Office Inspiration

Awhile back I mentioned how I was a bit stuck when it came to decorating my "office". It has been a slow progression to come up with something that is "speaking" to me from a color standpoint, but I recently purchased this lamp and shade from Target, and it finally made some things come together in my head. Keeping teals in mind, but not straying from my love of a neutral grey, I am looking at the following bits on inspiration to see what I can come up with.

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Using Fabric as Wallpaper

I have doing some more research on temporary decorating options for apartment dwellers. I really love the idea of temporary wallpaper or renters wallpaper, that I wrote about earlier this month, but as I mentioned in the post there are a few drawbacks 1) cost and 2) unknowns of how clean it actually removes. While white walls can be crisp and provide a modern background for an apartment, the option to personalize a space with paint or wallpaper is a great option to add a design element. Lately, I have been hearing about another alternative that seems to be the most affordable and easiest to remove option! Enter...

Fabric!

As wallpaper!!

The options are greatly expanded, as my reading seems to suggest that a medium, to heavy weight cotton fabric and some liquid cornstarch will transform a wall. With places like IKEA even selling bold printed fabrics for purchase by the yard, this can be a cost- effective and low-commitment project. 

Some great posts that I found on how this works and what the expected outcome can be are here, here and here. 

Seems simple, but I am sure there is some time (and a buddy) needed to get it up on the wall. I also think being smart about the design is key here. Lining up repeating patterns can be tricky! I also read some comments about the fabric shrinking once it was wet, so the panels would pull away from each other, and also that some fabrics would bleed the color onto the wall. Perhaps prewashing your fabric would be smart.

Via Number Street Designs

I am impressed by how permanent the results look and the fact that it really does sound like there is very little residue or issue with removing it when it is time to pack up and move. 

Has anyone tried this? Would anyone try this DIY?

As another option, albeit a very temporary one, wrapping paper seems to also get the same affect but with very little permanence. A quick and easy solution which you can read about here.  

Read about my original ideas of using temporary or renters wallpaper here. 

A Modern Christmas

I am attracted to pretty much all things Christmas when it comes to decorating. Growing up, and even now, our house was always decorated very well. My mom always has the inside feeling festive with the main floor of our house full of centerpieces, garlands, nutcrackers and all sorts of festive decor. My dad takes on the outside, and always has one of the classiest and most attractive light displays in the neighborhood. 

See? Classy, AmIright? (This also makes me really miss Theo as he would pee on the reindeer and sometimes almost electrocute himself by aiming for one of the electrical plugs...such a crazy dog)

I don't buy a tree out here in DC. Mainly because I don't stick around for much of the holiday season, and I am sure like anything else here, they are crazy expensive (I also don't do fake trees...I just don't). I do try to bring some festive to my apartment regardless of being sans tree.

Last year I did some ghetto-esque decorations, that certainly not up to standard of my childhood roots, but I guess that is what you get living on a budget in an apartment (and last year I lived in a room, not an apartment, just a single room that functioned as my entire apartment). 

This year, I got a jump start on a few ideas I had for holiday decor. I am currently on the hunt for some sticks so I can attempt to make something similar to this.

Source: Anthro? But Unknown

I also wanted to do something a bit more more visually attractive than the tiny handing ornaments I did last year. After thinking it over for awhile, I decided to try to make some of my own. They are a work in progress, but I have big plans for these.

Stay tuned for the final product!

Decorating a Home Office

After week one of working in my new "office"- or better known as the guest bedroom, I was pretty quick to realize that the set-up I had on hand wasn't going to cut it for a full-time office set-up. When I moved back in May, (not sure if I really mentioned that on here- but yes, I moved. Cohabn' it!) I was lucky that almost my entire apartment fit into the guest bedroom in the new place. What this resulted in was my dining room table that was used for everything in my studio became a full fledged dedicated desk. Granted I didn't plan on having it turn into my full-time work space, so the fact that it wasn't exactly comfortable was ok. 

