Well friends, I had high hopes that I would have a studio update for you all today, including a pretty new rug and closet curtain. However, the rug was baaaaad and the curtain fabric just wasn't right. So sadly, I have nothin'. There were a few other hang-ups, but I will get into all of that within the next update. I thought it would be fun to take a break from studio talk today and focus on my inner organizing nerd instead.
In the past, I have shared my purse process, which basically consists of me carrying a tote that holds my planner, iPad, pens, sunglasses, some other girly things and my wallet. I take the tote in the car with me when I travel, but don't take it inside with me when I run into stores as I much prefer to just carry a single clutch or wallet most of the time.
Do you ever get frustrated with your purse and just dump it all on the table and give it an instant organizing session? I did that earlier this week and noticed that there is always a common trend when I do this. Pesky bobby pins! Seriously, can't stand those things but I always carry them and use them to pin up my hair. I know, I know, this is really important stuff right here.
It isn't just the bobby pins though; it is also hair ties and jewelry. They always seem to be floating around in random pockets inside of my tote. I decided I needed a small container to corral those itty bitties. Plus, there are times when I need to occasionally remove my wedding ring when I am out {no hubby, you don't have to worry... think manicures and long typing sessions at the coffee shop}, and I liked the idea of having something to keep it in so it isn't floating around inside of my tote.
Enter an empty prescription bottle.
Riveting right? No, this is not rocket science organizing and I know I am not the first to use a prescription bottle to organize little items inside of my purse. But why not share the big projects with the little right? So here you have it. I spray painted a prescription bottle... {I figured if the genius Courtney can spray paint a bleach bottle cap, I could spray paint a prescription bottle}
And then covered it in a vinyl cutout done with my die cutting machine.
And it turned out as adorable small storage for my tote.
I am sure I will continue to use upcycle these containers for other small storage, and next time I will probably save the trouble of the spray paint {it can easily scrape off if you don't put a thin coat of primer on it first and/or a protective finish over it after} and just use decorative paper or fabric and Mod Podge instead. Live and learn and share I say. At least it is cute!
This project reminded me of the sweet little headphone storage I created out of a Q-Tip container awhile back, which I still use all of the time. I adore when everyday packaging can be re-purosed.
What product packaging have you been up-cycling for storage lately?
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In the past, I have shared my purse process, which basically consists of me carrying a tote that holds my planner, iPad, pens, sunglasses, some other girly things and my wallet. I take the tote in the car with me when I travel, but don't take it inside with me when I run into stores as I much prefer to just carry a single clutch or wallet most of the time.
Do you ever get frustrated with your purse and just dump it all on the table and give it an instant organizing session? I did that earlier this week and noticed that there is always a common trend when I do this. Pesky bobby pins! Seriously, can't stand those things but I always carry them and use them to pin up my hair. I know, I know, this is really important stuff right here.
It isn't just the bobby pins though; it is also hair ties and jewelry. They always seem to be floating around in random pockets inside of my tote. I decided I needed a small container to corral those itty bitties. Plus, there are times when I need to occasionally remove my wedding ring when I am out {no hubby, you don't have to worry... think manicures and long typing sessions at the coffee shop}, and I liked the idea of having something to keep it in so it isn't floating around inside of my tote.
Enter an empty prescription bottle.
Riveting right? No, this is not rocket science organizing and I know I am not the first to use a prescription bottle to organize little items inside of my purse. But why not share the big projects with the little right? So here you have it. I spray painted a prescription bottle... {I figured if the genius Courtney can spray paint a bleach bottle cap, I could spray paint a prescription bottle}
And then covered it in a vinyl cutout done with my die cutting machine.
And it turned out as adorable small storage for my tote.
I am sure I will continue to use upcycle these containers for other small storage, and next time I will probably save the trouble of the spray paint {it can easily scrape off if you don't put a thin coat of primer on it first and/or a protective finish over it after} and just use decorative paper or fabric and Mod Podge instead. Live and learn and share I say. At least it is cute!
