One room at a time: The Office

March 27, 2010

Part of healing is building something new. Part of letting go is creating. Part of growing is doing.

I’ve never been all that good at the doing part. I want the pictures in my mind to appear in real life with little to no effort. That goes for both who I want to be and what I want around me. Lately, instead of looking for perfection (those pictures in my head), I’m looking simply for progress.

It helps me to have a concrete plan and accountability. Without the second part of the formula, my lack of discipline rears its ugly head and strikes me lazy every time. So annoying.

That being said, I wanted to share here (accountability) what Ryan and I are doing these days. You see, our new house needs some TLC. The problem is, we are the type of people that ramble on and on with ideas and say this needs to be done and that needs to be done and then we freeze because we get all overwhelmed.

So we’ve decided to tackle our home one room at a time, one weekend at a time.
And we’ve already started. GO TEAM!

Last weekend, we conquered The Office.

Wanna see what it looked like last Friday?

Okay then.

Before

Bare walls and disorganized stuff. Yup, that’s about it.

Now come with me, if you will.

Let me introduce you to the new office.

Yeah, there ya go…step a little closer…

Here we are…

AFTER

Another step in…

Oh, come on and come inside…

now go ahead and tilt that cute little noggin of yours…

and turn again to see…

what’s that?

organization?

MY FAVORITE.


and the $4.50 desk chair from Goodwill?

Love.

Next room, the one being worked on this very weekend?

Dining.

I’ll show her to you in the next installment of One Room at a Time.

Thank you for visiting.

The End.

Oh! P.S. I thought you might want to see some things up close:

(I was trying to show you paint colors, but they totally change color through the camera lens (trickers). But, hey! I tried. And trying is how you do the progress thing.)

What’s that?

Oh, the PEEP thing? That’s just a little feeding frenzy photo for my friends Seth, Kelly and Sara – some fellow Peep-lovin‘ fools.

OK then.

Really The End.

{ 41 comments }

C (Kid Things) March 27, 2010 at 2:56 pm

The transformation is gorgeous. You did a great job. And that chair, I kinda love Goodwill.

Ann Kroeker March 27, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Please come transform our house when you're done with yours, K? Please?

Looks so fun and fresh. I might get something done if I lived in a space with fun colors…and had an office…and ate peeps.

To Think is to Create March 27, 2010 at 3:05 pm

Good on ya, this is lovely. Great job girl! It's so freeing and refreshing, isn't it?

P.S. the rug? WANT.

Kimberly March 27, 2010 at 3:05 pm

Oh. My.

Lovely! I am in love with the colours and the organization just tickles me pink. Congratulations!

My Bottle's Up! March 27, 2010 at 3:13 pm

LOL… this was so fun to read, and take a peak at.

Heather of the EO March 27, 2010 at 3:18 pm

Oh the rug! I forgot to say that the rug is what I bought (among other things) when I won the $250 gift card to Target from Barking Mad. She (Auds) has the best giveaways ever! I still thank her silently every time I see the rug.

Kazzy March 27, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Hey, I love the office. We just redid our den too. I blogged about it a couple of weeks ago. It is so nice to have a nice organized space to write in and to think in. And, let's face it, to get some alone time in.

Great job!

Amber March 27, 2010 at 3:42 pm

It's amazing what redoing something does for the soul, isn't it? Beautiful.

L.T. Elliot March 27, 2010 at 3:54 pm

It looks beautiful, Heather! I really love the rug and the wall colors. (Even if they're not true to life.) I'm taking a page from you and going to work on one room at a time. My house and my head need it.

Sarah March 27, 2010 at 4:58 pm

love it! Funny thing though is my favorite part is the Peep pic, what is it about those little sugary treats…LOVE 'EM!!! And just to be even more excited I found sugar free ones for my son who was diagnosed this past winter with Type 1 diabetes, hope he loves them as I do!!!

Robin Arnold March 27, 2010 at 5:52 pm

I worried a bit about you when you moved in then said you were going to stop for a while. You've come a long way since then. I very love your new room. It's awesomoesauce.

DeNae March 27, 2010 at 6:48 pm

It's absolutely FABOO! Before I saw the price tag, I said to myself, "that is a great chair". Then I saw what you paid!! WOOT WOOT!! I love me a great bargain!!

You go, girl! I'll be watching the transformation, um, you know, transform!

Jen March 27, 2010 at 6:56 pm

Fabulous! I LOVE it.

And the Peep picture is cracking me up. :)

Heather March 27, 2010 at 7:06 pm

it looks SOOOOOO nice!

I can't wait to see the dining room!!

Sarah March 27, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Accountability? Oh yeah, we totally need some of that over here. Lots of talking, barely any doing whatsoever these days. I love the photos. I love the descriptions. And, dare I say, I'm a bit inspired. Oh if time were on my side…but I guess that's just an excuse, because it will never be, will it? Bravo, girl. There's nothing like the feeling of neat and organized room with a whole lot of pretty going on. Good for the head and the heart both.

ellethenovice March 27, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Oh, Heather, it's beautiful!! I love it – I want to come curl up on that couch.

