Design Inspiration: Craft Rooms & Office Spaces

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For as long as I can remember I've dreamed of having a dedicated craft space. I envisioned large working surfaces, a gift wrapping area, a dedicated table for my sewing machine, well organized bins and a closet to match. Every Christmas Eve as I sit on the floor in our family room or at the kitchen table surrounded by wrapping paper, bows, tags and gifts, I think how much fun it would be to have a wrapping area (not to mention private) so those you purchase gifts for won't see what you got them. I would sometimes take to my previous shared guest bedroom/office space but that has since been cleared out and overtaken by a certain newborn and all of her belongings. ;)

A month before she arrived I set up a very tiny area in our den with a secretary desk and my existing office chair where a bookshelf used to reside, to have as my own working area. Since most of my office stuff is still in plastic totes and the majority of what I'm doing these days (apart from caring for baby) only requires my laptop, I tend to work mostly at the kitchen table in front of our large picture window, but it hasn't stopped me from dreaming once again and brainstorming potential areas where I can create a shared office/craft space. I've been pinning some images for a future home with larger space and came across ideas for shared office/craft spaces of varying sizes. I know I'm not the only one who craves a dedicated crafting space. So, if you have one and are currently wondering how to lay it out to maximize its function, decorate it or are simply in the dreaming stage like I am, I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos as I did recently with gallery wall inspiration which is currently a work in progress for a large wall in our living room.

For those who love a soft & elegant work space. This is gorgeous!

Bold colors are a must in a craft space! They speak to creativity.

Large shared laundry room + craft/office space. Lots of storage is a must!

Simple & Refined. A single accent wall adds so much to a room.

A closet-turned-office/craft space. Close the doors when you're done for the day.

Crafting/Gift Wrapping room

Beautiful wallpaper, a sleek chair and a soft curtain transform a small closet.

Why not remove the closet doors entirely and create built-ins?

A small, narrow room with pretty accents hues create the perfect woman cave.

Simple & Clean. If you only have a corner or part of the guest room.

Classic black + white with pops of color via accessories & a whole lot of storage boxes

All in one centers can assume a bedroom, hall or portion of a living room/family room.

A do-it-all space for drafting, painting, sewing, crafting, gift wrapping, gardening and more.

 This layout offers it all. A little bit of inspiration from the home projects page at Rona.

Do you have a dedicated craft space or a room that would serve as one? What is your favorite thing to do in your special space?

Thanks for Reading!

XO




image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

*This was a sponsored post however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tray Chic Chevron

This past weekend I worked on a little decor project, it really came out of my need to test out frog tape after a little exterior painting disaster 2 years ago involving regular painters tape and my shutters. Let's just say a whole lotta paint seeped underneath the tape and it didn't have the crisp look I was after. Every time I embark on a new painting project, hubby always has a look of concern and reminds me about those darn shutters! I promised him it was a one time deal and after seeing how my little painting project turned out with the frog tape recently, he's a believe in my painting and paint prep skills again. Hurray!

As far as our shutters go, we've been saving up so that we could pay cash to have our home painted. Thankfully we finally have a painter scheduled to come this week to paint not only the shutters but also the whole exterior of our house, so I'll finally be free from that bad painting memory. Might I add we're definitely due for one, our house is over 50 years old and I think the last time someone painted this house was probably 30+ years ago-eek! Anyway, back to this weekend's paint project...

If you've been a reader of this blog for a while, you might remember the prequel to this post titled Tray Chic where I took an espresso color serving tray that I received as a bridal shower gift and transformed it into something coffee-table worthy. I've been pretty smitten with everything "chevron" for a while and got an idea to take my pretty but plain tray to another level AND test out that frog tape in the process without committing to another painting mishap on the walls. I'm really thrilled with how it turned out.

Click on the Tray Chic post to see what I was starting with from Day 1. Here is the tray after I painted it the same color as the walls in our living room, which I'm calling my before pic.

BEFORE

Here is the tray after carefully measuring and taping each chevron out with my frog tape (I later added some tape to the inside edges so I'd have a clean line all the way around.

STEP 1

Here's the tray below after just one coat of satin white paint that I used from a tiny sample can from a previous touch up project in our house.

STEP 2

Finally, here is the after, 3 coats of paint later:

AFTER

Each application dried really quickly so I was able to remove the tape just 4 hours after the last coat. Here is how it currently looks in my living room.

