Our Norwegian Home

In case you missed it:

Part 1 - House-hunting in Stavanger

{Note: As previously mentioned, our company gives us a budget for housing.  It is meant to allow us the same standard of living we would have at home.  In this case, it was substantial and on par.  In Gabon, we struggled to find something acceptable for the budget we were given.}

We were really excited at the prospect of Norwegian housing.  Having looked at hundreds of listings, we knew we'd find something we'd be happy with.  Early on, we decided to focus on apartments.  With it being just the 2 of us, we wanted something manageable and we knew we'd be able to find a really great apartment within our budget.

Wish-list

-*2 bedrooms* (second bedroom must be big enough for a double or sofa bed.)

-*in-suite laundry*

-*furnished* (it didn't need to be perfect but we wanted something that suited our style)

-*parking*

-*close to centre or easy access via public transit*

-outdoor space

-grocery store nearby

{*denotes a deal breaker*}

In our first round of apartment hunting, we found several places that fit the bill but one clearly stood out.  As you know, we hit a bump in the road and figured we had lost the apartment but everything came together in the end and we are so happy to be calling this apartment home!

Stats

+ 99 m2 (including terrace)

+ 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

+ underground parking

+ furnished

+ insuite laundry

I really love the layout of the apartment and all of the space is used wisely.  The large windows let in enormous amounts of light and of course, that giant terrace is the icing on the cake.

We're mainly settled in but now the challenge is putting our own touches around the apartment.  We've bought a few things for the terrace but I still have a large box full of pictures and decorative items packed away until we find a bookcase to showcase them.  I'd also love a new rug for the living room (the cowhide isn't my thing.)  We couldn't be happier with our apartment and we really hope to welcome a few visitors from home!