My favorite spaces in my 1900s schoolhouse attic apartment
I live in an attic apartment in a house built in the 1900s. It was originally a Swedish school, as some of the first settlers of the town I live in were Swedish. After the school closed, it was renovated into apartments in the 1970s. Legend has it, Ernest Hemingway stayed in the schoolhouse when visiting town years ago (this according to my elderly neighbors across the street). I like to think he stayed in the attic, but honestly, who knows. Sometimes when I hear weird sounds coming from the walls or footsteps in the hallway I ask, “Ernest, is that you?” Although if anyone is haunting the schoolhouse, it’s probably a little Swedish kid named Bjorn.
I am proud of my living situation even if it is a cheap rental, dusty, cracked, and falling apart at the seams. I love my home because it feels like me. My friends live downstairs. My neighbors are friendly. I can see the silhouette of pine-covered hills off in the distance from my window. There is a purple Victorian home on my street that hosts fiddle concerts on their porch in the summers. I feel safe and at peace here, and to me, that is a very rare, magical, and beautiful thing. I want to share some of my favorite spaces with you. Each of my favorite spaces is a little part of me.
My living room
My living room is small. it consists of a navy blue velvet couch I got on Facebook marketplace, a rug, a small coffee table, and a bookshelf. I love this shelf. It is right in front of my baseboard heater (not touching, don’t worry Mom) so it warms the cat bed on the shelf. This makes for a very cozy cat nap spot for Midnight during the colder months. I have a stack of favorite books, a candle, and the decorative wheat I got when I lived in San Francisco. I had no idea back then that I’d eventually move to the breadbasket of the United States and the wheat would become more symbolic than decorative. I have several puzzles, most of which were gifted to me by my puzzle-obsessed mom. I have a thrifted piece of art next to the puzzles, and a basket with my knitting supplies next to that. I quite literally have all of my favorite things in this space. If I was a cat, I’d sleep here too.
2. The reading nook
Something felt missing when I moved into my apartment. So, I got a big comfy armchair from my neighbor and set it up in the corner. That was it—a reading nook. But really, it’s an all-purpose nook. I surf the internet. I take naps. I read, eat, knit, listen to music, daydream, et cetera. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend getting on the Big Comfy Chair Train. I also have a print above the chair by one of my favorite artists, Mary Finlayson aka Painted Mary.
3. My memory shelf
I have a circular shelf next to my reading nook that I dedicate to objects that bring back specific memories or are otherwise meaningful to me in some way. I have a postcard of San Francisco, given to me by my brother. I lived in San Francisco for about two and a half years, and it was a very formative and sacred time for me as I was growing into myself in my early twenties. I have palo santo which was gifted to me by the owner of a plant shop in San Francisco, as well as some Polaroids of my two cats, Midnight and Luna. Above that there is a card made by one of my very talented artist friends, and above that, there is a small book my mother gave me when I was going through a very difficult time a few years ago—You are Your Best Friend by Anisa Makhoul, another one of my favorite artists.
4. Plants, of course
Houseplants have brought me peace, joy, and happiness for years—hence the name of this blog. I have them all positioned by my windows so they can get a good dose of sunlight. I like having them in the kitchen so I can perform plant care while I cook. The cats have been attacking them a lot recently—more specifically, my kitten Luna has been attacking Mathilda the monstera and I really don’t appreciate it. But she is still looking majestic as ever despite the assaults. I am not a perfect plant parent and I don’t think I ever will be, but that is for another post.
5. My bathroom window
I’m not gonna pretend like I love my bathroom. It’s fine. It’s weird. But what else would you expect from an attic bathroom which was built in the 1900s and renovated in the 1970s. What I do love about it, however, is once again the windows that give my plants sunlight, as well as the mint green tile that covers the entire wall. It was one of those unique features of the apartment that I noticed upon touring it that gave it a kind of charm I couldn’t resist. The tiles are a pain in the ass to clean, but they’re cute so I put up with it.
6. My nightstand
I recently got a new lamp for my bedroom from Goodwill that has a texture on it that I can only describe as shell-like. It’s very 1970s—which is to say, it’s right up my alley. Along with my lamp, I have lotion, perfume, a journal I got in Portland, Oregon, and a small dish my mom gave me which holds several small items which have meaning to me. I have more decorative wheat on my nightstand in a pink vintage vase and an art print of intertwined hands above the nightstand. I also have several books on the bookshelf as well as bookends that are hand-me-downs from my late grandmother. I’m also pretty sure I have had this nightstand since I was a child. I’m almost positive about that one.
That’s really all I have to share about my little corner of the world in small-town Idaho. I live a really simple life, but I live a life with a lot of meaning and purpose. It’s a life I’m proud to live, even if I forget this from time to time. I don’t need anything fancy or flashy—I just want my favorite things, my cats, my plants, and a place that helps me feel at home within myself.