"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
www.silententry.wordpress.com
I am charmed by the little surprises I find in this condo. Tiny things, but nice.
Soneone ingeniously put up a clear shower curtain, short, over the window in the bathroom. It is right by the shower. Do you know how many old windows get rotted by showers? Well, not this one! Brilliant. The curtain is transparent and lets in light. I will probably have to swap it out when covered with soap scum, but no big deal.
The bathroom, tiny, is a marvel. Original tub, tile floor, and Vitrolite tile in pristine condition. Stunning really. 93 year old bathroom, classic and handsome. I don’t much like the modern vanity sink there but will swap that out later for a pedestal sink.
The back door thru the kitchen has an ingenious way to let in light because there is no direct window in the galley kitchen. Someone installed, a long time ago because the hardware is old, saloon style swing doors on the outside of that Back door. I can open the back door, lock the saloon swinging doors, and get light in from Bottom and top, plus cooking smells exit to the back service area. Freaking brilliant!
Windows. I am scraping off old paint. Parts of the windows are filthy and haven’t been touched in decades. But by old house standards, I mean the wrecks we take on, they are in nice shape. Just need cleaned. I had forgotten how truly old windows with counter weights feel. Miss that heft. My city and Hermann houses have new windows. DH says new windows not needed, these are fine.They come with storm windows.
I have embarked on the adventure of decorating this tiny space from top to bottom. Will give periodic reports.
My first sashay into the non-DIY world did not go well. More to follow.
Wow! Thanks for the report and the details of the condo. It sounds so charming. I agree that windows shouldn't be replaced if they are functional. I hate when beautiful old sash windows are replaced by cheap vinyl ones. The people who owned my house before me saved many of the windows--although they did put in some cheap vinyl windows. I also like the idea of the pedestal sink in the vintage bathroom.
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
www.silententry.wordpress.com
The windows I grew up with are probably still good; the windows I have now fogged up fifteen years after being installed.
I'm looking forward to hearing about and seeing your updates!
Looks like the place has great potential. I hope you will be happy there.
I sleep well in a second storey bedroom. Coiled under the bed (and firmly tied to the bedframe) I have a webbing that I can deploy out the window and climb down hand-over-hand.
Here is a link to a couple 13-foot ladders, with reviews. http://firefightergarage.com/fire-escape-ladder
What are your plans for indoor plants? I saw an item that certain indoor plants have a slight cooling effect in the absence of air-conditioning... aloe vera, parlor palm clumps (Chamaedorea elegans).
Oh we have a back-of-building fire escape, no need for temp ladder.Also this tiny condo has a back door. I think that’s hilarious but it’s so handy. The back door goes into the service hall by the service elevator. This place was built by Germans who emphasized front door and back door aesthetics. Front door and back door people, doncha know.My guess is this unit was originally occupied by a higher class of person than my city house. My city house was built as an upstairs/downstairs rental.
Will have indoor plants in the tiny bedroom since that big window faces south and sunlight is not obscured by the mature trees that sit back further from the building.
I met many neighbors over the past week.
One small area of concern was the occupancy permit from the city. It allows only one person to live in my unit because the bedroom is 8 ft.² short of being sized for two people. It’s really OK since my plan was to be the main occupant of this apartment and DH would only come occasionally.
So, yesterday I met the president of the condo association and his wife and I mentioned this building permit allows for only one person so it will be me living there. He laughed and said oh it’s OK believe me we let two people live in the small units. And later I learned that he and his wife live in the small unit above me. They are weekenders to the city. This building actually has many weekenders, people who use it as their landing strip in the city where they have country property elsewhere. Already there so many interesting people I’ve met, one couple lives part-time in New Zealand and part time in St. Louis. Another couple has degrees in plant science and they have a farm outstate but stay in their city condo sometimes. I get a real feeling that this is “my tribe “which really isn’t a surprise because there has been a migration from my city neighborhood to this old building for decades.
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