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Shock! Chris and I simply moved into a brand new house in Tbilisi, Georgia and we signed a YEAR-LONG LEASE. Wow… I haven’t signed a type of since I lived in China!
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It was an enormous resolution, however with a second Tbilisi lockdown imminently approaching (extra about that in my subsequent month-to-month recap…), we determined that if we’re going to reside right here indefinitely, we would as effectively have a bit extra space, and reap the benefits of all of the decrease costs as a consequence of COVID and the borders being shut.
After a number of days of looking out, we ended up discovering the PERFECT new place, and I’m so excited to indicate it to all of you!
Right here’s a photograph of our outdated house from the day we moved in!
First, Let Me Inform You About Our Previous Tbilisi Condo…
As lots of you already know, I moved to Tbilisi, Georgia in January 2020 with the intention of staying for about 4 months, earlier than heading again to the US for a bunch of weddings (together with my second marriage ceremony with Chris for all our US family and friends).
Not eager to outlay a ton of cash shopping for issues for an house we had been solely going to spend a number of months in, Chris and I discovered the proper place for $500 USD/ month in Tbilisi’s Vake neighborhood.
That is was my view all day every single day
Our one-bedroom house was cozy, however supplied every thing we would have liked for the subsequent few months, together with most kitchen provides and bedding! We additionally had a cute balcony nice view of the tree-covered mountains and the enormous Ferris wheel. Our landlord normally rents the place out on Airbnb however was blissful to have us keep for a number of months for an inexpensive price, particularly since we had been renting in the course of the off-season.
We turned the kitchen desk to create a desk house for 2, purchased a number of bowls since for some purpose our kitchen got here with ten thousand plates however no usable bowls, and we had been set for the subsequent few months!
You don’t have any thought what number of occasions we banged this television
The toilet
Feeling a Bit Claustrophobic in Our Previous Condo
As soon as COVID lockdown hit, Chris and I began feeling actually claustrophobic. Our outdated place was fairly tiny, and being stuck inside all day every single day was not one thing I used to be anticipating once I signed the lease.
Finally, I took a job interviewing Chinese students for his or her school admissions functions, which meant that I wanted my very own room for conducting interviews. The recordings have to don’t have any background noise, so it simply made sense for me to buy a desk and work within the bed room.
However then Chris began doing paid online Dungeons and Dragons games as a brand new type of revenue, and we had an issue: we couldn’t work on the similar time, since you may hear his voice within the background of my interviews! This actually restricted the video games Chris may run to “nighttime”, which meant that we actually couldn’t spend a variety of time collectively.
Then, we added not just one rescue cat, but additionally a KITTEN to the combination, and issues acquired actually tight.
The kitchen was not spacious…
Wanting a Larger Kitchen
Along with house, there have been a number of different issues we actually wished with a brand new place. Firstly, our kitchen was TINY. Certain, it was excellent for 4 months once we had been planning on consuming out a bunch and having fun with the native meals, however it was NOT enjoyable for cooking elaborate meals, particularly throughout lockdown.
Now don’t get me incorrect, in comparison with our locations in Hoi An, and a few of our kitchens in China, this place was nice. We had a stovetop with 4 burners, a full-size fridge, and a DISHWASHER, however we additionally had zero counter house as a result of 90% of it was taken up by our microwave and transportable electrical oven.
As a result of our kitchen was in a nook (with an additional wall as a result of….???) it was inconceivable for Chris and I to each be doing kitchen-related issues on the similar time. Chris couldn’t assist me cook dinner dinner even when he wished to!
My desk!
… and no aircon within the bed room!
Subsequent, we had no air con within the bed room, which was completely fantastic for residing within the house from January – Might, however NOT fantastic for July – August.
Without having aircon within the bed room is admittedly widespread in Georgia, the format of our house made it inconceivable to maintain our bed room cool. The one air con unit was in our lounge, as distant from our bed room door as humanly doable. We must flip the air con aggressively low so it may journey within the U-shape essential to get to our bed room as a result of there was no door connecting the bed room and lounge.
Throughout the day I had admissions interviews, and I wasn’t in a position to have the door to the bed room open, OR the balcony door-window as a consequence of avenue noise. I additionally couldn’t have a fan blowing on me, since you may hear it within the recording, so I principally sweat to demise each day.
Our balcony door/window
My journey capsule wardrobe!
