More proof coming your way today, that organizing doesn't have to be expensive to be stylish! The lovely Chelsea, from Two Twenty One is here today to show us how she took a standard blah filing cabinet and made it a major "Wow" factor that looks like a bajillion bucks! Here she is now...
Since the monthly organization challenge for the month of January is home office, I thought I'd share my stenciled file cabinet.
I painted it with white latex paint, and it sat for a year, waiting for more to happen to it. I contemplated painting on some stripes, but when I came across the Rockin' Roses Damask Stencil by Royal Design Studio I knew it was perfect for the file cabinet.
I positioned the larger stencil in the middle, and I used the smaller stencil to finish the ends of the tall sides. The stencil registration system made it easy to match up the pattern. The large stencil was all I needed for the top of the file cabinet.
I wanted the handles to stand out a little, so I covered them with painters tape before stenciling.
The stenciling itself didn't take very long. I found the key to effective stenciling was using just enough paint. It's better to go with too little paint and do a second coat than go with too much paint on the first run.
I love how the file cabinet turned out. Now having to file paperwork won't be as boring because I'll be looking at this pretty little thing. Isn't it crazy what a little paint can do to transform a piece of furniture?
And because everyone loves a good before and after. Here you go! Doesn't it look ten times better?
Have you stenciled a piece of furniture before? Do you have a less-than-pretty piece of furniture you'd like to stencil or paint?
"Hey friends! I'm Chelsea from Two Twenty One! I'm a twenty-something living in Indiana with my husband, Brad, and our crazy mutt, Jack. My loves are photography, travel, DIY projects, baking, wine, sarcasm and my iPhone. The husband and I are attempting to make our home a little less cookie cutter and a lot more awesome. My little slice of the internet, Two Twenty One, is where I share my latest home improvement projects, furniture makeovers, crafts, recipes and home & seasonal decor ideas. I am beyond excited to join Jen and the rest of the IHeart Organizing team!"
Since the monthly organization challenge for the month of January is home office, I thought I'd share my stenciled file cabinet.
I've been working on my home office makeover for, oh, over a year now. To say it's slowly coming together is an understatement. {These things don't happen overnight you know.} Well, a couple months ago I finished one more project on my to-do list, stenciling my file cabinet.
I started with a dull, greenish/tan file cabinet, which I scored for free. It's super boring and kind of an eyesore, no?
I painted it with white latex paint, and it sat for a year, waiting for more to happen to it. I contemplated painting on some stripes, but when I came across the Rockin' Roses Damask Stencil by Royal Design Studio I knew it was perfect for the file cabinet.
Stenciling the file cabinet was pretty easy. It probably helped that I was able to roll the file cabinet over so whatever side I was working on was facing upward. I started by taping the stencil in the middle of the the long sides. Adhesive spray wasn't necessary with this project, so don't worry about that. In addition to the stencil, I used a foam roller, a sample of latex paint {Valspar's Gravity}, and a paper plate covered in foil as my paint tray {super classy and professional}, all things I already had on hand.
I positioned the larger stencil in the middle, and I used the smaller stencil to finish the ends of the tall sides. The stencil registration system made it easy to match up the pattern. The large stencil was all I needed for the top of the file cabinet.
I wanted the handles to stand out a little, so I covered them with painters tape before stenciling.
The stenciling itself didn't take very long. I found the key to effective stenciling was using just enough paint. It's better to go with too little paint and do a second coat than go with too much paint on the first run.
Don't want to invest in a stencil? You could easily create some fun designs {stripes, zig zags, diamonds, etc.} with painters tape.
Some people have asked me how well the paint has held up, and I'm happy to say that the paint has held up very well. The key is giving the paint enough time to cure before placing items on it.
I love how the file cabinet turned out. Now having to file paperwork won't be as boring because I'll be looking at this pretty little thing. Isn't it crazy what a little paint can do to transform a piece of furniture?
