Our house is way more quiet now that our oldest boys are back at college. I freely admit it takes my heart a little while to adjust to having two pieces removed and set in other geographical locations. My brain is trying to convince my heart that it's a great thing, "think of the lower grocery bill, the less laundry mountains you'll climb during the week, keeping up with only one kid not three" it whispers but both my heart and hands have been programmed for taking care of our three boys for so long that I can’t really remember life before them.
They're in their first apartment, first time living with other roommates and I know they're gonna have a fantastic time this year, without a doubt. They, along with their other roomies, picked out their apartment. It wasn't their first choice, or second, or third and by the time they found it, we were all just thankful they had a place to live for the school year. Now y'all know what I do for a living but I promise you that I stepped back and let them do the adulting with this decision to live off campus. I admit I tried giving tips and tricks or suggestions from afar including this previous blog post but they didn’t listen to me. They booked it, made plans, gathered intel etc., it was all them.
We, and by "we" I really mean they, scrambled the week before they left gathering stuff like bedding and cleaning supplies. We packed the car and left at zero dark thirty, hoping to avoid the heat of the day. #wishfulthinking! If you've never been to Texas in August and wonder how hot it gets, I'd ask "you ever been cremated?" Well, it's close to that feeling. Anywho, we get there on move in day and they went in on their own to get the keys from the office, then we all gathered the first load of stuff to carry in from the cars. We wound our way around the complex, found their apartment and walked in excitedly. My blood pressure spiked upon entry. I'm convinced I might have passed out for a minute, at least I know my eyes rolled back in my head briefly. 🤪
Let me just say that the apartment complex website photos were great overall and it looks like a decent place to live for the most part. Thinking back, I can definitely say that I lived in some questionable places when I went to UGA. One place in particular, I remember my sisters wouldn’t even get out of the car to come visit me, they were so scared. They called and said "run to the car and we’ll unlock the door for you." I mean, it was bad y’all on many levels, apart from the scary location, a little quirk was that the bathroom was so small you had to sit sideways on the loo. My Dad drilled holes in the window on his first visit, saying "if someone wants to get in, they'll get in, but at least you'll hear them coming!" What can I say, it fit my budget and I made it pretty inside. Aside from the carbon monoxide poisoning incident from the old gas heater and the constant fear at night, it was a great place to live.
I kept thinking back to those places as I cleaned the boys’ new place. At one point, one of the twins said, “Mom, in my defense this is the first time I’m seeing this place, I didn’t go on the tour before we signed the lease” and while it made me laugh out loud, I thought to myself, I bet that’s the last time he’ll skip a tour. They went with the "furnishings package" too via the apt complex and again, I bet they’ll never do that again either.
I stood for 12 hours on Saturday because I’m pretty sure their sofa is working undercover as a secret government lab growing specimens for warfare. Wish I were kidding, it was gross. Maybe I should apologize for the generous dousing of Lysol it received and the fact that it’s now covered by some new oversized blankets but I refuse. Sorry not sorry y’all.
In any event, it’s gonna be F I N E fine. They’re making their own way, their own decisions, and everything in between including all meals, groceries, bills, and laundry, as they’re figuring out this thing called life. Now we just have to do our part as moms and dads and let them do it, even if my inside voice is screaming for them to return their so-called furniture package. Since I believe in putting out there things that I want to see happen in the universe, I designed an emergency first apartment e-design plan for their apartment....you know, just in case they yell "help Mom, we need a designer!" I'll be ready.
EMERGENCY E-DESIGN FIRST APARTMENT PLAN
Their apartment has four bedroom and bath ensuites that satellite off one large open concept space that is grounded by a galley kitchen and bar area and one long living and dining room combo. I started this emergency first apartment e-design plan by developing the best floor plan. Given the size constraints of the room, I managed to squeeze in a dining set albeit a small one with four chairs and a 36 inch round table at one end of the space. I doubt all four roomies will routinely eat dinner together but it could happen. This set above comes in various colorways but you know I gravitate towards green so I went for it. The bashful go hungry after all.
Their apartment does have a little overhang in the kitchen where two barstools could go. I love this pair of woven leather low back barstools. Tip: Use felt covers on the bottom to prevent floor scratches since you might get dinged on a move out inspection.
I fell in love with the modular sofa at first sight. It's stylish, under a grand $$ and has pretty great reviews considering its price point. Will it last a long time? Well, TBH, probably not but through the rest of college and into graduate studies, I'm gonna say yes, assuming it's shown a little maintainence like rotating cushions and more than a little respect by not using it as a meal hall.
In addition to the sofa, there's room for a pair of accent chairs, although for budget constraints, you could just use one or add those later. I also suggested a pair of round accent tables that could be used either flanking the sofa or split between sofa and accent chair(s), the choice is yours.
The coffee table is small but mighty in style and will fit perfectly within the boundaries of the two chaise returns of the sofa and leaving enough room to manuever. I admit I'm a sucker for tambour and the accent fluting along the side of this table got me giddy.
I selected a triptych of geometric art above the sofa and repeated the offset lines in the cool area rug which serves to ground the living space in its own right, and also softens it up under foot.
The tv console is a mix of wood and black tones which are repeated throughout the plan. The black console table can be used either in the entry way or behind the sofa. You could use the table lamps in either place as well to add a layer of lighting and I'd highly recommend the use of floor lamps as well since the only other light in their living room comes from the old ceiling fan.
Tip: for apartments that don't allow nails in walls, consider using command strips and hooks to hang artwork.
I had so much fun designing this new space that I couldn't stop myself and also included a slightly different option using a pair of olive green modern accent chairs. I plan to send them this blog post to plant the seed and see what grows. (I mean their current sofa is already growing stuff so why not throw this out there too?)
All in, the room above is about $4k before taxes, which divided by four roomies, would be a little more than double their individual cost for the rented furniture package. While it's more in price total, it would also given them twice the seating plus a dining set, and lighting galore with a set of table lamps and floor lamps, plus an area rug, plus a console table and media console.
Bottom line: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. I'm happy to help them make this plan happen but if they choose not to, well, at least I gave them the option. If they give me the "we're all in, let's do this!" you know I'll shout it from the rafters here and snap pics to share! In the meantime, I've ordered slipcovers to hermetically seal off the existing rented sofa and armchair that came with the apartment. They'll thank me later.
Happy new school year friends! I’ll say it again, it’s gonna be great year! If any of y’all sent kiddos off to school and need a shoulder to cry on while nursing a coffee, margarita or an e-design plan of your own, call me. I’ll be there.
Here's links to the items in the e-design boards above as well as a couple of swap out alternatives at different price points. Enjoy!
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