Beginning to Have a look at Different Tbilisi Residences
As COVID continued on and the borders remained closed, lots of our pals moved to extra inexpensive flats and even acquired reductions on their present locations. In the meantime, we had been nonetheless paying our $500 USD/month.
Chris and I had a month-to-month lease and had been nonetheless paying pre-COVID short-term rental costs and we had now been residing there for NINE MONTHS!
Now, I didn’t need to complain or ask for a reduction as a result of COVID is difficult on everybody. However COVID additionally hasn’t been tremendous straightforward on Chris and I both, and we actually wished an even bigger house for our cash.
I’ve joined a number of housing teams on Fb, and I used to be seeing the offers we may get if we left and moved to a brand new place, so I began placing my feelers on the market to see what was out there.
cuddling with my little floof
Sorry, No Pets!!
Now, our greatest drawback was that the entire good flats we wished to see wouldn’t permit pets. This actually shocks me contemplating SO MANY PEOPLE have pets right here. Severely, it’s like each individual owns a canine.
After banging my head towards the wall with a number of Fb real-estate brokers, I went on the web site MyHome.ge and began trying. That is the place I discovered the superior Agent Anna!
In a matter of two days, Anna discovered 5 flats in our price range that met all our necessities AND allowed cats! I used to be additionally capable of finding one other 4 locations to see with out Anna’s assist.
Georgian bread and mountain cheese!
bread on the balcony!
Discovering the Good Tbilisi Condo
Chris and I began the day house looking with Anna, and we had been instantly impressed by each place she confirmed us. Upping our price range to $600 as an alternative of $500/month, and agreeing to signal a year-long lease throughout COVID made the world our oyster, and we discovered loads of wonderful locations in our price range.
That mentioned, a variety of the locations had been nice, however not 100% proper for us. For instance, there was an AMAZING three-bedroom house with a personal bed room workplace alcove and a implausible kitchen with one of the best view…. however it was form of in the midst of nowhere, we’d need to have a automotive, and there was actually loud building within the lot proper subsequent door.
Our outdated view
Or there was the gorgeous 2-bedroom with GIANT balconies and a view of a waterfall… however it had no kitchen home equipment, and there have been no outlets or eating places shut by.
Subsequent, there was a GIANT place in our present neighborhood of Vake that was virtually too huge for our wants, however it simply felt a bit unfinished, prefer it was a part of the best way via a transform they usually simply gave up.
We even went on our personal to a fantastic house within the touristy part of Previous Tbilisi, with a implausible rooftop space, proper subsequent to a shopping center, with a view of a few of Tbilisi’s most historic buildings, walking-distance to Rustaveli Sq.. However… the bedrooms had been tiny and dim, and we’d have a tough time becoming desks in them.
However lastly, Anna launched us to our dream residence and I’m so excited to share it with all of you!
The right place!
Introducing Our New Tbilisi Condo!
Our new place has two bedrooms, two bogs, a large lounge and kitchen, two balconies and a lot space for storing! It additionally got here utterly furnished and embellished, and we’ve solely had to purchase a number of issues like sheets, small bins, hand towels, and many others.
The house is 2,000 Georgian lari monthly, which is about $620 USD, and it’s actually THREE TIMES the dimensions of our outdated place.
Not solely that, however it’s really solely three blocks away from our outdated house, so we are able to nonetheless make the trek over to our favourite outlets like Europroduct and our native fruit and vegetable place.
Now we’ve got air con in EVERY ROOM, a pleasant huge kitchen with an actual oven (however no microwave so we’ll most likely find yourself shopping for one), and precise mirrors in all places (the one mirror we had in our outdated place was a small toilet mirror so I by no means knew what my outfits regarded like). We also have a sliding glass door to lock the cats out of the kitchen whereas we’re cooking!
Lastly, we don’t look out over the primary avenue right here, which is so nice for avenue noise. No extra honking for us!! We do have building within the lot subsequent door, however you may barely hear it, and the constructing they’re engaged on is just going to be a number of tales tall.
The entryway and sliding door to the kitchen/ lounge
Let’s Do a Home Tour of our New Condo!
Now let’s transfer on to what you had been ready for: some photographs of our home!
The Entryway
Whenever you first stroll in, there’s a big entryway with a chandelier and three massive cupboards the place we are able to retailer our coats, sneakers, buying luggage, and cleansing provides. This house is actually heaven for me, and it makes me need to purchase extra sneakers (in my protection I arrived right here with a journey capsule wardrobe…).
