The Office: Before and (Almost) After

Ahhh…remember back in early May when I declared war on our office? I just couldn’t stand it anymore. Somewhere in the re-doing process I decided I was going to make a new desk for the room. As a reminder, here I am making the doors:

Well, that took longer than I thought, but after it was completed we were in business. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, and today we have a pretty darn updated room. Obviously, there are things to be done, but, aren’t there always ‘things’? There are always things. So in the spirit of taking stock in how far we’ve come in just about two months, let’s do some good ol’ fashion before and afters. (Note: The angles aren’t identical in the before and after pics mostly because I didn’t even think to mimic what I did the first time until I uploaded everything. Whoops.)

Here is a good before and after desk shot:

Man, I do love that desk. It has been really functional so far, and I just love to sit at it. It feels so fresh and calming (even though those wires underneath drive me batty). In this after pic you can also see the new drop cloth curtains, the color-blocked magazine file and the new planter I made. Yep, that lamp still needs work.

While sitting at the desk, this is behind your back:

The whole look is less messy mostly because we got rid of a ton of stuff. Mike and I really looked hard at what we needed in our lives and what was just clutter. I threw out most of my college notebooks. Ugh, it was hard, but I haven’t looked at them since college. I did keep my mineralogy notes and reference book I made. Couldn’t give that up now could I? I also really tried to take some time to accessorize those shelves. I know I’ve said it before, but accessorizing shelves just does not come easily to me, which is ironic because among my friends I am known as the clothes accessory queen. I love to get my Claire’s on. Don’t pretend like you don’t shop there anymore.

Moving on, here’s another desk view before/after:

I really love this view. Except those wires. They drive me coo coo.  The next Steve Jobs will be the one who brings wireless power/charging to the masses. Mark my words.  And finally, a few post-do-over glamour shots:

Good stuff. And just because I can never be sated, a list of things I’d still like to tackle in here before summer’s end:

1) That lamp.

2) Finials.

3) Wire management.

That’s IT. Not overly ambitious, right?

Slim Shady

(Please forgive me for the week-long break, I was lounging away on old Cape Cod. I had full intentions to keep posting, but then the lake beckoned me and I just couldn’t find the motivation to leave it to find an internet connection. I’m back, though!) 

Ok, so I know it’s been all office, all the time here on FH, but you know it’s what’s been on my mind. After finally finishing the desk, I’ve attempted to accessorize it. We all know that’s not my strong point, but it’s gotta be done. I figured to give the piece a more homey feel a lamp would do the trick. I sourced this lamp from the basement…it has been sitting there for well over a year. I found it at a thrift store in North Conway, NH next to the salon I got my bridal makeup done (I purchased it after my makeup trial). This just proves how I can’t pass up a thrift store. I knew the lamp had potential, and it still needs a little work, but perhaps it can make a home on the desk. Here it is:

Not bad, eh? The shape is a little weird, and the brass could use a buffing, but it’s kinda cool and vintagey, no? The problem? I need to figure out what kind of shade to adorn it with. I had a little Photoshop fun to help with my decision. First, the basics: drum or cone? (p.s. I’ve since ironed the curtains. Much better.)

I like the modern feel of the drum shade, but I also like the way the cone mimics the lamp’s body. I still don’t know which I prefer. Maybe if the shade had a little natural rope lining?

Or cotton rope lining?

I think I like the texture of the cotton lining, but I’m still unsure of the shape. I guess either one could work. Ahhh, I really don’t know. Thoughts??

Bar Cart Reveal

**Hope you like the new header photo! That is our own Folksy Home in full spring bloom last weekend.**

Wow, remember back to the cold, dark days of January when I hosted a poll asking what I should do with this derelict piece of wood? Seems like a long time ago, right?

Well, baby, the wood doesn’t look like that anymore! Here is our very own, homemade bar:

And I’m in love. A lot of blood, sweat, and measurement went into that baby, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. (It’s not living against the wall like in these first two pics, it was just there until we could get the last piece needed for it to fit in the corner and obviously I couldn’t wait to accessorize it for the full ‘finished’ effect!) I’ll go through the step by step of each component, but for now, let’s just gawk.

The silky smooth reclaimed wood:

The shiny copper tray:

And the sleek, painted-black plumbing components that make up the skeleton of the structure:

Ain’t she purdy?

Oh yes, those unpainted pieces there on the bottom right? Well, during the final installation we found that our floor was more than 1 inch from level in the corner we put the bar in. 1 whole inch! We couldn’t fudge that with a sweet-and-lo packet so we had to grab some hardware that made up for the gap and I haven’t had a chance to paint it yet. Gotta love old houses!

The accessorizing needs work, yes. A different lamp (that one is stolen from our bedroom), a different basket/storage container (also stolen from the bedroom), and a new frame and/or piece of art for that left side and we’ll be in business.

