A few months ago I decided that I’m o.v.e.r the cluttered cottage look and that I want a home that’s still warm, still me, but just a bit….calmer. Not quite so much going on all at once. More simple, not fussy, pretty but not every surface stuffed with things.
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As you know I like color. Actually as much as I admire those Nordic blogs and all their beautiful white rooms and furniture, I need color like I need sunshine. Like I need dirt under my finger nails. Got to have it or I become sad. So there will still be color – just less “stuff”.
So I’m going to S.L.O.W.L.Y work my way through rooms – repainting, editing, shifting things around, maybe a new piece of furniture here and there, and some new art work like my Katie Daisy print.
Just so you know, I can’t work on just one thing at time. You’ll see me move from my foyer where we’re rebuilding our knee wall & refinishing our stairs (more on that later this week), to making over my faux fireplace and moving it, reworking my office which doesn’t work for me at all, putting in a new vanity in the hall bath and lots of other things.
I’ll do what I can indoors until about March when you know I’ll be heading outside (unless the weather is freaky) to continue work on my gardens.
But since I plan on getting back into selling on Amazon and Ebay (plus opening an etsy store). I’ve really been thinking about how to re-work my home office. I have lots of ideas swirling in my head but not much money!
Here’s some home office inspiration that I’ve been considering.
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I love this long desk. I need someplace to wrap up my packages. This skirt would be great for hiding packing supplies. Plus I love red and white!
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This would also be a good desk option for me. Also like the fresh color.
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I don’t have a whole room as this is my office/guest bedroom. I have one wall and 1/2 of the adjoining wall.
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We plan on framing the new foyer wall tomorrow if all goes according to plan so hopefully I’ll have an update on that by the end of the week. I’ve already started looking around for a new desk (haven’t found anything yet). I think I’ll go to IKEA this week and see what they have or may have to make something.
Of course, I don’t have a huge budget to do any of these things. But I’ve always found that frugality encourages my creativity!
Love your white and red inspiration photo! I’m looking to add some overhead cabinets/shelving to my studio and there is lots here to inspire.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these office choices. I know whatever you chose will be stylish and bright. Can’t wait to see how all your changes come out.
Looking forward to seeing what you do. I am decluttering here and going to try and create a better area to work on jewelry. I just need to move a little faster. 😀
I think my favorite is the red and white one (it looks pretty Scandinavian to me! In an fun “Christmas in Noisy Village” kind of way).
Looking forward to seeing what you do.
Can’t wait to see the changes! And the new Etsy shop!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
LOVE the first one to pieces! Looking forward to seeing all of the changes you are making.
I’m sure everything is going to look great, Manuela, and I look forward to following along! You are ahead of the game with your office since you know what you need to include {a place for packaging} and that first type of layout would probably be great. I love being able to utilize underneath spaces for storage even if it needs a skirt to hide it.
Happy New Year Manuela! I am so happy to see you posting again. You were very much missed. I hope all goes well with your remodeling projects. It’s always exciting to change things up a bit, even on a tight budget. I look forward to following your adventures.
Jen
Love your inspiration pics. They would all be fabulous offices. Can’t wait to see all the projects. Hugs, Marty
Yup, I have been feeling the need for a cleaner, fresher environment for a while. I’m planning on painting the living room white, I have a red plaid sofa for goodness sake, it isn’t going to be boring! lol. That red and white office, I could swear I heard angels singing when I saw it….sigh
I agree ‘frugality encourages…creativity’
I think it is going to be lovely whatever you come up with! I going to be tuning in for sure…looking for inspiration!
Pat
Oh, I’m really looking forward to seeing what you do with your office. My husband and I share our “office” area, so I just have part of a wall too. I enjoy looking at all your pictures, and I love the cottage look, but I also know that my honey wouldn’t enjoy all the clutter . . . so seeing what you do with less stuff is intriguing to me!
I love the read and white, too! It is so crisp and clean looking! I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Do you know, in spite of having an eight room house, I don’t have an office?? And, I really need one! But, I do have a studio! LOL I guess it is just a matter of priorities, eh??
I am sooooo very happy you are blogging again! I need my dose of Manuela on a regular basis! Between you, Brenda, and Clarice, I get so much home inspiration! Thanks!
Thank you Matty!
