Apart from missing family and friends, the hardest thing about living overseas is not being able to roost. I’ve always wanted to be one of those people that can live years out of a suitcase: nomadic and unattached to material possessions. But I’m a certified homebody. Ironically I haven’t had a place to put down roots in a long while. I’ve lived in a different flat or house every year for the past 10 years — two different flats in Edinburgh in 19 months — and it makes me antsy. The only way to combat that ruffled feather feeling is by nesting — no matter how temporary.
The flat we live in now is a teeny, inexpensive, brown-carpeted student flat right in the middle of town (our old flat was a bit more grown-up, but too cold). We rarely buy things for our temporary home because we save our extra cash for travel (as you read this, Matt and I are wondering around Bordeaux). But bare walls make my skin itch. So I made a few bits and bobs for the walls, covered my books (for the third time: here’s the first time and second time) and bought an azalea topiary that I hope I don’t kill.
Total budget for temporary nesting? Under $100. Here are the bits and bobs I use to cover up my naked walls:
The Lay of the Land
Now this next bit is mainly for Cath and might bore the socks of you guys. Ever since we were tots, Cath and I loved looking at floor plans. When we were old enough, we used to buy those magazines/books that had nothing but floor plans after floor plans in them. Isn’t that what all cool 13 year olds do?
And it wasn’t just voyeuristic floor plan ogling, whenever we stayed some place new (a B&B or friend’s house) Cath and I would record our new spaces by sketching up the floor plan. I think it was another way that we handled being away from our nests — a way of feeling in control of a new environment. Seriously, we are the poster girls for homebodies.
So this is a quick sketch for Cath to feel like she knows what I’m about day-in and day-out in Edinburgh — or at least get a sense of the space I inhabit thousands of miles away:
It’s not NYC or Hong Kong teeny, but it’s quite small for this city of Victorian proportioned tenements.
So tell me, are you guys nesters? Have you ever been nomadic and craved more roots, or vice versa?
—-
Dear Cath,
I can’t believe that we are even further apart this weekend. Denver and Bordeaux are roughly 5,000 (FIVE THOUSAND?!) miles apart. I can totally tell too — there’s more of a tug. No me gusta. I will drown my sorrows in wine — oh wait, I’m not drinking. Gah! Croissants? Nope those are not gluten free. I’ll just have to make do feeding my eyeballs with French architecture and pretend you are looking at somewhere similar? Bordeaux and Denver are a lot alike — said nobody ever. Wah wah.
Probably by the time you read this, we’ll be wrapping up our last evening in Bordeaux and you’ll be wrapping up your wedding weekend. I hope you and Troy are having a wonderful time. Tell me all about it.
Love and Wine-fumed kisses,
Lar
you’re not alone – I love floorplans so much! i love looking at floorplans in real estate ads and dreaming about how I’d use the space! and I love drawing floor plans too. have you seen this artist’s work? https://www.etsy.com/shop/TVFLOORPLANSandMORE she draws up floor plans of popular tv character’s homes. it’s awesome!
Oh. My. Gawd. Ali! I love, love, love that etsy artist and have never heard of them before. Thanks so much for letting me know. I’m going to spend all night staring at these. Currently looking at House of Lorelai and Rory Gilmor. Amazing! And so nice to know Cath and I are in good company with our floor plan ogling ;D
xoxox,
Lar
OMG that Etsy shop is awesome. Kinda want to give my sister the Dexter floor plan for her birthday! I grew up looking at and drawing floor plants too! I would pick up all the little info sheets of the “model homes” at new housing developments!
This is fabulous! It’s nearly midnight and I need to go to sleep, but I’m definitely going to have a proper look at those floor plans – the details are amazing. I love this so much!!!
so funny.i read your blueprint and i see you say TEENY FLAT, and i think to myself, that looks huge! and then i read your disclosure that it isn’t NYC teeny. hahaha! girl, you don’t know teeny.you should see my place!
Draw a floor plan, Diane, draw a floor plan ;D
And I know we live in a luxuriously large space compared to most of the world and definitely a lot of city dwellers. Most flats in Edinburgh are usually quite spacious with tall ceilings — but very, very cold and drafty. Our small(ish 🙂 flat is way cozier.
xoxox,
Lar
I’m definitely a nester! In fact, that was probably one of the main reasons the boy and I bought a place instead of renting. You have such great taste–I love how these little touches you’ve added to your most recent nest are budget-friendly but make your space that much cozier.
Thanks so much, Lisa. And yea for fellow nesters! xx Lar
I love seeing photos of your home since I haven’t been to this flat yet. Thank you so much for the floor plan! I feel like now I really know what your home is like. I still can’t believe you did with such a bland space and so little money. You are super talented!
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time in Bordeaux! It’s been really fun in Denver (apart from being so far from you!), but today it started snowing and I’m really hoping our flight tomorrow doesn’t get delayed!
xoxo, Cath
I love floor plans too! I am definitely a nester. I like my place to feel homey and am in the process of furnishing my tiny Philly apartment.
I love it, L! And to answer your question, definitely a nester! bare wall especially make me itch, too. You did a great job in a teeny flat, on a teeny budget!
Me nest?
Literary character I most identify with?
The brick house-building “Little Pig” from The Three Little Pigs.
I’m seriously attached to some serious brick and mortar nesting as was “Pig 3”.
Of course if the pigs were trying to build in Atlanta during April they would have realized that the extremely high pollen count would have made any huffing and puffing by the wolf completely impossible and they would be quite safely nested – unless he could sneeze their houses down. Enjoy the clean, sharp, air of Scotland.
I love yor nest. 🙂
You always have the prettiest decorations, Lar, even when on a budget! I asked my husband if he would like to venture into book covering with me, and I think he contemplated divorce.
I’m a total homebody too, but I don’t have the eye (or the patience) to decorate. Hopefully when Ben is done with his defense (tomorrow!) and we move to a new place (when? who knows!) I’ll be able to decorate more.
Lovely nesting. 🙂
I love how you’ve spruced up your new flat and in such a budget friendly way too, very talented! I’m very much a homebody, but like Laura, I’m not a great decorator. I am lucky in that I have a few friends and family that are though, they give me tips and steer me away from potential disasters, LOL
I just happened on your blog a few days ago (can’t even remember what I was googling at the time!), and love it 🙂
I love that tissue paper flower/pom pom – will have to google how to do that!
Thanks so much for finding us and reading AsianCajuns, Michelle! We love knowing when we have new readers. And homebodies unite! ;D
xoxox,
Lar