Our place...

'Picture Tour' as promised. :)

Our building is fairly nondescript and if I gave you my keys you'd keycard your way in the front doors, go up a flight of stairs and around the corner you would see our outer door.

After unlocking this door you'd come into an entryway of sorts where you can see the door to our apartment and the door to the neighbor's apartment. We've learned that he's in NZ to work on the movie The Hobbit. Crazy, right?

We are through the left of the two doors in Unit A. Once inside and immediately to the left of the door you would see the kitchen and laundry room. I'm talking about them as if they are rooms when in fact they are nothing of the sort. With the sliding wall all the way to the right you can access the kitchen.

In the kitchen we have a:                              Tiny fridge.

Tiny sink.



Tiny hob (stovetop, two burners).



Tiny oven.

Tiny dishwasher that is awesome!! I've always wanted a dishdrawer. :)

If you push the sliding wall all the way to the left you will see the laundry room.

Though I tried not to think about it I was terrified that our home in NZ would not have a washer/dryer. I had nightmares about dragging laundry home from the laundrymat. No small task when you do not have a car. Even then it's a pain. Much to my delight and great relief our little place has a washer and dryer!! The first photo below is the washer and the second photo is the dryer.

Notice anything strange about these machines? Yes, I know they're tiny and I can only do about 1/4 of what we know to be a 'large' load at a time. But what else? This one boggled my mind and still does. The washer and the dryer are the same machine. You load the laundry, select the wash cycle/temp, add the detergent and then you set the drying cycle. As soon as the washing cycle is done the drying cycle clicks on. Ca-Razy! Initially, I approached the machine with fear and trepidation. I mean, "how could a machine wash and dry clothes? Impossible?!". And yet it does. After pouring over the manual I've learned that it's relatively easy to use and it works great!! Hooray for in-home laundry!!

Just around the corner from the laundry room is the bathroom with all the usual stuff.



If, instead of skirting around the kitchen/laundry rooms into the bath, you went right upon entering the door you would step into the main living area that makes up the bedroom and living room. With such a tiny place (about 9.5' by 24.5') we guessed that the previous tenant did not own a vacuum so we have invested in tiny Eletrolux to keep the place under control. :)

Standing at the door with the kitchen/laundry to your left you would see this wardrobe system. System. Yes, very cryptic.

Looking at this wardrobe system, any guesses as to what it is? Now I never thought I would have one but I've always been intrigued by them. Check out the next picture....... it's better than me talking about it. :)

Bah! It's a Murphy bed!!! It's quite comfortable and you can make it up in seconds. Just pull the edges of the blanket onto the top of the bed and it's up and away! :) We figured it would be a good solution in such a small place. With it 'up' it gives the illusion of more space.

Just to the right of the wardrobe system is the entertainment center. It came with the place which is awesome!

Across from the TV we have little leather couch that also came with the place. Still has the tags on it.

Along the wall with the TV and couch we have full windows that open wide to let in the breeze. No screens on these windows...the bugs are few and far between, thankfully. :)

This last pic was taken at the doorway so you can see across the 'great' room. :)

An adjustment to such a small place? Yes. But we are happy to have something that is 'ours'. Each day we settle in a little more. You know, setting up the kitchen, buying cleaning supplies, thinking of creative storage solutions. It's all good. :)