And because everyone loves a good before and after. Here you go! Doesn't it look ten times better?
Have you stenciled a piece of furniture before? Do you have a less-than-pretty piece of furniture you'd like to stencil or paint?
"Hey friends! I'm Chelsea from Two Twenty One! I'm a twenty-something living in Indiana with my husband, Brad, and our crazy mutt, Jack. My loves are photography, travel, DIY projects, baking, wine, sarcasm and my iPhone. The husband and I are attempting to make our home a little less cookie cutter and a lot more awesome. My little slice of the internet, Two Twenty One, is where I share my latest home improvement projects, furniture makeovers, crafts, recipes and home & seasonal decor ideas. I am beyond excited to join Jen and the rest of the IHeart Organizing team!"
Today is a fun day as I am featuring a beautiful bedroom designed by a beautiful girl named Michaela, and I am being featured over on her blog here as part of her She Loves Me series!
I haven't had the opportunity to feature too many bedroom spaces, which is a shame since they really are an escape from the rest of the home. And for Michaela, it also doubled as her study space, so a little extra organization was a must! Be ready to be amazed, this is one incredibly happy and darling room!
I asked Michaela a few questions about her beautiful bedroom:
What is the main function of the space?
The main function of the space is sleeping, getting ready for the day and doing desk work, such as client drawings, crafts and of course, blogging!
Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?
I love staying organized, so in order to do so I have many different baskets, drawers and furniture pieces to keep everything in its place. The white dresser is key to storage because it has a log of great drawers. I found this for only $70 at Goodwill and refinished and lined the drawers with pretty paper.
One of my favorite tips to staying organized is to go through your things often and clear out the clutter! I try not to keep things I haven't used in a few months, and only decorate with knick-knacks and books I truly adore. Less is more! Am I sounding like Monica from FRIENDS yet?
What items did you find essential when organizing your space and why?
Because my vintage desk only has one drawer, the little piece to the right of the desk came in very handy when organizing. My scrapbooking and stationary stash is tucked away in clean, white boxes and adorned with a few simple decor items. The other white piece of furniture to the left of the desk with the two baskets and big mint storage box on top was also essential. I've found that papers, craft supplies, and all the other items that come with being a designer would totally explode and take over my room if I didn't have designed storage in place. When you organize, you need strategy. Mine was to put papers in labeled folders and store them in the mint box, craft items in the wicker boxes, stationary in the white photo boxes and writing utensils in mason jars on my desk. Pens, pencils and markers were separated in their own jar to make the desktop look cute and clean.
What did you do to go the extra mile and make it pretty?
By far my favorite element in the room is the architectural gallery wall I put together with the help of a few talented friends. I had a sweet friend paint some beautiful furniture pieces {that black and white chair... I smile every time I look up at it} and another friend sent me some stunning photographs of buildings from her travels. Black and white frames help bring in balance above the desk. Being lovers of all things organized, I am sure you're with me on this - there is nothing better than a perfectly organized and styled bookcase. My bookshelves constantly change, as I rearrange them on a monthly basis, but I just love how this styling turned out. I tried to display things that truly spoke to "me" and symbolized a collected and inspired home, with all the treasures I love.
Where did you find your inspiration?
My inspiration was found in the color palette. I knew I wanted something light, sophisticated, and fresh. When I think of the word "fresh", minty seafoam is the first hue that comes to mind. Throw in a dash of peach and blush, and I'm a happy girl. The Caitlin Wilson Textile fabric I used for my curtains was truly the perfect starting point to my color story.
What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?
