Like Giving Birth

Renovating an apartment is not a little moment. When I moved into my current apartment in 2000, I hated the furniture that I already owned. It just didn’t fit in my new place. But for the next 8 years, I lived with it.

Finally, a friend of mine tricked me into renovating. His approach was devilishly sneaky. He offered a few suggestions on how to improve my bedroom. And, by the following week, he had moving trucks picking up all the furniture I owned. That same day, it all had been donated to thrift stores. He then embarked on a renovation that took 5 years to complete! After all, isn’t that what friends do?

Many headaches, lawsuits, overages, and panic attacks later, I can honestly say I love my apartment.

The video above gives you a “Before and After” look at my apartment.

A few final words of advice about renovating:

  • Never renovate if you think it will be only a few months out of your life.
  • Be prepared for a divorce if you are married.
  • Be prepared to be brought to your knees financially.

I will tell you that, the next time I move, it will be horizontally and not vertically.

The Home of Mark Winkler in 1 Minute

For those who don’t want to watch an 8-minute video, here is a 1 minute condensed version that just shows the highlights of my renovated apartment.