Speaking of Catching Up...

... here are the long awaited Before and After pictures of my office. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, a few months ago I proclaimed on this blog that I was going to clean up and redecorate my room of shame - my office. It had become the room where I put everything I didn't want to deal with, a true horror show. And I did it! But, I've been holding off on showing the Before and After pictures because it's not completely done. I wanted the room to be completely finished (knick knacks and all) but, I've realized that's still a long way away and there's no point in holding out. So, without any further ado, here they are.

Before

Horrifying, isn't it?

After

Much better, yes? Still not finished, but it's getting there. As you may have noticed, Widget and Poppet are in separate cages, as I've discovered they're both boys. Although they love each other like crazy, they're also just a little too young to get fixed, which makes them too competitive/aggressive to leave in the same cage. But that willl change as soon as they get fixed. And there we have it! I'm actually very proud of myself for following through and getting it done. After all, you saw the Before pictures. You can't tell me they weren't terrifying.

 

 

Broken Birds

Yesterday evening I didn't go to the gym. I stayed home to write. At least that's what I told myself. But as I went into the office to work, I was arrested by the unfinished state of the room. It was almost there, very nearly the perfect writing retreat, but remained unpolished. It was missing all the special little details that would make it sublime.

I'd bought four ceramic birds from a home decor store, 3 white and 1 blue, to hang on the wall. They were still sitting in a box on the floor, waiting. Before I could sit down and start writing I decided that I must hang those birds. If they were no longer sitting on the floor bothering me then I could concentrate on writing. I grabbed a hammer and nails and set to work. But the birds were finicky, slippery, refusing to hang on the nails, and before long two had fallen and broken into pieces on the floor.

With a string of obscenities I crumpled to the floor, gathering the broken pieces in my hands. I felt like the shattered birds I was holding. Broken. My incompetence with such a simple task seemed like the perfect metaphor for the rest of my life. I could start things but not finish them. I'd painted and wall papered the entire room, but I couldn't finish the bits and pieces. It was the story of my life. I got the broad strokes right, but not the details.

And yet, there I was, writing the first draft of this post. I'd stayed home from the gym to write and instead I'd fixated on hanging the birds, positive that inspiration would come in a good working environment. But it was the broken birds that had inspired me, not the room. Breaking them had broken my resistance. I wanted to write.

There are two birds left. With a hot glue gun the other two are probably salvageable. I'd be lying if I said I didn't still equate myself with the birds. Because I can't help but think maybe I'm salvageable too.

The Quest for a Lamp

Yes, I know. You all raced to your computers today, delirious with the expectation of stunning Before and After photos, and here I am disappointing you again. Unfortunately, the office just isn't quite there yet. But it's very close. There are just a few small details left to be finished. But those will come with time. Every day I get a little closer, and yesterday I took a big step in the right direction.

Yesterday, I spent most of my free time in search of a lamp. A floor lamp. With no overhead lighting, the office relies solely on the power of assorted lamps for proper illumination. And I was currently not in possession of anything suitable, both in brightness and style.

I should tell you, my husband was away this past weekend on a ski trip and due to arrive yesterday evening. The office had gone through its weekend transformation entirely without his knowledge, and I was desperate to have it completely finished for his return. So, I only had until 6:00PM to find a lamp and assorted artwork to finish the room and surprise and delight my husband. The most important object being the lamp. If I could just find a lamp, I'd be satisfied.

I don't know if you've ever been on the hunt for a reasonably priced and stylish floor lamp, but it's not easy. I spent most of the day on the internet, perusing the websites of various local stores trying to find the perfect floor lamp. It was not to be found. Finally, I discovered a possibility ot Rona, but I couldn't be sure due to the poor quality of the photo.

After work I hopped in the car and raced to Rona. It wasn't there. When I found an associate and had her look it up on the computer, she immediately cried, "Oh! THAT lamp. Yes, we don't have it anymore because it was always getting returned due to problems with the wiring and the stand. But if you like, I could order you one."

