Office Makeover.

This is the post I have waited years for. This is something that I have dreamed about, sketched, discussed, planned, dreamed some more and then final convinced. I convinced Brian that is.

We had discussed completely redoing the office for years. Well, I discussed it, Brian listened and then we compromised. Back when I first took on running my photography business full time, Brian and I both shared our beige home office. We went to IKEA, bought two matching desks, filing cabinets and tables to hold our printers. It was very basic, very boring. I met with clients in the office but it was simply a ‘corner’ that I had two fold out chairs and a light. That was it.

Then I was pregnant with Jonas. I knew immediately that in order to work while I was at home, I needed to be where he was. So we decided to move my desk up to the next floor where the living room is. This way he could play, I could work. I could still see him but was able to edit, do email and keep things somewhat organized. This happened when he was about 1 year old and has stayed this way until a few weeks ago. I still had Brian’s desk & computer that I would use when I had client meetings. It worked best for me at the time. The office I had redone since the original beige office we started with. I first painted it blue, then it was green. It was nice, but SO NOT me. Not my personality, not my brand and certainly NOT who I am as a person. Bottom line: I didn’t love it. It didn’t inspire me. It actually just annoyed me. Here it is when I first finished it a few years ago:So I will now take you to the most recent ‘OFFICE’ I had for myself. This is where I spent most of my work days…It was, to say the least, unorganized-stress. I dreaded walking over to my computer. I couldn’t find anything, I didn’t have enough space and I was constantly loosing stuff. I was stressed about my work days because I had NO work flow. I simply worked when I could.To top off being this unorganized, I also have a 3 1/2 year old constantly running up to me asking me a hundred, no a thousand questions each and every time I decided to sit down and work. I couldn’t focus and it was starting to get to me. This is when I made the decision to create my own space.I couldn’t look at stacked up papers, disc’s, to-do lists, deposits & everything else that managed to end up on my desk anymore. I sat down and told Brian my plan. I explained how I couldn’t function this way anymore and that it was time that I had the office all to myself. A place where I can go and be inspired. A place that as soon as you see it, you say, “This is so Lindsey.” I craved organization, functionality, tidiness, pretty colors and a nice view. We compromised and thought that this would be the best thing for me and my business. I can finally say that not only am I inspired when I walk in my office but I feel like it’s finally ME. It’s everything that I never knew that I wanted and now I can’t imagine how I went on for so long without it. It is mine. ALL MINE.

The Grand reveal……Now to truly appreciate the AFTER you have to see the BEFORE. I didn’t get a chance to take a photo with the furniture in it before Brian started ripping up the carpet so this will have to do…and now….The closet before: I had no storage, one shelf and no light. It was a dark place…And AFTER: We removed the door, hung a curtain, installed adjustable shelving and added  a light. Now it holds all of my supplies and equipment. Even has a fridge in there!My favorite wall now…My pictures were something that I struggled with. I almost didn’t hang anything up for this reason. When I started collecting ideas for my office, I knew that I didn’t want it to look or feel like a “Wedding photographers Office.” This is a space that I spend a lot of time and I wanted it to inspire me, refresh me and get me excited about working. Since one of my favorite things to photograph at a wedding are the bouquets, I decided to just frame those and it came out great. The colors match the office and make me smile every time that I look at them.I really didn’t start with a plan. I knew that I wanted hardwood floors, grey walls and crown molding but other than that, no plan at all. So while Brian and my father in law started working hard on the walls and floors, my mother in law and I headed out to start shopping. We went to antique stores, thrift stores and a few others and started to collect so many awesome things! The lamp is probably my favorite thing in the office. I almost didn’t buy it because of the price but decided to go for it. When I got it home, it ended up matching everything perfectly!!! I didn’t really buy things that matched. I simply bought what I liked and hoped that it would look good together. Same with the pillows. I fell in love with this pink ruffled pillow and of course the yellow one, I’ve had my eye on for quite some time.I also found this adorable little round tray at an antique store that ended up working perfectly for my business cards…Who Knew?!!See the beautiful yellow table?? This is what it looked like before…I bought it an the same antique store for $19.99 with no handle…and after Brian sanded and painted it and added the handle from World Market: $39.99 total for the table. I looked and couldn’t find anything cheaper at Target, TJ Maxx among other stores. It’s solid wood in great condition and now it is such a perfect piece for this room!This is another great thing I found. I first saw this idea on Pinterest.com (my new favorite website by the way) and I did my own to hold my thank you cards from my clients! $8.00 for an old shutter!I love, love, love my magazine rack that I found at another antique store for $22! And of course the magazine rack from IKEA that is pure genius, is hanging on the wall. Another antique find!! My shabby chic green side table: $29!This leads me to my work station. First off, my desk, Brian built for me. I wanted something that looked old, vintage but was small enough to fit in the space. After looking and looking for a desk, he decided that he could build me exactly what I wanted. The entire thing cost about $120.00. He built it, aged it( hit it with screw drivers, hammers, and anything else he could find ) and then stained it. Everyone always ask me where we got it and I’m so proud to say that he built it for me.

In my “Office” before I had a very small, very unorganized filing cabinet that really stressed me out more than actually serving a purpose. Now everything has a home. I even have homes for things I don’t even have yet! One of my favorite parts of this area is my curtain! We wanted to find a place that my computer could be without being visible. Along with other things, CD’s/DVD’s, mail, CD sleeves, extra pens, etc. SO Brian and I came up with this crafty little thing…I am able to keep it closed but can easily access all of my things that I need everyday. It looks nice and cost me nothing. I already had the fabric and the rings. I just hemmed the edges so it was the right size.This is another favorite spot in my work station. I was able to use another magazine rack from IKEA and use it for my calendar, to-do lists and keep any day to day info I need to access. Looks pretty and keeps my desk clear. And those beautiful letters that you see on the wall?? Well I wanted my office to feel personal as well as personalized. So I bought wood letters at Joann’s for $2.99 each, a bundle of multi-colored yarn on clearance $2.99 and wrapped the letters one night. Isn’t it so cute?? I just love it!!

This is my other space I call my ‘Inspiration Board’ and I use this for things that I love. Things that inspire me. Again, this cost me nothing. I had all the materials. Brian put a cork board on a piece of foam poster board, covered it with fabric and stapled it to the back of a black frame that I already had. The glass holder I found at another antique store for about $9.00. It isn’t used for this purpose but I thought that it would be a cute idea. Another favorite thing in the room.

So here is one more before:and AFTER:Like I said before, this post is something I dreamed about. I knew that I was at a point where I had to have a space that was ALL MINE. A space that inspired me but that was productive. I have to say that this office is way more than I anticipated. I am blown away by the results and I’m giddy every time I walk in the room. I feel like for the first time, it truly represents ME. I had gone back and forth about getting an actual studio space to work out of but when it came down to it, I want to be home. I love working from home. I love being able to walk up the stairs and have lunch with Jonas and Brian. That I am here to wake Sam up from his naps. I love that I can walk away, take a break and come back when I want. No commute required :) It’s been amazing and I am so excited about what I will be able to do now that my head and my desk are clear. The possibilities are endless…