The new house

After a LONG and TEDIOUS process, finally, HB and I have finalized Project H(ouse). It’s probably the world’s worst kept secret, but yea, HB and I have bought an apartment here. You know, when people said that red tape in Italy is a pain in the @55, I took it with a pinch of salt. How bad can things get anyway? But here I am, a few months later, and I tell you this. RED TAPE IN ITALY IS A FREAKING PAIN IN THE A55!

 

We had to get two witnesses, a translator for me (even though HB understands Italian well and can translate for me), the seller, the notaio (notary-similar to a lawyer), the agent who sold us the house, and the bank manager. All in all, we had close to TEN people in the conference room just to legalize documents to buy our apartment. It really really is an eye opener.

 

I wont even begin to rant about how expensive the notaio’s charges were.

 

But anyway, rants aside, WHEEEEEE, we have our own house here! And OMG, the “new” apartment has got two bathrooms! It’s such a luxury over here; most apartments at this price range only have one. I’m really excited. HB will pick out the theme for the ensuite bathroom while I get to pick out the one in the living room.

 

The strange thing about renting/buying a house in Italy is that when you move in, the house is BARE. Not even with a sink. Or toilet bowl. So yes, we have to pick out sinks and what not too! Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Victorian styled bathrooms, like this one:

 

Victorian Styled Bathroom

Picture taken from http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/18/garden/19BATH3.jpg

 

The HB on the other hand, prefers a more modern, hotel-like look, like this one:

 

Hilton Hartford Bathroom

Picture taken from images.businessweek.com

 

This bathroom happens to belong to the Presidential Suite in Hilton Hartford. Room rates are a “mere” $700-$1200 a night.

 

Ahh, we’ll see how it turns out. For all you know, the quotations may throw us back a mile, and we may just end up getting stuff from Ikea

 

As for the kitchen. Gosh. Had many a headache pertaining to this. You see, the kitchen cabinets here are removable. And we happen to have a small current set in our present current apartment which HB bought from the previous tenant. I would SOOOO love to have a spanking new white kitchen like this:

 

Picture from www.accoladecg.com

 

OR

 

Picture from www.hamptondesign.com

 

BUT

 

we already have our current cabinets which can still be used. So, use it we shall.

 

 It will be an exciting yet *expensive* time for us.

 

There are SO many things to mull over, and now, I’m needing a stand mixer, and I CANNOT, for the life of me, decide on either a KitchenAid Artisan or a Kenwood Major. Oh Lord, decisions!