This project reminded me of the sweet little headphone storage I created out of a Q-Tip container awhile back, which I still use all of the time. I adore when everyday packaging can be re-purosed.
What product packaging have you been up-cycling for storage lately?
First, I am excited to give a warm congratulations to my friend and contributor, Chelsea of Two Twenty One. She recently announced they are expecting a wee one and I couldn't be more thrilled for her and her husband! I am already giddy for her baby organizing posts, since Chelsea always comes up with such creative solutions around her home.
Today she is here to share how finding out this news has already changed the way they look at and use their home. Starting with a beautiful dresser and a need to upgrade her gift wrap organization.
"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 she is here to share how finding out this news has already changed the way they look at and use their home. Starting with a beautiful dresser and a need to upgrade her gift wrap organization.
A couple weeks ago my husband and I announced our big news that I'm expecting our first child. And many of you know, when a new family member is about to join a family some rearranging has to happen in the house in order to make room. In our case, my husband's home office will become the nursery so we're having to move some of his things into our guest bedroom. Consolidating two rooms into one isn't going to be the easiest, but we're beginning to purge and reorganize our things.
One project I tackled this weekend was cleaning out this old dresser and the items we were storing under the bed in the guest bedroom. The dresser is one of a few family heirlooms we have in our home. My mom and aunt used the dresser as little girls, so the piece means a lot to me.
Now, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I didn't use the dresser for anything. It basically acted like a glorified TV stand {we got rid of the TV during our weekend purge} and surface for our guests to use. But the drawers were empty.
At first, I didn't know what to put in the dresser. Our guests rarely stay longer than 2-3 nights, and I've never had anyone say they wanted to put their things in the dresser. I thought about using it in the future nursery but due to its age and depth, I opted not to go that route.
A light bulb went off when I came across two totes I use to store gift wrapping supplies under the guest bed. We have other things from my husband's office that can go under the bed so I decided to store all of my gift wrapping supplies in the dresser-- turning it into a gift wrapping station.
The bottom drawer of the dresser has seen better days so I decided to store my Christmas wrapping papers and bows in that drawer so I wouldn't be opening it very often.
I used the middle drawer to store gift boxes, larger gift bags, and birthday and other occasion wrapping papers.
The top right side drawer holds tissue paper and smaller gift bags.
The top left side drawer stores extra bows, shredded paper for gift baskets, scissors, gift wrap cutter, tape, and rubber bands.
Who knows if the dresser will remain a wrapping station for long, but it's working for now. It took me less than 30 minutes to organize and put everything in the dresser so I'm sure it wouldn't take me long to put the items somewhere else if we find a better use for the dresser down the road.
"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!"
I know I owe you all a little update on our garage organization project that we started last year, but in all honestly, it is a construction zone disaster. Everything is still sitting in either just started or half-finished stages. And with temps remaining in the negatives for months at a time, we haven't been able to get much of anything accomplished in there.
That doesn't mean that I am not still making grand plans for the area for the second Spring makes an appearance. And in doing so, I found some absolutely amazing inspiration.
Amanda writes over at Dixie Delights and has the most glorious garage organization I have seen. We are talking about a setup I dream about at night. What? Don't you don't dream about garage storage? Moving on then...
In typical Reader Space fashion, I asked Amanda a few "had to know" questions about her space.
Any superstar tips for keeping your garage organized?
"Well, I find it's easier to pick up and put up every day, rather than waiting on a big old mess to pile up. So, we are in a pretty good routine now for just putting our things back when we are done using them. Come home from baseball? Hang up your bag. Finished up shooting hoops in the driveway? Put away the ball. Hopped off the school bus? Tuck your shoes away in your locker. It's not perfect every day, but it's way WAY better than the piles of stuff we had to pick through multiple times a day just to get out of the house."
What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?
"The single most important thing we did with this project was to take our time and make a plan. We lived in the space for long enough to really get a good list of our needs. We also spent a great deal of time thinking about the next 5-10 years and what sorts of items we might need to store {and not need to store} as the boys grow and our family changes."
