Saying good-bye

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, this will not come as a surprise... 2015 was quite the year for me - home wise. I did indeed decide to move !

Searching for a new home was quite the nerve-wracking experience (more on that another time), but in the end I did find an amazing new place. So selling my beloved "old" apartment turned out to be less painful than I'd imagined... But still, I lived there for over 10 years. It's the reason I started this blog. It's the place where I feel that I really became a (more or less) responsible adult. So before I start posting about my already much loved new home, I feel like I need to close this chapter and do one last post to honour my lovely 1950s flat.

Let's do one last tour, shall we ? I'm using the photos I took for the real estate ad (no, I didn't go through an estate agent - if you saw their "professionalism" over here in Brussels, you wouldn't either...). So everything is looking very much at it's best. Just imagine a bunch of stuff and a cat herd behind from where the pictures are taken...

Ok. I'll shut up now.

Enjoy.

And just for kicks (and to document every last bit for eternity), here's also my ad text :

Madou – Place Saint Josse - UE area : spacious and sunny 1 bedroom apartment (+/- 70 m²), incl. hallway, kitchen, bathroom with tub, separate WC, 1 large bedroom (17 m²) and a large living / dining room (22.5 m²) + 2 terraces at the front and back (east – west facing) + 1 cellar. Double glazing (except kitchen), electricity is in accordance with current building standards. No renovations needed ! Central gas heating (shared by building), individual water and electricity meters. PEB : F. Monthly building expenses (incl. maintenance, heating and savings) : +/- 150 eur. Building is very well maintained, incl. lift (savings are done to renew lift in 2018), quiet and nice neighbors. Very conveniently located within walking distance of city centre, international institutions, public transport (bus and subway) and numerous shops and restaurants. Visits take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as on Saturday mornings. Contact zzz@gmail.com (English, French and German).

And now I'm ready for new adventures in a 19th century garden flat !

Summer switch-a-round

Bloody hell, you guys! Do you know what happened to 2014 ? Spring came and went. Summer came and went. Three weeks of summer holidays came and went.

Pooof. All just gone...Scrolling down on this blog just four posts (four !), I was getting ready for Christmas... 2013.

Man. I've been a truly terrible blogger this year. And it hasn't even been for lack of changes around here. Back in April I repainted the bathroom. Then I changed the bedroom layout. Then I also painted my black walls in Stiffkey Blue. And finally during my last week of summer vacation, I moved a "few" things around in the living room... And maybe added some stuff...

Case in point. A new sofa.

It's a "classic" Ikea Karlstad 2 seater with the grey Isunda cover. After the cats basically scrated my orange vintage sofa to death, I decided I didn't want to take any further risks or spend vast amounts on a designer/vintage sofa that would eventually end up in the skip... So Ikea it is !

Gettting a new sofa had the rather unfortunate side effect of triggering a series of other changes.

The Ikea sofa being way bulkier than the previous vintage one (which was more a bench really than a couch), there wasn't enough space to fit the Ikea PS metal sideboard between the Caodvius shelves and the window (under the Charley Harper 'ladybird' print).

So off it went to the other side of the room.

And since a single one of these sideboards on such a long wall looked a bit lost, I decided to get a second one ! Over here in Belgium, Ikea recently dropped the price on these cabinets (from 80 to 60 eur). So it was an easy decision to make. 

That massive cactus is from Ikea too, btw. 

I must be one of their best customers again...

And before you gasp at the the 'Eames' chair...It's a knock-off. But I found it at the Brussels flea market and I love it.

My sister-in-law helped me sand down the seat. The previous owner had started but not finished (very weird). Plus there was some water damage from being exposed to the elements at the Brussels flea for a while... But after sanding and oiling that chair is looking glorious.

For those of you still paying attention after all these months, you might have wondered what happend to my Nathan teak sideboard. 

Well, here it is. Looking fanatastic under the Cadovius shelves. And while I was at it, I changed the shelves themselves and everything on them around. I mean at this point, what's one more change ?!

