Apartment Update

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August 2, 2011

Hey, guess what! I was mentioned on travel guru Chris Gillebeau’s site the other day. I might be in his next book, which means I now have to learn how to spell his last name. Challenging. Before I even knew the post went up no less than 8 blog readers/friends emailed me to tell me they’d seen it. 3 of them mentioned the words “internet famous.” I got an extra thousand hits to this blog and Chris didn’t even link to me directly, just mentioned my name. So all those people came from googling me. Star. Power. I knew Chris was serious business but I hadn’t realized just quite how massive his reach was. I am pretty honored to be written about by such a cool guy and be in such great company. Check it out!

I also should mention that I just sent out the first newsletter to those of you who signed up. It was on post processing images in Capture One and Photoshop. Next month’s will be on travel tips so if you are interested you can sign up here! Also, if you are signed up and have any suggestions as to what else you’d like the newsletter to touch on, please let me know.

On to exciting news! I believe this is apartment update #5. Click here if you want to see the stages we’ve gone through. You know, from back in the day when this place used to have walls.

Here is what has been happening while I was in Paris and the U.S.

See that platform? The bathroom is going to be raised up about the level that a normal human being raises their foot to go up a normal height step. Originally the floor was going to have to be raised just an inch or so to be able to re-route all the plumbing underneath. But I told Seba that if it was just an inch I would constantly trip or stub my toes because I wouldn’t remember such a tiny difference. With an actual stair height that way I’ll for sure see it (or possibly just die at night on my way to go pee in the dark). I also like that it marks off where that room is. Since we don’t have many walls left a level difference in the floor is a good way to differentiate.

That bathtub has since been removed. My tub is about three times that size, yiipppeee!!! By far, that’s my favorite part of the apartment — my ginormous jacuzzi. We picked one out this week and will be purchasing it shortly. I won’t tell you about it, I’ll wait to show you pictures.

As you can see the yesero (plaster guy?) came and covered up all the gaping holes in the wall and finished off the edges. So it now looks more like an apartment rather than a pile of rubble.

Here you are looking into the kitchen. The ground has been leveled off so we’re about ready to put down the flooring — a lovely dark grey tile that I chose. I have no idea what kind of material it is, so don’t ask (everybody does). It’s the prettiest kind, that’s what it is.

And this is a shot looking from the balcony door into the living room. You can see the bathroom to the left and the opening into the kitchen to the right.

Can you see the difference in how far it’s come? It looks amazing to me. I can finally start imagining the living space it’s going to be!

Seba was nervous for me to see it. The entire reason I went by myself to France and the U.S. on the last trip was so that he could stay behind and work on the apartment. Obviously we weren’t advancing very much seeing as how we were out of the country for almost the entire first half of the year. He knew there was pressure to get things done. I would’ve been really disappointed if I came home and the place looked the same as it had before! And he actually thought it did. I guess it must be like when you are with a baby who grows every day and then someone comes in who hasn’t seen the baby for three weeks and thinks she’s changed so much. The apartment is Seba’s baby.

AHHHHHHHH, I am SO EXCITED!!!! I can’t wait to live there!

Read all about Turkey Holidays here.

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27 Comments

  1. Oh i’m so excited seeing these updates!!It really is coming along nicely!!!You’re right about it suddenly becoming an apartment rather than a pile of rubble….which is amazing because it’s the plastering which has made it look so real all of a sudden. I can’t wait for the next update :)

    Comment by Jamie — August 2, 2011 @ 1:22 am

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    • I can’t wait for the next update either…you and me both Jamie, hahaha!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:16 pm

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  2. Seba must have done a really good job yelling at everyone on the job site, it’s really coming along (I kind of miss the crazy yellow walls). I can’t wait to see it in real life some day. Also, I read about Chris and his website on GRS all the time so I’m very excited you were featured on there. You are a rockstar :)

    Comment by Tara B — August 2, 2011 @ 5:58 am

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    • You know Seba too well. He is the master of yelling. And talking. And just generally being a loud person :)

      Thaaaaanks!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:17 pm

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  3. Wowee!!! That looks great! Seba has been busy! It must be so exctiting seeing it all come together… what a homecoming!!

