Florence: One artist's move to Italy
Feb 27th, 2010, 01:46 PM
#381
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laartista, I just looked at your Rane jewelry - very impressed! They are really beautiful and unique.
The apartment looks pretty cool! Very bright and sunny, always a plus. Is that an artist rendering with the Duomo in the window - or is it really that close/a view from the window?
The apartment looks pretty cool! Very bright and sunny, always a plus. Is that an artist rendering with the Duomo in the window - or is it really that close/a view from the window?
Feb 27th, 2010, 02:05 PM
#382
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No that's the Duomo! My last apartment was even closer and that window is actually a door to nowhere. Do you think that
40 sq.m is really small, I'm trying to get a grasp on size about 430 sq. ft.
PS. Thanks re/; jewelry
40 sq.m is really small, I'm trying to get a grasp on size about 430 sq. ft.
PS. Thanks re/; jewelry
Feb 28th, 2010, 04:10 AM
#384
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Hi
Well, 430 SF is small, but at least the bedroom is a loft which gives a little separation. The bedroom doesn't look tiny, based on the amount of room around the bed (double bed?) so I'm guessing it's at least 15 feet wide, and perhaps 11-12 feet deep up there. Where is the closet/where do you put your clothes?
I suppose that leaves 15x18 on the lower level, give or take. That includes the seating, kitchen, dining area and bathroom. That does seem quite small, but the photos do it well - it looks larger than that dimensions would seem. I'm mentally comparing it to the size of the hotel room I had in London in October - I believe that one was roughly 380 SF - all on one floor though.
The apartment is very cheery and bright and modern. It looks charming. You'd have to picture your belongings in that space - not sure if there are closets (are closets even included when you state size of an apartment?) or other storage space - something to move personal items out of daily view. You also mentioned a large terrace? The location is good too.
I'd actually welcome a 5th floor walkup. Good exercise!
I really do like your jewelry. Very, very well done.
Well, 430 SF is small, but at least the bedroom is a loft which gives a little separation. The bedroom doesn't look tiny, based on the amount of room around the bed (double bed?) so I'm guessing it's at least 15 feet wide, and perhaps 11-12 feet deep up there. Where is the closet/where do you put your clothes?
I suppose that leaves 15x18 on the lower level, give or take. That includes the seating, kitchen, dining area and bathroom. That does seem quite small, but the photos do it well - it looks larger than that dimensions would seem. I'm mentally comparing it to the size of the hotel room I had in London in October - I believe that one was roughly 380 SF - all on one floor though.
The apartment is very cheery and bright and modern. It looks charming. You'd have to picture your belongings in that space - not sure if there are closets (are closets even included when you state size of an apartment?) or other storage space - something to move personal items out of daily view. You also mentioned a large terrace? The location is good too.
I'd actually welcome a 5th floor walkup. Good exercise!
I really do like your jewelry. Very, very well done.
Feb 28th, 2010, 05:26 AM
#386
The apartment is bright and cheery, and the open space probably makes it feel bigger than it is. I like it a lot, and think it's very liveable.
My only concern would be the stairs to the bedroom -- and waking up in the middle of the night for, well, whatever! Umm, I'd be a little bit leery about stumbling down that spiral staircase in the dark.
Otherwise, I think it's very doable, providing you're pretty organized about storage or don't mind stuff around. Open spaces can feel messy pretty quickly - there's no place to hide stuff!
Congratulations about your business and move!
Paule
My only concern would be the stairs to the bedroom -- and waking up in the middle of the night for, well, whatever! Umm, I'd be a little bit leery about stumbling down that spiral staircase in the dark.
Otherwise, I think it's very doable, providing you're pretty organized about storage or don't mind stuff around. Open spaces can feel messy pretty quickly - there's no place to hide stuff!
Congratulations about your business and move!
Paule
Feb 28th, 2010, 08:46 AM
#388
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Thanks for all the input!!
Does look cheery and bright, and not so much the 5 floors but the fact that the bathroom is upstairs, so up that spiral everytime!
Closet is upstairs
I gave him 6 months w/ option to extend, I was hoping by end of year I could afford someting bigger or Rome. But I just want to get my stuff over to that continent and get the move, move out of the way so I'm over there and if the apt. didn't work out I would have an out.
BTW Progol- I am the least organized person I know and am like a teenage girl w/ my clothes in my bedroom, I try to be neat, just not possible
Does look cheery and bright, and not so much the 5 floors but the fact that the bathroom is upstairs, so up that spiral everytime!
Closet is upstairs
I gave him 6 months w/ option to extend, I was hoping by end of year I could afford someting bigger or Rome. But I just want to get my stuff over to that continent and get the move, move out of the way so I'm over there and if the apt. didn't work out I would have an out.
BTW Progol- I am the least organized person I know and am like a teenage girl w/ my clothes in my bedroom, I try to be neat, just not possible
Mar 1st, 2010, 12:10 PM
#392
hi laartista,
nice to see you're coming back to europe. the flat looks great, if a tad on the snug side! but very bright and modern -hopefully you'll be able to run the waching machine and boil a kettle simultaneously.
the only adverse comment I've got, and presumably you know this from your previous sojorn in Florence, is that no way is it 2 mins from the Duomo. we stayed in the via degli alfarni, which is closer to the duomo I think, and it was a fast 5 minute walk down via cavor.
good luck
regards, ann
nice to see you're coming back to europe. the flat looks great, if a tad on the snug side! but very bright and modern -hopefully you'll be able to run the waching machine and boil a kettle simultaneously.
the only adverse comment I've got, and presumably you know this from your previous sojorn in Florence, is that no way is it 2 mins from the Duomo. we stayed in the via degli alfarni, which is closer to the duomo I think, and it was a fast 5 minute walk down via cavor.
good luck
regards, ann
Mar 1st, 2010, 01:08 PM
#393
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I'm SO happy to see you back and would love (when you have time) for you to catch us up! Your jewelry is as beautiful as I expected it to be. Your sensibilities are wonderful for this and I'm really, really anxious to see the prices!