What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?
"Well, that's just kind of my thing! I love pretty spaces and love living in {really living... not just passing through} pretty spaces. Just because it is a garage didn't mean it had to be completely utilitarian in my mind. We enter our home through this space very close to 100% of the time and our friends do the same. I wanted it to be tidy and practical and cheerful to boot."
What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?
"Nearly the entire project was a DIY! My husband purchased the upper cabinets and built everything else. We priced out garage organization systems and came in at 1/4 of the price!"
How has this space impacted your life for the better?
"In all honesty, redoing the garage is second only to the basement in improving the way we live in our home. It's a good feeling to come home to everything in its place, and the boys love having their own little lockers to store their things. Oh, and we can fit both of our cars in the two car garage now - that was a pretty big thing too!"
It is amazing what some unfinished cabinets and a little imagination can dream up! Wall-to-wall lockers for the entire family to utilize and enjoy. I am over the moon for all of shoe storage below and all of the hooks above. This setup is such a great combination of open storage for the items used daily and concealed storage for less sightly items. I also adore that they thought to create a surface deep enough for a bench.
This also goes to show what some paint can do for a garage! Garages do not need to be ugly my friends. In fact, they are often times an extension of the home and the first area to greet you. It really brightened things up to have the cubbies painted in a beautiful neutral hue. And how welcoming is that fabulous door?
Lastly, Amanda's tip for keeping the garage orderly does not just have to apply to this area of the home. It applies to all areas. By really planning out proper storage that allows the process of putting things away to remain simple, the garage remains less cluttered and fewer piles will form. Her open lockers really do make putting things away easy breezy for the entire family.
And because I am a sucker for an incredible before and after...
A huge round of applause to Amanda and her husband for living with the space, doing some major planning and DIY'ing the garage of their dreams. And mine. You can find many more of the specifics and after photos on her blog here.
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*All photos courtesy of Dixie Delights.
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, big or small. They can be anything from an organized drawer or cabinet to an entire room. Please submit your story and photos to iheartreaderspace@gmail.com, 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!
That doesn't mean that I am not still making grand plans for the area for the second Spring makes an appearance. And in doing so, I found some absolutely amazing inspiration.
Amanda writes over at Dixie Delights and has the most glorious garage organization I have seen. We are talking about a setup I dream about at night. What? Don't you don't dream about garage storage? Moving on then...
In typical Reader Space fashion, I asked Amanda a few "had to know" questions about her space.
Any superstar tips for keeping your garage organized?
"Well, I find it's easier to pick up and put up every day, rather than waiting on a big old mess to pile up. So, we are in a pretty good routine now for just putting our things back when we are done using them. Come home from baseball? Hang up your bag. Finished up shooting hoops in the driveway? Put away the ball. Hopped off the school bus? Tuck your shoes away in your locker. It's not perfect every day, but it's way WAY better than the piles of stuff we had to pick through multiple times a day just to get out of the house."
What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?
"The single most important thing we did with this project was to take our time and make a plan. We lived in the space for long enough to really get a good list of our needs. We also spent a great deal of time thinking about the next 5-10 years and what sorts of items we might need to store {and not need to store} as the boys grow and our family changes."
What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?
"Well, that's just kind of my thing! I love pretty spaces and love living in {really living... not just passing through} pretty spaces. Just because it is a garage didn't mean it had to be completely utilitarian in my mind. We enter our home through this space very close to 100% of the time and our friends do the same. I wanted it to be tidy and practical and cheerful to boot."
What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?
"Nearly the entire project was a DIY! My husband purchased the upper cabinets and built everything else. We priced out garage organization systems and came in at 1/4 of the price!"
How has this space impacted your life for the better?
"In all honesty, redoing the garage is second only to the basement in improving the way we live in our home. It's a good feeling to come home to everything in its place, and the boys love having their own little lockers to store their things. Oh, and we can fit both of our cars in the two car garage now - that was a pretty big thing too!"
