Pimp My Office

Having completed the main things with my office makeover (other than solving the 'there's a hole in my floor that leads to the tenant below me' issue) I decided to work on the fun details. And by fun details I mean 'making my office into my very own man lady cave.

Who says a wedding only lasts a day? These mason jars are with me for the long haul.

Day 4: And then, there was an office.

Day 4: Lassie, please save the day and unpack so I don't have to.

Day 3: The Swan is revealed

World, meet my new office; office, meet my world. 

Wedding gift time and a craft project that I am jealous of

Last night after bombing at roasting artichokes (I hate you, epicurious), I had the perfect bit of dessert to cheer me up: this adorable ring-bearer (or just plain decorative) pillow from my sister. It might be the perfect pop of color that our living room needs...

Day 2: The Plan

Day 1: things are looking peachy

I painted the moldings (even taped off the crazy floor to avoid mistakes on MY part) and picked out paint colors. And no big surprise, I'm going to go with a pale peachy-pink color with one wall in blackboard paint. I even met a (potentially more dangerous than the clothing shop) neighbor in the building: a new online wine company, the Wine Feed.

A mild case of buyer's remorse

So the carpet has been ripped up. Unfortunately, that little peek at old beams proved to be just that... the patchwork quilt of beams, plywood and linoleum definitely had me in a bit of a tizzy when I saw what was under the ENTIRE room. Deep breaths, deep breaths. Other than the fact that I could hear people underneath me (does carpeting sound-proof rooms? Anyone?) I still agree that ripping it up was the way to go. Perhaps a rug is the answer....

This is the corner we ripped the rug from--amazing beams, right??

And the not-so-amazing beams

BEFORE

OK so here it is in all it's 'holy-crap-is-this-what-I'm-paying-money-for-and-telling-people-about-glory.'

The space itself is situated on the first floor of the building in a quiet hallway and is about 10 feet x 10 feet with a window that looks onto the hallway from both the office wall and the door. Here are some photos of what I saw when I visited for the first time. The carpet was really gross and dirty but the owner showed me the back corner and the hardwood planks underneath, and he gave me the green light to paint anything and rip out the carpet. I'm thinking between hardwood floor, light walls and my streamlined Ikea office pieces, there's salvation in here somewhere.

KLP Designs: the new chapter (the prelude)

In the middle of all the work & life craziness, I decided to throw another kink in the (mildly) well-oiled machinery that is my life and switch office spaces. My previous office really was fine, but after going through The Carter Building during First Friday, (and thanks to Paola for the initial inspiration) I fell in love with the thought of being in a building with lots of other people... and other people who were creative. The building is amazing; photographers, yoga instructors, great women's consignment store (which may turn into my downfall) all work side-by-side.

There was one studio available that the owner showed me Friday morning as I was on my way to NYC... and while it needed a LOT of TLC, it just felt like a good environment so I went for it...and am excited to jump on the (mini) renovation bandwagon to make it 'my' space. Thank you to Catherine, Staci, Anna & Jen for your (much more impressive) projects which give me the confidence that I too can accomplish something physical to make my space what I want it to be.  xo

Until next year, Javits Center

Cool old tools and some man-pampering

Mike has decided to go with a custom suit instead of a traditional tux for our wedding, and last night we had the tailor over for a fitting. I had never known that men's suits had so many choices (I was in heaven with all the shirt options; it was like a Pantone chart of cottons) or cool tools for measuring. I felt like we were in Italy in the 1950s, and these photos support this blast to the past.