In Audrey’s apartment: “I spend next to nothing on electricity”

For those who have known Madmoizelle for a while, remember our section “In the apartment of …” ? Stopped in 2017, it is back in service now.

For this seventeenth episode, we’re going to visit Audrey’s cute apartment!

In Audrey’s apartment

• What is your name and your age?

Audrey, 35 years old.

• What do you do for a living ?

I am a National Education Officer and no, I am not a teacher! I work in administration.

• What is the pedigree of your apartment? (location, how many square meters, monthly fee or purchase price)

I live in a city in the metropolitan area of ​​Dijon. My T2 is 45 m², plus a terrace of about 10 m² on the ground floor of a small building. I am a tenant. My rent is 660 euros, including bills, with garage and cellar.

It is very expensive for its location, but it is the price to pay for a terrace, which I absolutely need for my cat that makes me miserable if he cannot stretch his legs outside.

• You live alone?

I live alone with my cat: Artemis, 50% angora, 50% stray cat, 100% princess.

• If you had to give a word or phrase to describe your accommodation, what would it be?

Practice. He is small, but he has everything you need.

• If you were to interview your apartment, what would be its positive and negative aspects?

The good points: it is well structured, very well soundproofed and insulated (I spend almost nothing on electricity and these days it is important).

I have two strips of land on the terrace to be able to put the aromatic plants that I use for cooking. The terrace overlooks hedges and a large park, so there is no opposite, and Artémis can go out without risking being run over.

The negative points: it’s expensive for a medium-sized city, all the wallpapers need to be redone (thanks to the Provencal style of the 50s), the kitchen and bedroom are small, I just can’t enjoy the terrace in the summer, because he hears us the neighbors of the buildings all around, it is quite far from my work and the city center.

Can you show us one (or more) objects that we can only find at home? An object found, manufactured, inherited …

I have a great passion for illustrations. I love to collect them from artists in the markets or on the internet. So I look for the frame that is good, beautiful and cheap.

I’d rather dress up my walls than have too many trinkets to dust off! I also always bring something from my travels, whether it is antique or a beautiful handcrafted object. So a lot of unique things in the end.

• Do you have a decoration idea, not too expensive or even DIY that you are too proud of and want to share?

You can find a lot of handmade things in my house! I am very manual and love crafts of all kinds. I often attend workshops. I have already made ceramics, jewelry, glassware …

The paper flower wreath in the room is mine (my friends helped me cut the petals), and during the pottery workshops I made plates, shisha (Japanese dogs to protect the house) and a daruma (Japanese figurine to express a wish). I have already made a felt cactus, etc. I never stop!

• IS that you had a big cracked wallet for something in your house?

My biggest crush was the sofa. I wanted something big enough to hold all my guests and to lie down in the evening to watch a good movie. It also works as a queen-size bed, so it’s comfortable for guests who want to sleep at night.

Otherwise, most of the furniture was bought second hand. And if I don’t find anything used, I’ll wait for the sales.

• What are your decorative quirks?

Since I have ADHD, I need everything to be in place and as visible as possible. Everything is always in order, it is a question of tranquility. I divide everything into boxes or baskets.

I also try not to mix too many different styles and colors in one room, it relaxes my mind. I also pay a lot of attention to detail. When I have a specific decoration idea in mind, it can take weeks, months, even years to find exactly what I want.

• Where do you feel most at home?

On the sofa, with a blanket, a comedy channel on YouTube and the cat on my lap (which deigns to spare me its presence only when it’s cold).

• What is the music that plays most often in your home?

None since I got my cat. I realized I was only using my stereo out of solitude.

Suddenly, the CDs entered the car. Latest favorite artist: Flint Eastwood.

• Do you have work or decoration projects?

If the owner would let me, I would make all the dubious taste wallpaper that must have been around for a good 30 years.

• Do you follow Instagram accounts for decoration inspiration?

No, I very rarely go to Instagram. I take a little inspiration from Tumblr and decoration shops. I work mainly on my favorite pieces, trying to follow the color codes of my pieces.

• How long do you see yourself living in your home?

I would like to start as soon as possible to invest in a house with a small garden. But given the real estate prices right now and my not crazy salary, it’s complicated! But I’d rather wait until I find exactly what I want than take something I only half like.

Thanks to Audrey for this great visit!