I'm so excited to finally get to share the office with you guys today! I've been working on it for weeks, trying to stretch my little budget as far as it would go.
I had about $300 to work with on this room, so it took a little...um...effort.
But, it's finally done! Finally.
So, let's get started with the before and afters!
Here's what the office looked like weeks after we moved in. It had dark outdated trim, peachy beige walls, and tons of mismatched furniture...basically a disaster.
Then after a few months, I started to work on it a little bit.
And after several evenings of nonstop painting, this little room finally came together and turned into a space that I love.
Here's what the office looks like today.
Here's what the office looks like today.
One of my favorite parts of this room is the upholstered chair I found at Marshalls for just $90. It has a silver nailhead trim and french script detail on the back. I usually thrift chairs and reupholster them (see 8 examples of that here), but I just couldn't pass this one up.
I think it pairs perfectly with the desk, too.
The desk was originally a kitchen table I found on Craigslist awhile back for just $50. I sanded it down to raw wood and painted the entire thing black.
I painted it the exact same way I painted this, but with Behr 'black suede'.
The only other thing I purchased for this room was the ivory shag rug that I found online for less than $60. I love the way it pulls everything together and softens the space.
This rug has since sold out, but a similar one can be found here. (Affiliate link)
My other favorite part of the office is the gallery wall. I didn't have much of the budget left over after the desk, chair, and rug so I thrifted most of the frames and filled them with wedding photos, a picture of Cheese, some random maps, and a sketch of a sailboat that I scored at the thrift store. I also spray painted a couple of wooden mirrors silver.
This rug has since sold out, but a similar one can be found here. (Affiliate link)
My other favorite part of the office is the gallery wall. I didn't have much of the budget left over after the desk, chair, and rug so I thrifted most of the frames and filled them with wedding photos, a picture of Cheese, some random maps, and a sketch of a sailboat that I scored at the thrift store. I also spray painted a couple of wooden mirrors silver.
I also added a few thrifted accessories to the desk.
But if we're being real...most of this is just simple styling for photo's sake. In real life, this desk is covered in tangled cords, Fritos, and the occasional overweight cat.
But if we're being real...most of this is just simple styling for photo's sake. In real life, this desk is covered in tangled cords, Fritos, and the occasional overweight cat.
I also added a black bookshelf in the corner for storing office supplies.
And created a diy chalkboard out of an old thrift store mirror that I painted white.
I added a large mirror to the other wall (also a thrift store find, painted black).
As you may have noticed, I painted all of the trim, doors, and walls.That ultimately made the biggest difference in this entire room.
For paint colors and a tutorial on painting trim, go here.
For paint colors and a tutorial on painting trim, go here.
For the lighting fixture, I found a $20 brass chandelier on eBay, painted it white, and attached tons of crystals.
This chandelier cost me $30 total and looks almost identical to the one that cost me $100 in our guest bedroom.
And that's the new and improved office!
Since I only spent $300, I'm pretty thrilled with the way it turned out. I'm sure it will go through many more changes as time goes on, but it's so nice to spend time in this room now.
And that's all for today, ya'll!
To see the rest of the house, you can visit the house tour here.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
I'm so glad you're here!
Since I only spent $300, I'm pretty thrilled with the way it turned out. I'm sure it will go through many more changes as time goes on, but it's so nice to spend time in this room now.
And that's all for today, ya'll!
To see the rest of the house, you can visit the house tour here.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
I'm so glad you're here!



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Once again it looks beautiful!! Good work!! It feels like a breath of fresh air through my computer. Also I love mercury glass- so I love your lamp! -Kwanie's son
ReplyDeleteThanks Kwanie's son! You are the best!!!!!! And mercury glass...I was trying to think of what it was called...transparent silver lamp had to do. Hahaha.
DeleteYou are a DIY diva! Love the black desk and chandelier! That chair is fabulous too. New follower here.
ReplyDeleteKelly
Thank you so much, Kelly! So so so excited to have a new follower! Welcome! :)
DeleteWOW, this is fabulous! So fresh and beautiful! Great job, it will be featured next week, thank you for linking.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kristin! I'm so excited! Wonderful to have you as a new blog follower! :)
DeleteI see why this is now your favorite room. Nice job! I really like black and white decor.
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower, Mary Alice
Thank you for the sweet compliments, Mary Alice! So wonderful to have you as a new follower! Welcome!
DeleteWhat a happy place to work. Love the fresh air look of the curtains/echoed with the flowers and chair. Great painting on that desk. Love your fresh and new office.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Joy! So lovely to hear such sweet things! Thank you for checking out the blog!
DeleteThat's a great space--amazing what it looked like a couple weeks ago! Your gallery wall is perfection. Did I miss where you tell us about that fabulous chair?!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Ellie! Yes, isn't that chair so amazing?! It was a Marshall's find & it works so well in the room!! Thanks for checking out the blog!
DeleteThis office looks amazing!
ReplyDeletewww.budgetfriendlydecorating.com
Sarah
Thank you so much Sarah! I love your site, btw!
DeleteSo pretty! Amazing what a difference painting out the door and trim makes - it looks so much bigger and more open. Just a fresh and feminine space with great views to boot!
ReplyDeleteJenny
www.evolutionofstyleblog.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, Jenny! Yes, painting the dark wooden trim absolutely transformed the room! I've done that to almost every room in our house, and the difference is AMAZING! Thank you for checking out the blog! :)
DeleteI'm DROOLING! What a difference! It's so light and airy now. Just beautiful! Love the paint color, I'm actually shopping around for one myself (major paint snafu in this household recently, lol), the gallery wall.....YES! And OMG that chair. Love it all!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenn!!! I love it, too!! It just feels so good to be in the room now! (Where as compared to before....ew.) Thank you for such sweet compliments!! :)
DeleteLove what you've done with the space! Do you happen to have any contact information (email)? I'd love to contact you about a possible feature for an online office style magazine! Hope to hear from you.
