This is what it looked like when we woke up this morning. A new view. We've slept our first night on mattresses in the new apartment among boxes and otherwise almost empty rooms and it felt really good. Today I've been to the old apartment picking up cooking utensils and the last of the food we had there, and we're going to pick up more things later today.

Right now I'm making a cassoulet that we're supposed to eat tomorrow evening when my partner, his sister and brother-in-law have helped us move the rest of our things. It feels good to be cooking in the new apartment as well, as if it's evidence of us living here now.

I've been thinking of things I might want to or need to add in the new apartment. Above is a collage of things I find more or less necessary. I do seem to like leaves and flowers at the moment. :)

Images from: IKEA, ILVA, Designtorget, Inne Online and La Ninja.

Yes, I know it's only mid January, but the snow is gone (temporarily, I'm sure) and it's pretty warm outside (equally temporarily, no doubt), which is really wonderful since moving can be quite daunting even in the best conditions.

To cheer us all up, I've just ordered a few new items for our new apartment (all in springlike green) and I'm about to go to the flower shop where I'd like to buy some primulas.

Images from Ellos and dkimages.

There is no electricity in the new apartment yet (we will get that on Thursday), which means that the candles are essential as we move more and more things there. My oldest son and I just came back from a trip when we brought some photographs and paintings, newly taken down Christmas decorations and some boardgames and books. We will be bringing more essential stuff as the week progresses and next weekend my partner, his sister and her husband will join us in moving the larger pieces of furniture: tables, sofas and beds. Moving is indeed pretty hard work but somehow I do enjoy it; I enjoy the feeling of change and new beginnings.

I have received the keys to our new apartment and have begun to move (if only a few) things there. The first item I brought was this door mat. It says "äntligen hemma," which means "home at last" in Swedish. Let's hope this will characterize our new home.

I received these amazing begonias last weekend, and I just wanted to share. The shape of the flowers are almost rose-like and the colour is an amazingly rich, deep red, which the camera is unable to do justice to. Amidst the white and cream of my apartment they shine. Thanks, Sus!

I made a fake fur throw for our bed yesterday... soft, dark brown, and warm. It works so well against the white and cream that is the default look of our bed, and it is also a really good extra blanket when it's windy and cold outside.

Since we're about to move out I thought I should post some images of the apartment where we now live. I fell for the two French balconies (one in the bedroom and one in the living room) the first time I saw this flat and I think they were the main reason why I chose it. That, and the view of the sea when I lean out slightly. :)

Anyway... It's time to say goodbye to this place now and I'd like to do it with photos taken before the place is cluttered by boxes and other signs of moving. In many ways I've liked it here.

It actually didn't take more than two days for the candlesticks to arrive and I'm so pleased with them. They will be perfect on the windowsill in a month's time or so.

I was reminded by Weronica earlier today that Christmas isn't too far away. She blogged about just having ordered two of these Advent/Christmas candlesticks and, seeing her picture, I really fell for the simple and classic design. And even though I know we will be in the middle of moving this year, I ordered two and was lucky enough to see my purchase go through. A bit later, comments on her blog made us aware of the fact the they had been sold out. I think they will look really good... this is the type I've been looking for for a very long time. Photo from Ellos.

Done! The contract has been signed and we'll be moving in January. Right now I'm thinking about what it looks like there and how I would like to furnish it, where to put paintings, and what I might have to buy... A new leg of the journey is beginning.

Our search for an apartment has thus already ended and I will be signing the contract tomorrow. I also sent a letter earlier today telling my current landlord that we will be moving out. We will get access to the new apartment on January 15th, and we have to be out of this one on January 31st.

The fact that it all happened so quickly freaks me out a bit right now. What if we don't like living there? What if the neighbourhood is less quiet than it seems?

On the other hand... The apartment where we live right now is in a "good" area, but it's still not particularily quiet. Sounds carry well around here. Additionally, the bathroom is simply impossible to clean, it's old and not very nice. The kitchen has a really old stove and combined (small) refrigerator/freezer, and it is tiny. Four people around the table is a crowd. Almost the largest room in the apartment (not counting the living room, but I almost could) is the hallway, which means that a lot of space simply isn't being used. Additionally, the tumble dryer in the laundry room is a bit unreliable and the parking situation is completely insane. To top it all off: We found mould on the ceiling/wall in my son's room a few days ago and the landlord didn't seem too alarmed. His only response was that we should just wipe it all off.

Well, well... I guess I have decided that the new apartment simply can't be worse than the current one.

I've been thinking things through. I've talked to my significant other, my children and my mother. And we have actually decided that this last apartment (No. 2) would be a good place for us to live. I have just sent an e-mail to the landlord confirming our interest.

True, the apartment is slightly smaller than the one we're living in now, but the layout is better. The hallway is smaller, but the kitchen, the bathrooms (there are only one in our current apartment and it's small), and the three bedrooms are actually bigger. We'll have one walk-in closet instead of three, but I guess we can live with that.

The next step is to contact them tomorrow and make sure that we can have it... then I'll talk to my current landlord. We should be able to move in January in that case — hopefully to the apartment on the sixth floor at treetop level. :)

These are images from the apartment we just visited. I really liked the fact that it had a view. I also liked the wallpapers and the wooden floors. It feels as if I could just move right in, but I guess I need to think things through a bit first. But I really liked this flat.

The apartment itself is a mirror image of the one I looked at earlier today and has windows to the east and to the south. The room numbering corresponds with the layout below.

When my boyfriend (who couldn't come with us to see the apartment) saw the photos, he laughed. He suggested that I liked the apartment simply because my taste is so similar to the people who live there now. We seem to like the same furniture and the same colours. I probably shouldn't admit this, but he might be right. :) Anyway, the view over the treetops, with a shiny full moon as it was last night, was actually breathtaking as well.

I went to look at this apartment earlier today. It's on the first floor in a six-storey building. The apartment has three bedrooms, fairly large living room and kitchen, and is in total 89 sqm. The landlord is willing to put up new wallpaper in all rooms except one (and that one is pretty ok), repaint the cupboard doors in the kitchen and the walls in the bathroom. The stove, refrigerator and freezer are all relatively new and the same applies to the tub. The house is pretty boring on the outside but it's a good neighbourhood nevertheless...

I haven't decided what to do yet. Later tonight we're going to look at a similar apartment in the next door building, but this one is actually on the sixth floor and the view ought to be better at least.