My Office & a Snow Day

We've been snowed in today with no electricity and I'm really glad we kept our wood-burning stove:



The power went out last night & we sleep in a pretty cool house so we didn't really notice it until this morning.  We got a fire going in the wood-burning stove and it toasted up our entire lower level, where the family-room-combination-office is.  We had breakfast (cereal with MILK! ;) at my work table and got all cozy by the fire.  I took the pic above with my cell phone & thought I could beat the power outage and post from my ipad but I couldn't figure out how to get the pic up from the ipad!  ah vell.



We took the kids out in the snow & Justin (above, 1) loooved it.   He was watching a snowball fight between Daddy & Christian:



{Yes, that's a snowball pelted at my 3 year-old's head.  My husband's a bit like Dumb & Dumber in the snow.  He hit me with one and it was seriously like a baseball...  I guess it makes us tough??? }

Anyway, onto the office.  I've been needing more storage and we have the room for it so on a whim we decided to go for these shelves (from Target) last night.  (We've beein toying with the idea of built-ins but want to keep the room open for alternate arrangements)  Dave made it home just before things got really crazy around here snow-traffic-wise. I'm thrilled with the results:



I haven't really organized it yet and I still have some empty cubbies.    Much of my gear is in our laundry room & Dave's work-out room so I'm going to bring out only the most-used items. 

(empty cubby hiding behind Schumacher bag ;)

I put my ink pads & stamps in this old hammered ice bucket and I know I'm just begging for little Justin to come explore.  (He loves to carry things with handles.) 


I've never really shown you what all is in my office so I thought I'd share some peeks.  Inside this little closet (which is next to the new cubby shelves) I keep some of my smaller fabric samples in color-coded clear plastic bins.  I prefer to pull my fabric swatches from their books unless it's a book of solids like linens or velvets:

{The printer & a bunch of other junk also lives in here.}

Larger fabric samples go in the hallway (most of them are Schumacher in case anyone spies anything they have to have in the pic;)  and are grommeted and attached with shower rings to curtain rods we hung: 


looooove my pretties...


...And just to keep it real, here's the view I never show:



I'm working on this spot.  I want to add more shelving up to the top and turn the whole area into the spot for my active client boxes, which store swatches & samples for each invidual client.  Completed job boxes go in a less-accessible area.  And that poor thing hanging on the wall is one big mess.  For now it houses all of the miscellaneous pads & notebooks I've accumulated so that I remember to use them...  but there's definitely a better way to use this space.   I'm getting there ;)

..Okay, and because I like to end positively, here's one last look at my new cubbies:

{Do you spy our candle collection??  Leftover from the power outage}

This little addition gave us some much-needed breathing room and I just love that feeling. 
I think I'll leave a couple cubbies empty for quick "mess stashes.." 
And I'm going to go now because I'm doing more organizing.  ahhhhh so happy.

 

xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

59 comments:

Barbara Matson said...

Ok, I could just sleep on all those fabrics! Schumacher is my favourite! Spotted a few fags! Their fabrics just feel so luxurious! You space is looking wonderful. Wish I had just a corner!

Katie said...

How fun to have a snow day! We're in southern VA and just got a little bit yesterday. Not enough to keep David home from work though. Bummer.

Just have to say that I love that wall of fabric samples. Love. Love. Been thinking of hanging all my fabric up with those clamp hangers used for trousers.

Also thanks for the motivation your driftwood (or whatever) provides. I keep seeing this huge wagon wheel leaned up against a consignment shop I drive by. Haven't learned quite yet to trust my instincts.

Happy evening to you!

My Galveston Cottage said...

love the blue and driftwood!
come organize me!!

Janine Green said...

Lovely updates to your office room! Thanks for keeping it real and showing the area that's on the works...I am sure it's going to look so beautiful! Love your browncarpet, its a great contrast against the light tones of the furniture and wall. Totally adore the wood item on the wall :) hope you are staying warm!

Anonymous said...

Don't all those fabrics hanging look beautiful! Your console is great by the way!

Jennifer

Lovin That! said...

I love your office, it has style and character. I'm dreaming of browsing through all those lovely fabrics! Thanks for sharing :-)

Acquired Objects said...

Love your office and that piece of driftwood is amazing! FYI, no matter how hard you try to keep your office neat it is never going to stay that way for long TRUST ME!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a precious little one having fun in the snow.
Love your office and all the fabric is FABULOUS. I love fabric. Hugs, Marty

Keenan said...