It is amazing what some unfinished cabinets and a little imagination can dream up! Wall-to-wall lockers for the entire family to utilize and enjoy. I am over the moon for all of shoe storage below and all of the hooks above. This setup is such a great combination of open storage for the items used daily and concealed storage for less sightly items. I also adore that they thought to create a surface deep enough for a bench.
This also goes to show what some paint can do for a garage! Garages do not need to be ugly my friends. In fact, they are often times an extension of the home and the first area to greet you. It really brightened things up to have the cubbies painted in a beautiful neutral hue. And how welcoming is that fabulous door?
Lastly, Amanda's tip for keeping the garage orderly does not just have to apply to this area of the home. It applies to all areas. By really planning out proper storage that allows the process of putting things away to remain simple, the garage remains less cluttered and fewer piles will form. Her open lockers really do make putting things away easy breezy for the entire family.
And because I am a sucker for an incredible before and after...
A huge round of applause to Amanda and her husband for living with the space, doing some major planning and DIY'ing the garage of their dreams. And mine. You can find many more of the specifics and after photos on her blog here.
*All photos courtesy of Dixie Delights.
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, big or small. They can be anything from an organized drawer or cabinet to an entire room. Please submit your story and photos to iheartreaderspace@gmail.com, 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!
First, I have to take a moment and thank you all for the sweet comments, words of encouragement, stories and fantastic solutions for our home office/studio space. The response to the "re-set" post was positively overwhelming; it is always so wonderful when you can connect with others in similar situations. You definitely had some amazing ideas for the space, and quite a few I hadn't thought of or yet considered. It is so fun to get different perspectives, so really, thank you again!
We made bits of progress this past weekend! Sorry for the exclamation points beyond the normal obnoxious amount, but this is really exciting for me!
The first thing we did was sit down and take in your comments and evaluate the space from all perspectives. We looked at it in person, and picked it apart in photos on the blog. We made a list of what we loved and what was working. We concluded that the built-in storage was working really well, while some of the smaller crafty items just needed to be purged and labeled. We also decided that although part of the problem in the room may be that we have three walls with three workstations, we use each one of them so frequently that we just can't see ourselves without them. We have the space to use as a family for work and play, why not take advantage of that?
That said, it doesn't mean that we are ultimately keeping the desks we do currently have. I was basically given a budget for updating the lighting, adding a new rug and adding a few smaller touches, so for now any new workspace will come in the form of a build vs. a buy {which is totally cool with us}.
The walls in our lower level all connect and flow together. The studio walls flow into our family room which flows into the playroom. So something else we decided to keep for now, is the wall color.
Otherwise, the blank slate was just the perspective I needed. After I posted Friday evening, I even removed the memo board and baskets on the wall. Again, the photos really made me aware that they were also adding to the visual clutter of the space. To start from scratch really meant starting with a 100% blank slate.
So, I focused on what I could this weekend, which meant organizing the items that I already had and wanted to keep in the empty cabinets. Bryan added in some moulding to bridge the gap between the walls and the cabinets {because our walls are not square}, along with some shoe moulding around the base of the cabinets. Once that was painted to match, I got to work filling up the shelves with items I needed first, and a few decorative objects second.
I am going to warn you, this is not a dramatic transformation or a completed and "styled" space yet. It is essentially a functional nook at this point. Oh! And the Silhouette cart is coming back after the drawer fronts get a little update as well, so the empty space between the cabinets will be filled back up later on.
Now that all my crafts have a home, I thought I would give you a quick tour behind those doors and share how I use and organized the area. Did I tell you I was excited about this project? My boxes finally have labels people! Oh, and for those new around here, I also store home decor, larger crafting supplies, frames and "in-process projects", under the stairs.
Let's start with the counter. I wanted to keep this as open as possible to allow for ample work space. If I want to sit down, I can bring in the stool from the counter in the laundry room {which is right off the studio}. The counter didn't receive much of an update because it was already working so well for us previously, however, it was simplified a bit more.
I really love having my craft paints visible and simple to access since we do a lot of small painting projects around here. The towel bar paired with S-hooks has been so wonderful in keeping daily tools right within reach.