A true DIYer at heart, I did mostly everything myself! I thrifted the dresser for $70 at Goodwill and refinished it. After browsing HomeGoods, I scored the nightstand for $40 and refinished it in dove gray. The abstract art above the bed was something I created to add a punch of color and the desk and chair set was a consignment find for only $150 {and it's vintage - huge steal!}. My favorite DIY project and money saving tactic were the curtains. On a college student budget, I was looking to stretch the bank any way possible. Of course I fell in love the CWT fabric, but it was a bit pricey. I opted to buy one yard of the patterned fabric and sew an 18" panel at the bottom of my existing West Elm curtains. My sweet grandma helped me {and by help, I mean she basically did it} I couldn't be happier.
How has it impacted your life for the better?
One of the many reasons I'm going into interior design is because of the sheer joy one feels upon completed a room they truly love. When you enjoy spending time in your home, you are inevitably happier. So when I created this bedroom to reflect my personality and all the things I love, I felt just that; so joyful. I was able to experience the feeling I hope to instill in future clients first-hand. The mint color is unbelievably calming and the peach gives me just enough energy to get the day's work done. My cutie pie puppy, Hope, seems to love the room too! It's safe to say we heart it!
Isn't it lovely? Such a happy sanctuary to both work and rest. I love that it is so nicely balanced, and that so much of it was DIY'd with passion. You can really see Michaela's love for design and organization shine through in her space!
You can always find more eye candy and happiness over on her blog here. The lovely room photography was done by Gem Photo.
Anyone else having a "working" bedroom? How do you keep the balance between rest and function?
ATTENTION!! Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition? Have an awesome organizing story to share? I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life. Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!! Photos should be high resolution and unedited. Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better! Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice! Only love goes on at this blog!
I haven't had the opportunity to feature too many bedroom spaces, which is a shame since they really are an escape from the rest of the home. And for Michaela, it also doubled as her study space, so a little extra organization was a must! Be ready to be amazed, this is one incredibly happy and darling room!
I asked Michaela a few questions about her beautiful bedroom:
What is the main function of the space?
The main function of the space is sleeping, getting ready for the day and doing desk work, such as client drawings, crafts and of course, blogging!
Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?
I love staying organized, so in order to do so I have many different baskets, drawers and furniture pieces to keep everything in its place. The white dresser is key to storage because it has a log of great drawers. I found this for only $70 at Goodwill and refinished and lined the drawers with pretty paper.
One of my favorite tips to staying organized is to go through your things often and clear out the clutter! I try not to keep things I haven't used in a few months, and only decorate with knick-knacks and books I truly adore. Less is more! Am I sounding like Monica from FRIENDS yet?
What items did you find essential when organizing your space and why?
Because my vintage desk only has one drawer, the little piece to the right of the desk came in very handy when organizing. My scrapbooking and stationary stash is tucked away in clean, white boxes and adorned with a few simple decor items. The other white piece of furniture to the left of the desk with the two baskets and big mint storage box on top was also essential. I've found that papers, craft supplies, and all the other items that come with being a designer would totally explode and take over my room if I didn't have designed storage in place. When you organize, you need strategy. Mine was to put papers in labeled folders and store them in the mint box, craft items in the wicker boxes, stationary in the white photo boxes and writing utensils in mason jars on my desk. Pens, pencils and markers were separated in their own jar to make the desktop look cute and clean.
What did you do to go the extra mile and make it pretty?
By far my favorite element in the room is the architectural gallery wall I put together with the help of a few talented friends. I had a sweet friend paint some beautiful furniture pieces {that black and white chair... I smile every time I look up at it} and another friend sent me some stunning photographs of buildings from her travels. Black and white frames help bring in balance above the desk. Being lovers of all things organized, I am sure you're with me on this - there is nothing better than a perfectly organized and styled bookcase. My bookshelves constantly change, as I rearrange them on a monthly basis, but I just love how this styling turned out. I tried to display things that truly spoke to "me" and symbolized a collected and inspired home, with all the treasures I love.
Where did you find your inspiration?
My inspiration was found in the color palette. I knew I wanted something light, sophisticated, and fresh. When I think of the word "fresh", minty seafoam is the first hue that comes to mind. Throw in a dash of peach and blush, and I'm a happy girl. The Caitlin Wilson Textile fabric I used for my curtains was truly the perfect starting point to my color story.