Deletewww.TheOfficeStylist.com
Kar'Lei
Kar'Lei,
DeleteThank you! So nice to hear! I would of course love to be featured in your online magazine. I contacted you via your websites 'contact' page with my information. Hope to hear from you. Thanks again!
Virginia! I love this space, I think the door frames painted white are awesome, and your collage of frames...what a beautiful, streamlined, peaceful office space. Congrats on the feature at MUSOS!! I'm so happy to be your newest follower. :)
ReplyDeleteKarah
Love this! It's so classy and chic. I FB it! I wish our office could look that sweet! I have a Friday link party. I'd love if you linked up!
ReplyDeletehttp://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/02/latest-greatest-friday-link-party-18.html
I would love to! Thank you for letting me know about it Jenny! and thank you for the sweet compliments!
DeleteVirginia, your office turned out great! Painting the trim made such a huge difference. It doesn't even look like the same room! I would love to add this to my paint color galleries and include you in a feature post. You wouldn't have to do a thing, just let me know if you're interested!
ReplyDeleteJena, Thank you so much for such sweet compliments!! I would LOVE to be featured! Absolutely! How exciting!
DeleteI LOVE this!!! My party just started...I would LOVE to have you stop by and share your projects!!! XO Aimee
ReplyDeleteAimee!! Thank you! I will link up right now this very moment! Thank you for finding me and letting me know...and thanks for such sweet words! I am a HUGE fan of your blog and have been following for weeks, so I'm super excited that you found me!!! :)
DeleteBeautiful! Your office looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the wall gallery!
Thank you so much, Maria Elena!! So nice to hear! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteWhat a beautiful room!! Great job! I especially love your chair, and thanks for the great flower tip. I totally need more flowers in my house!
ReplyDeletewww.freestylinbeth.com
Thanks so much Beth! Yes, I sooo love flowers! They really breathe life into a room! :)
DeleteI'm so glad you linked up!!! Excited to know about your blog and be your newest follower!!! XO, Aimee
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Overflowing with Creativity!!! Excited to see your newest project linked up at tomorrow's party! {opens in the morning}. Also, my giveaway for 1000 free full color business cards ends at midnight!!! Stop by to enter! XO, Aimee
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining our linky party!! I'll be featuring you on Monday morning!! xoxo Debbie at Inspired Honey Bee
ReplyDeleteHi! I found you on Better After Blog (the best blog ever...Lindsey is the best)!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your office. It is so peaceful and calming. I could get a lot of work done in there and your chair is amazing.
I am your newest follower and off to check out the rest of your blog.
Hi Helen! So glad you found the blog! Welcome! Thank you for the sweet compliments!!
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ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous job you did with the office!
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty! Can you come make me one?
ReplyDeleteYou are the DIY Diva for sure! So beautiful. Wish you could come give my office a do-over but you'd have to boot my husband out of it first and that's no easy task. (-:
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for linking up with us at #BlogBash!
Awesome! I love how light and airy it looks now. you are very talented for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love DIY projects myself and have just recently refinished our kitchen cabinets. Very satisfying to see the before and after!
Found you via Alison & Ado's Blog Bash!
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect post for me to read because I am about to redo my home office. It's a GIANT DISASTER right now and very, very small. But it's all mine!
Thanks for the inspiration!
PS - Boob light. Hahahahhaaaaa!
Thanks JD! :)
ReplyDeleteTruly, an elegant and lovable office room. Great makeover!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful office! I love that chair, just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely, the room looks more brighter and it will be perfect to place the office there.
ReplyDeletemanila condo
I posted this on your other page, but saw that you just recently responded on this one so.....I looooove your home! I just bought a home (it closes in 3 days so I hope you get this in the next couple of days!) and I've been looking for the perfect beige. I love the ones you have. I have a question....you said that you used Behr Sandstone Cliff in your Master Bedroom and in your office you said just Sandstone. Are these 2 different colors? I know Behr has Sandstone Cliff and Sandstone Cove, but did you use one just called Sandstone in your office? Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with this chair, tell me did you find it and give it your own tlc or buy it as is? :) love your entire home!
ReplyDeleteI came to your blog from Between Naps on the Porch, and I love that chandelier! Do you have instructions on how to make it? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI cam across your blog while looking for help to decorate our new home. Wow, I'm really impressed with your house. The chair is fabulous! Great find..
ReplyDeleteI also like the rug under the desk, I think it defines that space nicely. Great job!
I love your office! Where did you get the lamp on the desk?
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Jane
Just purchased my desk today $35.00 thrift store bargain! I'm going to paint it. My question is what kind of brush did you use and can you see brush marks? Maybe I should spray it Hummm?
ReplyDeleteTina in Az.
Excellent changes. I love, love, love the color of the office walls. Your gallery is stunning too. I have to do that to my wall going down into our basement. That's ALWAYS been a bug-a-boo for me - hanging frames. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I have the same patio doors you have. I'm looking to paint them white (from dark stain). Aside from your trim tutorial, what tips do you have for painting doors and their frames?
ReplyDeleteHey there! You said that you used an oil based primer and paint on your desk. Can you tell me which one you used? Thanks so much for your help! Love your posts
ReplyDelete