The upper cabinets hold a few different functions. The cabinet to the left contains the smaller supplies and tools all corralled within storage boxes I already had {a few are my favorite cheapy Kassett boxes from IKEA, the green drawers were from Container Store and the blue dot box is Paper Source}.
Most of the boxes came with label holders, but if they didn't, I slapped one on {you can read more about my love affair with label holders here}. We all know I have basically considered labeling anything and everything, including the dogs and children, but here is really makes sense. I can't see the contents inside of the boxes; so having each one labeled takes out any guess work.
Yes, I have a box filled with labeling tools. Has anyone established a self-help group?
I tried to limit any stacking of the boxes to keep them simple to get at. And because I know that you like to see what is inside, it really was just a matter of tossing "like" items into specific boxes.
Above you can see a box of punches, a box of glitters and special paints and a box for embossing items. Below, is a box of adhesives.
The open area next to this cabinet was the perfect spot to mix in a few working accessories.
The jar originally had a less attractive red lid {similar jar found at Target here}, which I spray painted gold. It now holds tubes of acrylic paints. And the shoebox I recovered is still working out nicely for holding some smaller miscellaneous craft supplies.
Without judging me and my "issues" with collecting issues {couldn't resist}, the final cabinet is currently holding most of my magazine stash. These are favorites from about the past 12 years of living in our home and the collection is getting a little out of control. I would love to pair them down into inspiration binders someday soon.
The lower cabinets each have a drawer. The drawer to the left has a few dividers and holds extra notebooks/notepads {because I am a note taker/list maker} along with miscellaneous office electronics and my laminator.
In the cabinet below the drawer, I have wall-to-wall scrapbook paper organizers {I found these years ago and can't recall where}.
Bryan also installed a small shelf in this cabinet to hold our photo printer and a few paper trays to separate out cardstock paper from printing paper. The magazine file is the perfect size for holding paper to be recycled or reused right next to the printer.
And that completes the cabinet tour!
I am sure as we continue to tackle the rest of the space {a few extra purging sessions for the work areas and some aesthetic changes}, this area may be tweaked a little more as well. However, the functionality is fantastic and I love how simple everything is. And I still have my pops of color, but without the deep grey wall, artwork and wall baskets, it just isn't as "in-yo-face" as before.
I have gone ahead and ordered some curtain fabric {so excited to see how it looks in the space} along with a rug {which is always terrifying}. Now to just bat my eyes at the hubby to gain his interest in building a new desk.
What organizing project did you tackle this past weekend?
.png)
We made bits of progress this past weekend! Sorry for the exclamation points beyond the normal obnoxious amount, but this is really exciting for me!
The first thing we did was sit down and take in your comments and evaluate the space from all perspectives. We looked at it in person, and picked it apart in photos on the blog. We made a list of what we loved and what was working. We concluded that the built-in storage was working really well, while some of the smaller crafty items just needed to be purged and labeled. We also decided that although part of the problem in the room may be that we have three walls with three workstations, we use each one of them so frequently that we just can't see ourselves without them. We have the space to use as a family for work and play, why not take advantage of that?
That said, it doesn't mean that we are ultimately keeping the desks we do currently have. I was basically given a budget for updating the lighting, adding a new rug and adding a few smaller touches, so for now any new workspace will come in the form of a build vs. a buy {which is totally cool with us}.
The walls in our lower level all connect and flow together. The studio walls flow into our family room which flows into the playroom. So something else we decided to keep for now, is the wall color.
Otherwise, the blank slate was just the perspective I needed. After I posted Friday evening, I even removed the memo board and baskets on the wall. Again, the photos really made me aware that they were also adding to the visual clutter of the space. To start from scratch really meant starting with a 100% blank slate.
So, I focused on what I could this weekend, which meant organizing the items that I already had and wanted to keep in the empty cabinets. Bryan added in some moulding to bridge the gap between the walls and the cabinets {because our walls are not square}, along with some shoe moulding around the base of the cabinets. Once that was painted to match, I got to work filling up the shelves with items I needed first, and a few decorative objects second.