What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?
A true DIYer at heart, I did mostly everything myself! I thrifted the dresser for $70 at Goodwill and refinished it. After browsing HomeGoods, I scored the nightstand for $40 and refinished it in dove gray. The abstract art above the bed was something I created to add a punch of color and the desk and chair set was a consignment find for only $150 {and it's vintage - huge steal!}. My favorite DIY project and money saving tactic were the curtains. On a college student budget, I was looking to stretch the bank any way possible. Of course I fell in love the CWT fabric, but it was a bit pricey. I opted to buy one yard of the patterned fabric and sew an 18" panel at the bottom of my existing West Elm curtains. My sweet grandma helped me {and by help, I mean she basically did it} I couldn't be happier.
How has it impacted your life for the better?
One of the many reasons I'm going into interior design is because of the sheer joy one feels upon completed a room they truly love. When you enjoy spending time in your home, you are inevitably happier. So when I created this bedroom to reflect my personality and all the things I love, I felt just that; so joyful. I was able to experience the feeling I hope to instill in future clients first-hand. The mint color is unbelievably calming and the peach gives me just enough energy to get the day's work done. My cutie pie puppy, Hope, seems to love the room too! It's safe to say we heart it!
Isn't it lovely? Such a happy sanctuary to both work and rest. I love that it is so nicely balanced, and that so much of it was DIY'd with passion. You can really see Michaela's love for design and organization shine through in her space!
You can always find more eye candy and happiness over on her blog here. The lovely room photography was done by Gem Photo.
Anyone else having a "working" bedroom? How do you keep the balance between rest and function?
ATTENTION!! Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition? Have an awesome organizing story to share? I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life. Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!! Photos should be high resolution and unedited. Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better! Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice! Only love goes on at this blog!
If you have a closet you are looking to whip into shape, this week's giveaway is just for you! It is being sponsored by the delightful folks at Clos-ette Too!
President and Creative Director, Melanie Charlton, is considered the founding mother of high-end custom closets. Since launching Clos-ette ten years ago, she has worked with over 5,000 clients worldwide to design, build and organize the most beautiful bespoke closets around.
After ten years of organizing and designing closets for the world’s most discerning clients, Clos-ette Too sprang to life from Clos-ette and they’re proud to channel their expertise into a new line of closet accessories. Their hangers, jewelry cases, shelf dividers and more offer the high style and high function their couture clients adore, at a fraction of the price.
Not only can you snag oodles of inspiration off of their blog and through their online magazine, but today they are here to help you get organized in style!
That's right! One lucky iHeart Organizing reader will receive {in the color of their choice} 2 Sets of the Signature Slim Shirt Hangers, 2 sets of the Signature Slim Shirt Hangers w/Bar and a set of Cedar or Lavender Scented Folding Boards!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
IHeart Organizing readers can enter code iheart20 to receive 20% off of your total order from Clos-etteToo.com!
Good luck everyone and...
IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
President and Creative Director, Melanie Charlton, is considered the founding mother of high-end custom closets. Since launching Clos-ette ten years ago, she has worked with over 5,000 clients worldwide to design, build and organize the most beautiful bespoke closets around.
After ten years of organizing and designing closets for the world’s most discerning clients, Clos-ette Too sprang to life from Clos-ette and they’re proud to channel their expertise into a new line of closet accessories. Their hangers, jewelry cases, shelf dividers and more offer the high style and high function their couture clients adore, at a fraction of the price.
Not only can you snag oodles of inspiration off of their blog and through their online magazine, but today they are here to help you get organized in style!
That's right! One lucky iHeart Organizing reader will receive {in the color of their choice} 2 Sets of the Signature Slim Shirt Hangers, 2 sets of the Signature Slim Shirt Hangers w/Bar and a set of Cedar or Lavender Scented Folding Boards!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
IHeart Organizing readers can enter code iheart20 to receive 20% off of your total order from Clos-etteToo.com!
