Hello friends. Just a little update to let you know what is happening in the land of Lou....
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I found a dreamy dream home. The rose-coloured glasses I was wearing after seeing it were smashed by a dirty sledgehmamer when I actually took possession. The apartment hadn't been painted (or thoroughly cleaned) in years and literally EVERY single nook and cranny (closets, ceilings, cupboards etc.) has needed a few coats of white paint. Because the apartment is 1000 sq. ft. it is taking sooooo long (was that a humble brag? I think it was. Sorry.) Every night after work I race home to paint, sing along to Joni Mitchell on my ipod and curse the previous tenants who thought ROYAL BLUE and ACID YELLOW were a dope colour combination. (
A sidenote for those of you unfamiliar with Montreal - circus stuff is a big deal here for some weird, unknowable reason. It is not remotely unusual to see someone riding a unicycle down the street, or playing with fire in a non-metaphoric way, or wearing a jester's hat while walking their dog. It is also very likely that when you get a new apartment, it is going to be painted in some Big Top combination of primary colours in every single room. Neutrals aren't really a thing here. Just ask all the middle aged ladies who all dye their hair the same way: highlights and streaks in bleach blonde and bright red. Together on one head.)
Otherwise living in a house made of boxes, eating take-out twice a day and hoping my back doesn't give out on me (sorry to whine, but moving really is one of the most stressful activities of all time). Thankfully my friends are the bestest in the whole world (I was surprised at brunch this weekend with a new Kindle, a group gift to make up for the one that got stolen in the burglary!) They've been helping paint all weekend and I can finally see the finish line although there is still much to do after I move Saturday. Thought I would share just a few instagram pics of my progress.
 |
| A shot of some plaster details in my living room
post-paint apocalypse. Do you know how many coats of white paint and
primer you need to cover Ikea blue? SO MANY. |
 |
| One set of pocket french doors.... |
 |
| Phallic stained glass. |
 |
| I've gone mostly white for the first time in my life but I wanted one
"goth" black wall. My genius artist best friend is going to draw a chalk
mural on it for me. |
 |
| The sun setting behind the church - a view from my kitchen balcony. |
I will probably be sharing a lot more domestic projects in this space
until I get my sewing area back up and running. I have a few fun
projects planned that I thought would be fun to blog about so it may be a bit decor-mad here for the next month or so.... I find it really hard to do anything but focus 100% on my home after I move. I'll need to be really settled and unpacked before I start tackling the 3 dozen sewing projects I've got on the back burner.....
Hope all of you are having a wonderful 2013 so far!
ack, painting! we had to cover watermelon, chartreuse, and cheddar cheese walls. sadly, we did that to ourselves.
ReplyDeletei love the glimpses of your new digs!
What a fantastic view! Glad you're settling in nicely, and I demand photos of the finished 'goth' wall. Also, check your e-mail ;)
ReplyDeletei do believe it's exhausting to do all the cleaning/painting/renovating, but girl, i envy you sooo much.. such a shame we don't live any closer, i would totally volunteer to help you :)
ReplyDeleteI cringe to think of the paint "challenges" I left in my wake 25 years ago. I spray painted the nasty kitchen cupboards in one Mtl apartment in silver...I wonder what ever became of them? Hmmm. Anyway, your apartment looks like it's going to be magnificent! Hang in there!! xx
ReplyDeleteOh you crack me up with your description of Montreal mostly because it is just so true, ha! I hope your back will cope, I know what it is to paint an entire apartment. But the result is always worth it. Oh and what church is it that you see from your balcony?
ReplyDeletePhew! When I read that the rose colored glasses came off my first thought was "Oh No! It's infested with raccoons or something!" But crazy clown paint - while eye-bleedingly bright - is at least a project that's fairly immediately taken care of with a trip to the paint store and some back breaking labor (bright side...? maybe....? just trying to cheer you up!)
ReplyDeleteAnyways - I love the glimpses! Moving is horrific, but once you get the place feeling like your own you'll be so happy! And those penis windows could keep me chuckling for... at least a year...
Wow, this is really looking great! Glad you're settling in! But yeah, moving is exhausting and totally the worst. You'll be so happy when you're finally set! I'm really excited to see pics of your finished place.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all the hard work you have done! It will be wonderful once yo are done and a lovely place to live and create, too
ReplyDeleteHi Heather dear! Congrats on the first stage of moving. Someday I must visit Montreal. My husband ranks it as one of his top 3 favorite cities and he always says "People have the best shoes and the CIRCUS". (This is someone who hung a tightrope that takes over our driveway, has two unicycles, and bought an actual professional trapeze to hang from our pecan tree.) We are also moving next month, a mega process that includes tearing apart our entire early 80s bathroom. It feels like it's never going to end but it's so freakin creative! Especially when you have good friends like that--so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to seeing more deco pics and hearing about your process. Love the chalk mural idea!
What a view! All the hard work will be worth it. Montreal sure is a fun place, my sister just moved back there and I'm looking forward to her stories:) Best of luck with everything!
ReplyDelete