I love the color you painted your office! What is this? It's so calming!

Kelly said...

Love the new cubbies and you wall color is so pretty! I need to check out my Target to see if they carry them!

Lauren | Seventeenth & Irving said...

I LOVE that driftwood piece. Where did you get it?

Gretchen O. said...

We were just discussing the need for shelving today! A trip to target or ikea is definitely in the future...Oh The Wall of Schumacher...Loverly:)

................. said...

Oh, Thank you so much for sharing your office space. I love it!! And thanks also for "keeping it real" it's nice to see that you, like me, aren't always the neetest with files, papers, and miscellaneous work stuff haha. Oh and the kiddos are cute as always :-)

Anonymous said...

having your work space organized is the best feeling...
and of course it makes you more efficient...
looks good..
maureen

Pine Tree Home said...

Love how you know to keep it real and accessible. Most people would never think to hang fabric samples in the hallway. You use it, gotta have it ready and accessible. And oh so pretty.

Katie @ katieboothinteriors said...

Love your office, and the new storage. Fun spot to work!!

Melissa at HOUSEography said...

Hope your power is back on! I love your office.

Anonymous said...

Very, very pretty!
Thanks for showing your workspace!
Don't forget to stop by our blog before tomorrow. We will announce the winner of the $100 Lowe's gift card.
Xo,
E&J

pve design said...

how lovely....on a snow day.
ove

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

Be very nice to your woodburner. We had one in our house in PA and I cursed its ugliness until one 4 degree January day our furnace died. It was a month of heater repairmen waiting for non existent parts before we replaced the whole thing and thanked heaven for the ugly woodburner.
I like the shelves too. I use something similar with the fabric cube "drawers" for toys storage.

Tulip and Turnip said...

That driftwood is amazing!

And if I had that hallway of fabrics in my house, I think I' would spend my days running down the hallways with my arms stretched wide. Love it!

Andrea said...

Looks great. Snow days are good for outdoors fun and getting stuff done. Looks like you did both.

Heather said...

Love everything about your office! It feels like it is used and has great character :)
Also, the picture of your little one by the fire is absolutely adorable!

m @ random musings said...

I adore the texture your rug adds and would love something nubbly for my own office - is it easy to clean?

cheers!

JWK said...

Love it!!

traci zeller designs said...

Organizing is so happy ... but I'm stuck on that adorable photo of Justin!

Gina said...

gorgeous!! Can you tell us about the driftwood on your wall?? How did you get that puppy up there!? Its AWESOME!

Petie@inspirednesting.com said...

Looks like heaven, I love organizing and the rewarding feeling you get when it's done. It's the 'keeping it that way' that's the hard part.


Hope your power is back on :)

Shorely Chic said...

I LOVE your office, it looks like one out of a magazine!!

Emma (Glitter and Gold) said...

Aww I love that first photo - all cosy and snuggly! your office/workspace is great; i love the hanging schumacher fabrics - such eye candy! And I love that it is a living breathing space that looks great but has function; I dont like anything too perfect :)

www.glitterandgoldblog.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Snow days are so perfect for organizing! You go girl! Excuse me as I run (not walk) to my office to get busy. Thanks for the inspiration! Roxanne

mary said...

Hi Lauren,
I am a new blogger and follower of your blog! I think your style is absolutely awe-inspiring! And your beautiful family--LOVE! I was browsing thru your whole site and cannot find your paint colors, but I will keep checking! Sorry about the snow, we didn't get any in Va Beach! Happy weekend! xox

KellyMellyBoBellyBananaFanna said...

Snow days are the best!

The office look great, ESPECIALLY the rug and the driftwood and the wall color and the lighting.

Did you consider removing that popcorn ceiling? We had it in a slew of our places and it's always a nightmare to get rid of, but flat ceilings make me happy. Yours doesn't look very textured, though?

Anyway, fantabulous job. The color is perfect and fresh.


Kelly

Unknown said...

haha. I love it! I have so many of the same peices in my office. Isn't IKEA GRRReat!?

I mentioned you in my post today. After Maria showed me your Reality Check post (absolute perfection), I had to do one on remodels and the budgets that come in my office over and over again!

Hows your furniture line coming? You mentioned it at Highpoint when we met at Hickory Chair. Will you be ready to show in April? OMG I am so excited for you!

simply seleta said...

LOVVVVVVVVVE this post so much! And you even started with pics of your sweet munchkins!!! The perfect post!