In know you are busy whatever you are doing:) Can’t wait to see the wall and ALL of the other changes! HUGS!
I’ve been feeling much the same as you! Time to declutter my look, simplify and find a new look. I struggle with the idea of letting go of some things so I’m asking myself if I really love it or if I feel obligated to it for any reason. It’s easy to feel we need to keep things because we paid for them – or they were a gift – or we’ve had them a long time. I’m letting that go and searching for a new look, too. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I’ll be following along, watching your transformation, my friend.
~Adrienne~
You did the cottage look so well! But I do understand where you are coming from – calmer, restful spaces.
I love the white and red home office inspiration….beautiful!
Pinning… Pinning… (Do I sort of sound like Charlie “winning” Sheen? In my head, I do.)
I started doing something similar last fall and actually took every single thing off my walls in my common areas and started from scratch as I put things back up.
I love the office inspiration photos. I have considered making our den more of an office/work space and less of a TV room. Still thinking about that.
Last year when I wanted to create a craft area in my guest room, I acquired one of those plastic folding tables and it works great as a larger desk area for me. I plan to make a table cover with skirt for it so I too can use the underside for storage. However, I did find it wasn’t stable enough to really work at prolong sewing (it has the most irritating habit of trying to fold up, lol). Sometime this month I mean to move my little tile topped table (formerly one of those islands with stools that we cut down to desk height) to the craft area and use that as my sewing table. I have all sorts of ideas. I think I’m going to be using more red and white than I’d planned originally. I have a toile window panel from HomeGoods at the window and just recently acquired the cutest little vintage tin waste basket with a bright red interior…With the white tile topped table and a small white bookcase from a corner in the living room….Well it’s looking like the room is pulling itself together without a whole lot of help from me!
It sounds like it’s coming together very nicely. I hope you post some photos on your blog!
Manuela
Decluttering can be very freeing, I think you will love your new look. Looks like you have a whole list of things to do, I look forward to seeing them all.
Hugs, Cindy
I love Katie Daisy! I want her to do a Mississippi print…I love her state prints! 🙂
Love the white and red, but maybe still a little too much white in there for me…or maybe it just needs some more patterns..a little more pop of black, maybe…a Tole Tray! or course! 🙂
I love the curtains/skirts around kitchen cabinets, desk kneeholes, bath vanities…but alas, I won’t give in to them because of my dawgs…They are whereever I AM…and their hair would just stick to all this fabric…so I’ll remain with solid storage hiding… 🙂 (keeps me sane!!!) Can’t wait to see what you come up with… I love being resourceful and repurposing too!!!! Hugs Manuela! loved all the pics. Have fun.
I know this feeling all too well Manuela!!! (It was the impetus behind my Serenity Decorating these past several years. 😉 I am sooo glad I did too! We even sold a lot of our extra stuff on ebay for awhile…quite successfully! I would have loved to have a few yard sales to liquidate but our little neighborhood only allows for the rare community yard sale (no individual sales allowed, sadly). Also, a lot of our goodies went/go to a Precious Life shelter nearby…it is a private organization that houses unwed mothers as they await the birth of their babies and organize for lives on their own once the babies are born. They have a wonderful house and thrift shop. This past year has found me donating there far more than buying in order to reach our long term goal of SD! But I digress.. :)))
Your inspiration photos are so pretty…and very you! Can’t wait to see your final results!!!
Love,
Tracey
x0x
I am in the same mood you are in. I have been freshening and lightening my cottage, but I too like color so it will always have touches of it. Have fun!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Seems like many of us are in the mood to declutter, lighten up and simplify!
Manuela
Isn’t it great to de-clutter and refresh. I love the color combo in your latest artwork creation! And the red from the office pictures! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you! I love it to and think it’s going to be my inspiration for my little home makeover!
Manuela
Hi Manuela,
I’ve been going through the same transition of simplifying. I’ve sold a lot of stuff (including furniture) and it’s getting a little sparse around here! I don’t mind taking my time. It will all come together. I’m excited to see your changes too.
Oh I hear ya! I’ve been doing the same thing here. I am thankful to have two stores to sell
my wares at – otherwise it’d be garage sales. Looking forward to seeing your decorating.
LOVE the offices you shared. Very nice.
Becky