Since we returned home from our amazing trip, I've been taking it verrrrry easy, thanks to a severe concussion... A couple of days after we got home, I was cooking dinner and had the stove fan going at full blast. Now--This vent/fan is not delicate. It is loud. Obnoxiously so. It vibrates. A. Lot. I had placed some big cast iron pans that had belonged to my Grandma on the shelf above/touching the vent. Wellllll... The vibration from the fan caused the biggest pan to fall right off the shelf, and right onto my head! I am finally starting to feel a bit better, but it was pretty awful. Even now--over ten days later, just going for a walk outside makes me dizzy and tired. It feels like the world is moving a lot faster than my brain can process... My sweet Navy has been so gentle and has been taking great care of me. I just hate feeling so out-of-it! At least now, I can carry on a conversation without forgetting what we were even talking about!

Moral of the story: Don't be a goose--Pans belong on low shelves that don't vibrate!

Well, looks like we've gotten ourselves a home in Spain! I am pretty overwhelmed at the thought. It feels like so much pressure, since we don't really know areas all that well yet, but I think we are in a good location (Salamanca--just off of Goya) and we are only a five minute walk from Retiro, which is lovely.

The flat is ridiculous. The building was built during the housing boom in the 80's. In its current state, it is the type of crazy, 1980's penthouse that might appear in some James Spader film with dark undertones of cocaine addiction, Wall Street embezzlement, and people who have leopards as pets. It's kind of fabulous.

One of our conditions is that it ALLLLLL be painted a crisp white, so please imagine it as such. Thinking of having them paint the doors all white too, but in a high gloss, as well as the trim... Not sure yet... That would give it a more Mediterranean vibe--Very Santorini with the spiral staircase and dark wood floors...


HUGE open space when you walk in and the main room looks out onto this fabulous terrace that has a shade made entirely of vines in the warmer months. I hate that half wall, but there is a chance it can be removed... It has some odd nooks and such, but I think after everything is painted and fresh, I can make them cute...

The master looks out over the terrace too... It has a very open concept--The bathtub and double sinks are exposed to the rest of the room, while the shower and toilet are in a seperate space, and closed off (thank goodness!).





The kitchen is just off the main room--I'm not in love with having the kitchen be in a totally separate space, but it will work just fine. I love that it is right off the living/dining room and not down some endlessly long, narrow hallway past the bedrooms. The landlords pointed out that it is ideal for our maid. Maid? Yes... Maid. Apparently most people with our budget have one in Spain--which explains why a lot of the places we looked at had itsy bedrooms adjacent to the kitchens (maid's quarters).


The stairs lead up to a cozy, attic-like space with windows slanted from the roof. There are three bedrooms upstairs and and very spacious landing, that would make a great TV room.






One of the bedrooms is covered with this absurd elephant print fabric, but we want to leave it, since it is so bizarre... PLUS! This will fulfill a longtime dream that we have a room we call 'The Jungle Room' just like Elvis had at Graceland! Can't wait to decorate this room in the most ridiculously chic jungle way possible!