So it isn't big, that chair clearly wasn't going to cut it and it was just the perfect height to make you look down at your screen all day which was not too comfy. Luckily I remembered that the legs on the table are adjustable and we battled IKEA to find a new padded and backed bar chair. 

Naturally, none of the cover options (and there really aren't many) were not appealing, but on the fly we remember that we had heard a lot about custom slip covers that a lot of online stores were doing for IKEA furniture. So my chair is just the gauze right now while I debate what fabric and vendor to order from. 

The bigger issue is picking a design plan for the entire room since we have a bed and other items in the room. I am leaning towards a purple and teal motif, but have yet to see it all come together in my head. If that panned out, I think a chevron cover in grey and white for the chair would be perfect. I have some shelves to hang, some accessories to buy (lamp, storage pins and such), and some brainstorming on printer location. 

At any rate, it is coming together and I now have a higher more comfortable work surface, coupled with a much more comfortable chair. (We also finally replaced that sad excuse of lamp for something a bit more...oh not torn and falling apart!). So if anyone is bored and wants to help me pull together my thoughts on decorating...let me know!

I Wish I Had A Mouse in my Brain

Or a mini monkey. Perhaps a possum? (No those are gross looking) Small bunny perhaps. I guess anything that could take notes on my thoughts when I am walking to work and could then send me a memo later in the day so I could remember all those brilliant, hilarious and perfectly worded blog ideas I had.

I had inspiration hit for a post today when I was like 2 blocks away from work. I kept chanting the post title as I walked into the building, rode the elevator and walked to my office. Then I was bombarded. When I finally could sit down with a notepad to document the inspiration. Poooof! Gone. Like a fart in the breeze. No way to recover it. (Unlike the fart, I wanted to hold on to this thought). All I remember is something to do with the idea of when do you fully commit to a relationship. I mean obviously, no one puts all their cards on the table (or rather shows their partner all their cards) before they are sure that they want them to be involved in their game of poker. That moment. When is it? When is it appropriate? When is it way past the point when both parties should be doing that. (Ahhh, yes. It is all coming back to me now). I'll get this into another post for another day. Meanwhile, if anyone knows were I can buy a small animal to put in my head that will help me remember all these brilliant thoughts, let me know. I am in the market to purchase one.

In other remember news. I dug out my few Christmas decorations I have ( a few more purchased this year from trusty ol' IKEA) and spent a few hours last night hanging garlands, lights and ornaments around my room (remember I only have 415 sq feet) to ringing in my favorite time of year. I resurrected my Christmas Camel I bought last year at Mount Vernon, put out my sequined squirrel my sister bought me a few years ago. I named him Nibblet. I woke up this morning, and was so thrilled to see all the festivity going on in my small space. I can't tell you how excited I am to get home this year (and never ever come back...ok not really, but one could wish) and get my Christmas on.

Perhaps someone will buy me my mini head bunny that I need this year!

How does everyone else stay organized and on top of making sure their blogspiration doesn't just slip on out of their heads?

Felted with Love

It all started when:

My sister made this amazing pillow for me--I love it so much!

It is made entirely out of felt! Which got me really attracted to other craft ideas you could create with felt. I found some wreaths that used the same technique that Nicole used to make this lovely delight. This is what I created for a little Valentine's Day decor:

(excuse my very ugly mauve painted door. Trust me, if i could change that, I would!)

The process went something like this:

I cut 1/2 inch strips and used a hot glue gun to wrap and cover a Styrofoam wreath form I got from Michael's with a 40% off coupon. (Felt is fairly cheap as well- like 10 cents or so a sheet).

Get your wreath covered. Worry more about the sides rather than the top since that gets covered up. Also, if you can find a rounded edge circle wreath, go with that. This squared off one was not ideal.

Cut out a LOT of these 1-1.5 inch felt circles. I used one of my small drinking glasses as a circle template. I think I cut out around 300 of them. But it depends on how tight you want your felt "buds" to look. I liked the more bunched together look.