Since there was nowhere to place keys and masks, we put in two adhesive hooks to hold them once we stroll within the entrance door.
This hallway has additionally grow to be a cat zone. We hold their toys in a small basket, and that is additionally the place I feed them.
The big toilet
The Massive Rest room
Instantly to your left whenever you stroll within the entrance door is our massive toilet with the bathe. I’m unsure why this toilet isn’t over close to the bedrooms however… oh effectively.
This toilet has a rainfall bathe, a big sink with precise storage, and a washer. We additionally put one among our litter containers in right here.
We ended up shopping for two cute flooring rugs for the toilet which I like and acquired a suction-cup hook at hand a hand towel since for some purpose there was NOWHERE to hold one.
washer and bathroom
The bathe and sink!
Lastly, our kitten additionally sleeps on this toilet since he can’t be trusted at evening. He slept within the toilet at our outdated place as a result of we would have liked our bed room door open (for the aircon), and he’s an enormous fan of knocking issues over once we’re not trying. He’s additionally damaged two plates and a bowl and likes to play in our kitchen sink as a result of… why not?
On this new place we deliberate on leaving the hallway and bogs open to him at evening, however it actually careworn him out being shut out of our room, and he ended up tearing a big chunk of wallpaper off our wall making an attempt to get into the kitchen (don’t fear I glued it again on). So we determined it could be higher for him to have the large toilet at evening, and he’s a lot happier now. All I’ve to do is pop him in there with a number of toys round midnight and he places himself to mattress on one of many rugs.
Chris enjoyable in the lounge
The Residing Room and Kitchen
Our lounge has a large sofa which seems to be in the direction of our TV the place we’ve put in our Firestick so we are able to watch all our favourite reveals. We even put in Express VPN onto the Firestick so we are able to watch US Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime!
Chris’ “desk”
Subsequent, we’ve got the kitchen desk which might really be expanded bigger if we’ve got visitors. For now, that is Chris’ desk, however we’re going to get him a bigger desk (like mine!) when we’ve got an opportunity. There’s a retailer right here referred to as Domino that sells good picket desk desks for $20 USD.
However truthfully, I do not know what to do with these kitchen chairs so I simply… lined them up towards the wall? When Chris will get a desk we’re going to maneuver this desk over by the television and break it out for particular events.
Our big kitchen!
In the identical room as the lounge, you’ll discover our big kitchen! Not solely do we’ve got a built-in oven and stovetop, however we even have a dishwasher!! (I’ve grow to be so spoiled I can’t return to not having one). Our fridge can be twice the dimensions of our outdated one, and we’ve got SO MUCH counter house. Now Chris and I can really (theoretically) cook dinner collectively!
In the lounge, you’ll additionally see that we’ve got entry to the lengthy balcony that extends alongside the size of our house, which I’ll speak about afterward.
I want some extra decor in right here
The Visitor Bed room/ Workplace
Can I simply say, having a visitor bed room makes me really feel like such an grownup. WHO AM I??? So fancy. Too unhealthy we most likely gained’t have visitors for… a really very long time.
However this guestroom can be my workplace! I’ve by no means had my very own personal workplace earlier than both, and I’m in love!
I’ve commandeered the drawers subsequent to the desk for our microphones, cameras, and ring mild, and the small drawer subsequent to me has my make-up, nail polish, and different random stuff that’s only for me. I even stole a poof serving as a nightstand to prop my toes up whereas I’m working however my kitten normally steals it even when there’s a small cat tower actually proper subsequent to my desk.
This room additionally has a door to the lengthy balcony, and air con for when it will definitely will get scorching once more!
For some purpose, this room is the coldest room in the home although, so I’ll positively be getting a pleasant little rug to assist hold me heat now that winter is quick approaching. I additionally actually need to do one thing to embellish, because the view behind me whereas I work is form of meh. I believe finally getting a pleasant patterned blanket for the mattress, and perhaps some ornamental pillows will assist spice it up. I’ll need to additionally see in the event that they’ll let me cling a portray or one thing to make the partitions much less bland. Child steps.
Our small toilet
The Half-Bathtub
Subsequent, you’ll see our small toilet that’s between the workplace and master suite. I really actually like this toilet, and that is the place I brush my tooth, do my hair, and my skincare routine.
Initially we had the second litterbox on the balcony, however now that it’s getting chilly we’ve put it in right here. That is primarily so our huge cat has someplace to pee whereas our kitten sleeps within the bigger toilet at evening.