I haven't posted a lot of photos from our home in the past but here's a larger view of  it in the living room space which is still a work in progress. Hubby bought and inherited 99% of the furniture we own well before we met, it's mixed with some vintage pieces from his grandparents (which I was opposed to at first but now actually like because of the potential) so I'm working with what we've got which is an over-sized, but super comfy red sofa. *winking* My plans for this room will include adding some new pillows, drapery panels, a new area rug and some new wall art along with painting the side tables and adding new hardware. :)

Want to know a little secret? I'm planning to add another splash of chevron love to our living room. Stay tuned, I'll be posting it once the project is completed.

Who else has a heart for chevron? What have you created lately? Link up below and show off your latest creations and transformations, I'd love to pop by and check them out!

Living Well: Surround Yourself with Beauty

As I sit here working at my desk and look around at the space I've created, I feel happy and peaceful. It's not perfect, rather a work in progress and it doubles as our guest bedroom. However, I've really enjoyed the process of surrounding myself with beautiful things. Pretty silver frames filled with beautiful patterned paper, a vase with pale pink peonies (my favorite flowers), the scent of a natural orange reed diffuser to lightly fragrance the room and a sparkly chandelier just to name a few.

Call me type A but I don't feel settled when I'm surrounded by clutter. Working at the kitchen table with  visible dishes in the sink only distract me as they beckon to be washed. Keeping up with cleaning, removing excess papers, clutter and unnecessary items from a space leaving just your favorites and the most practical and useful items creates a serene environment.

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There are so many ways to incorporate a little bit of pretty into each room of your home, even if you don't have a large budget. Whether it's a few fresh blooms in a pretty vase, a small piece of gorgeous fabric that recovers and transforms the seat of an otherwise boring office chair, beautiful keepsakes like sand and seashells displayed in apothecary jars that remind you of a favorite trip. Even an elegant mirror in your entry that you use daily to do a quick hair and outfit check on the way out the door. It's so important to feel good about the space you live in, whether it's a tiny studio apartment or a sprawling homestead.

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I couldn't agree more with this quote. A few weeks ago I wrote a post about saving your best for someday and how sometimes we keep items that are so valuable or beautiful to us that we forget to enjoy them because we get caught up in tucking them away for a special occasion. Since that post I've been using my new Potterybarn dishes regularly.

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I highly recommend donating or selling any 'ugly' dishes, glassware, cutlery and kitchenware at a yard sale and keep only the most beautiful pieces daily. Only keep and have on hand stain-free and lovely dish towels as well as plush bathing towels. Sleep in soft, luxurious sheets, the best you can afford. Carefully choose scented candles and room sprays that make you feel energized or are soothing and relaxing to set a mood. Wear your favorite perfume 'just because', even if you're spending the day solo. Add a few of your favorite potted flowers in a variety of hues to your balcony, patio or front porch to surround yourself with colorful cheer vs. the hardy green plants that require less maintenance and perhaps a bit less money. It's about joy, spring and summer always seem so short, the extra few dollars you spend will be so worth it!

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Pick one room in your home that is just for you-maybe it's the laundry room, a craft room (if you're lucky enough to have the space), an office or a teeny backyard that is filled with things that speak beauty to you. Surround yourself with colors that make you feel happy and inspired and scents and textures that make you feel alive! Even while you're doing the laundry, you can be surrounded with beauty and feel refreshed.

What lovely things have you incorporated into your home to surround yourself with beauty? What is your favorite room in your home?



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Decorating Mantras to Live By

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! The weather here is just stunning with warm breezes and sunshine, not a cloud in the sky. Best of all, my hubby hopped on a plane from NYC and I picked him up from the airport on Friday just hours before his father's surprise birthday party. He is home for his spring break, it will be the last time we see each other again until he is done his first year in May so we are making the most of every moment. This was the longest time we've ever been apart for (9 weeks) including while were were dating and living in two different countries!

This past week was very busy for me, I was booked solid with new design and staging clients every day while I planned the decor for my father-in-law's surprise party and hubby's arrival also. I finally had a chance to relax and curled up with a few magazines this morning that I haven't had the time to read. One is called Fresh Home which is a new magazine that I received a free issue of as a trial. It's a few months old, the Fall 2010 edition had a lot of great holiday ideas which I plan to keep for next year. I also stumbled upon a page with a list of 5 decorating mantras to live by. They come in the form of an excerpt from Marni Jameson's book titled: House of Havoc. I thought I'd share them with you because I believe in each of these myself.  

These five things alone will change the way you feel in and about your home!

Do you currently live by any of these? Maybe you need to have fresh flowers in your home regularly or super soft sheets. I'd love you hear what YOUR decorating mantras are!

Happy Weekend,


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