The Write Space

I've been in the process of decorating my office for quite a while and now I'm finally finished and I have pictures! The theme of my office is words and life being that I'm a writer and all. It has a definite French flair, something that I didn't plan but just sort of happened on its own. Keep in mind that this is a working office so it's always function before beauty. I'd love to throw in a disclaimer reminding everyone that I'm not a decorator, things aren't as perfect as I'd like them to be, the wall color isn't my first choice blah, blah, blah, but it is what it is. And it just happens to be an office that makes me very happy.

This is what you see when you enter the room. It's my work area and I purposely left it cluttered so you could see what it really looks like when I'm creating and not some perfect version that I set up just for the picture. Notice the curtains pulled back behind the window ledge with nothing holding them there and one looks totally jagged which it isn't at all. The pictures on the ledge are my children. Originally, I had a colorful cross there, but my daughter informed me that it looked as though I was trying to keep Dracula from coming in through the window.

By the way, I will mention my thrifty finds in this post because I know it might give others ideas and hope that beauty can be created on a budget. The curtains were on discount at Lowe's, all except the toile valance which I just had to have and it was full price at Lowe's. The desk is solid wood and very heavy, purchased at a yard sale for $40 several years ago. The 1950s metal stand to the right of the desk was a $2 yard sale find spiffed up with a can of spray paint. The computer was on discount per my father's shopping, the printer free, and the copier was a gift from my dad.

The Renoir above the computer is one of my favorites: Danse a Bougival. The expression on that woman's face is mesmerizing. That's why she's above my work space so I can look up and be inspired. All of the Renoirs in this room were purchased on ebay for about $3.50 each when you count s&h. The poster frames were about $5.00 at Wally World.

These plates are some of my favorite things in the whole room which is also why they rated a spot above my work station. When I look at them I get all happy. They are Johnson Bros. china purchased on deep discount at an upscale department store. The shelf is a yard sale find and the "Believe" sign is from the dollar store, painted with love by my daughter.

See my 12 smooth stones from Joshua 4:1-9. They are faith (2), love (2), peace (2), hope, pray, dream, imagine, relax, and laugh. Dollar store purchase.

Going around the room to the left we encounter the file cabinet which still needs a little work up top. I'm going to raise the hand higher and stagger the plants and other raised surfaces.

On the side of the file cabinet are the things I read when I feel like I can't go on. First we have a couple of quotes. John Wayne was less than a dollar at Kirkland's. It says, "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway."

Then we have a beautiful essay written by my daughter about her hero. Hmmm....wonder who that might be?

You may have noticed this large hand giving the okay sign and wondered about it. I bought it because it's almost identical to the one that appears in my curriculum, Hands-On Essays. It was cheap at TJ Maxx, but was a dull gray and black so my daughter and I spruced it up with some hints of silver and gold paint. My family tells me that when I'm stressed I need to look at it and remember that everything will be okay.

This is my favorite spot in the office: my thinking chair. Actually, this is where I think, read, have quiet time, pray, and write rough drafts. Notice the lovely Renoirs. I love looking at people while I create.

A cute little black table for my tea cup. It was a burnt orange plant stand from TJ Maxx that I gave a makeover with a can of spray paint. By the way, I'm not left handed, but it's just as easy for me to cross my right hand over to get my tea and it looks way better on that side.

My book basket. This is where I keep our nature journals and drawing pencils as well as Bible and journal.

I just love this little shelf above the chair. If you want to see how I made those punctuation mark pictures visit here.

And my great makeover bookcase. Click here to see how I did it. My favorite part is the open Bible on top. You can't see the lovely scrapbook paper behind the shelves very well, so click the makeover link to see how nice it really looks.

Behind the door are hidden these blackboards. I can only see them when I'm hunkered down to business with the door closed. Even then they are behind me. That's because they list my projects (top one) and my scary deadlines (bottom one). Yes, they actually have writing on them that isn't showing up well in this picture. Guess how I made them? One day on my walk I found an old children's easel that had a dry erase board on one side and a chalkboard on the other. I carried it home, my daughter separated the two sides, my neighbor sawed the legs off, I spray painted it with fresh chalkboard paint, we painted the rims, and sweet daughter painted the letters for each board, and I attached hanging things on the back. Voila'

Above the door are A....Z. Wooden letters painted silver and covered in scrapbook paper with words and letters on it. A Hobby Lobby extravaganza.

That's the grand tour and I hope you enjoyed it. Now that you've seen where I work, I won't feel so alone on the days when deadlines are tight and I literally live in my office. Stay tuned tomorrow for my master bedroom redo.

P.S. I have no idea why my camera has suddenly decided to take fuzzy, ill-colored pictures. I'll have to have one of my teenage experts look into it.