Astoria Reno: Moving Time!

We’re moving in — and the house is a lot more ready than I thought it would be.  Particularly since 24 hours ago it looked like this:

A huge amount has gotten done in the last 10 days.  The sunroom got its floor, French doors, niched-out walls, paint and sconces.  Because they are working on the brick arch outside, we are still haunted by a big blue tarp, but it feels like the 1920s sunrooms I remember in friends’ houses growing up.

The living room mantel is still at the restorer’s, but the shape of the room is there and the built-in unit gives it weight at the other end.

The stairs are stained and painted, though they still need their bannister and touch-ups.  We thought it best to get the furniture in first — especially a king-sized bed. Even with the soffit the second-floor hall is a nice open space, with light from several directions.

The guest bathroom has its fixtures, with a tip of the hat to the early 20th century.

Our bedroom is done.  Thank goodness, because this will be our refuge as they continue finishing things around us, including fitting out both closets, plus counter, sinks and shower glass in the master bath.

The library is getting its shelves, which will be a messy and stinky project for a few weeks.  They are also bricking the arch at the back, and the rental apartment is barely started, much less the front facade.

However, the area we are going into is pretty livable, with one exception. ConEd could not even schedule an appointment to run the gas until the basement sprinklers passed their final inspection. So much for our dishwasher, washer/dryer, or our tankless water system — for a few weeks, we will be enjoying New York’s most lavish cold-water flat!