Apartment #3
Today we went to an open house to see the third apartment on our list. Well it's really the 4th apartment because we saw one last September that I'm not counting in this search so we'll just call this #3. Again, it is privately owned and I didn't like it so I wasn't going to ask to photograph it in front of 10 couples but you can see photos of the apartment here online in the original ad.
What I liked: it was HUGE. I mean the ceilings went on forever! And the floor plan was great. The bathroom was huge and had double sinks, soaking tub and corner shower and it had a guest bathroom. The kitchen had a pantry and the kitchen was huge and brand new, they still need to put down the new granite countertop and add doors to the white cabinetry. The hallway was like a bowling alley - 22 square meters long! The walls all had these funky colors that I really disliked - orange, lime, blue - eek! But the landlord would paint the walls white and allow the tenants to wallpaper them if they wished. The kitchen was large and had room for a table and chairs and had a very large window that I loved. The living room even had a working wood stove so heat costs were low according to the realtor - around 80, Euros per month. This place had loads of potential and I could easily see myself living there except for the floors. The floors were indeed a deal breaker. I think they were laminate or maybe wood I don't know, but the color was not my style. They were this reddish brown, like cherry, and I really do not like floors that color. Everything else I could deal with but the floors really bothered me. I wish they had been a bit lighter and more my style!
The price was affordable, the location PERFECT and the house itself was a lovely old building built in 1894 with a working elevator in the middle of the stairwell. The apartment did not have a balcony, which I want, but honestly had the floors been to my liking I could have done a lot with this space as a decorator and may have taken it.
So the hunt continues. I have another property to look at on Sunday but they specifically want a family with children to rent it so we'll see... I'll go to the open house anyway, can't hurt to try. I will not give up!
xo,
Holly
Comments
I sincerely hope that you are not making a mistake with this apartment, only because of the floors.
Wish you the best!
enjoy the hunt!
I was all ready to defend orange, lime and blue, because I have all three in my home (bathrooms and laundry). But NO. My colors are much more citrus-y and don't dominate my living spaces.
Good luck,
FrauSchmitt
luck
Maite
I also find the floorplan quite good, especially the size of the kitchen. This way one could use the kitchen to dine in and use the dining room as an office or guest room etc.
The price really is VERY low. In Hamburg the place would be (depending on the area) 1500-1700 Euro (ohne Nebenkosten), in Munich even more.
But Hannover seems to be much cheaper. And if you think you would not be happy with the floors, do not even consider it. The right place will come!
Whatever. Viel Glück am Samstag! Sag ihnen, dass ein Baby bestimmt kommen wird ;-)
I've been reading your blogg for months and now I have to send my first commenT :-)
Don't write this beautiful appartment off just because of red wooden floorboards. It looks and sounds perfectly.
The red colour ist a typical old antirust protection which contains ferri oxide and is called "Ochsenblut" (just google for it and you will find loads of small business adresses that will help you polishing this messy stuff Ochsenblut off your floor and you will get a warm honey like coloured wood after that.
Here in Berlin nearly every old apartment I have lived in so far had this red floor before I went in and the nice honey like one when I moved out:-)
So go for it. It's more than worth it.
Tuula
go for it. and as far as i see... all your top 5 are fulfilled ;-)
And the website is oh-so-familiar! :D I used to spend my days browsing it when we were looking for a new flat here in Frankfurt/Main. :D
Stay true to what you're looking for. You're not in Hamburg or Munich, so you can be choosey.
You found this place pretty quickly so just imagine what else is out there with a little more patience.
Nur Mut!
Floors in Germany are super easy to change and it's something that's done quite often. Really. Even here in my small university town we have tons of stores and companies who do flooring. We used one for our kitchen and are so happy. It was totally worth it! - and it doesn't have to be that expensive, either! =)
And yes, no balcony. Also a deal breaker. And in the kitchen the pantry had this odd roll down metal door. Not even industrial chic, just odd.
Oh and it's north facing so the unit wouldn't be that sunny during the day.
But even so, it was lovely in many other ways and I really liked it though now that I think about it, there was a long walk between the living room and the front door. You had to pass by all the rooms and bathrooms to even get to the living room. And the guest bathroom was near the front door so you'd have to walk all the way back down the hall if you were a guest hanging out in the living room. I guess I want a layout a bit better even.
I know I sound VERY picky but look at my profession, as someone pointed out. I run a design blog and want to get more involved in styling and write my book which would involve some home shots. The place has to be something I'd want to publish in a book or on the web so it needs to have my aesthetic or else it wouldn't represent me. I had this problem in the last home that I rented in New Hampshire. It was an old carriage house from 1870 and although lovely, it was dark most of the day and had carpeting and dark wood cabinets and granite countertops in the kitchen (not me), and very low ceilings, I could touch them doing some of my pilates moves, lol, and I'm only 5'10". So I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to live in a place that doesn't represent my style and taste, so the things I cannot change in a rental I need to avoid altogether. Wall color and such I can be creative with. And same for lighting and decorating. I want it to be to my liking is what I'm saying. It costs 3 months rent plus 2 months fee to a realtor to move here, PLUS a moving company, and then you have to usually build your own kitchen as most apartments come with a completely empty room with only outlets in them. So a few thousand for the kitchen, another few thousand for fees, and another three thousand for deposits AND then more for the moving company... That's already 9,000 Euros and remember I earn US Dollars so in dollars that's around 13,000 just to move. I don't want to spend 13,000 to move into a rental that I don't love. I live for pennies now in my husband's grandmothers old flat, I am in no great rush to move unless it's to a place I want. Thankfully!!!! xoxox holly
Sure I would want white walls. But somethings is wrong with Nebenkosten. There is no chance for a place like that to pay less then 150 € per month. Usually you pay that much for a small 1-2 rooms apartment.
This is Cassy, I mentioned in a prior post that I am moving to Hannover Germany in June 2010. I am from Eastern USA. I will be in Hannover Feb. 5th to check out the International School for my children and to scan the area. We are meeting with a relocation specialist who will help us make a decision about where to live. I can not begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed your sight. I feel hip because I know about "KLEE", I know where to shop because of the links you posted (you have great style) and I am learning all about the first floor means second floor jazz that would have otherwise completely confused me. Regarding this post, I just wanted to mention that the website that you found this apartment on rocks. I think the apartment is beautiful. I thought the colors look fun, but I do think living in them could be a little overwhelming and white always looks so clean. The kitchen looks comfortable and is big, which is really nice.
Cassy