.
My husband LOVES this porch. It’s a great spot for prayer time in the morning, and beer time at night. John checked it out and also stamped it with his approval.
And here’s the view from one of the bay windows in the living room:
In my mind, the three negative things I remembered about this place were: not a ton of closet space. The shag carpet in the master bedroom. The longer walk to the El.
But after moving in, none of these things bother me! I actually like the short shag in the bedroom. It’s soft and clean and a nice neutral oatmeal kind of color. After further examination, there’s plenty of closet space, and the walk to the El (though 10 minutes instead of 2) is really enjoyable, through peaceful tree-lined streets, and doesn’t feel any longer than 5 minutes.
But less talk and more pictures! Because I have more to show you.
Like the amazing kitchen.
In which I will cook without that lingering gross feeling that I had in our old kitchen.
When we first arrived there were some ants scuttling about, but after buying ant traps and waiting a few days, they are now nowhere to be seen.
After the main room, a very long hallway leads to the rest of the rooms (though this picture is taken in the hallway facing the main room):
The first door on the left leads into the smaller guest bedroom/library/office:
That’s where you all will be sleeping when you come to visit.
And where will you get clean when you come visit? Where will you answer nature’s call?
Well, the hallway bathroom:
Alice’s room is painted a bright and cheery blue!
And has built in shelves.
And here’s the fabled aundry area, which I can’t shut up about. I think I’ve done about 15 loads so far–and I’m not even kidding. Curtains, chair covers, blankets, afghans–nothing has escaped the washing madness.
I’ve also discovered a new paramour: bleach.
And at the end of the hall is our master bedroom . . .
. . . which has its own bathroom!
The walls of the master bed, though they look funky-colored in these pictures, are a gorgeous light grey-blue. So peaceful.
We feel slightly in awe of how nice everything is, and how hovel-like our previous abode seems in comparison. Are we allowed to live somewhere so . . . posh? When we go to bed, it feels like we’re in a hotel. Should we feel guilty about this? we’ve asked ourselves. Are we going to grow soft living in the lap of luxury? Will central A/C make us total nincompoops of pleasure and ease?
I guess the answer to all of that is that we should just rejoice, praise God for his generous blessing, keep thankful hearts, and not worry about the rest.
More pictures tomorrow!
This made my yucky-feeling morning SO much better.
I’m as happy for you, as I am my brother’s who both made big changes recently (one moved to Florida and the other now growing a career as a truck driver, and in training now driving around the country).
The 7t picture down; with you and your husband, and Alice in your belly, that’s such a great family picture – symbolizing your family in your new home and all the future possibilities and growing you all will do, in your new place.
Also, not telling you what to do…but wouldn’t that make a great 2nd picture in the same spot & pose but holding Alice once you have your little princess and the apartment set up? It would be neat to compare the two pictures over time!
Great idea Layla! =)
Wow, that kitchen is a HUGE upgrade! I can’t wait to see what you’ll be cooking in it! You both look so happy!
I’m in LOVE with the new house! I love how warm and cozy the colors feel, how much light there is…you done good, my love!
It’s all lovely!
Beautiful new place!
So gorgeous and posh indeed, congrats Jenna. Also I may have mentioned this before but we moved (similar move from hovel to lovely) a month before Olympia was born and it was so wonderful to be in a new harmonious orderly space where everything had just been rearranged! Which is, um, not how I am feeling now. But anyway I think it is just wonderful. So happy for you. -kate
Oh my gosh, it’s GORGEOUS!!!!! Woohoo!!! Can’t wait to come stay with you! You might have to kick me out! 🙂
Yay! I can’t wait for you guys to come here either!
WOW! No, you are not to feel guilty, you are to feel grateful – which I can see you do – and share – which I can see you will – and rejoice – which I can see you have! What a lovely home you are moving into, but then again, your prior ‘hovel’ was just as lovely as I know you both are content with whatever God has given you, and you rejoice in plenty as well as in want. . . . I really love the front alcove and tree-lined streets – and that kitchen! Wow. OK, so we’re going to really be upping our expectations of food posts.
Just sayin’.
Much love to you both and I’m over here, rejoicing with you.
xoxoxoxo
I can’t wait for the sharing part. Having people stay here is going to be such a pleasure!! =) (and you are welcome any time, Susan)
And your mention of food posts reminds me of just how long it’s been since I’ve regularly posted recipes–yikes. It’s been forever! And I don’t know how soon that will be rectified . . . eventually!
Well. . . . ok. . . . and maybe there might be some baby postings in between. . . . maybe. . . . 🙂 One or two. But a person’s gotta eat eventually.
That is quite possibly one of the most beautiful apartments I have ever seen. So happy for you guys, and also so happy that the nesting can begin! 🙂
Looks awesome! Congrats! Did I see a dishwasher in the kitchen? Super jealous!
YES! The funny thing about the dishwasher is that we have yet to use it. We’re so used to handwashing our dishes that it just hasn’t happened yet! =)
and I can tell it is a Bosch!! Frankly, I love out new Bosch DW. Hope you enjoy yours, which, when I am there, I will put to use!!
You guys are funny! It’s super awesome though. It’ll be really nice after Alice is born. Keeping up with dishes was a huge challenge for me during my postpartum recovery time, once Andrew had gone back to working. I just couldn’t stand there that long to finish them.
Wow- what a warm and lovely, homey space!!! GREAT apartment! Love the wall colors, the fireplace, the floors and that not only do you have a laundry room (I am jealous but will also have one shortly) but you have a WINDOW in the laundry room- everything is bright and warm and inviting. So happy for you.
Your new place is AMAZING!!! I just can’t get over the floors, wall colors, crown molding, awesome light fixtures and bathroom vanities/sinks, curtains, amazing porch….WOW!! SO happy for you, Adam, and little Alice! 😀
Thanks Erin! We’re so excited about everything–every day we wake up and I’m like “do we really live here???”
If you and/or Josh are ever in Chicago or passing through . . . =)
It’s beautiful Jenna! So happy for you and Adam and Alice 🙂 I know you all will have a ton of great memories there and I hope to come to Chicago some day soon to see it in person!!!
It is very warm and inviting. Love the colors, fireplace and the master bathroom is awesome. The amount of windows and light you get is lovely too. I can definitely see spending time on the porch and people watching 🙂 I’m sure you are getting your use out of the washer and dryer. Great place Jenna! I’m sure many great memories will be made here.
Beautiful new place!
I love your master bath:)
Congrats and enjoy of course you deserve it and as soon as Alice gets there it will really make it feel like home !
LOVE that the first thing (or looks like) you carried in with you was your mug and Nescafe. 🙂 What wonderful timing to now have in clean new home to perfectly prepare for precious Alice (alliteration not intended heh). Just beautiful!
Our bedroom is painted “Comfort Grey” & I absolutely love it too – Sweet Dreams 🙂
what a gorgeous apartment!
I’m very impressed with your new space-it IS so posh and wonderful! And all you need to do is be thankful and not worry about it. You deserve it. 🙂 I just love how bright and cheerful it is–and peaceful! I’m so happy for you.
Beautiful place! Praise God for His provisions, and just in time too! 🙂 I will be interested to see what you do in Alice’s nursery!!!!!!!!