My home office, a cozy, quiet sanctuary that I look forward to entering each morning, was once the pink-carpeted bedroom of The Guy’s old roommate. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any “before” photos of this bedroom before I began its transformation, but when you try to imagine how it once looked, make sure you envision it with maximum nastiness.
I know some bloggers don’t like to show off remodels in progress – they only want their readers to see the finished product. But personally, I think the finished product is that much more impressive when you see each step of the process.
So off we go on the nickel tour. After you!
TA DA!
This, my friends, is where I spend the vast majority of my day. In other words, this is where the magic happens.
On the opposite side of the room from my desk is my sewing/craft table, which was left behind by one of the aforementioned roommates. The top was dirty, stained and yellow, so I cleaned it up and spray-painted it white. This weekend, I hope to start on the skirt I want to make for it to hide all the fabric storage bins underneath.
This is what I’ll use to make the skirt:
My parents used to have a whole set of these wicker dining chairs, but one by one, they all broke. This is the lone survivor, which I salvaged from their garbage and spray-painted red.
I won’t lie: This sucker took a can and a half of spray paint. (Still cheaper than a new chair, though.)
This little table is actually an antique Singer sewing machine I bought at an estate sale. You can see it (and The Pink Carpet of My Discontent) here.
The statue is St. Paul. I rescued him from Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo in New Orleans.
This piece of furniture here that’s underneath all the books (Lord help us, that isn’t even half of them) is supposed to be The Guy’s desk.
We have a plain black case for the books, but we haven’t moved it from storage yet. It will go here:
Anyway, The Guy has just about decided that he will use this desk infrequently, if ever, so I think we’re going to take it out and put a nice futon there.
On the other side of the room, we have a little bathroom/dressing area.
Clearly, this part of the room needs the most work. See that peeling wallpaper? Some dumbass stuck it to the drywall. So now it has to be textured/painted over. And while I don’t necessarily mind painting, I have it on good authority that this is NOT a job you want to attempt by yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing, which I, of course, do not.
We’ll also replace the sink fixtures and hardware and paint the cabinets as the budget allows.
We also have a nice-sized closet up here.
I cannot believe I just showed you the inside of one of my closets.
(That’s not garbage, by the way. It’s a sackful of bubble wrap.)
(I promise.)
And on that note, let’s look at some details, shall we?
I love having my lovelies looking down on me while I work.
(Please note: not fluorescent.)
My little bulletin/inspiration board.
The Guy says this red turban is hideous. I say it’s the chic-est thing I’ve seen in a month. What say ye?
My poor naked window.
My current dilemma is deciding whether I want blinds, curtains, a shade or some combination thereof. What do you think?
Well, that’s it, ladies and gentlemen! How do you like it so far?
—-
Because I’ve gotten a few more questions, we’ll continue Job Week into the first of next week, when I’ll tell you about an average day – if there is such a thing – in the life of a freelancer.
Your designing and decorating
Kel
I vote roman shade for the nakie window… Though, you could cover a valance with the same material as your crafting table skirt for coordination.
I’m actually leaning toward a Roman shade! A while back, I found this tutorial on how to make one out of mini blinds, and they’re super easy! (I made two for my mom for last Mother’s Day.)
I must add that the office doubles as a perfectly serviceable guest room when outfitted with an inflatable mattress. Also, if you stay there about a month before a wedding, you will wake up surrounded by artificial flowers in the morning– like waking in a meadow, without the insects.
Also, you’re missing a couple of lovelies from your desk
The Guy loved this line: “…like waking in a meadow, without the insects.”
HA!
The room looks great– love the floors…when do we get to see the rest of the house?
As soon as you call me one day and remind me to take photos.
I’m just being honest.
Well, my vote for the window is to leave it naked. I miss windows. I miss looking out of windows. I work in a fluorescent hell-hole (which, to be positive, might mean I have a ‘real job’). But I cannot stress enough how much I find it affects my mood to not see a sunny day or even a cloudy day, for that matter. I actually just walked into a sunbeam outside my store from the small skylight. And now I feel better.
Oh, I will leave it open 90 percent of the time, believe me. I LOVE being able to see out, even if my view is only the roof of our carport.
But I need to be able to block out the light occasionally for photography purposes.
Plus, window coverings are cute
I am loving the floors! And my goodness that is a HUGE closet. Wonderful!
I’m in the process of getting mine and Mark’s home office up to snuff. Part of that process included donating over 100 books to the Centenary Book Bizarre. It was a difficult parting process, but I am still left with well over 100 books that I love the most.
Lookin’ good!
And I will probably purchase 90 of them at the next Book Bazaar.
Sigh. The circle of liiiiife…
Now, I know this might be offensive, but I really did picture you writing on your couch in front of the TV in your pajamas. At least that’s what I would do. Which is probably why it took me five months to write my mere 75-page thesis in college.
That wall where the bookcase is supposed to go would make a much better place for you to hang up different fabrics every day and pose in front of them for your soon-to-be fashion blog.
Another vote for the fashion blog!
Oh, don’t worry, I still do occasionally write on the sofa in my PJs in front of the TV. Did just this morning, in fact!
But damn it, you should NOT have put this outfit-nook idea in my head. It has officially taken root.
I would LOVE to see what you wear every day (when you get dressed – I have my own pjs, thanks)! Another vote for the fashion blog!!
I could totally see you making a valance out of a cheap cut of wood covered with some fabric and matching fabric as curtains. Super easy to make. It’d take you half an afternoon
And thanks to The Guy’s theatre education, he is quite handy at woodworking! I smell a family project…
I LOVE that lamp. And the fabric for the skirt! Looks fantastic!! Much better than the pink carpet.
I don’t think I could wear a turban, but I can totally see you rocking the look! I do want that dress though.
Aaaaand we have one vote for the turban.
I hope The Guy is reading.
“The statue is St. Paul. I rescued him from Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo in New Orleans.”
I WAS THERE WITH YOU!! That is all.
PS. I give the turban a resounding “meh.”
YOU WERE!
And lo, it was awesome.
Forgive my ignorance, but what are you supposed to stick wallpaper to, if not drywall?
Also, have you tried Formula 409 for removal? It is a MAGIC solution for it. I didn’t believe it until I tried it myself. Holy cow. Try it!
Actually, you’re right, I think you ARE supposed to stick it to the drywall, but I think you’re supposed to prime it first or something so that when you take it down, it doesn’t take the drywall with it, which is what ours did when I tried to remove it.
And thus I am no longer in charge of wallpaper removal.
The wallpaper in our bathroom was so old, I didn’t have to use ANY tricks to take it down – just the “pull” method.
I love the floors and nice, clean look of the furniture arrangement. Very nice environment to work in! I need that, too. I have pretty-to-look-at stuff all around me (as well as pics of my hubs), too, and love it.
Thanks, Cristy!