Do you have one of those rooms in your house? You know, the room where all of the unwanted items in your life go to die. The room that just doesn’t feel right to you.
That was my office. Here’s a refresher…
Everyone else told me that they thought the room looked just fine. I just wasn’t feeling it though. Probably because it normally looked like this…
Embarrassing. I really shouldn’t post photos like this on the interweb.
I spent the past two week-ends cleaning up the pit. I even went through all of the cupboards and drawers. You wouldn’t believe how much storage space I have now that I rid the room of junk. It’s refreshing.
Cleaning the room just wasn’t enough. I also decided that the space needed a little style. I wanted it to feel like a cozy library.
Here’s how I ended the week-end…
We added beadboard and trim behind the computer monitor. This is something that we had been meaning to do for the past three years and just now got around to it. Time flies. I tried painting the beadboard with magnetic paint but that was a DIY fail. One of my employees gave me her left over magnetic paint. One of us didn’t stir it well enough because no magnet will cling on the beadboard. Oh well, it still looks pretty. I’m afraid the area may have ended up looking cluttered if we were able to hang things on it anyways. That’s my story.
I “wallpapered” with burlap behind the shelving areas. Nate was certain this was going to be a DIY disaster but we both like how it turned out. It gives the area a little color and texture and it’s non-committal, my favorite type of project. I’ll share this how-to tomorrow.
Lastly, I attempted to style the bookshelves with old books and thrifting finds. The book hunt is a ton of fun. I can’t wait to keep adding to the collection. Who doesn’t like a book titled “Lines about Wines” or “How Never to Be Tired”? I might need to read that one. Most of these books were purchased for less than a dollar from thrift stores.
I fell in love with these book-ends while thrifting with the parents.
They were even approved by my dad. Weird. He was for sure that I was going to paint them. Brass is back Daddy-o. My mom did remind me that I would have hurled at the thought of brass in my house a year ago. She may be right on that one. It’s good for moms to be right on occasion.
And look, baby Nate and Michelle. Our engagement photo in a brassy gold frame from the Salvation Army. What is this world coming to?
I love how this room seems to fit in better with the rest of our house. It feels a little more like us. I’m also enjoying the new air freshener…the smell of old books. Mmmm. Nate thinks the room needs a good airing out. Someday he’ll get my obsession with old. At least he puts up with it and installs beadboard.
It may have taken us three years but we now have an organized office with a little style.
Any make-overs happening over at your place? What’s holding you back from tackling that dumping ground room? Who thinks I’m crazy with the burlap? Anyone else love that delicious old book smell?
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it looks fabulous! i love those bookends, too! and love the globes! i have two and am working on finding more for our playroom.
ReplyDeleteI really like the old book smell, probably goes with my affinity for old libraries. :) Your office looks amazing! The burlap and old books really give the space depth and character! Right now we are getting the backyard ready for spring, but we are soon going to do a small project in our bathroom!
ReplyDeleteI think your office is looking great! I love the globe collection and the burlap adds nice texture!
ReplyDeleteThose two bronze bookends remind me of The Hunger Games (so I'm super jealous you got them). Love the reorganized look and I especially love the bead board!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! The beadboard is great and the burlap is a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteP.S. If you are out thrifting and find a cheap but nice desk, let me know. I'm looking for one for our basement.
Looks great! I'm liking the bead board and burlap. Funny that you worked with burlap this weekend-- so did I. I love finding books with interesting titles. I've found most of my winners at the Goodwill Outlet.
ReplyDeleteIt's coming along great - I love that burlap!
ReplyDeleteLove the beadboard. That was such a great idea! And I'm totally digging the burlap. Can't wait to see how you did it! I think the office is looking quite lovely. Nicely done, my dear.
ReplyDeleteI love the burlap! I'm a huge fan of fabric-backed bookcases, it never occurred to me to use burlap, but it's perfectly neutral, cheap and has great texture - win!
ReplyDeleteThe brass bookends are great, too. I love brass and gold, so happy it's finally mainstream again :)
I love the bookends and all the old books. I've bought some really random books for the covers recently (bright orange gets me everytime)
ReplyDeleteThe room looks awesome, love how much the bead-board changes the whole look! Me + Old book smell = one happy nerd; old books just seem to have so much more character imo.
ReplyDeleteOur entire house is upside down right now with the entire dining room crammed into the kitchen, most of the living room taking up space in our bedroom and the entirety of loft-things have been stacked, shoved, piled and pushed into the basement guest room. I cannot wait for things to get rolling so we can tackle these "dumping grounds" but work-travel has pretty much nixed all our motivation & time lately.
