So…you want to meet my ugly baby?
Oh man. By which I mean, oh sweet José yes.
She’s a keeper.
Agent Awesome took us round the building then stayed a few moments longer with us in the apartment to share in our excitement. He guessed that, right after he left, we’d look at each other and wonder what we’d got ourselves into. Not so. That slice of reality is a long way off. Weeks away.
Instead, that adorable jump-up-and-down happy dance à la Laura Linney in Love Actually.
Ours, ours, ours, ours.
Ugly ugly ugly baby.
Did we count her ugly little fingers and toes? You betcha. We spent nearly an hour inspecting every nook and cranny – somehow uglier but even more appealing now that she’s ours.
“Have you seen this switch plate cover!?” I’d shout to Paolo from one room, while he was transfixed by the ugliness of something else.
This time, we saw things we’d either missed previously or hadn’t known to look at.
Had the ceiling ever been painted? Doesn’t look like it!
Is the sink in good enough shape to save? Just maybe!
We took our sweet time getting properly acquainted, then christened the place by building a new Ikea table. Oh, right, and the bubbles.
It still felt as though someone might walk in the front door at any moment to say, “Ok, time’s up.” It feels ours, but not ours enough. Almost like a game of pretend.
Still, beneath its criminally ugly exterior is some very handsome bone structure. I doubt you guys care a jot about my jumping, squealing or the bubbly-bender that followed. You want something else…. Photos? Yea? You want the before photos? Well, I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.
Meet my ugly wallpaper
- Shiny wallpaper, possibly gift wrap?
- Glass and painted plywood mosaic
- Chair rail for midgets (2′ from the floor), more shiny wallpaper
- Woven string wallpaper (is this actually called grasscloth? I don’t care – it’s not staying long enough).
- The aforementioned popcorn ceilings
- Home-spun kitchen walls
Meet my ugly details
Meet my ugly front door
Meet my ugly living room
Meet my ugly kitchen
Brought to you by: the colour mustard and 40 years of wear/tear. So… is it ugly or what?
Love before/afters? How about the utter insanity of “during“? Subscribe now (or receive email updates). Laugh with us or at us – your choice.
***UPDATE!*** Aug 30, 2011: Check out what the ugly baby looks like one year later: our apartment renovation before/after photos.
Hey, you want a s'more? Some more of what?
You have officially become part of my morning routine.
OOH, PHOTOS!
Seriously though, it’s been almost two months since we closed on our house and just yesterday I finally got the, “It’s actually MINE!” feeling while swatting down cobwebs and a wasp nest outside my front door.
I may not have much in the advice department since I’m totally new at this stuff, especially the DIY part, but I’d like to think that I’m part of the Ugly Baby Cheer Team. So woo hoo!! Let’s go Team Ugly Baby!
I have been waiting for this post! And wow! She sure is UGLY! I didn’t even picture something this ugly. I’ve never seen anything like that living room before!! You and Paolo definitely have your work cut out for you but it will all be worth it!
And thanks for the shout out. You are officially the funniest blogger I read, so thank you for brightening up my day!
I love the knobs on the stove – so retro
Looks like this is gonna be a lot of fun…
Yep, she’s definitely an ugly baby!! And in a year from now, she’s gonna be one hot mama!!!
I can’t wait to see what you an Paolo do with her 
Thanks for tha shout-out
Kelly
I’m excited you got the keys! Really looking forward to the next year of updates from you guys!! Been to Vancouver a couple of times (from AB), let’s hope the flip goes the best it can!!
Shannon – is it weird that I’m actually delighted it’s uglier than expected? Thanks so much for nice words =)
Nicole & Karrie – so glad to meet you both in this weird bloggy-commenty way, thanks for joining in!
Kelly, Fred – let’s get this party started. xx
Yesterday was a lifetime of Christmases, all rolled into one.
It’s so ugly pretty.
I’ve heard mention that other people have seen “way uglier places”. Maybe so, but I bet they didn’t sign up to live in them at the same time!
I think that my formerly ugly baby is related to yours! Yours is the younger sister-but I recognize those appliances, knobs, and light fixtures. Rest easy, 4 years later my baby is the most beautiful on the block. I even kept a couple of the ugly details for archaeologists in the future.
Ahaha – one big, happy family. (Frigidaire produced more than 1 set of harvest-gold-toxic-mustard appliances? I should have guessed!) So, what’s the half-life of 1″ thick shag carpet?
It’s ugly and I LOVE it!! Congrats.
Thanks Liz! Still in the puppy love phase a week later.
Woah. Your baby was definitely beaten long and hard with the ugly stick. But, I can’t wait to see it go from fugly little duckling to a beautiful swan!
The exterior of our house matches the inside of yours
: (
Haha, yes, it’s definitely sporting some bruises. Your house is shingled in mirror mosaic and roofed in shag carpet?! No way!!!
Is it sad that I remember when Harvest Gold appliances were all the rage or when flocked damask wallpaper was ripped off of walls for the more modern mylar and string cloth? You could be in worse shape, you could have the coppertone / pink / turquoise of the mid century, oh wait, that is back in style. Our first house, our ugly baby, came equipped with avocado green floors, avocado green tile and avocado green counter tops smack up next to mylar paper with a large orbed chandelier. I think a disco ball had more design integrity.
Enjoy the redo, it will be fun!
Ohhh is that what the shiny stuff’s called?? Mylar!? Like a Miley Cyrus helium birthday balloon – neither a good idea. I wonder if we all shouldn’t save ourselves some time and commit to all white everything, forever. Thanks Paula!
Mustardy, yes, but the name of the appliances’ color is Harvest Gold.
Really? I think that’s far too kind a name. Harvest makes me hungry and gold is pretty nice, too. Neither applies here!
All the better for a total transformation……..photos to follow!
Karena
Art by Karena