Fold your circle in half, twice. Then spear the end with a straight pin and then place into the top of the wreath form. Work your way around the form and Voila! Add a ribbon and hang your masterpiece. What I love about using red is I can change out the bow for Christmas and use this two times a year. A white one would be even more versatile and you could just switch out the ribbon year round to reflect the holiday.

KateSpadification Complete

It.

Is.

Done.


The long awaited, much anticipated, fabulous stripes are done. And I. Love. It.

I was skeptical if I was ever going to get the stripes to look how I envisioned them in my head. As a joke I had to start referring to my paint colors and deisgn scheme as a Kate Spade bag. I have to say...she defintely has provided some inspiration. I now feel like I am living in a Kate Spade bag. I could not be happier. I think this is one of those moments where I am in full reign of the design scheme of my glorious 415 sq. ft. apartment because it is mine. All sweet sweet mine. So if I want grey strips and to KateSpadifiy my apartment...well then I can do that.

This process required a lot patience. A lot of moral support (to not flip out and start just throwing paint against the wall). And much needed advice and best practices from friends and other DIYers.

It also required a lot of blue painters tape:

So without any further ado...

I present....

My masterpiece:

Yes my apartment is an utter disaster at the point now. I guess that is the price I pay for progress? Well some things are going to have to be put in place as I have a very special guest coming to visit this weekend. None other than Miss SaraMarie!! (eep!) [Insert giddy excitement and uncontrolable bouncing here]. Can. Not. Wait. For. Friday.

But back to the KateSpadifaction. There are a few piece of furniture that need to be put together. (Hey IKEA maybe you should sell that stupid friend you show in your instruction manuals!) And then we are pretty much ready for final details- side tables, artwork, lamps, maybe a rug if we find one that suits my fancy.

I am thrilled the wall is done. I feel incredibly accomplished and proud with the results. Hope it was exciting for you all to finally see what I have been consuming myself with since I moved into this place!

No Words are Needed.

That's All.

Making Progress

For about 3 loooooong months I have had this crazy idea to paint grey/white horizontal stripes on the wall adjacent to the purple wall that was painted a few long months ago. Originally the wall was going to be painted all grey but Kate Spade somehow put the idea in my head with all her polka dots and stripes to do something a little bit more visually intriguing.

So measuring and tape take 1 was an epic failure. We did one stripe and realized I was in way way way over my head.

This prompted the purchase of a laser level.

Cue measure and taping take 2.

Fail.

Ruler, pencil and more tape. Cue take 3.

Wavy line fail.

So here we are....measuring and taping take 4.

I think we finally got it straight (ha!) this time!

Naturally after 4 major attempts to tape 9 line segments 4 times the tape ran out tonight, but we did make some great progress. I think I can safely say that I am almost 1/2 done with this epic painting job.

Some pictures of my progress tonight.

Look at those straight tape lines! Woo! Hopefully tomorrow I can pick up some more tape, finish taping the edges and then get that first coat of grey on the walls. (I better get to it as I have a 2/14 deadline to finish this sucker up!) I also made one of last big trips to IKEA (thank goodness! I am so not in a place to spend any more money!) but this is what was purchased:

Can't wait to show you all when it is all put together! Getting close to finally getting this apartment put together!

How Did I Ever Live Without These...

These came to my attention from West Elm. And for some reason I can not stop thinking about the squirrel! I mean 1) it is a squirrel. 2) He is sequined. 3) Combined, that is awesome. These sparkly little holiday decorating gems are $25 a piece. So for $75 I can not even consider owning the trio. But they are rather stunning and funny at the same time. I want.



Singing the Blues

So I thought I had made up my mind about paint. But here I am. Still searching for that

absolutely


perfect



stunning



color.



Here are some colors I found tonight that have peaked my interest:

I love the top one. (and remember people, it is only one wall). I also love this idea of using the different papers/fabrics in frames to create color.

Any other thoughts from your lovely readers on my color conundrum?

Do I need to just do a light hue? Something more neutral?