I totally just cleaned out my "junk" room. It's going to be a nursery. I even painted it yesterday. Feeling so accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with your office. I like the burlap, but I would have used some bright color instead. Like deep blue or something. Absolutely love the globes!
Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove the look of the burlap behind the bookcases!
dee dee
i love the burlap! i definitely want a tutorial on how to make that happen. there are some built-ins in our new house that i am itching to get my hands on. i was thinking of attempting a graphic stencil, but burlap is pretty cool too :)
ReplyDeleteLove the beadboard and burlap! And those bookends!!! Gasp. They are GORG!
ReplyDeleteOkay, the desk looks amazing! And like the others, I would love a tutorial on how to do this. I have a black desk that I would LOVE to do this too. I put up cork tiles in my desk, in the spot where you did your bead board. I love it. I think the burlap would go well with the cork. Anyways, back to you....
ReplyDeleteI am loving that precious little old clock! Also great find on those bookends. I see you got yourself some A & Z book ends!Everything came together great :)
Ahem. "Do you have one of those rooms in your house? You know, the room where all of the unwanted items in your life go to die. The room that just doesn’t feel right to you." Every room in my house, Michelle. Every room. COME HELP ME.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job--they're all little changes but they make such a big impact! You've got yourself some killer style, girlfriend.
I LOVE the burlap. Why did I never, ever think of using burlap? You are so smart and it paid off. I also love the way you've styled the bookcases. Don't you just love the thrift store? Seriously never thought I would utter those words:)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE how your built ins turned out! I have never seen burlap used as "wallpaper" before, what a great idea....hmmm...where should I put up mines? Love the beadboard as well, your room does look very refreshed. Oh, and did I see a blond Michelle in the picture????
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I saw a little statue at an antiques market last weekend that looks JUST like your bookends and I kept walking by it slowly, staring awkwardly, trying to decide whether to get it. I didn't. I hate myself. Your bookshelves look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome. Beadboard and the burlap look like a nice combo. We mentioned you in our post today.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so fresh and pretty! I love your use of burlap too - very creative! The globes look great on top also! So funny about the brass. I thought about changing all my door hardware last year but never got around to it. Maybe my shiny brass door handles will be the "in" thing soon! LOL!
ReplyDelete-Shelley
Love it!! I especially like all the books that you added! I can see how looking for crazy book names might get addicting. :-)
ReplyDeleteI like that new chair too. Looks really good, but this reminds me I need to clean out our extra bedroom before Spring... THANKS ALOT MICHELLE!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I see in the before projects that you started with a black computer chair on wheels... I'm trying to convince my husband to get rid of his because it's so ugly.
ReplyDeleteNice. I love organization. Anything messy sends me on a rampage.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Love the wire basket, I just made new lights for my ceiling out of baskets.
ReplyDeleteI Love the burlap! Can't wait for tomorrow's post. I decorated with books all the time. It adds tons of personality. Sweet find with the bookends :)
ReplyDeleteI really like this! Although your messy is my clean, so I guess I should be embarrassed. ;) I can't believe I let you into my house - you must have been mortified!
ReplyDeleteBut, back to the topic at hand - I'm digging the desk now. I like the burlap idea, too.
Ooh pretty! I like that beadboard. It adds some nice texture. And how do you find these great book titles?? I've found a few good ones, but the majority of the books at our local thrift stores are about weight loss and fallen celebrities. I want neither in my house.
ReplyDeleteThe room has gone through an great transformation. It looks finished with all the touches you added. Our house is still up in the air in most places. The master bedroom suite is the room I can't wait to finish but it will be a least a year while we do some major saving and organization in that room. For now it looks like a hoarder's dream starting room.
ReplyDeleteThe burlap is excellent - can't wait for tomorrow's tutorial. I totally know what you mean about brass. A year or two ago EVERYTHING in a metal finish had to be silver or chrome up in here. But now, I'm falling in love with brass things all over the place. Good things trends keep coming and going or I think I'd get bored =)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about a room not feeling like you. I've got one or two of those in my house. We'll get to them eventually... Your office, however, is looking fantastic. Isn't it amazing what a difference a couple of changes can make to the overall look and feel of the room? Can't wait to read more about the burlap!
ReplyDeleteYour office looks so uncluttered and organized. I love it. I could see myself hanging out in there with a good book. Yes, I love the smell of old books which is why I still like going to the library or used bookstores.
ReplyDelete