Home Office Organization

Making your home comfortable and inviting is more than painting the walls and hanging artwork! That's why Fresh (re)Design is more than decorating, because I love to organize a room! Maybe you enjoy what I call "the frosting" adding those pretty touches to your home, but the clutter is distracting from that great look you had envisioned?
If you need some hands-on help, someone to come in, roll up their sleeves and help you tackle that overflowing closet or office space, I'm your girl. Don't be embarrassed, either...I have three sons, and seriously, there is no amount of mess that fazes me! (I've seen and smelled some rough things, let me tell you!)
Today's post is about a Client who wanted a little help re-designing her office space.
Check out this Before and After!

There are exciting plans for this home, and especially for this combined dining room/office area. New paint, flooring, window treatments and more (that I cannot wait to show you!) With holidays around the corner, this family wisely chose to wait until the New Year to start the (re)Design. No problem. Except, wait! Out-of-town family will be coming for Thanksgiving dinner...and this is their view from the table! The Client and I quickly decided to break her project down into two jobs, and make Stage One happen NOW. I tied on my super-decorator cape and swooped over for the afternoon, reassuring her the whole way that we really could fix this, even  without purchasing anything new.

This home office serves a busy homeschooling family with three children, and Mom also needs to run her small business out of this area. It easily gets cluttered, with so much going on each day!
The challenges:
1. The space is only about 10 by 12 feet across and the entire area in front needs to remain clear as it is a walkway to the kitchen and the backyard.
2. A non-functioning fireplace on one side (that drips) and large windows on the other.
3. Not enough storage. The oak bookcases are large but without doors they hide nothing. The owner doesn't necessarily love their style, but can't afford to replace them just yet. On the plus side-they are sturdy and high quality and "almost" fill the back wall.
4. Two computers and two printers that are all used daily, but the long desk to hold them all had become a clutter catcher, with constant piles on its long horizontal surface.
5. Homeschool paraphernalia and art, while adorable, had taken over the walls and bulletin board, leaving no room for Moms photography business to really shine!

Are you ready to make some changes in your home but feeling limited by a tight budget? I can help you tackle your large projects, and am thrilled to work with you in stages.

 

After three hours or so of working together? A much calmer space...all ready for Turkey Day!

 

To meet the challenges of the space, The Client and I worked together and:

1. Replaced the long L shaped desk with a wonderful antique oak table the Client already had. Putting the computers in an L around the top loading printer made a tight but efficient workspace that will prevent clutter from piling up. In order to fit the second printer in the space, I borrowed a small sewing cabinet she had in her dining area and tucked it into the corner.

2. Swapped the contents of the black chest of office supplies (that they use frequently) to board games (used less often) and moved those to a different cabinet which the kids can open more easily. (A big part of my job is learning how YOUR family uses a space, and helping you to do that more efficiently) on top of this chest, each child has her schoolwork in a separate bin for daily use. The big chest also hides the ugly, open fireplace and underneath it was a perfect spot for storing the large rotary mats and guillotine paper cutter the Client uses for her photos.

3. Tidied up bookshelves and decluttered baskets. Hung the clock a little higher and added some personal touches to the middle shelf to catch the eye. Examples of Moms lovely work now displayed above the mantel and a soft light above the bookshelf and ahh...