9.27.2011

A Peak Into My Office! {Before & After}

Good morning, buttercups.

Last night was rather interesting. A guy came out from a water company to test the water in our home and show us how 'hard' it is. Has anyone ever had this one done or am I the only stupid one? A lady came around to our neighborhood one night asking for water samples so I gave her one from our house. Later on, I got a call asking if we'd allow a man to come to our house for approximately an hour to test our water and in return we would get a $20.00 gift card to our place of choice. $20.00...Ok, sure..I thought. Well, turns out he was there to try and sell us a water equipment system for $60.00 per month. I should've known. He showed us how much chlorine and chemicals are actually in our water and it was repulsive. Just. what. I. wanted. to. know. I wondered if he was bs'ing at all or exaggerating.

We didn't end up buying it but said we'd "talk it over", which means no. He did say 2 things that stuck with me: bottled water is the same as tap {except for Aquafina} and the only thing a Brita does is clear out the chlorine from your water. Hmmm...alright. Not sure if I believe all of that {even though I'm super naive}, but whatevs.

Anyway, I think I forgot to show you all some of my office space in our house since we've updated a few things. We still have a long way to go, but we've made some progress considering the entire room was red before.


Here is how it looked when we moved in...

BEFORE:

{Note: these pictures were all taken with my iPhone so you aren't getting the best lighting & quality..sorry!}






NOW:



Recognize that IKEA light? Not sure if it's going to stay. It's a little bigger than I anticipated, so I may get something smaller and keep it for a different room later on.

...that black cube on the left by the window is Rocky's signature spot in our house. He stands/lays on this for hours, and we're always greeted with his cute little face here in the window when we get home from work everyday.




this bookcase was black -we painted to white.

In the top middle picture frame with the green polka dots - you can't see Billy's picture on the left due to my awful picture taking skills, but it says "Mr. Right" as a caption, and then on my side it says, "Mrs. Always Right" ;) His aunt got this for us..she's a wise woman.




{this lighting is awful but these bookshelves were black originally as well}

....see that glass container right up there?
that's full of "well wishes" to Billy and I from one of my bridal showers! They are fun to read from time to time.




{missing in this picture is our Macbook Pro...my most favorite desk accesory. l-o-v-e that computer.}

I'm head over heels in love with this desk, but finding a chair that I love to go with it has been rather difficult. I've been on the hunt for one that I'm smitten with for what feels like the longest time. I finally found one that I think I'm going to get....

picture this acrylic chair:



What do you think?

I need your input if you think it will look in this room!
....I will add a big fluffy or sequin pillow on it too. :)






this is also currently on it's way to me...



Anthro's monogrammed mug in a "K" that I will use for pens/pencils :)


We still have things to get more for this room like different drapes, artwork, etc. but we really like how much brighter it is in this room with the tan walls, versus the red, and how we made it more of an office space than sitting area. It seems to be more functional for us.

Do you like it?

...and what do you think about the chair? Do you have any other suggestions for chairs for me?! I'd love any input!

{but be nice..I'm no pro decorator over here.}

*Ladies* If you till haven't entered my monogrammed lucite tray giveaway...you still have time! Make sure to leave a comment on this post. Good luck! :)





xo.


46 comments

  1. Your office looks amazing! I can't wait to have a house to decorate! I love the light, too!

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  2. I love it! I actually really like the light! I think it looks great. And that chair would definitely be the perfect fit with a poof on it. :)

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  3. It looks great! I love the paint color.

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  4. It looks great and I love the desk! My friend just finished her office with the same desk if you want some inspiration: http://ldyates.blogspot.com/2011/07/domestication.html
    I think the ghost chair would be a fabulous addition!

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  5. i LOVE it. everything is so much brighter.

    brighter=better=happier.
    atleast thats my thinking :)

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  6. I love what you did with it! And they white furniture looks great with it :)

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  7. Unless you can pay $60 a month without it putting a dent in your back account, then do it. But at least 3 people in my family have gotten them and as my dad says 'biggest waste of money I ever spent.' Their's wasn't a monthly fee but it was a huge charge when we first got it and he has to pay for stuff to put in it every 3 months (I think). Seriously think about it before doing anything and maybe even get a test kit of your own and do research about the stuff found in your water.

    I am in love with your office, by the way!

    Sarah @ 90percentblonde.blogspot.com

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  8. Cute office! I have seen that chair a few places. It just looks really uncomfortable!

    Also, I have that mug in B and D for me and my boyfriend. I love drinking coffee out of it. haha

    As for the water equipment. Get a water softener from home depot or sears or something. There is no monthly fee, you just have to buy salt to maintain it which is like $4 for a GIANT bag. A lot of people where I live have them because the water here is really awful. My boyfriend also has one because he is hooked up to a well. They are great. I think they are a couple hundred dollars at first, but that's still way cheaper than $60/month for forever.

    I'd also check out that brita/bottled water claim. You can't even drink the tap water here, it's so gross. But my brita changes all of that. I don't think the salesman was being 100% honest with you guys.

