August 2004
Wow! Hard to believe that three years ago we started the process of buying our first apartment. What is even harder to believe is that we have only been living in it for a year and a half. I will explain, but it might take a couple days to do it, it is a long story.
We had contemplated buying an apartment, not hard though. Most of our friends were doing it, and it seemed like a good and easy way to make some money to pay off Tom's student loans. Unlike most of our friends, we only checked listings every now and then. Our friends Chris and Brooke had recently purchased a home on Sterling Place in Prospect Heights. We didn't know much about the neighborhood except that it was home to Tom's Restaurant, one of our favorite breakfast joints, but it seemed like it was up and coming. They called us one afternoon to tell us there was an apartment for sale around the corner from them, literally, for a really good price, almost unheard of at that point. We went one rainy August afternoon to check it out. Not really sure what we would find. Well, here is what we found.
I don't think I have ever seen someone with as much clutter as this fellow, Mr. Wrong. This is a view looking into the kitchen and the open door is the bathroom. If you look above the clock you will also see a large hole. This was storage that went above the bathroom that made the ceilings really low. Pretty weird. If you look directly above the kitchen the ceilings are dropped an extra three feet, also weird.
The gorgeous bathroom, definitely an oasis. Note, low ceilings, and a great light fixture.
This is a view to the bedroom. Notice the accordion door with the dirty plate of glass above it. The door and wall is also on a diagonal. I also love the oddly placed tin can light on the ceiling.
His dimly lit bedroom. The walls actually sort of glow from the window outside. I thought he was always watching T.V. And the curtains, I don't really want to know what those symbols are.
Well there are many more pictures that I could share, but unfortunately it is hard to make out what they are. Believe it or not, we actually didn't offer right away. I know I know, how could we let this gorgeous lofty like apartment get away, but we almost did.
It took us a while to think about it. We even checked out a couple other places in the area. To be honest, I don't even know why we decided to buy it thinking back. I hated the kitchen, I was really scared at all the work we would have to do on it, and I wasn't quite sure how we were going to pay for it. But after all we offered, and they accepted.
Then it began, the journey from hell.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 3:41AM
Reader Comments (7)
Holy lunch sack that guy, Mr. Wright, or as I so cleverly liked to call him Mr. Wrong, had a lot of junk crammed in to that small apartment. No wonder you couldn't get him to leave, he had no reason to. Everything he needed was probably already there, well past its expiration, but there, somewhere.
I can't believe what that place looked like!!! As someone lucky enough to have spent time in this place post-Bean (and even pre-kitchen) I'd like to congratulate the designers/owners on their vision and tenacity. But Mr. Wright certainly did have a way with a decorative accessory did he not?
Hey, I found your blog...not that it was hard, just looked on Staci's. Non the less, here you are and here I am a new blogger! Are you still moving to Utah, or have you changed your mind and want to go somewhere else? Marti
Looks like you've done some good work on that place. Do you have an idea of where you want to go next?
Looks like you've done some good work on that place. Do you have an idea of where you want to go next?
Looks like you've done some good work on that place. Do you have an idea of where you want to go next?
Sorry about the triple comment. (Note to self, do not hit the back button.)