I am going to warn you, this is not a dramatic transformation or a completed and "styled" space yet. It is essentially a functional nook at this point. Oh! And the Silhouette cart is coming back after the drawer fronts get a little update as well, so the empty space between the cabinets will be filled back up later on.
Now that all my crafts have a home, I thought I would give you a quick tour behind those doors and share how I use and organized the area. Did I tell you I was excited about this project? My boxes finally have labels people! Oh, and for those new around here, I also store home decor, larger crafting supplies, frames and "in-process projects", under the stairs.
Let's start with the counter. I wanted to keep this as open as possible to allow for ample work space. If I want to sit down, I can bring in the stool from the counter in the laundry room {which is right off the studio}. The counter didn't receive much of an update because it was already working so well for us previously, however, it was simplified a bit more.
I really love having my craft paints visible and simple to access since we do a lot of small painting projects around here. The towel bar paired with S-hooks has been so wonderful in keeping daily tools right within reach.
The upper cabinets hold a few different functions. The cabinet to the left contains the smaller supplies and tools all corralled within storage boxes I already had {a few are my favorite cheapy Kassett boxes from IKEA, the green drawers were from Container Store and the blue dot box is Paper Source}.
Most of the boxes came with label holders, but if they didn't, I slapped one on {you can read more about my love affair with label holders here}. We all know I have basically considered labeling anything and everything, including the dogs and children, but here is really makes sense. I can't see the contents inside of the boxes; so having each one labeled takes out any guess work.
Yes, I have a box filled with labeling tools. Has anyone established a self-help group?
I tried to limit any stacking of the boxes to keep them simple to get at. And because I know that you like to see what is inside, it really was just a matter of tossing "like" items into specific boxes.
Above you can see a box of punches, a box of glitters and special paints and a box for embossing items. Below, is a box of adhesives.
The open area next to this cabinet was the perfect spot to mix in a few working accessories.
The jar originally had a less attractive red lid {similar jar found at Target here}, which I spray painted gold. It now holds tubes of acrylic paints. And the shoebox I recovered is still working out nicely for holding some smaller miscellaneous craft supplies.
Without judging me and my "issues" with collecting issues {couldn't resist}, the final cabinet is currently holding most of my magazine stash. These are favorites from about the past 12 years of living in our home and the collection is getting a little out of control. I would love to pair them down into inspiration binders someday soon.
The lower cabinets each have a drawer. The drawer to the left has a few dividers and holds extra notebooks/notepads {because I am a note taker/list maker} along with miscellaneous office electronics and my laminator.
In the cabinet below the drawer, I have wall-to-wall scrapbook paper organizers {I found these years ago and can't recall where}.
Much of the paper is from my scrap-booking days, however, I still pick up a paper pack or a few single sheets for many of the smaller organizing projects I tackle. The paper is simply organized by type {not down to color or pattern} and I also use one of the organizers to hold my paper cutting tools.
The opposite drawer holds legal sized printing paper above...
And our wireless printer is stored in the cabinet right below.
And that completes the cabinet tour!
I am sure as we continue to tackle the rest of the space {a few extra purging sessions for the work areas and some aesthetic changes}, this area may be tweaked a little more as well. However, the functionality is fantastic and I love how simple everything is. And I still have my pops of color, but without the deep grey wall, artwork and wall baskets, it just isn't as "in-yo-face" as before.
I have gone ahead and ordered some curtain fabric {so excited to see how it looks in the space} along with a rug {which is always terrifying}. Now to just bat my eyes at the hubby to gain his interest in building a new desk.
What organizing project did you tackle this past weekend?
Let's chat about my studio/office for a moment shall we?
As I sit here gazing at the screen, unsure where to start, I am just going to dive right in and spew the first things that come to mind.
I am sort of bummed out about my workspace.
Imagine me banging my head repeatedly against the wall... only let's just imagine it because wow, that would hurt if I were to do it for real.
