Bedroom + Repurposed Dinette Set

When I moved in with my boyfriend, we tried to have very few redundancies. I wouldn't let him buy a bed, because I knew that once I got there we'd be using mine (because it's amazing, and nearly brand new). He was totally fine with sleeping on a futon mattress on the floor for three months, but he wouldn't budge on a dining set.

I didn't fight too hard, my tiny table and two chairs weren't exactly a major purchase for me. I got them at Target for just over $100. My mother and I built them in my old living room. However, when I got here, that meant we had an extra table and two chairs and no real use for them.

The place is too small for multiple eating areas. It's a tiny two-bedroom apartment, after all. So a breakfast nook, while adorable, was out of the question. For awhile, the table sat as a placeholder for the boy's desk in the spare bedroom/office, but as encouragement for him to actually get a desk, I wanted to get it out of there.

So here are what I came up with:

In the bedroom, we had a little extra space. One thing we needed was a place to throw extra pillows and blankets from the bed while sleeping. In the warm evening hours, the boy doesn't like having the heavy comforter on the bed, but I need it once the temperature drops. The floor wasn't working. So I took the two chairs, and placed them sideways beside the bed, covered them with an old curtain, and some throws and we had a bench. It's now a perfect place to pull on socks, helps the pup hop off our extremely tall bed, and serves as a resting spot for the comforter.

The table was still a little trouble. Back in Arizona, though, I was spoiled with an overabundance of bathroom storage. Here, we have a tiny linen closet, almost no counter space next to the sink, and no medicine cabinet at all. So, I decided to turn the table into a makeshift vanity. It's missing a mirror, but works really well as a place for me to store my make-up, necklaces, and hair ribbons. My little ottoman (an impulse purchase back when I got my couch) makes a perfect stool, especially trimmed with an otherwise underused pashmina scarf.

Steal my look with similar pieces: Custom photo to canvas print | Teal and brown floral bedspread | Teal patterned blackout curtains | Turtle candle holder | Wreck This Journal

Back to the Right Coast

I hated living in Arizona.

I try to downplay it at family gatherings or job interviews, when people ask why I left. It seems that leaving a job because you hate the location isn't a good enough reason. They look at me with pity, "oh how unfortunate for you."

Stop that. I turned it around. I saved up the money. I packed up. And I got outta dodge.

Anyone who knows me well -- my boyfriend, my mother, my former boss -- will tell you that I was unhappy living out the desert. I just wasn't fully functioning without weather and the color green. So I moved somewhere that has those things, and more.

So welcome to A OhKait - Washington DC/Northern VA mode.

Here, I am living with my boyfriend, instead of being in a long distance relationship. I'm close enough to hop on a single plane and see my family within half a day. I have rain, snow, clouds, and wind -- so much of it. I have friends that I already know, making it even easier to find new ones. And, I have access to some of the country's greatest cities, just by riding on a train.

I'm glad I went out there. I tried it. I adopted the perfect dog. I learned all about a different type of culture and style of living, that was more laid back with less urgency. I learned what I could live with and what I couldn't live without.

I'm an East Coast girl, and 2000 miles can't take that away from me.

Now, I make no promises that I'm going to write a ton more out here than I did there, but I do have a few drafts written already, so maybe you'll see a spike. 

Color Scheme Inspiration: Bedroom

In decorating my new apartment, I was completely starting from scratch in that I owned no furniture or really anything other than the type of items that are generally stored away in a closet (ie, plenty of clothes!) However, when choosing colors, I had to think about what the place already looked like.

Because the whole house has white walls and a dark chocolate brown carpets (with the exception of the kitchen which has gorgeous yellow walls, but we'll get there another time) I had to consider those colors are my starting point.

Friday Five Things: 10/04/13

Welcome back to Friday Five Things, and my first edition brought to you from the great state of Arizona. You already know a lot about me moving across the country, so I'll try not to talk too much about the actual moving process or decorating, since there will be plenty of posts dedicated to those topics.

Before Pictures

I have been living in my apartment for just over a week now, but before I moved in, I had a completely blank slate. Looking around me now, it's hard to believe that just weeks ago this place was totally empty, and a month ago it wasn't even mine.

Cute little cactus garden out in front of the complex

Moving Is Rough

I've been in a lull lately, haven't I? What with moving, starting a brand new job, setting up an apartment from scratch and trying to spend as much time as possible out and about (aka at the bar...) I just haven't had the time to blog like I want to.

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It all happens so fast.

One night, you're lying on the couch, queuing up the next episode of Doctor Who, passing the minutes with crosswords puzzles and computers games, and the next, you're thousands of miles away. Or at least, that's how it happened for me.

My First Week in Arizona

My updates have been nonexistent lately.

I know, I'm sorry (says every blogger ever, usually followed by "I promise to post more" which then ends up being the last post ever made in said blog). That's not my intention here, don't worry.

Interior Inspiration: Bedroom

I'm starting from scratch here.

When I move out to the southwest and finally sign a lease on an apartment, I'll have a completely blank slate to work with when it comes to decorating.

Upstate New York

Every single day is a little closer to leaving the state of New York.

And everyday I get a little bit more nostalgic for all the time I've spent in this place and all the people and memories I'll be leaving behind. I already wrote about some of the things I'm going to miss about upstate New York, but I keep getting reminded of more.

Friday Five Things [08/16/13]

1. Well, I got offered a job and I'm moving to Arizona! It's going to be quite a change for this northeastern girl, but hey, it could be exciting and fun. It's definitely going to be an adventure, right? Moving will be better than being stuck subletting and crashing on couches while looking for work.

I Love New York

I was offered a job this past week that involves me moving clear across the country.

While I'm excited for the position, the adventure in a new city, and the chance to really start a life where I'm not worried about being broke constantly, I've come to love upstate New York as my home, and I'm truly going to miss many things about it.

Cloudy Nights and Meteors

Somewhere, above the clouds, thousands of tiny, ephemeral bolts of light are streaking across the sky, and I can't see them because of the clouds.

I've never successfully photographed a meteor or a starscape.
Enjoy these random photographs instead.

I am in love with meteor showers: spreading out a blanket on a dark night, lying on your back, or with your head on someone's chest. You can hear only yourselves breathing - the soundtrack to a perfect summer evening. When suddenly, a flash darts across the sky. You nearly blinked; you nearly missed it.