Also....who thinks that this

could be done with IKEA Lack floating shelves? I love this idea of a floating desk in my new place. Apparently mounting things to the wall gives a perception of height and space. This desk area is functional, as it houses a computer place and TV place, and without the legs helps keep the space from being too "cluttered". Photo was found on apartmenttherapy.com and we are awaiting if the owner of the floating desk is going to post a how-to.

What do we think? Could a Lack shelf do the job??

Any other awesome storage, small space, color, design ideas you have to share please please please send them to me!

Paint

So I am really stuck. I get to paint my new apartment when I move in, and I am at a total loss of the "look" I want the new place to have. I want a Biggirlsophisticatedyetbeautifulandclean look that incorporates some neutral tones, a splash of color but mainly feels like me, and feels comfortable. So this is where you all come in. I really like the idea of a teal, grey or maybe a really really dark purple for the wall(s) (we have yet to decide if we will paint just one accent wall or do an accent wall and then neutrals. This room originally caught my interest when I was first drawn to the display of keys:

But I am not sure it is exactly what i am wanting. I love the bright with the white and then you can see the dark bed coverings.

So I found this tonight, pretty much the only thing my picky palate is really enjoying at the moment after hours of looking:

                                                      via apartment therapy
I love that I could pair it with some greens, grey cream/whites, black and or brown as well. What do you all think?

I am also starting to really think about furniture and as much as I know I am going to end up having an IKEA infiltrated apartment I can't help but feast my eyes on some other items:

image unknown

Much enjoying this couch. As much as I love the feeling of a microfiber couch I am pretty sure IKEA cotton will just have to satisfy my cravings. I also really like the pillow in the middle. Look stunning with my wall above much?

I need a designer.

Sigh.

And maybe someone to make decisions for me?

Anyways send me any color inspirations you all have. I am really hitting a dead end here. Also any great advice on setting up a 415 square foot apartment to be function, yet comfy would be much much much appreciated!!

All Mine...Sweet Sweet Mine

Ladies and gentleman I am here to announce that..... drum roll please.....I have officially put on some big girl pants and am the proud renter of a 415 square foot studio! And yes...it is all mine! No sorority girls(sorry ladies! I love you but living with you for four years was plenty!), boyfriends (yea, never doing THAT again), roommates, or anyone else around for that matter. I get to sleep, eat, throw, place, decorate, dirty, clean, however I darn well please and no one can say anything to me about it! I even get to paint! (A trip to home depot may be in order later today to pick out some paint samples).

Again, it is very small, but for little me it should be just fine. I have a separate kitchen that is quite a bit larger than what I have right now (and I am sharing that with TWO people) so this is going to seem like a palace, a walk-in closet that is big enough that if I really wanted to I could put a desk in their with my clothes and call it an "office". The bathroom is a pretty standard old-dc-apartment-building bathroom with white fixtures and is going to need some creative storage solutions. The main room has two nice sized windows and beautiful, shiny, hardwood floors. There is even a small gym in the basement (bye-bye gym membership I never use) and a good sized laundry room that is dead roach and rat free! The building is a bit farther than where I currently live from my work but my goal is to walk at least one direction each day during the "ok" months and then in like Jan., July, and August I can take the bus which stops at my front door and drops me off right at work. We are debating if cable is feasible but internet will have to happen, so a minor expense on top of rent but nothing major.

I am so excited to make 1546 and 1 trips to IKEA and Target that it will take to get everything I am going to need to make it home! This will be the first time I have ever lived completely by myself and I have to say...I am pretty proud of myself. I have wanted to do this for awhile, but to find someplace, have the job to support myself and being confident that I am going to be able to run my "household" completely solo is a huge deal.

So this is adulthood huh?

I will keep you all posted on when I get pictures of the inside but for now the best I can do is a picture of the outside of the building.

Photo via M.V. Jantzen Flickr

My new place is in the left indent of the building.