But for now, I am happy just staring at our beautiful finished piece. I guess that’s occasion enough to pour ourselves one, eh?

Then & Now: Dresser Side

Ah, here we are, back to sipping from the bedroom well. I think it’ll be worth it! But yeah, last time, promise.

For a frame of reference, here is the out-of-scale floor plan again:

We’re talking right siiieeed today. That’s where the dresser, rope shelves, TV, and most importantly, Fishy live. Here it is, pre-intervention:

Boooriiiing. The clothesline with mementos hanging from it was an attempt to bring down the height of the ceiling a bit because with all our furniture sitting so low, the room seemed empty and cold with such a high ceiling.

I have to say, I quite liked that idea, mostly because it allowed us to see all the ticket stubs, lift passes and love notes we’ve collected over the course of our relationship. Sappy? Nostalgic? Romantic? COUNT.ME. IN.  It was cool to just glance at that stuff and have all the good memories flood back. Ahhh, I remember our first brewery tour together like it was yesterday…

The only problem, however, is that it looked…unkempt? teeny bopper? Not sure, but I wasn’t feelin it anymore. Not that I lost my sappy side. You can’t get rid of it that easily.

Anyways, ta-da! Here is the after:

Booya. Ain’t it fancy?! Along the way we got a new TV (thanks to my grandma’s donated AMEX points!!), but the dresser, lamp, curtains and fishy are the same :) .

Detailing in on a few small changes I made, here are some custom finials. (Please excuse the dust, didn’t even notice it until it was uploaded. Observant, much?)

They are the same stock Ikea ones from before, but I hack sawed off the decorative part and used E-6000 glue to attach some beach-rounded quartz pebbles I found on Cape Cod way back. Up close you can see a little glue spillage, but from standing height, it’s all good in the hood.

Here is another small update I made: that lamp seen on the left of the ‘before’ pic. It’s a Christmas Tree Shop special, (‘Oh my gawd, lighthouse plates for only a dollah!’ Please tell me you’ve seen that commercial.) and was originally filled with periwinkle shells.

I emptied the glass of its contents leaving just the clear jar and updated the shade by trimming the edges with the same twine used to finish off the rope from the shelves. Looks like a whole new lamp!

The accessories on the shelves are kind of a mish-mash. (Again, I’m no whiz at accessorizing. Maybe another New Year’s Resolution?) On the top shelf we have a jade plant and a series of photos that spell out our last name (an awesome wedding gift from our upstairs neighbors!). The photos are sitting in Tolsby frames from Ikea (can’t beat 99 cents) and I think look pretty snazzy.

In the middle we have some frames filled with pics of us as kiddos. We love looking at our cute selves. (Really they were from the welcome table at the wedding and we still haven’t changed the photos because, well, they are pretty cute. And I haven’t thought about it that much.) There’s also a brick I found on a Boston harbor island, some candlesticks salvaged from Mike’s grandparent’s old house, and a rock from a beach in Lima.

The bottom shelf is a bit more functional. Mostly because I can reach it.

We have three blue glass mason jars I found at our local flea market. One is filled to the brim with wine corks (what does that say about our wine drinking habits?), one is empty, and one is filled with mineral samples (what does that say about our rock collecting habits?). I think they make a nice trio, only it’s a little too dark in that corner to see what’s going on in the glass.

There are also some other rocks we’ve collected (the Folksy hubs is a geologist by day) sitting in front of a surprisingly very a-la-mode ceramic horn vase we found in the grandparent’s old house.

When I saw that baby sitting in that old house, I finally felt like one of those holy grail thrifters who somehow find antique-road-show-worthy pieces at yard sales. ‘Something fashionable! With personal meaning! For free! What did I do right?!?!’

On the right there’s an oil can from M’s grandparent’s old farm, and a mason jar that holds all our loose change (how fun is going to the Coinstar and getting a fat Amazon gift card with just extra change?). In front is a ring tray we got as a gift from cousins that holds my earrings every night.

Finally, over the light switch is an ode to New England in the form of starfish. This little craft used to hang on our old front door when the entrance to our apartment was indoors and now it pops nicely against the new wall color in our bedroom.

Phew. How’s that for a laundry list of what’s going on in the bedroom? I’m pretty happy with the new digs and realize there’s still work to be done, not the least of which is finding something grand for over the bed. Got any accessorizing suggestions?

**In other news, my dad is coming up from Florida this weekend. I’m SUPER excited! Woohoo for dads!

  • Maria @ FH

    Hi there! I'm a grad student, wife, and doting owner of the cutest dog you've ever seen. I love organizing, gardening, and taking on projects I only later find out I'm wildly too impatient for. Read along as I try to accept it's about the journey, not the destination, especially when it comes to DIY. Welcome!

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