In need of some TLC

Living in an apartment SUCKS.

Not only do you have to put up with the noise of others, and creepy weirdos who like to look in your windows as they walk by, but also with the nasty "design" of the individual apartments.

Now by design, I am obviously referring to paint.

I have lived in apartments before where landlords have used simple, yet boring white.. on all walls. Another had a warm beige/brown.. which was OK. However, the one I live in now has a variety of yellow and green in the living area, entry way, and kitchen, and solid white in the bedroom.

Bottom line. It is hideous.

I would ADORE changing it and painting with warm colors. Greys, browns.. neutrals. Colors that work with everyday life. Colors that match all furniture, linens and fixtures. But why you ask do I not just change it? Because hubby here thinks that it is a waste to invest time and money into a place that is not long term and that we do not own.

I am in one word, Frustrated.

It doesn't help either that I see lovely transformations all the time in blogs like Better After and That House on The Corner. Such inspiration they give me. But.. I can't do anything with this inspiration.

Personally, I really do not think that it would cost that much.. and I am personally willing to invest MY time into doing a project like this because I know it would make me feel better. After all, this is where we spend most of our time when we aren't working or at school.

Right now it just feels like some apartment with all of our stuff in it.. it doesn't feel like a home. Home.. that is what I dream of. A place that I can go and relax. All I do now it dream of what I could do, and I can't relax because I get all excited, only to get disappointed when I bring my oh-so-fab ideas to the man so he can shut them down and give me his once again lecture.

I am telling you, I literally lay in bed at night thinking of all the stuff I could do. I am designing away in my head. Dreaming in creamy, warm colors, paisley fabrics, wall hangings, chrome hardware, and personal touches.

It's hard butting heads with someone about something that I am so passionate about. Especially with someone that I love so much.

Lately I have been imagining semi "redoing" my kitchen. Obviously I wouldn't be tearing down cupboards to put in new cherry-wood ones and replacing the counter top with granite. What I want to do is sand down the existing cupboards, paint them a crisp white and replace the hardware. Also to put shelf liner or fabric inside the drawers and inside of the cupboards.. you know, just to give it a little bit of personality and not have it look so drab. Little changes that make a huge difference. And to be quite honest, that is the most "extravagant" of my dreaming. All the rest is just adding paint to the walls. And of course I would LIKE to replace the closet doors with sliding mirror ones. I think that it would open the place up. But.. that may be taking it too far. That is probably a "dream" I will keep for when we actually buy our own place.

Oh! I would also like..okay love some new blinds. The ones that are on the windows now are the ugly fugly white plastic ones. I would adore some wooden ones. And, I saw some at IKEA that were totally inexpensive, but what from IKEA isn't really? Again, a little change that would make a huge difference! Might I add too, that it would be an inexpensive change.

I would be SO much happier in a place that was warm and inviting. You have no idea how frustrating it is to live in a place where someone else picked out the (ugly) colors. Walking through the door each day and wanting to gag at the yellow and green. Honestly.. who chooses these color combinations? People need to go take a design course 101.

So I guess in the mean time, I will continue to dream away. Maybe one day I can convince 'ol grumpy pants over here that it would be a wise decision. After all, I thought every man wanted to make their woman happy!