San Francisco Apartment - Kitchen

There are two main additions to the kitchen that I'm pretty proud of. First, the IKEA island. I went back and forth about what size and style of island to get, but ended up getting the unfinished Groland island from IKEA. The initial plan was to stain the legs a shade of walnut, but the wood didn't take the stain very well. My mom worked all day on it, and neither of us were happy with the end result. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't like it after she spent so much time and work on it, but by the end of the night, she suggested that we start over and paint the legs instead. So she bought black paint and painted over what she had stained. The final product was a perfect complement to the maple cabinets and black appliances that came with the apartment.

I had sold my old table and chairs before the move, knowing that they were too big for this smaller apartment. But I was happy to realize that a smaller round table and chairs would fit. I found this set on Craigslist for only $200! It's all Room & Board that usually sells for well over $500. She only had 3 chairs, but they are almost identical to the chair I have at my desk, which I will just add to the table if I have more than 2 people over.

San Francisco Apartment - Entry and Living Room

These rooms were just completely finished yesterday and today with some final touches. First, the entry. I knew I wanted to somehow separate the space to make it feel more useful than one large open area. I have seen desks along the backs of sofas before, and it appealed to me for a number of reasons. First, it would allow me to have my desk without taking up wall space. Second, I have always grumbled about not being able to see the TV while I'm on the computer. I multi-task all the time, so having a movie or something on in the background while I am working is nice. I also knew I wanted the IKEA Expedit shelving for this space. I'd been wanting it for a while because I think it's a little easier to style the shelving in the squares than a traditional bookcase. I also knew I would need a little extra storage for files, so the boxes that fit right into the squares were definitely of interest. Finally, the other main piece of furniture in the entry is my dresser. My bedroom is too small for the dresser to fit, and it was originally built by my great-grandfather, so there is no way I was getting rid of it. I did change out the pulls, though, to let it fit a bit better with my overall style. My mom painted an old mirror that I had, I bought the Z Gallerie lamp that I had been loving via Pinterest, and added an old coat rack in the corner that I found on Craigslist. Closet space is not abundant in this apartment, so the coat rack was a needed alternative. The nook by the front door that had been used as storage is still used that way. I replaced the curtains with something darker.

The living room is basically the same as in my old West Hollywood apartment, minus the coffee table, which I had sold prior to the move. And my old (but recently reupholstered) chair and ottoman from my old study has been added to the group. The other major thing about this area (and the entry) is that most of the long wall of the apartment is textured concrete. My landlord does not allow drilling into the concrete, so hanging pictures was a challenge. After experimenting with the adhesive hangers that supposedly hang heavy pictures on concrete (but don't work on texture), I finally came up with a solution. I bought 1x4 and 1x6 pieces of wood, painted them brown, and leaned them against the concrete wall. They make me a little nervous, but at least my pictures are up. I think I might invest in some sandbags or something for the base to secure them a bit more.

Apartment Pictures - Before

So I am FINALLY able to post pictures of my place. It's been a long process of getting things that I need and organizing (read: trashing) things that I had that don't seem to fit in this smaller space. But this weekend, I'm finally finished! I mean, well, finished as much as I will be for the near future. I still need a coffee table, and there are always things on my "wish list" (hello, Eames Lounge that I may never afford). But as a friend recently pointed out, my dog is quite happy having the space in the living room rather than a coffee table, so it can wait. I am also not perfectly happy with the things on top of my dresser nor am I completely satisfied by the side table I bought for one side of the bed. But overall, this is finally a livable space!

In this post, I'll put the move-in pictures of the empty space so you can see what I was working with. I'll go room by room in the next few posts with pictures of the finished product.

The bedroom "closet"

Looking into the bedroom. Sliding doors come from the left. Giant concrete pillar right in the middle.

Bathroom

Laundry hook-ups. I have yet to purchase a washer/dryer.

Bathroom.

Looking into the main living space from the bedroom.

Looking back toward the front door. Makeshift closet to the left of the door.

My awesome view of a yellow wall.

Looking in from the front door.

Kitchen ends on the left side of the picture. Bedroom door and storage  space as seen from the corner of the living room.

House Update

I also realized that my last post was a frustrated one about house hunting. I keep meaning to follow-up with a post about the place I found, but I want to wait until I have pictures of everything all put together and finished. I have a couple of projects that I need to finish up before I can do that, so stay tuned!

Moods

This morning on the train (yes, I now take the train to work everyday, and am feeling very Mad Men about it) I was considering the fact that I would like to stay in bed today instead of coming to work. Next thought, "Jeesh, you used to be such an overachiever...what happened to you, sudden slacker?"