I wish I could be like Samantha on Bewitched and zap you down here in my work space.

Hey Laurel NM said...

Ok, so you totally inspired me to organize my office this weekend. I love those cubbies. May have to make a quick trip to Target myself. Thanks for all the great inspiration.
debi
atticroute66
http://www.atticroute66.com

Amber B (Simple Dwellings) said...

I love your office space! I adore the driftwood art on the wall and the creative ways you organize!

Michele said...

I'm new to your blog, but I love finding other moms who have young children. It's also a huge bonus because you are so stylish, creative and chic. I loved this post! My husband loves to play in the snow as much as my little ones. My little ones loved it when he would throw snowballs at them, just like Dumb and Dumber, ha!!! Thanks for showing us your office. The fabric is gorgeous and I especially enjoyed the "outside the lens" photos of what your office really looks like. Have a great weekend!

kayce hughes said...

so fun to see! I am in love with your drift wood over the shelves.

Julia R. Dominguez Lawrence said...

Love your office space, so bright and cheery. I specially love the driftwood against the wall color, very nice!
Thanks for sharing.
Julia

Tawna said...

Thank you for sharing (even the pic that normally wouldn't go in there)...I'm in love with the colors and the fabrics. Definately going in my "inspiration" folder!

Karen said...

What a great space and I love cubbies. I think it will be so nice to have the extra storage space. I loved the fabric samples on the shower hooks!
Stay warm.
karen at Garden, Home and Party

Holly Irwin Fine Art said...

Hi Lauren, Love the new storage cubbies in your office....they look great. I like your home because it looks beautiful, but also looks like a real family lives there!!!

Anonymous said...

Lauren: Your children are adorable. Those wood heating stoves are very useful in a power outage. I suppose you could warm up some soup on it as well. They really suck the oxygen out of the house so you have to be careful to crack a window. Oh yes, I'm heading over to target for those shelves! I've used every shelf in the house up and more!
Best,
Liz

Cara Kuhl said...

I love your blog and design aesthetic! And I agree with the question above, can you pretty please tell us how you mounted that fantastic driftwood?! It's gorgeous.

I'll be back often I'm sure, as we're currently moving to a new home I need all the design inspiration I can get. :)

Happy weekend~

LaurenEM said...

What a fun and productive snow day!

http://www.echelonhome.com/

Jess said...

i actually cleaned out our kitchen junk drawer on the snow day, felt so good! now if we can only keep it tidy and organized.

Andrea Johnson said...

Love your space. Mine needs some serious organization and storage! You've inspired me to improve my office space. I also loved your keeping it real photo. No one lives in a perfectly organized office do they? I guess unless your Martha Stewart:)

Maria said...

fun to have snow day. lovely images! happy weekend

http://design-elements-blog.com/

My Notting Hill said...

Looks terrific. Hey, I didn't notice your aluminum ice bucket the other day. I collect aluminum and that's a nice one! We got our power back on after 48 hrs, the second night we spent sleeping in front of the fireplace. Hope your electric is back on now.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful room to be inspired in....smiles.

Unknown said...

Nice work space and I like how you've displayed the printed fabrics. Schumacher's are wonderful. Good luck organizing.

Marianne said...

Love your workspace! I wish I had that much room to spread things out. The fabric wall is fabulous!

Jessica Wrasman said...

The boys are adorable in the snow! I love good finds at Target! I just went to Ikea this morning before I saw this post and got some bins for storage. This is just the encouragement I needed to actually get into those unfriendly places of my house and get them in ship-shape.

Thanks for sharing!

Amanda C. said...

gorgeous!! i really love your style.
my hubby and i are living in our first home together and i want to make it beautiful and have so many ideas, but i don't know where to start! especially being on such a tight budget... any tips?? :D

Sara@NantucketHomeInc.com said...

I can't believe how big your youngest is! I have a almost 2 year old so I guess they're pretty close in age. They grow so fast!
Keep up the great work... it's not easy!
Sara

Jill Ann said...

love. love. love the fireplace stone wall. the home we bought has brick on both the fireplace and wood burning stove. too much brick...i am definitely bookmarking your stove!!

Sanna said...

Lauren!
What a beautiful home! ( and beautiful children!) One day when I have my own house, I am calling you!
Cheers,
Sanna

Aedriel said...

Love it! So cozy yet chic. :) Where did you find the wall organizers for paper?