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  9. Ooooh How I love your office. So So cute. I was just saying to Shawn last night I MUST re-do ours. I love the light personally in that room-I don't think you need to change it. Also..the chair would be peeerfect. Everything is adorbs.

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  10. Your office is very pretty! Great job so far

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  11. Is it a water softener? If so, we have one, and yes you have to add water softener salt to it every so often (the husband is in charge of that task).

    We need it though. Our water is super hard. One of the hardest waters in MN. Dries out your skin, your hair, etc. Makes me itch just thinking about it. But worth every penny for us!

    I would guess if your skin isn't extremely dry you probably don't need one. You would know for sure!

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  12. LOVE your office! It is gorgeous! Love, love, looove the light!! So cute :) Right now my office/scrapbook room is just white. I have an interior design degree, so it doesn't go with me,ha! I don't like it, but didn't want to make hubby paint another room (he said he would!) because he painted all the rooms! ha I like the chair, especially with a cute, fuzzy pillow or something!

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  13. Love these little brown chairs! Where did you find them?

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  14. I love it!! I also think one of these kind of chairs would look good (with your own pattern on it):
    http://www.chairdesignphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Vintage-Chairs-5.jpg

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  15. Love all of the cute touches you added to it! And I like the light-it makes it fun and different :)

    ~KAH

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  16. I see someone's been playing around on Picnik!! :) Love the office!! I think that chair is super cute...esp with a big old fluffy pillow. I pink pink ;)

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  17. AHHH! I want that desk so badly! It's pure perfection! Your office looks amazing!

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  18. love it! I love the little touches like the pictures and notes in the glass container. I love that desk too, we have a similar one in black at home :)

    I keep yelling at Rick because our office needs some work done to it too!!

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  19. oh my gosh! love it!! y'all did such a good job!! and I am OBSESSED with that desk ahhhhh!!

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  20. Looks awesome, Katie! Love the desk. I think that chair would look great in there, but I, too, am no professional decorator.

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  21. The office looks great! I love it. :)

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  22. LOVE LOVE LOVE it all!! :) It's so bright and cheery! Now, come decorate for me! :)

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  23. The office looks great - so light and airy!!

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  24. i love the desk... I think its perfect... and the chair is great as a decorative pc but i dont think i would want to sit in it for hours while plugging away on the computer... doesnt look too comfy.

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  25. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Katie! I love what you've done with your office! The natural light you get in there is wonderful! Is that a canvas print of ya'll on your wedding day on the shelves? I love it!

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  26. I love it!! Such a cute office :)

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  27. Your office looks fabulous! I'm loving the bookshelf in between the windows and the desk!! If you add a super fun pillow to the acrylic chair, I think it'll look nice. Otherwise, I'd say to get a tufted desk chair in a fun color :) Are acrylic chairs comfy? I've never sat in one before! I loooove what you've done with the room! It looks very well put together :)

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  28. Katie! This doesn't even look like the same room! Your transformation is awesome! I'm certainly impressed :)

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  29. Looks fantastic! Im loving all the white!

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  30. omg WOW! This is sooo amazing! It looks like a totally different room! I love the bookshelf & the desk. Awesome!! xox

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  31. LOVE your office! So chic! I think that chair is the best fit!! That room has done a complete 180! Fabulous job, my dear!

    Um, and please pick me for the lucite tray giveaway. Mmmk? Thanks!

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  32. There is scary stuff in our water! We actually bought a pretty expensive water filtration system ourselves. But we didn't have some creeper come to our house and try to sell us on it. Lol. Sorry about that

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  33. loving that DESK! and dying over the chair. I don't think I'd get any work done for just sitting there staring at how awesome my office looked.

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  34. I have the same west elm owl! love the bright and airy look!

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  35. I love love love your office! I think that chair would look so cute with a pillow on it!!! :) Good work girlie!

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  36. have i told you before how amazing you are? no - well you are! this looks like a transformation on an hgtv show. i am mega-impressed and i LOVE your taste!

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  37. I've been eyeing that desk!! Love it! I like the chair but wonder how comfortable it'd actually be :/

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  38. What a darling room you turned this into! Love it. Thnaks for the sweet comments. x

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  39. It looks great. Very bright & cheery. Our house is kind of dark & it has dark wood trim. I want to paint all the trim white, but hubs says that it will be too much to paint.

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  40. WOW! What a transformation!! Looking great, Katie!!
    Love the card holder!! and YES to the lucite desk chair!!

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  41. Your office looks like something off Pinterest! I am obsesssed with that desk, seriously. 43 comments? Dude! xo

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  42. I have that "K" mug from anthropology! It is my favorite :) Cute office!

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  43. Love it! Adorable! What a transformation :) Go girl.. looks great! XO

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  44. It looks FABULOUS!! And I love that light! :)

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  45. Would you happen to know the style of your desk? I'm trying to track down one at World Market.

    Thank you!

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