Our Swiss Apartment

We had some friends over for dinner on Saturday (...new friends... I hope they like us! ;) And while I had to clean up for the big night anyway, I thought it was an ideal time to take a few shots of our Swiss apartment to share.

I have no idea if our apartment is "typically Swiss" or not but since we live on the top floor, in the roof, we have sloping walls throughout the apartment. I thought that with the both of us being over 6 ft. we might have some issues, but (knock on the walls) we have yet to bang our heads too badly. The sloping ceiling and the magnificent wooden beams are actually a couple of my favorite features.

In the middle of our living room, alongside the best couch ever (as Jace says, but he only loves it because it is NOT from IKEA... but truly, for some reason, everyone loves this couch...) is a framed print from sugarloop, the first store I bought from on Etsy. I have already blogged about the other feature, the potbelly stove, that sits next to the stairs.

Here is a particularly good shot of the wooden ceiling features. Lovely. I think, being in the roof, we had to give up some wall space due to all the sloping walls, but instead we gained all these beautiful details. This is also the window we could not open or close all summer because a bird and her wee family made a nest in between our shutters... who cares if the neighbors could see us running around naked, because we protected nature and that is cool. ;) Under the window you can also see one of the many sleek, thin profile heaters - we do have normal heating in addition to the wood burning pot belly. But I am looking forward to having a wood burning heater, especially around Christmas time.

This is the kitchen. Emily is still raving, if even in my head, about the sleekness of it all. And I agree. It is exactly how I want to redo the Oz house one day... everything is "neatly" (just don't go in there...DON'T DO IT...) hidden behind cupboards and white makes it look ultra modern. I love how you can't find the fridge either. Where did it go? Where is it?! Where is that fridge? (said with baby voice if you couldn't tell...)

Here is the door to the patio/deck, with curtains from my favorite Swedish retailer. I didn't finish them properly and they are too long and I don't have a sewing machine to redo them, but I honestly really like the effect of the tied off curtains. What do you think? Will it do? Would Martha approve?

We have wooden floors (or laminate?) throughout the main room and kitchen. Upstairs and in the bedrooms it is carpet. I also got this plant at IKEA. I think it fills this weird nook nicely, and it loves it there.

This nook is great, too, because this window swings down and lets a great breeze through the apartment - or ventilates the kitchen in the event that something goes terribly, horrible awry in there!

And finally - the kitchen table. You might not be able to see much of the table because it is also my desk from time to time and the dumping grounds for everything else that comes through the door, but at least we have a table, right Grandma!? ;) While living in the US, we NEVER owned a dining table and my late Grandmother always was quite worried that we didn't have a proper place to eat! But alas, this little bargain ($100 from IKEA for the table and 4 chairs - it ain't fancy but it works) is all we need... now if only we would stop eating on the couch! ;)

There is more - but those parts have doors and let's just say they were all closed on Saturday for various reasons. So there will have to be a part 2 one day. Doesn't it feel/look Swiss?!

I hope you enjoyed the tour!