By the way, I love the apartment for one basic reason: You get to live in clean, new, modern facilities while looking out on the beautiful ancient city. After staying in many apartments in London, France and Italy I think the romance of living in a listed building is overrated when you are the one who must pay for updates, repairs, etc. (not that we did, we were just renting for vacations).
One question: Will you be creating the jewelry--at least prototypes--in the apartment? If so you might have a little trouble carving out space for that, but the light looks wonderful.
By the way, I love the apartment for one basic reason: You get to live in clean, new, modern facilities while looking out on the beautiful ancient city. After staying in many apartments in London, France and Italy I think the romance of living in a listed building is overrated when you are the one who must pay for updates, repairs, etc. (not that we did, we were just renting for vacations).
One question: Will you be creating the jewelry--at least prototypes--in the apartment? If so you might have a little trouble carving out space for that, but the light looks wonderful.
Mar 1st, 2010, 02:54 PM
#394
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Just did a catch up on your life. Wow-y zow-y. Great stuff--the jewelry, the photos, the apt. the whole deal! Michelle Obama would love your jewelry. Have your mkting guru figure out a way to get some to her. 
Continued good look and good health! Where is Bear and how is he now???
Continued good look and good health! Where is Bear and how is he now???
Mar 3rd, 2010, 07:50 AM
#395
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LaArtista, nice to find this update and discover that you are doing so well wih your jewelry. Please give us an update on Bear too. And has your pink computer survived?
The apartment looks very appealing: 430 square feet is about the size of a double garage although probably the sleeping loft subtracts from the square footage on the main level. Fans of Sue Grafton's alphabet series of mystery novels know that Kinsey Milhone, PD, lived very happily in an apartment converted from a garage with a sleeping loft up top.
The apartment looks very appealing: 430 square feet is about the size of a double garage although probably the sleeping loft subtracts from the square footage on the main level. Fans of Sue Grafton's alphabet series of mystery novels know that Kinsey Milhone, PD, lived very happily in an apartment converted from a garage with a sleeping loft up top.
Mar 3rd, 2010, 03:26 PM
#396
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Thanks u guys!!! So am def sticking with the small blue apt. w/ the great terrace. will stick a hammock out there for the summer!!!
Mel: I only design now, fabrication is done in Bali- hence my frequent trips there lately. So will just have to house my personal crap, lorenzo is kind enough to say if too small I can switch to a larger apt
Mclaurie- thanks and Bear is good he is w/ me when I'm in Vegas which has been every 6 weeks or so for 2-3 weeks at a time at the parents. Grandma spoils him rotten, he has the German Shepards running scared, rules the roost and is overall doing really well and staying put for a while got him back on the right health track. So even though I miss him while I've been racking up miles, soon enough we'll both be settled back in Italy.
Moolyn- Yep am on the pepto laptop as we speak, it's very popular with the other folks at starbucks, my office at the moment
Double Garage huh? That's not too bad for a temporary but once my folk art collection makes it's way over that may not suffice. At least for now is good with an extra i think 100 sq. ft. of terrace. I'm gonna put the coffee maker in my bedroom, so I can roll out of the bed, grab the coffee and right onto the deck!!
Oh and Suze- I am quite the tornado myself when messing up any size space
Mel: I only design now, fabrication is done in Bali- hence my frequent trips there lately. So will just have to house my personal crap, lorenzo is kind enough to say if too small I can switch to a larger apt
Mclaurie- thanks and Bear is good he is w/ me when I'm in Vegas which has been every 6 weeks or so for 2-3 weeks at a time at the parents. Grandma spoils him rotten, he has the German Shepards running scared, rules the roost and is overall doing really well and staying put for a while got him back on the right health track. So even though I miss him while I've been racking up miles, soon enough we'll both be settled back in Italy.
Moolyn- Yep am on the pepto laptop as we speak, it's very popular with the other folks at starbucks, my office at the moment
Double Garage huh? That's not too bad for a temporary but once my folk art collection makes it's way over that may not suffice. At least for now is good with an extra i think 100 sq. ft. of terrace. I'm gonna put the coffee maker in my bedroom, so I can roll out of the bed, grab the coffee and right onto the deck!!
Oh and Suze- I am quite the tornado myself when messing up any size space
Mar 4th, 2010, 12:40 AM
#398
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But the apartment is five floors up, isn't it? I think a coffeemaker would come in very useful.
Laartista, you can see that lots of people are living your adventure along with you. I can see myself happily in the flat and taking the Italian lessons, the problem is I don't feel confident about the making a living by designing jewelry part!
Laartista, you can see that lots of people are living your adventure along with you. I can see myself happily in the flat and taking the Italian lessons, the problem is I don't feel confident about the making a living by designing jewelry part!
Mar 4th, 2010, 02:48 PM
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BTW, Laartista, would you please give a web site where we can see some of your jewelery designs?
My lady wife is a glass artist, doing mostly kiln formed big pieces now. As I watch her slaving in the cold work shop with those awkward chunks of glass, I think your idea of having someone in Bali do the grinding and polishing has a lot of merit.
My lady wife is a glass artist, doing mostly kiln formed big pieces now. As I watch her slaving in the cold work shop with those awkward chunks of glass, I think your idea of having someone in Bali do the grinding and polishing has a lot of merit.
Mar 4th, 2010, 03:25 PM
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