Then the train stopped, and I checked my email as I walked to my office.

Subject line: 2012 Young Investigator Grant.

Emotion: !!! (but uncertainty because I haven't read the body of the email yet).

I got the grant! I applied for this grant almost a year ago. I was supposed to hear back in March, but they kept delaying notification. But today, I found out that I got it! Not feeling so much like a slacker anymore! I've just been having these moments of "can I really pull this whole research career thing off the way I have been so far or am I going to burn out soon?" So moments like these are reassuring. Yes, I can pull this whole research career thing off. I can do this, and I love it.

House Hunt

It's been months since I last posted anything here, and now Blogger is all different. It just took me a full minute to find the "New Post" button. I guess that's my punishment for never writing.

I decided to write tonight, though, because I'm cranky and want to vent. I'm moving to the Bay Area in less than a month, and I do not yet have a place to live. I have moved many times, sometimes to places far away. It has always worked the same way, whether I was there in person or negotiating things over the phone and internet. I find a place. I like the place. I apply to live in the place. They approve me, and I sign a lease. Done. It's always sort of been on a first-come-first-serve basis. Since I was willing to take the leap on a lease first, then I get the place.

Apparently, that's not how it works in San Francisco. Instead, they will take your application and hold it. And hold it. And hold it. They won't tell you that you're not getting the apartment, but they don't let you sign a lease either. When you ask for a timeline, they say things like, "well, we're having another open house on Thursday." Um, why would you need to have another open house, when you have me sitting right here, ready and willing to sign a lease and give you money?! My application says that I am about to start a faculty position at Stanford. It says that I've never been evicted, declared bankruptcy, etc. My landlord's info is all there, so you can obtain proof that I'm a good tenant. Why would you not just go with it and get the place leased? Apparently, they want to have a "pool of applicants" to choose from. Really? Is this a job application? Leasing a home seems sort of like one of those threshold things - you're either a good tenant or you're not. I'm not sure how you choose the best one out of a group of people who all have perfect rental histories. "I'm sorry, you're great credit score is not quite AS high as this other person's great credit score, so I'm going to go with them."

Or maybe it's my dog. Applicant A has a stable job, good credit, clean rental history, and no pets. Applicant B has a stable job, good credit, clean rental history, and a dog. Any landlord is going to pick Applicant A. I understand this perspective in terms of risk for damage to property, noise problems, etc. Even a dog with great references is technically a risk - cause what if someone lied? So I get it. But it still screws me over. "I understand that you are a great tenant, pay your bills on time, keep your home clean and well-maintained, but since you have a dog, you really should just go live in a van by the river..." Or that's what it feels like people are saying.

I currently have 4 applications in on various properties. I've been trying to get an application for a 5th one, but he keeps ignoring my emails. I've never had to put in more than 1 application during home searches before - I just apply to the one I want, get approved, and then I have a home. Not so much anymore. In 3.5 weeks, I will be living in the Bay Area, but I may not be living there in my own home... Anyone have a van by the river I could check out?

2 Random Thoughts

I know I haven't written anything in ages. That's how it goes. So my first post in 2012 is 2 totally random and unrelated thoughts. Again, that's just how it goes...

1. Obama's campaign people just put up a Spotify playlist for the campaign. First, I wonder if our founding fathers ever imagined that being successful in politics would require finding staff who can pick out music with mass appeal for use on the campaign? Second, when they include Ray LaMontagne's "You Are The Best Thing," do they mean that Obama is the best thing in our lives? Or are we the best thing in Obama's life? (Dad, no need to respond to this. I know your answer. ;))

2. I take the bus daily to/from work. I live in Los Angeles. This makes my stress level infinitely better than if I drove. I sit back, relax, read a book or magazine, or just zone out. All while the rest of my city sits in anger about some jackass cutting them off on Sunset Blvd. Despite the clear superiority of bus-riding to driving (in my opinion), it is not without its downsides. My biggest bus pet peeve lately has to do with seat selection. I feel like it's an unwritten rule that you do not choose a seat next to someone unless all other options are taken. So today, when there was a full row of seats in front of me open, and random dude chose to sit right next to me, I was a little peeved. I dealt with it, but it's still annoying. Also annoying? When all rows are taken, so people justifiably begin sitting next to strangers, why do they always have to pick me? I know I'm thin and shower daily, which probably makes me a more desirable seat neighbor than many other bus riders, but ugh. It just feels unfair. Why do I take the bus if I clearly have such issues sharing space with strangers? Well, I guess the pros outweigh the cons. But I can still complain, right?