A Room of One's Own.

18.9.13

When we bought our house, it was advertised as a three bedroom.  The third bedroom has no closet and is too tiny to fit much more than a bed.  Luckily, we don't need three bedrooms and I turned the wee room into my home office.  Over the years (four to be exact) it has evolved into a sort of dressing room / office hybrid and now that I work from home I've made sure that it's full of lots of my favourite things.  I'm a firm believer in being surrounded by stuff that makes you happy and comfortable while you work.  There can be great inspiration in the right surroundings!

Here's where the "magic" happens! My sister (and space management guru) painted the legs of this kitchen table that was left behind by the previous owners of the house.  The curtains are from Target.  We have Target in Canada now, American friends.  If any of you can advise as to how I can go there without spending $200, please, let me know in the comments.


This cozy spot in the corner features an old-as-the-hills Ikea bucket chair all dressed up in some velvet and colour from Target.  The footstool, which is lighter than air, is also from Target.  I love it.  What I like best about this spot is the mixture of textures.  It feels luxurious somehow, even though it's not (technically).



I picked up the sail boat at a little store on Queen East in Toronto called My Cottage (it's closed now) and the organizer is a vintage find from Value Village.  It's made of thick cardboard and houses paper clips, business cards and other stuff I don't need to access on a daily basis.


A gallery wall over my desk gives me something to look at when I'm throwing my head up in frustration.  The sketches of New Orleans were purchased at one of those T-shirt joints on Bourbon Street and framed in Dollar Store frames.  More fake luxury.  


Just below the gallery wall is this white board for more immediate concerns.


When my aforementioned sister was trying to help me be less of a pack rat, she clipped this pic from a New York Times Magazine and turned it into a magnet for me.  No need to keep the whole magazine for one little pic, right?  The picture is the view Nora Ephron had from her desk in her New York apartment.  I like to think that I can look out that same window when I'm writing.





This is the hub for organization and inspiration.  I have found (through much trial and error) that I need to have several lists, calendars and reminders for things that need to be done.  I'm a visual learner.  This big wall calendar has been a life saver.

The mirror is a great focal point in the room and was another very reasonable purchase from Winners.

The Steve Allen photo has been in every office have worked in since the late 1990's.  I always figured that if the Post Office had pictures of The Queen and churches has pictures of Jesus, people that work in any creative field at all should have pics of Steve Allen.  Whatever you're doing, he did it first and better.


The best art in the room is hanging right above the door, it' an original painting of Lenny's from early this year.  It's an Untitled Mixed Acrylic on File Folder.  It really brightens the place up, just like she does to the rest of the house.


Do you have any "must haves" for your home office?  What makes you happier and therefore more productive?  I'd love to know!

2 comments :

  1. "When I have a house, it's going to be full of well-sharpened pencils." - Ann Newton played by Edna May Wonacott in Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt"

    In a formal office setting I needed a Disney mug, a framed photo of the kids and some "Far Side" cartoons tucked in the desk blotter to feel comfortable.

    At home, I have yet to discover or eke out the perfect space. The necessaries do include lots of paper, a pen of my very own (untouched by other grubby hands) and the Hi-Lo's singing softly in the background.

    You and your guru have both shamed and inspired me. I think there's an autumn project looming.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:47 PM

    Tremendous room of your own! I love the Scottie dog.

    ReplyDelete

Proudly designed by | mlekoshiPlayground |