One Room Challenge Week 3: Workspace Progress!

Welcome to week 3 of the One Room Challenge! If you're new to this whole thing, here's a quick intro: Linda, of Calling It Home, invites bloggers to participate in a six week makeover challenge twice a year, and this time around I decided to jump in as a guest participant! I'm giving my home office (AKA the Mix & Match Design Company headquarters) a fresh start. Feel free to go back to Week 1 (the "before" and inspiration images) and Week 2 (the design plan) to catch up on what's been happening.

We're making progress! That's always a good thing when you're in the middle of a six week makeover challenge, right?! 

This week, I focused on getting my workspace in order so I can still #getstuffdone (i.e. work on client projects, blog, etc.) even though the rest of the room looks kind of disastrous. I was hoping I would get some of the messy, boring projects done like painting trim/baseboards this past weekend, but unfortunately, I ran out of time and they'll have to wait a little longer. I do have some good progress shots to share with you this week though, so let's walk through the updates!

Here's a nice, wide shot of the workspace area you can reference as we chat:

First up, my new desk came, and it's so pretty! I'm a big fan of how simple and clean the lines are, yet it's still visually interesting - just take a look at those angles on the base! When I was making plans initially for the office, I was inspired by the Strut table by Blu Dot, but it was a little above my ideal price range, and I also wanted drawers for miscellaneous office storage. I will say, the drawers in this desk don't have a ton of height, so while they're great for storing items like business cards, pens and post-its, they're too short for even something as small as a stapler to stand upright. 

The other big item you'll notice is the CB2 Stairway bookcase. I love it so much! It fits in that small (and also strange) alcove perfectly. It did require assembly, but it was super simple - I really only needed my husband to help when it came to securing it on the wall. That baby isn't going anywhere thanks to the big ole anchors I used in the drywall.

This bookshelf provides so much functional storage and display space. I can't wait to style it up and organize it! For now, I've just got a few random pieces on there that needed a temporary home, but soon it will be lookin' mighty fine. 

If you're really observant, you might have noticed that the ceiling fan has made an exit and has been replaced by a new Sputnik-style light fixture. I DIY'd that and hung it awhile ago. It was a really simple project - I used a combination of Y splitters, a keyless lampholder (the part that's attached to the ceiling), and a flexible light bulb socket extender, and then spray painted it a bronze color. It was a fun experiment that ended up turning out well! It was initially supposed to be temporary, but it's really grown on me and I think it will stay for now, until I can upgrade to something like this fixture from Lucent Lightshop. :)

Another smaller update is that the windows are no longer naked! I added these cordless bamboo roman shades from Home Depot, and they're awesome. They filter the strong afternoon sun that pours into this room, but don't block it completely, which is perfect for what I need. I wouldn't suggest these for heavy daily use, because I worry that the mechanism for raising and lowering them isn't the highest quality, but if their for decorative or occasional use, they're great.

Lastly, one wall of this room got a little art upgrade, courtesy of my living room. I painted this piece of abstract art for the living room in our old house, and it never felt quite right in our current one. So, I got a bigger canvas (40"x40"!) for above the sofa in the living room, and this smaller one moved up to the wall right by my desk. I love the color - and little bit of gold bling - it adds to this otherwise neutral area.

We're moving right along in this space! Next up, it's time to tackle the not so fun stuff - i.e. the punch list. The office is kind of a mess right now, but I'm sure it will all come together in the end! If you want to read more about the design plan for the whole space, head back to Week 2.

See you back here next Thursday for another update!

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