WHY oh why am I having such a hard time with this space? This coming from the girl who is seriously obsessed with office and craft spaces. Playrooms and office spaces are by my favorite to organize and decorate, yet I have been hitting road block after road block with my own.
The room has been evolving for over two years now! Do you know how long that is in Jen time? Maybe that is part of my frustration. After so much time plucking away at it, I still haven't gotten it right.
When I sit and dissect the office, my heart races for so many of the details.
My built in workspace is fantastic! I adore the storage it provides and the Instagram happiness showing through the plexi top.
My kids and hubby have basically taken over this area for working on their homework and projects and even playing games, but that is why I ultimately wanted multiple work zones. Although I am the primary user of the space, this studio is ultimately for all of us to utilize and enjoy.
I have taken over the opposite wall, which faces my inspiration board.
The chair is fab, the memo board really does make me smile while I work and my office accessories are used daily.
However, I think sharing our recent thrift store chair update, was the post I that really did it in for me. More on that in a moment.
The grey elephant in the room is the focal wall that I just had to have.
Isn't the color phenomenal? It is Behr's Intellectual and I have a major crush on it. Especially in the photo above. I really thought I had something going.
But when you put it all together....
Just no.
My eyes can't take it. And I can't work in it. I can't focus. I don't feel calm. I don't feel organized {although storage definitely is not an issue}. I just don't love it. Which would explain that bummed out feeling in my gut.
So what happened and where did I go wrong? I have a few ideas:
So although there is a lot that is not working, there is also a lot that is. That means I have the challenge of scaling some of it back, while keeping the function.
Along with the fact that the room has turned into a bit of a visual disaster, a closer look at the cabinets would reveal a painting disaster.
The wood stain was coming through the paint and yellowing portions of our cabinets. And they have only been getting worse and worse as months have gone by.
So........
I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed a reset button. So that is exactly what I gave myself thanks to my friend Kilz.
The cabinets received a good sanding and priming. And while I was at it, I let out some sobs and said goodbye to the grey wall. I had to continuously remind myself, less is more. Not every room needs a focal wall. My heart really wanted the grey to work, however, it really was just another distraction in the scheme of the space. I really can't stress how hard of a decision this was for me.
Once the primer dried, I gave my cabinets two coats of Pure White by Sherwin Williams. I used their premium paint with hopes that I would have no more yellowing moving forward.
Aside from going on a painting frenzy, I also removed every last item from the space, with the exception of the bulletin board. Everything is currently living in a giant pile in our family room. Brace yourselves.
Now, I have a completely blank slate to screw up. I kid, I kid! Of course what I really meant to type is that I now have a completely blank slate to transform into a place where I can work happy.
Wow, I feel better already. I am not gonna lie, this post wasn't easy to write. It is hard to admit that I have made a few mistakes along the way {a.k.a embarrassing}. But what I do know is that our house has evolved over the years into a place we heart to call home. And that when I don't get things right the first time {or second or third}, I edit and try again. And then I share it all here.
This weekend I plan on sorting and restyling my blank slate. I have asked Bryan to help me out with some small DIY's, like fixing the cabinet gap on the back wall, adding molding around the base cabinets and installing a new desktop between the Expedits. Fingers crossed I will have some sweet updates to share next week.
Can anyone out there sympathize with me? Who else has had to hit the reset button on a room? I would love to hear how it turned out!
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As I sit here gazing at the screen, unsure where to start, I am just going to dive right in and spew the first things that come to mind.
I am sort of bummed out about my workspace.
Imagine me banging my head repeatedly against the wall... only let's just imagine it because wow, that would hurt if I were to do it for real.
WHY oh why am I having such a hard time with this space? This coming from the girl who is seriously obsessed with office and craft spaces. Playrooms and office spaces are by my favorite to organize and decorate, yet I have been hitting road block after road block with my own.
The room has been evolving for over two years now! Do you know how long that is in Jen time? Maybe that is part of my frustration. After so much time plucking away at it, I still haven't gotten it right.
