JOYFUL scribblings

Before and After Home Office & A Giveaway

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Office before photo

I have been postponing showing you pictures of my new office area for months now because I didn’t feel like my pictures did it justice. I’ve lived in my house for 16 years and it has evolved many times over those years.  We had an open computer desk originally and then bought this huge computer armoire so that everything would be hidden.  The only problem is it always felt like a giant in the room in to me and the cabinets were always open showing the mess inside.


office before photo

The desk was also against a wall and your back was to the opening of the door which is bad feng shui.  The desk rarely got used and I longed to have it in the center of the room.  I also wanted to start using this space as an actual office where I could work on my blog.

feather pillow

My friend Kyra who also happens to be an interior designer at KD Interior Design helped me create a new vision for this space. My inspiration piece was this feather pillow from World Market.  I love the color palette and I happen to be into feathers right now. She helped me choose the wall color Sherwin Williams Magnetic Grey which really lightens up the room and updates it.  I’ve gotten lots of compliments on the color and have several friends who decided to use this color in a room.  In my office space  it really brings out the blue tones.

office

I also wanted to add some modern elements to my more traditional look.  I love an eclectic mix of accessories.  I mixed accessories and the way my books are stacked to make my bookshelves look more interesting.

bookshelf closeup

bookshelf closeup

I love gallery walls and Kyra helped me put this gallery wall together which makes a statement when you enter the room.  Several of the art prints are from Minted and the artist Clare Elsaesser on Etsy.  If you’d like to know where a specific print is from leave me a comment.   The rug and blue chair are from Ikea.  I love using rugs in rooms to create warmth and texture. I have a rug in almost every room of my home.

gallery wall

I added two low open bookshelves behind my desk which act as a credenza. The bookshelves are from Ballard Designs.  The nice thing about them is they are versatile pieces which can be used in any room. I waited months for the bulletin board above my bookcases to come in from Pottery Barn Teen.  The wait was worth it though.  I love the gold scalloped frame and I like having a place to pin inspirational quotes and images.

office

We had these built-in cabinets with a window seat installed shortly after we moved in. I love window seats and it’s where my dog likes to sit while I work.

Fritz on window seat

I’ve been reading a great book by one of my favorite decorating bloggers, Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room.  It’s called Love The Home You Have. It’s the first of a series of books Melissa will be publishing. This first book isn’t your typical decorating book filled with pictures of beautiful homes.  Love The Home You Have is filled with inspiration on how to make the best of your current home situation and love what you have.  Melissa shares several of her own home stories and struggles and invites readers to take a 31 day challenge at the end of the book.  I’m still reading my copy, but Melissa graciously gave me a copy to share with my readers.

Love the Home You Have book giveaway

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Please leave a comment on this post if you are interested in having your name in a drawing for the book.  I’ve also provided a link to Amazon for the book.  I’m an Amazon affiliate and should you decide to purchase it I make a very small amount.  There is no additional charge to you. I will leave the comments open for the drawing until June 7, 1015.

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Comments

  3. Your office looks great Dawn!
    I love the premise of Melissa Michaels’ book because I fall into the envy trap sometimes going to others homes. I also don’t take compliments well on my home because I don’t feel it’s as good as it could be. It’s also frustrating to not be able to complete a vision on a room project, so many times I’m stuck doing nothing until I find the perfect fabric or the perfect accessory.

    • Thanks Jeanene! I can relate. It seems like it takes forever before a room/project is totally complete and by that time it’s time to redo it 🙂 Melissa’s book really speaks to that and she shares a lot of personal experiences.

  4. loved this post Dawn, your office looks great, decorating is always a challenge for me!!

    • Thanks Kathy! Decorating can be overwhelming, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. I’m a very visual person so I like to look at a lot of catalogs, Pinterest and decorating books for ideas and to help me define the style I like.

  7. The office looks amazing! I love it! I think I need that ikea chair somewhere in my home. ☺️

    • Thanks Amy! I love that the desk now faces the window and the best part is my dog likes to hang out with me on the window seat.

  10. I love that you have the desk looking out. I find that sitting staring into a wall makes that a sure place you do NOT want to sit. We went through the armoire phase as well, and not it is up in the playroom with an old computer. They can be a perfect solution if you don’t have a dedicated room and need to “hide” stuff, but again, staring into the wall….

  11. Love the window seat and your dog is adorable. Looks like he has a great life and enjoys laying in the sun much like mine….my constant companion as I work out of my home office. Sorry, I digress, back to the office. Love the grey blue walls. Grey is my new “go to” neutral. Love the idea of having shelving or a decorative cabinet behind the the desk. The book “Love the Home you Have” would look great sitting on top :-).