New House Blues.... Ain't too proud to beg
Sigh.... now that everything has died down, family healthy, wedding over, kids back to school... I have something new to obsess about.... My new house....
I know WHAAA... but really, I have the new house blues.
I SWORE I would never build a house in Norway.... (I also swore I wouldn't marry a sailor, or allow my children to play with toy guns... & 5,000,000 other things... I should just stop swearing.)
The difference between building in Norway & U.S.? In the states, when you build a house, it is actually FINISHED when you move in.... Here in Norway, it is usually about 50% finished.
In the states when you buy a build job.... the price includes everything including grass....
In Norway... Oops... the price did NOT include the floors, or door knobs, toilets...... GRASS? PUH-LEESE.
What I wouldn't give for a little roll out grass (sod) just so our house didn't still look like a building site.
All of the little things we thought we would be able to do ourselves.... with my one armed wonder of a husband unable to do most of them now... we are kindda screwed... time & money wise....
I KNOW things will eventually come together... but I would like to have my House Warming party (everyone keeps asking ) while my house is still "NEWISH".
The real thing that has me totally overwhelmed is/are, our windows... I have 21 windows in my house, with NOTHING on ANY of them.
So far, it hasn't been a problem because we have had 20 -24 hours of light... so you were unable to see into the house... but it is only a matter of weeks until we have MUCH shorter days....
So what I am asking for /BEGGING for is some advice/help... from some of you CRAFTY nesters. I need help coming up with some ideas on covering 21 windows... on a budget.. but doesn't look like I am hanging sheets in my windows.
The CHALLENGING part.... I am totally UN CRAFTY... I can't sew, don't have a glue gun..(but I could go & buy one) we have no good craft stores..Hobby Lobby, Michael's.... & Norway is really expensive... any ideas of what I can do?
Heck while I am begging... I might as well make this a weekly thing... Every week I can put up what I am having problems with & see if you, my very crafty, nesting, readers can come up with a solution... (works for me...) We took a Norwegian house & made it more "American" bigger bedrooms, built in closets etc... however, we now have some weird nooks & crannies, that I am not sure what to do with... Anyone who loves a good design/decorating challenge? ... I got it for you here.
Any thoughts?
I know WHAAA... but really, I have the new house blues.
I SWORE I would never build a house in Norway.... (I also swore I wouldn't marry a sailor, or allow my children to play with toy guns... & 5,000,000 other things... I should just stop swearing.)
The difference between building in Norway & U.S.? In the states, when you build a house, it is actually FINISHED when you move in.... Here in Norway, it is usually about 50% finished.
In the states when you buy a build job.... the price includes everything including grass....
In Norway... Oops... the price did NOT include the floors, or door knobs, toilets...... GRASS? PUH-LEESE.
What I wouldn't give for a little roll out grass (sod) just so our house didn't still look like a building site.
All of the little things we thought we would be able to do ourselves.... with my one armed wonder of a husband unable to do most of them now... we are kindda screwed... time & money wise....
I KNOW things will eventually come together... but I would like to have my House Warming party (everyone keeps asking ) while my house is still "NEWISH".
The real thing that has me totally overwhelmed is/are, our windows... I have 21 windows in my house, with NOTHING on ANY of them.
So far, it hasn't been a problem because we have had 20 -24 hours of light... so you were unable to see into the house... but it is only a matter of weeks until we have MUCH shorter days....
So what I am asking for /BEGGING for is some advice/help... from some of you CRAFTY nesters. I need help coming up with some ideas on covering 21 windows... on a budget.. but doesn't look like I am hanging sheets in my windows.
The CHALLENGING part.... I am totally UN CRAFTY... I can't sew, don't have a glue gun..(but I could go & buy one) we have no good craft stores..Hobby Lobby, Michael's.... & Norway is really expensive... any ideas of what I can do?
Heck while I am begging... I might as well make this a weekly thing... Every week I can put up what I am having problems with & see if you, my very crafty, nesting, readers can come up with a solution... (works for me...) We took a Norwegian house & made it more "American" bigger bedrooms, built in closets etc... however, we now have some weird nooks & crannies, that I am not sure what to do with... Anyone who loves a good design/decorating challenge? ... I got it for you here.
Any thoughts?
Comments
Hey, did you ever get your bathroom furniture?.... I never was sure what bathroom furniture is.....do you mean the vanity?
- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife
I have a couple of ideas, because like you, I am living in a new construction and have hardley anything onthe windows. On my site is The Nester in my favs. Go to her site and click on window mistreatments. She does my kind of sewing-none. She uses hot glue, bonding tape, tassles and fringe, and uncut fabric. Do y'all have fabric stores up there? keep me updated and when I finish mine, I'll send you pix!! So glad Deb earned her keep and got us together! I can't wait to read more from you!!!!
A friend has seagrass and bamboo blinds through her house. They look good.
KAT... we are thinking about white wood blinds to go throughout most of the house... but our house is soo bland at the moment that I feel like I need/want to spice it up a bit... Ugh... where to start?
jessica.. I am planning a trip down to IKEA on Friday.. problem about that although I love a lot of their stuff... I liked it more in the US where not everyone had furnished their home with it. I can walk into a home here & pick out every piece bought at IKEA...
WOW... i have never commented on my own blog so much!
Of course there's always Tar-get...
Let me know what I can do to help...surely Di Ann must have ideas?!
Hey if you need me to send you something over from the states...totally willing to do that! :)
Can't wait to see what you decide to do!
You should check out Michele at http://michelesmistakes.blogspot.com
She is an American in Sandefjord who built a house, so she may have some helpful tips. She blogged about the building of the house early in her blog.
I hope Bjørn feels better soon. I love your blog, you are hilarious!
Ha det bra,
Robbi i Lake Tahoe CA
I will still comment, but it will not be to offer advice on designs or crafty thoughts cause I suck at it.
hope bjorns arm is healing nicely. your gonna need his manly man self for all the work to get done.
I'm enjoying your blog. Your children are gorgeous! Stakkars Bjørn! Jeg håper at han skal snart ha to armer igjen. :-)
I absolutely understand the panic about finding so many window coverings so quickly! Have you tried Kidd? They're always having a sale, and you can find good stuff there---blinds, gardiner, other hang-y things. And don't forget Interiorland! If you don't find window coverings there, you can buy a way koselig pillow to scream into. :-) Lykke til! Vi snakkes!
-Leanna
Like others said maybe try Ikea for some ready made type of stuff. I tried hanging my curtains here but the difference of plaster or whatever the walls are made of (concrete?) won't hold a screw like my trusty old sheetrock did. So hideous metal curtains it is.
Good luck in your search!
and the idea of the begging blog.. I love it! I think we could have one for all of us expats to post on.. and see who can "meet our need" from around the world!! :o)