Here's where I am as I start thinking about updating my space.
Living room - unsure of itselfThe living room doesn't really invite social lounging, nor does it work well as office or studio space - there's no work surface. I don't spend that much time here but I would like to. A lot of my time is on the computer and that's wireless, often in bed.
The door and landing area for the apartment. It's a fire door so strong magnets hold jackets, trash bag, scarves and other stuff. Smaller magnets hold dry cleaning tags, coupons, and other stuff. I think I should have less there and it'd be better.
The table folds out to seat 6 and is one of my favorite things. It's cherry and protected with a glass top. Beneath, I drop shoes when I come in to keep the place cleaner. Clean is one of my needs - low effort but clean.
Office storage - stashed in the funny nook at the end of the apartment are drawers for unfiled papers, pens, stamps, and things like that. Old glasses cases, business cards, checks and things too. Probably should purge some of it.
From sofa looking down hall towards the bedroom.
The fire escape. I would LOVE to change this grate. I hate it. I want something more open - maybe even sculptural (rounded squares of 2-3 sizes in a solid door that would swing open - perhaps). The current is so dark and cramped. I rarely open it and it just blocks any light.
From the sofa, the
reading area - comfy restored chair and old milk crates from a creamery near where I grew up in New Bedford MA (an old East Coast whaling city).
The hall - narrow and a jagged VThis is the hallway of the apartment, it narrows as you go back. The bathroom is on the left where the wall juts out. On the left is a cat climbing tree and the right is my library and stuff storage. And, at the bottom, is my co-resident feline, Nugget.
My kitchen - small but in many ways adequate...But awful cabinets both too small and poorly arranged so they fit few things waste space. They are also ugly. Originally there would have been a full size fridge but I declined it on move in and got myself an undercounter. It's small but works well ... but it's been 2 years without a door plate or connection for the ice maker (yeah, it has one - I hope to entertain).
Kitchen from the door of the apartment. The cart is a life saver it give me two more (tiny) drawers than the one in the kitchen and it opens out to more than double it's width - great when cooking for more than one.
The bathroom - it never sparklesDespite the grey, it's ok. There's a window in the shower and a bit of space between toilet sink and tub. My changes were the curved shower rod, the little glass shelf, and a set of ikea hooks behind the door.
The issues with the bathroom... I love the tall glass medicine cabinet but it needs to be refinished (rust, old paint etc); whoever did the last paint job left tape on the edges of the ceiling, didn't clean up drips, and overall did an awful job; the tiles on the floor feel kind of dingy and there are some wide areas of grout that always look filthy. Even clean, the bathroom never sparkles.
Bedroom - most of my time is hereMy bedroom, the walls aren't as yellow as they appear. Small odd shaped room that fits a queen or full. I got a full which works well for me. My efforts on the room have been first hanging the giant light bulb on a dimmer as my reading light, and second the DIY storage shelf which I'd love to have look more polished and done. I spend time here because it is comfortable and less busy than the other parts of the apartment.
Bedside table - well, it was always a make-do, but now it has been here too long (it hold under garments) and I want something more useful and attractive.
Deck - I could make oneFrom the fire escape window, this is the access to my allowed deck - and my only view of the sky.
Viewed from the bedroom window, this is where I can build a deck. It looks into the alley and is directly viewed by the Chinese Alliance classroom windows here and the neighbor's windows near mine.