I looked at her for a moment, silently contemplating why she thought I'd still want one, before politely declining and leaving the store. Undetered, I went to Pier 1, Home Outfitters, Canadian Tire and Home Sense before I finally ended up at Urban Barn. I didn't have high hopes. Although they have beautiful lamps, they're always way too expensive. ($350 for a floor lamp? No thanks. Knock off $200 and then we'll talk). But low and behold, I found it. Sylish and a modest $140. And to top it off, they had it in stock.

So, I returned home with a new floor lamp and a few decorative accessories I'd found along the way, with just enough time to set it up and surprise my husband. But it is done? Not quite yet. Stay tuned, faithful viewers. Stay tuned.

Office Reno Update

As you may recall, I've been working at cleaning up and redecorating the shameful mess that is my office. This weekend I made a huge leap forward, thanks to the help of my very good friend and design genius, Chelsea. All this past week I'd been cleaning out the clutter and reorganizing all my receipts, files and so on, until at last the office was clean. On Friday night, Chelsea met me at home depot, helped me pick out a paint color and wall paper and we got to work. In that single evening we painted the entire room (two coats) and wall papered the focal wall. It was amazing. Not many people have a friend so willing to drop everything and spend their entire Friday evening painting and working with wallpaper. Which let me tell you, is a frustrating endeavor. I chalk it up to the strength of our friendship that we weren't at each others throats by the end of the evening. We'd made it through without a single fight.

The next day (Saturday) I repainted the trim around the window and the closet door, fixed up a few oops on the ceiling, cleaned and put away all the paint stuff and moved the furniture back in. Not only that, but I cleaned the entire house from top to bottom, walked the dog and did a few loads of laundry. (Yes, I am the champion of productivity).

Today was all about accessories. I went shopping for cute knick knacks and things to put in the room, a new floor lamp and some wall decor. I only found a few knick knacks, so the search continues for a new floor lamp and wall art. I did however, manage to make it to the fabric store and picked out some nice material to re-cover the office chair. I don't think I'm going to do the whole thing, probably just the arms, which are getting a bit worn. I might make a matching throw pillow to go with the chair as well. To top it off I walked the dog and had coffee with my mother in law. There's still more I want to get done tonight, but I'll have to wait and see if I can pick up the tools I need.

So, to sum up, it's coming along nicely. I was really hoping to have it all done and be able to put up 'before' and 'after' pictures, but it's not quite there yet. Instead I'll try for Tuesday. I decided not to put up midway pictures, I'd rather give you the shocking 'before' with the jaw dropping 'after'. That way you're duly and properly stunned. Not to mention, I don't want to show you how bad it was before without a truly awesome after to redeem myself. So stay tuned, there's more to come!

Oh The Horror!

I turn the knob, stomach filled with dread. The door swings open in front of me, almost as though it has a mind of its own. I cover my nose at the putrid stench, gagging in dismay. I don't even know how to enter, the floor is a maze of shin-banging, foot-piercing mayhem. It is ... my office.

Yes, like most people I have that one room in my house where all the clutter seems to accumulate, and that room is the office. It's become the dumping ground for all things without a home and an utterly unuseable mess.

Don't want the dog to get into the garbage? Put it in the office. Have useless old furniture you're not ready to get rid of? Put it in the office. Have no idea what to do with this random object? Office. Important looking papers? Office. Recycling? Office. Art supplies? Office. Sanity? Definitely not in the office. This is no place for sanity, just pure dreariness.

When we first moved in I had such high hopes for that grotesque horror of a second bedroom. It was supposed to be my writing retreat, my fortress of solitude. (Superman reference. Solid). I had visions of a distinguished desk and library, complete with rich burgundy/red walls. Unfortunately, with only one window the burgundy/red makes it less of a fortress of solitude and more like the bat cave (that's right, I went there), by which I mean cold, dark and musty. The desk is overruled by papers badly in need of filing and an ancient desktop computer so unwieldy that any attempt to use the internet results in total shut down. The whole room is a disaster.

But not anymore. I've decided to challenge the beast. I will clean my office, paint it and turn it into the writing retreat I've always dreamed of. Because I'm awesome.

This will not be an easy task. That room has been the bane of my existence since we moved in over three years ago. But I am determined. And strong. And awesome. I will keep you posted on my progress, possibly even posting some before and after pictures if I'm feeling brave enough. Stay tuned!