Hey, I saw I missed a call from you a little while back (I was deathly sick at the time) – would love to chat sometime, friend. :)

wendy March 27, 2010 at 9:21 pm

wow, what a transformation. You did all that in one weekend.
It. Looks. Lovely!!

it is good to have a project.
when we are busy "doing"
nothing can find its way into "doing us"

The Three 22nds March 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

It looks so springy and cheerful. Nicely done. I love projects :)

Corinne March 27, 2010 at 11:17 pm

LOVE it! Well done :)
(we're also the freeze up at overwhelming tasks kind of people… thank goodness we're not homeowners yet ;) )

chris weigand March 28, 2010 at 12:32 am

Great transformation. Congrats on such a nice space.

Cynthia March 28, 2010 at 12:57 am

Very nice! I especially love the rug!

Adventures In Babywearing March 28, 2010 at 7:40 am

It looks fabulous! WE are SLOWING doing one room at a time and it is very good for the soul (for me) right now.

Steph

Angie March 28, 2010 at 10:33 am

Okay… AWESOMENESS. :) I have a house we just moved into that could use your fine sense of decorating and organizing… How long will it take you to get to VA? ;)

Glad to see y'all have conquered and WON.

MidnightCafe March 28, 2010 at 10:51 am

Wow! You worked hard! It looks absolutely fantastic!

LisAway March 28, 2010 at 11:26 am

I thought so! I was going to say that I LOVE the rug and it seems I've seen it before, and then I remembered that it seems it was right here at the old EO that I saw it. And then I read your comment. I knew it.

(now for my comment) This is bad, Heather. Very bad. Thou shalt not covet. Ever heard of that? Well, you're causing me to break that one a little. Seriously that is an amazing transformation. As others have said great colors and totally perfect peaceful office. But it's more like a study because it's too elegant and nice for the word "office". Extremely awesome. Excited for next week!

nAncY March 28, 2010 at 11:33 am

pretty colours…

love the peep shot

Christy March 28, 2010 at 1:26 pm

WOW! Simply amazing skills! Can't wait to see the rest. I love your blog, thank you for writing and sharing!

Kelly @ Love Well March 28, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I am such a sucker for before and after photos, and man — these are perfection. What a beautiful room. And I love your desk.

I can't wait for more installments.

(I sure hope that Peep was perfectly stale and not eaten JUST for demonstration. In a week, they'll be gone. We must conserve!)

Evolving Mommy Catherine March 28, 2010 at 2:20 pm

I love the rug, I could definitely see it in my house. Organization makes my heart for pitter-patter, love, love, love.

Lara March 28, 2010 at 2:50 pm

First of all, that first little part? I needed to read that, because I am so like you in that way. I have kind of shut down lately because it's too hard to keep going. Thanks for the kick in the pants.

And I LOVE your office. So perfect. What a great plan! I have lived in my house 7 months and have accomplished 4 rooms and am full of plans. But, like I said, shut down. I don't know if we can do one a weeek, but I'd sure like to try at least one a month! You inspire me!

minnesotamom March 28, 2010 at 3:54 pm

Looks FABULOUS! I've been taking some measurements of rooms and furniture this weekend, trying to figure out how we're going to fit both kids into one room and that room into the other, smaller room. It's hard! I am so glad you have a finished product; it inspires me.

Mainly a midwife March 28, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Nice job!!! Looks great.

One Crafty Mother March 28, 2010 at 7:39 pm

Ah, yes. Instant gratification takes too long. I know it well.

And the office looks GORGEOUS! Wow, girl, you can DECORATE!

What a bright, calming, lovely space. You should submit the before and after to a magazine or something – it's really good!

-Ellie

One Crafty Mother March 28, 2010 at 7:42 pm

Oh, and I wanted to add that my dog is giving your dog a high five – or perhaps a high paw? – for scoring the couch. She, of course, is doing this from our couch. :)

Tooj March 28, 2010 at 8:48 pm

Your office looks FANTASTIC. :) I'm sorry I've been so absent…I sincerely hope things are going well for you guys in your new home. I'm re-connected now, so hopefully I can visit more often. Happy Sunday!

Janet Oberholtzer March 29, 2010 at 7:01 am

Love your opening line!
"Part of healing is building something new. Part of letting go is creating. Part of growing is doing."

Will be quoting that to others now!

Your office looks great – mine is waiting for the day I tackle and organize it … I think I can, I think I can …

Annette Lyon March 29, 2010 at 6:28 pm

Cuteness! You need to come decorate my house now.

Jen March 30, 2010 at 10:43 am

Um, are you superhuman? And, do you have time to do my house, too?

The Redhead Riter March 30, 2010 at 9:50 pm

You did a great job with the room!

Elaine A. March 30, 2010 at 10:12 pm

I ate quite a few peeps myself today. Tasty.

And your "new" office is fabulous! Love the rug and the colors on the walls!

emmajames April 2, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Love this!! And what an AMAZING transformation in a weekend. Adore the colors too, even if I'm only get the gist of their true shades ;)

And what to see the next one!

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