Good luck everyone and...
IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
The day I have been waiting for all month long is finally here! It's time to party, celebrate and share all of your successes and hard work this month! I absolutely can't wait to see what you fine folks have been up to!
This month we have tackled our paper piles head on, managed our budgets, maximized our storage, organized our messy drawers, dared to DIY and played with crafts, papers, glues and paints! I hope y'all had as much fun as I did!
Above you can see the projects that I took on this month: Organizing Greeting Cards, Conquering Paper Piles, DIYing Drawer Dividers, Creating a Budget Binder, Labeling Cords and Creating a Place for Memos.
But enough about my projects. This day is about YOU!
So LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Whether you gave your office a face lift, organized a drawer, sorted your file cabinet, DIY'd a pencil holder or even added some inspirational art, I want to see it! And of course I know how busy everyone is so this party is open for a good long month, which will hopefully give you time to finish up your projects or even whip up a few more based on the additional inspiration you found within the link ups!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated, shared your ideas, tips and tricks this month!
Every month we are tackling different projects and spaces around the home, to get organized one space and one project at a time. You can check out the introduction to Home Office month here.
This month we have tackled our paper piles head on, managed our budgets, maximized our storage, organized our messy drawers, dared to DIY and played with crafts, papers, glues and paints! I hope y'all had as much fun as I did!
Above you can see the projects that I took on this month: Organizing Greeting Cards, Conquering Paper Piles, DIYing Drawer Dividers, Creating a Budget Binder, Labeling Cords and Creating a Place for Memos.
But enough about my projects. This day is about YOU!
So LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Whether you gave your office a face lift, organized a drawer, sorted your file cabinet, DIY'd a pencil holder or even added some inspirational art, I want to see it! And of course I know how busy everyone is so this party is open for a good long month, which will hopefully give you time to finish up your projects or even whip up a few more based on the additional inspiration you found within the link ups!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated, shared your ideas, tips and tricks this month!
Every month we are tackling different projects and spaces around the home, to get organized one space and one project at a time. You can check out the introduction to Home Office month here.
Our cords have some identity problems. Wait, scratch that. A certain little man should be locked up for snatching. It seems every time I go to grab a charger cord, it has gone missing. Little stinker.
We have a few good cord organizing systems... for most, we have charging stations where the cords stay put. And for the others, I keep them stashed away in organized boxes I DIY'd awhile back.
The box works great for keeping those extra cords stored neatly away when it comes to the electronics we don't use on a daily basis {also keeping workspaces clutter free}. However, for the cords that we travel with or that get moved around the home, sometimes it is a challenge to keep them order and know which cord belongs to which family member. Especially when there are five people with similar electronics and devices.
Two of my favorite organizing products solved that problem in a jif!
Pretty washi tape combined with my handy label maker and now there is no question what the cord is for.
To make this awesomeness happen, I just wrapped the Washi tape around the cord and printed a label with my label maker onto clear label maker tape. Then, I placed the label onto the Washi tape and done!
For the cords that are mine, I made sure to use pretty flower tape, that way, my little youngster will hopefully avoid "mistakenly" grabbing mom's cords.
For the cords that are mine, I made sure to use pretty flower tape, that way, my little youngster will hopefully avoid "mistakenly" grabbing mom's cords.
And for him.... I made it as clear as possible.
And, it's cute! I thought I would be bothered by extra labels/tags on my cords, but I sorta love it!
Super quick, super easy and super effective!
My poor studio has been suffering as I hit a design mental road block. I couldn't settle on a color scheme or find items that truly reflected my personality or vision for the space. Unfortunately, the area is open to our lower level family room, which makes it a bit more tricky to go uber girly as I would like. So, for months, it has been the drop zone, the room to pull from, the room with no direction.