When I sit and dissect the office, my heart races for so many of the details.
My built in workspace is fantastic! I adore the storage it provides and the Instagram happiness showing through the plexi top.
My kids and hubby have basically taken over this area for working on their homework and projects and even playing games, but that is why I ultimately wanted multiple work zones. Although I am the primary user of the space, this studio is ultimately for all of us to utilize and enjoy.
I have taken over the opposite wall, which faces my inspiration board.
The chair is fab, the memo board really does make me smile while I work and my office accessories are used daily.
However, I think sharing our recent thrift store chair update, was the post I that really did it in for me. More on that in a moment.
The grey elephant in the room is the focal wall that I just had to have.
Isn't the color phenomenal? It is Behr's Intellectual and I have a major crush on it. Especially in the photo above. I really thought I had something going.
But when you put it all together....
Just no.
My eyes can't take it. And I can't work in it. I can't focus. I don't feel calm. I don't feel organized {although storage definitely is not an issue}. I just don't love it. Which would explain that bummed out feeling in my gut.
So what happened and where did I go wrong? I have a few ideas:
- I am in denial that I am aging. I think that I am designing this space for my inner still-a-kid-at-heart persona. It is time to wake up and smell the 30 something roses. After I saw the photo of the colorful backed chair with the memo board and the yellow task lamp, I was reminded of my dream desk at the age of 16. It was really eye opening to me that the room needs some sophistication.
- I need to put my hands up and step away from the inspiration. Blogs, Pinterest and magazines are my own worst enemies. I see so many new ideas and think, "I love that, I should totally do that!"
- Just because I love to taste the rainbow {really, Skittles are one of my favorite candies}, it doesn't mean that every color of the rainbow needs to be present in my creative space. Time to scale back a bit.
- Everywhere I look, there are elements that I love, but when placed all together, they start competing with one another. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
- The room is lacking in proper layering and textiles. This room does not have any windows or plush seating other than the desk chairs. However, A nice warm plush rug to keep my feet warm, a curtain instead of a door and throw pillows on the chairs could really warm things up. As could some more natural elements and a mixture of hardware finishes.
So although there is a lot that is not working, there is also a lot that is. That means I have the challenge of scaling some of it back, while keeping the function.
Along with the fact that the room has turned into a bit of a visual disaster, a closer look at the cabinets would reveal a painting disaster.
The wood stain was coming through the paint and yellowing portions of our cabinets. And they have only been getting worse and worse as months have gone by.
So........
I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed a reset button. So that is exactly what I gave myself thanks to my friend Kilz.
The cabinets received a good sanding and priming. And while I was at it, I let out some sobs and said goodbye to the grey wall. I had to continuously remind myself, less is more. Not every room needs a focal wall. My heart really wanted the grey to work, however, it really was just another distraction in the scheme of the space. I really can't stress how hard of a decision this was for me.
Once the primer dried, I gave my cabinets two coats of Pure White by Sherwin Williams. I used their premium paint with hopes that I would have no more yellowing moving forward.
Aside from going on a painting frenzy, I also removed every last item from the space, with the exception of the bulletin board. Everything is currently living in a giant pile in our family room. Brace yourselves.
Now, I have a completely blank slate to screw up. I kid, I kid! Of course what I really meant to type is that I now have a completely blank slate to transform into a place where I can work happy.
Wow, I feel better already. I am not gonna lie, this post wasn't easy to write. It is hard to admit that I have made a few mistakes along the way {a.k.a embarrassing}. But what I do know is that our house has evolved over the years into a place we heart to call home. And that when I don't get things right the first time {or second or third}, I edit and try again. And then I share it all here.
This weekend I plan on sorting and restyling my blank slate. I have asked Bryan to help me out with some small DIY's, like fixing the cabinet gap on the back wall, adding molding around the base cabinets and installing a new desktop between the Expedits. Fingers crossed I will have some sweet updates to share next week.
Can anyone out there sympathize with me? Who else has had to hit the reset button on a room? I would love to hear how it turned out!
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