My solely criticism about this toilet is that for some purpose the mirror is stupidly excessive. Our landlords are very tall, so they won’t have seen that us brief folks can barely see our full faces with out standing on our tiptoes.
The bed room!
The Grasp Bed room
Okay, I LOVE this bed room. It truthfully makes me really feel like a princess.
I like the blue and white blanket that got here with the home. I like the flowy curtains, the patterned rug, the flowery poof seat, and all of the house!!
So fancy!
Chris and I’ve loads of room for our garments (which suggests I can buy groceries proper…?), with a big wardrobe and a set of drawers.
I like how there are MIRRORS on this home!
Not solely does our bed room connect with the big balcony, however it additionally connects to a personal balcony with chairs and a desk, and a implausible view. I can’t await the development to be completed, as a result of then the view will likely be PERFECT.
The small balcony view!
Fortunately the development doesn’t wake us up, and it’s solely a bit loud if we depart the small balcony doorways open, which we don’t do usually because it’s chilly. In addition they cease building moderately early and don’t do any building Sundays.
The lengthy balcony!
Our drying space
The Lengthy Balcony
Our lengthy balcony seems to be out onto a number of house buildings and a small soccer subject and has a very nice view down the facet of a fantastic stone small house constructing and Chavchavadze past.
Along with a foldable drying rack, we even have two wire strings the place we are able to simply dry issues like blankets and sheets. I simply all the time get so nervous I’m going to drop a sheet down seven tales!
Sadly, the balcony is a bit slender to suit chairs, though I’d nonetheless attempt to discover one thing. We’ve really been utilizing it extra as a second hallway!
What a pleasant view!
Future Adorning Plans
Chris and I did simply shell out two months of hire for this place, so our price range is a bit tight for adorning, however there are some things I’d like to do with the place over the course of the subsequent few months!
Firstly, I’d like to get a microwave. Whereas I’ve survived with out one earlier than, it’s tremendous good to rapidly warmth up leftovers, or microwave a cup of chilly espresso! I additionally want a bit shelving factor to place underneath the television so we don’t have a dangling charging strip and all these cords!
Subsequent, I’d love to embellish my workplace a bit extra. I need a cute blanket and throw pillows for the mattress, a comfy rug on the ground, perhaps a portray above the mattress, and a corkboard or one thing propped towards the wall on my desk. This bed room is by far the least embellished room in the home, and if I’m going to be in right here all day, I’d as effectively make it really feel homey, proper?
… simply don’t look this fashion on the balcony
The 2 of us do have to get an precise desk for Chris quickly, and the plan is to maneuver the present desk over subsequent to the television as a bit station the place Chris can paint his Warhammer Miniatures (he STILL hasn’t painted any since we’ve been right here), after which we’ll break it out if we’ve got a cocktail party or one thing. I nonetheless don’t know what to do with the kitchen chairs although…
We additionally actually need to get a Quilt cowl and pillowcases. Proper now we solely have the 2 silk pillowcases I purchased for the Curly Girl Method and our different pillows and cover are all naked. We did purchase one cover cowl that got here with pillowcases, however it’s means too small for our mattress (however for some purpose the sheets match though we purchased the identical measurement???). I might also simply order a number of additional pillowcases from Amazon or one thing if I can’t discover any being bought by themselves within the outlets right here in Georgia. For some purpose, solely duvets include pillowcases and sheets come by themselves.
The door on the left is my workplace with a elaborate curved wall…?
I additionally actually need to get a shower filter from US Amazon and set up it within the bathe right here, as a result of my skin and hair are both so awful because of the exhausting water. Whereas apple cider vinegar rinses are serving to my hair, my pores and skin is SO DRY.
Lastly, we would really change the mattress in our bed room with the one in my workplace. Our present mattress (extra like a field spring with a pad), appears to be a bit outdated, and the springs actually collapse, to the purpose that Chris and I simply slide in the direction of the middle whereas we sleep. Additionally, if one among us rolls over, the entire mattress shakes! One in all today I’ll get round to switching them.
Welcome to Tbilisi Previous City!
What Do You Assume?
General, I’m tremendous enthusiastic about our new Tbilisi house!
However I’m very curious, what do you assume? Do you just like the house? Does this make you need to transfer to Tbilisi? Do you assume we made the suitable name?
Additionally, when you’ve got any solutions on how you can embellish and arrange the place with out spending a fortune, I’d like to know!
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