    Comment by Sam — August 2, 2011 @ 6:16 am

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    • It was SO exciting when I saw it for the first time! Now I am even more anxious for it to be done!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:17 pm

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  4. Congrats on being Internet Famous! It’s a good thing to be.

    The apartment looks awesome…I can only imagine what it’ll look like when it’s all finished.

    Comment by Bronwyn — August 2, 2011 @ 7:13 am

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    • Thanks so much Bronwyn! I can’t wait for it to be finished too!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:18 pm

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  5. Nice work, Ms. Hepp. You’re quite famous yourself, and since you’ll definitely be in the book, you have approximately 278 days to learn to spell Guillebeau.

    Yours in world domination,

    cg

    Comment by Chris Guillebeau — August 2, 2011 @ 7:58 am

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    • I’m practicing so I’ll be ready. Practicing name spelling and practicing world domination.

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:18 pm

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  6. Yay! I think if you hadn’t seen some of the prior stages, it would be pretty easy to assume these shots were of no progress (since let’s face it, it still looks very much like the construction site that it is), but I can tell it’s come a long way. I’m so excited to see things like flooring go in to start getting a better idea of the finished product.

    Comment by Emily in Chile — August 2, 2011 @ 9:15 am

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    • It is definitely still a construction site, but it’s come so far!!!! I’m so happy!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:19 pm

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  7. Cooooool. It’s really coming along! Seba’s the man.

    Comment by Stephen Rotondo — August 2, 2011 @ 2:11 pm

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    • Seba is most definitely the man, I agree.

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:19 pm

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  8. Yay!! It looks like it’s going to be very bright and spacious. Wonderful improvements!!

    Comment by Heather K — August 2, 2011 @ 2:47 pm

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    • That’s the plan! I love all the natural light!

      Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:19 pm

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  9. Wow, I can see it starting to morph into a really cool living space. Good job Seba!

    Comment by Rita — August 2, 2011 @ 8:07 pm

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  10. Ahhhh seriously how can you stand the anticipation of having the apartment done!?!

    Comment by Andi of My Beautiful Adventures — August 3, 2011 @ 5:37 am

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  11. I can’t, I’m DYING to move in!

    Comment by Kyle — August 3, 2011 @ 3:24 pm

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  12. Wow wow wow! First off, huge congrats on the Chris G mention – your story is so inspiring and special that it deserves to be shared with the world. Glad to see you getting the recognition you deserve =)

    The apartment is coming along so nicely!! I’ll admit that I can’t really picture how it’s going to look but this may be the first time I’ve seen just how open and airy it is – looks like so much space! I’d be totally afraid of stubbing my toe or tripping in the dark – if there is a raised spot in a house I’m bound to miss it.

    Just signed up for your newsletter – can’t believe I missed the first one – I must have missed the sign-up post! Can I get a copy of the first edition?

    Comment by Andrea — August 4, 2011 @ 6:09 am

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  13. I love how you are transforming the space… and I know exactly what you mean about stubbing your toe and missing the step! I am always that person.

    What you two are doing is such an act of love for the space and I absolutely cannot wait to see the finished result. I bet it will be better than all those home decor shows where a TV crew turns your apartment around at the snap of their fingers!

    Comment by Roxanne — August 4, 2011 @ 8:34 pm

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  14. Wow! Your apartment is looking great! How exciting that it’s coming along! I’m so happy for you guys ;)

    Comment by maeskizzle — August 6, 2011 @ 9:30 am

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  15. Cant wait to see it when it’s finished!

    Comment by Brian Davis — August 6, 2011 @ 10:14 pm

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  16. I can definitely tell that things are moving along! How exciting for you and Seba. :)

    Comment by Katie — August 8, 2011 @ 7:21 am

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  17. I’m loving seeing the progression of your apartment. It’s so exciting. :)

    Comment by Ceri — August 8, 2011 @ 10:47 am

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  18. I think you have a star power all your very own, my friend! I didn’t know that story about you, though, and love it.

    Comment by Camels & Chocolate — August 10, 2011 @ 8:27 pm

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