My House Obsessing System
If all goes according to plan, I will become an official home owner in exactly three weeks. This means, amongst other things, that I have no entered the not-sleeping phase. What is the bank appraisal doesn’t pan out? What if the seller doesn’t actually fix the things he’s promised to fix? What if the kitchen renovation costs more than I can actually afford?
Also, should I paint my new bedroom passionate colors (in anticipation of eventually having a great sex life) or should I go for calming, relaxing colors instead (in anticipation of, well, not)?
I find it best to consider these things around 4:00am. Or 2:00am. Or 7:00am when I decide to finally get up, go for a jog, then get a cramp after a mile and half and have to head home.
But once I start, I can’t stop.
(Obsessing that is, not running. I can always stop running. I pride myself on this ability.)
But what about my home office? Should I have 2 separate desks? Space for a yoga mat? And how am I going to decorate for my eventual house warming? Should I have a joint house warming/ birthday party? Will by house be ready to be warmed in time for my birthday? If it isn’t, should I plan for 2 parties? Do I even have enough friends for 2 parties?
Fortunately, I’ve amassed a decent collection of international (and internationally inclined) boy-friends over the years, so whether its 2:00am or 4:00am, I can always hop online and find someone willing to listen to me talk “house stuff.”
That’s not to say that my girlfriends here on the home front haven’t been awesome and totally supportive, because they have, but eventually, they, like all normal people, go to sleep. This leaves me alone with my laptop, my Facebook account and my collection of “pen pals,” who, thanks to time zone differences, are always awake at one point or another.
I think I am probably a little bit crazy with this little system I’ve worked out. But hey, it’s better than Pinterest home decor-porn, right?
Kat Echevarría Richter 
10 Responses to “My House Obsessing System”
Kat,
you could always change the paint scheme to more passionate colors after your great sex life appears (Then you get the bonus of painting with your lover, which could be quite the interesting adventure.). On a slightly more serious note, If you want help with working on your house I have lots of experience working on houses with my father and am happy to help. Email me if you want to talk more about it.
Thanks, Carl– I’ll keep that in mind! Also, I love your paint, then re-paint suggestion. I think I’m going to go with that 🙂
I wanted so badly to have my foyer done for my house warming. Wasn’t done until months later, due to my creating a very elaborate paint job (gloss-satin alternating strips, woodwork, multiple paint colors, issues with previous paint job, etc). All that to say, a housewarming is fun regardless of how far along you are. You can always have a “second” house warming, or house “completion” party in a few years once you’ve finished (or, “finished,” if you’re like me).
If you are smart – and you are – take plenty of before and after photos, to show off your brilliance in cleaning, painting, design and follow-through, as well as share any cool tricks you come up with along the way.
Ooh yes, I plan to! Finally something interesting to blog about 🙂 The “befores” are pretty abysmal.
“But once I start, I can’t stop. (Obsessing that is, not running. I can always stop running. I pride myself on this ability.)”
It’s sentences like these that made me fall in love with reading your blog initially. I can totally relate. And I too am very good both at obsessing and at stopping exercise. 🙂
I like Zak’s idea of before and after photos. We never did that with our place and I think it would have liked to see how far it has come.
Haha, thanks. I’m thinking about writing a post about how annoying and tedious I find marathon runners to be (especially when they Facebook about it ALL THE TIME) but some of my really good friends are marathon runners and I don’t want to offend them. Plus they’d probably think I’m just jealous, which may or may not be true, lol!
You know my friends will come to any party you have, they are all sooooo excited for you, I keep having to tell them you’re not there YET…as well as reminding myself! Of course with my friends, who are all long time homeowners, you will also have to listen to, “You might want to think about this,” or “Maybe that would work better”…LOL
Yes, I am well prepared to entertain (if not actually implement) all suggestions. 🙂
Pssh, I haven’t even decided on a house yet, and I share that obsession. This is a fun time for you to think about remodeling and D-I-Y projects. You’re always so stylish and cute, I can only imagine the fruits of that labor. I can’t wait!
I’m so behind in reading blogs, so I know you’re basically one week out from your house at this point, but I love this post. It’s so great that you have these international friends to talk to. Imagine if you didn’t! You’d probably explode from trying to keep it all inside. Since, I’m obviously still not caught up, I’ve got my fingers crossed that in the last 14 days, all has gone well.