(Oh my gosh. Since this thread started I have secretly longed to have a question directed at me. You have no idea. Thanks, Alea!)
It is definitely a work in progress. I'm not used to working full-time yet and get home too tired to unpack. Although, I'm hoping by the middle of September, if my financial aid comes in and/or the paychecks start showing up that I'll be able to buy some real furniture (like, say, a bed and the piano) as well as some other more mature home decor. That might motivate me to clear the dining area of boxes.
I bought expensive hooks ($8 as opposed to $0.97) for a shower curtain worth $80 that I got for free. They make me excessively happy. I also got a pretty matching bathroom rug. The bathroom is my favorite and least dormy feeling room. The non-dollar store shower hooks (WalMart, but still) just thrill me every time. They also make me feel slightly guilty
The apartment itself is fairly mature looking, despite the mess and unpacked boxes and lack of decor. I love the vaulted ceilings, and the bar between the kitchen/living room (though it's not quite ideal -- looks like a cutout). The ceiling fan in the bedroom and the built in vanity rock my world.
Alas, all is not paradise. Due to my cats' obsessional need to get deep inside the building's plumbing, they and I have had ongoing wars over the kitchen cabinet under the sink. There's a hole in the back of the cabinet that allows maintenance to turn off the water. Long story short, came home one night and the cats were missing. Found Tara behind that hole in the wall, couldn't find Reece. Stuck head in hole with flashlight, discovered A) No cat, B) there's actually a big dropoff that appears to lead to all the other plumbing. Panic. Several hours later, cat emerged from the hole in the wall. He broke hairbands used to close it as well as two different babyproofing devices. Finally, found some really strong ones that he can't break (and I can't get into the cabinet now, either.) He and Tara managed to tear off three decorative cabinet panels and chew the ends up something fiece when I was at work the next day. Now the cabinets are covered in double-sided tape and the cats have calmed down and somewhat abandoned this fixation (though I still don't know how to get into the cabinets.) This, obviously, somewhat compromises the appearance of the kitchen.
I cooked mature dinners for myself a couple of times, which makes me all proud and happy.
Then again, of course, are the nights where I only eat rice pudding and dried cherries, so it's still a toss up.
So far, the reviews are -- mixed. However, I do feel somewhat hopeful of my prospects of turning it into a nice, adult-looking place (hopefully as a foreshadowing of a nice, adult-sounding life). Maybe that'll be my project over Labor Day.