Flo ! Showing off some of the details. And a randomly placed cactus.

Other big news on the homefront. After 3 years of neglect, I finally - albeit partially - replanted the front balcony. The kitties are at least as excited as I am.

I got echinaceas, a rudbeckia, a new clematis, a limonium and a "monk's pepper" bush. And I can't wait to plant more next spring !

So there you have it. The results of most of my last week of summer holidays.

How did you spent yours ? Did you get anything done ? Have you had some exciting thrift finds ?

A little of this, a little of that

Apologies for having gone AWOL for so long ! Although I've continued dabbling around the flat over the last couple of months, I just haven't been inspired enough to take pictures and document anything on this blog... Winter, the last weeks of school, sending out applications and going on interviews for an internship have drained me of most of my energy.

Ok ok, I'm gonna stop whining now and let you discover the changes - big and small - that have occured around here.

Yeah, I simply can't get enough of Jason Munn's posters ! And added a third one to the bedroom display. The Walkmen - fantastic band btw. Go check them out.

My neighbours can't no longer play peeping toms... I finally hung some curtains in the bedroom. Ikea ones, what else ?

And there's definitely some hippie vibe going on in the bathroom. Macramé and plants galore.

Of course, I also keep adding to the West German pottery collection. Now also taking over the kitchen window sill.

And last, but absolutely not least, let me introduce you to my newest 'roommate' - little Wally, who has been living at the Fat Cat residence since October. Hyperactive when it comes to playing, voracious when it comes to food, very shy when it comes to humans, she's been shaking things up amongst the cat herd...

Front Balcony

After numerous photos of the rear balcony, it's about time I show you the front one. If only to give me the final push to put in the finishing touches...


Old friends.

And new ones.

The other side, which obviously still needs some work.

Soon the big empty pots on the left will be holding tomatos and a pumpkin plant. And the wicker structure will hide a growbag with more tomatos and a cucumber plant.
And if you're wondering about the metal spiral thingy, I'll use it as a support for either the cucumber or the pumpkin.

Just to finish off with a nicer view. Happy weekend !!!

Now this...

... is what happens when you leave your seat for two seconds to get yourself a drink...

And btw, it's incredible how much everything has grown in just a month.

Beginning of April on the other hand. Everything looked still pretty dreary.

Now what about you (and your pets) ? Have you been fortunate enough to enjoy some sunshine ?

Spring ! I'm ready

And so is June !


Spring is finally in the air. And this time around, I'm in the starting blocks to make the most of it. I've been a busy bee; cleaning, rearranging and planting up my little rear balcony.

The herb 'garden'. My trusted parsley, rosemary and oregano (at the end) made it through winter once again. They're in good company with some lovely daffodils. And soon (I hope), they will be joined by chives and garlic chives, which I've sown just today (in that empty-looking container).



I used to have a honeysuckle in this corner, but it never did very well. It's now living in a friend's garden where I'm sure it will be much happier. Instead of the crippled honeysuckle, I decided to give a climbing hydrangea a chance. I chose a variety that is not too invasive, so it should normally thrive in a container. So far, it seems to be doing very well !

Last year, I went for only plants out here and got rid of my table and chairs. This season, I'm definitely planning to spend much more time out here. Thus the reappearance of some seating.

I'm attempting a little Ikea upcycling, as this bench is part of the famous Molger bathroom range. I'll let you know how it holds up to outside weather conditions. This is basically a free experiment - I already had one in my possession, but ever since it got banned from my living room (once upon a time, this bench used to hold my old hi-fi), it was just collecting dust in the cellar. It's the perfect size for my tiny terrace, so I thought it would give it a try.

Throw some Ikea seat cushions on it, and - pouf! - instant outdoor seating.


Like I said, June is already having a good time :-)

What about you guys ? Did you get to enjoy some sunshine yet ? What are you doing with your outdoor spaces ?