So now begins the eternal quest to decorate it to be stunning and incredibly practical. If any of you have any paint, furniture or decor ideas for me send them over!!



Monday? Again? Didn't we do this last week?

I am writing this this in anticipation of tomorrow. It is our annual staff retreat, which last year was this new exciting first-time-work-experience thing, this year I am really just kind of not excited about the day. I definitely didn't get enough weekend this time around. I am feeling just tired in general these last few days (ok maybe most of this last week). Must be that high-strung stress level creeping up on me.

I did a lot of work for the speaker that is presenting tomorrow and I am nervous that I feel that people are going to bitch and complain about it to no end. I put a lot of effort into organizing, researching and working with our presenter and I just hope people don't talk about what a waste of time it was, or that it wasn't relevant. So please keep your fingers crossed for me. I am really trying to step outside my role at work and make some sort of contributions that people notice and are different from my day-to-day maintenance.

I am excited that a large group of people from the office are going to go get dinner at Founding Farmers (one of my top places to eat) after the day. Hopefully I won't be in an awful mood and I can in a way celebrate the organizing of my first big training session.

A couple points to ponder:

1) This little thing I have in my room. I had originally used these canisters in my old kitchen to hold flour, sugar, and powdered sugar and I would love to use these again when I have a bigger kitchen that is all mine in the future, but for now they hold candles and this bundle of wheat that I had originally purchased as decor for my Thanksgiving Feast that ultimately didn't happen as planned thanks to the roaches. Anyways, the bunch has always looked awkward to me, it needs some help. Any ideas?

2) I am dried out like no other from this winter weather. I lather lotion and lipbalm on and to no avail. Anyone have any magic winterization tips to keep me from getting all sand-papery

3) I need people's favorite quotes about love/friendship/romance etc. for a project I am working on. Post 'em! It would be greatly appreciated!!

4) SM I am so proud of you tonight, AND I can only hope that I will muster as much courage as you!!

Well an early morning for me and I am exhausted! Wish me luck tomorrow people!!

Many Firsts

1) Saw my first GIANT Rat. He was pretty gross, I screamed. Luckily he was outside and that is hopefully where he will stay.

2) First trip to a grocery store in my new neighborhood. Got lost, walked ALOT, found it, looked like a bag lady walking home.

3) First time being able to watch The Office in real time! And can we say...I want a Jim! And I also want to have the Chris Brown song be at my wedding rehersal.

4) This one has not happened yet, but it will be my first adventure into PA (well I was there for a week in high school) but I haven't been since I moved to DC. I am going to meet up with Kendal and go antiquing with her and her aunt tomorrow! I am so excited to see Kendal! Granted I just saw her a few months ago at Alli's beautiful wedding, but I also enjoy being in the company of my closests friends!

I am thinking about looking for old keys to put on a wall. When I was playing in the basement of my grandparents house in CDA I used to find all these old keys to what we refered to as the "Big House" which was a beautiful mansion on Sherman Avenue. Sadly it was torn down and replaced with a sad looking deli or something depressing like that. But I loved the keys, and I think having a small wall covered in old keys would be very visual appealing and very symbolic (nothing like holding the keys to your heart <3)>here.

My true vision is to hang them on a wall in every direction, but since I don't want to have to spackle 900,000,000,000,300,001 holes, I am thinking that tying them to black ribbons and hanging them at different lengths could be a neat alternative. Kind of like this:

Let me know if you kids have any ideas! Happy Friday!!

p.s. Life is fabulous.

Decor Wall Art

This weekend I found myself near an IKEA (dangerous I know). I stopped in to buy a few more pieces of my black and white dishes that I only had a setting for four and stumbled across the newest wall art IKEA has to offer. What it is: giant stickers that you put together on your wall to create an awesome large piece of art. Here is what I made:

I love how it turned out!

(ps. a note for the co inhabitants of the world: Don't put up your own artwork without consulting your boyfriend....breeds animosity.)

Now to take care of that lamp. I am thinking a new shade and some silver spray paint are going to be my best friend.