After stumbling across the artwork of Michelle Armas, I knew it was exactly what I had been waiting for, and her art would be just the inspiration I needed.
So, I took the first steps in adding some color to the space with the new artwork, and also felt the need to re-evaluate the space above the recently painted dresser.
Once upon a time, we used a giant ol' thrift store frame to create a pretty memo board.
And I used it and loved it. But I also loved that frame and because my studio wasn't finished, I wasn't using it as much as I had originally hoped. So, the frame started getting used around the house for other projects. So, when you saw the painted dresser, the frame was no longer there....
But, now that I am re-invigorated to move forward with updating the space, organizing it for Home Office month and using it daily, I wanted that memo board to come back to its original home.
A little fabric update {simple linen to tone things down}, a swap from horizontal to vertical, a photo and the new artwork to the right and some white balance adjusting on my camera, and I now have a fresh new look!
I have been playing musical lamps lately and the lamp that once lived on the dresser now lives next to the sofa in the family room, so I "borrowed" Preston's lamp as a stand in until I can find my own, or a different one for him.
I am now playing with some ideas to update the paint color on the dresser, or to bring in a solid, beautiful wood console instead since I don't have any wood toned furniture in the studio and I think it is just what the space needs {there is and will be a lot of white with pops of color going on in the rest of the room and I could use the dresser in our master bedroom for linen storage}. Until then, the deep blue already blends a bit nicer with the softer accents above. Only time will tell...
The memo board is beautiful and although we just updated it this week, I am already having fun pinning up current color trends, cards received, color palette ideas, business cards, photos, etc...
Funny how a simple update can re-inspire one to dive back into a room makeover.
How about a fun progression shot to show what a few minor tweaks can do?
And here is the direction I am hoping to go with the studio, however, knowing me, it's very likely to continue to be "tweaked" as well.
What updates have you made this month, that are leaving you invigorated and excited to use your space? Anyone else have a memo board and loooove it?
After stumbling across the artwork of Michelle Armas, I knew it was exactly what I had been waiting for, and her art would be just the inspiration I needed.
 |
| {instagram} |
Once upon a time, we used a giant ol' thrift store frame to create a pretty memo board.
And I used it and loved it. But I also loved that frame and because my studio wasn't finished, I wasn't using it as much as I had originally hoped. So, the frame started getting used around the house for other projects. So, when you saw the painted dresser, the frame was no longer there....
But, now that I am re-invigorated to move forward with updating the space, organizing it for Home Office month and using it daily, I wanted that memo board to come back to its original home.
A little fabric update {simple linen to tone things down}, a swap from horizontal to vertical, a photo and the new artwork to the right and some white balance adjusting on my camera, and I now have a fresh new look!
I have been playing musical lamps lately and the lamp that once lived on the dresser now lives next to the sofa in the family room, so I "borrowed" Preston's lamp as a stand in until I can find my own, or a different one for him.
I am now playing with some ideas to update the paint color on the dresser, or to bring in a solid, beautiful wood console instead since I don't have any wood toned furniture in the studio and I think it is just what the space needs {there is and will be a lot of white with pops of color going on in the rest of the room and I could use the dresser in our master bedroom for linen storage}. Until then, the deep blue already blends a bit nicer with the softer accents above. Only time will tell...
The memo board is beautiful and although we just updated it this week, I am already having fun pinning up current color trends, cards received, color palette ideas, business cards, photos, etc...
Funny how a simple update can re-inspire one to dive back into a room makeover.
How about a fun progression shot to show what a few minor tweaks can do?
And here is the direction I am hoping to go with the studio, however, knowing me, it's very likely to continue to be "tweaked" as well.
 |
| {source: basket, console, lamp, memo board, chandelier, chair, rug, art, magazine file, stool} |
What updates have you made this month, that are leaving you invigorated and excited to use your space? Anyone else have a memo board and loooove it?
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