OK, after much delay (like a year) and much hemming and hawing and procrastination my workroom is ready!
OK, well, it’s more kinda-sorta-ready-but-I’ve-been-drawing-this-out-so-long-I’m-starting-to-annoy-myself-so-here-it-is ready.
So here we go!
As Cheltenham Road grew I found myself running all over the house to accomplish even minor things. The computer was in one room, I was working in the dining room, half my stuff was in the garage. I got a lot of exercise but it took forever to get anything done.
My spare bedroom had been, for quite a while, occupied by a string of female friends who were going through various life transitions (one was out in LA for “pilot season” auditions; one broke up with her boyfriend and needed a place to stay for a while, one was moving back to New York but not quite yet etc etc.) and needed a place to stay. I was happy to oblige and after a while everyone began referring to the room as “The David Cheaney Home for Wayward Girls.”
They had all been great houseguests but it was time to get down to business so, sadly TDCHWG was forced to close it’s doors.
And that’s when I got to work.
What I needed was a Command Central. Someplace where I could do all my computer work but also a workroom where I could get production going and going smoothly. I needed a clean open space with a good amount of storage. I also needed it to be pleasant as I was going to be spending A LOT of time here.
The blue was nice – I really liked it – but I needed the space to be brighter so up went a coat of tan (it looks yellow in all the pictures for some reason).
I quick trip to Ikea produced two bookcases that I laid on their sides and topped with a Remainder Bin desktop.
Along the sides of the desk are boxes for storage
And when I’m done with the coasters I can just swivil around and put them on the drying racks.
When they are all dry I can pop them in their storage cases – which also makes keeping track of inventory a little easier.
(they are not alphabetized…don’t tell Phebe)
I carved out a mailing station with everything I need handy: envelopes, tape, there are boxes in the tall cabinet and customs forms and bubble wrap in the drawers. There is even a holder for wrapping paper for the occasional gift-wrap request.
I made the former closet (here is what it looked like before):
Into my computer station.
It’s like workroom heaven! (or perhaps just a very overexposed picture)
It’s even possible I may not screw up any more dates now that I have my wall calender made of Home Depot Paint Chips and an old poster frame from the Good Will!
(OK it’s highly unlikely that the calendar will save me from my date-challenged self but it’s worth a shot).
I must confess that I’m a little surprised that vintage/retro loving me managed to create workspace that is all clean lines and white surfaces. But I knew there was going to be a lot of clutter and a lot of projects and I just wanted the space itself to be kind of neutral.
There is still lots to be done.
I need some more labels on drawers, the front of the Mailing Station needs to be finished and more holes need to be drilled in the desk as I continue to try to figure out why my “wireless” lifestyle requires so many wires!
But overall I’m pleased and it really has helped me get a little more on top of things.










Looks awesome!!! (and seems so familiar
)
Love the paint chip calendar, computer station, and the label maker gone wild labels everywhere!!
Enjoy your new workspace! I am sure it will inspire you.
Maggie totally stole the idea from me!!!!
Ok, she didn’t – she just went to the same Ikea sale – but I’m the one with a blog so……..
Good job David. Your sisters will be so proud…even Phebe.
Nicki
Two words…FLIPPING AWESOME! I absolutely love the green and white. So sleek and fresh. And that paint chip calendar???? Get OUT! That is the coolest thing ever. You totally rocked this.
Thanks Susan! Actually I more Rock of Ages it than Rocked it since it took for flipping ever.
David, this is AWESOME! I am lusting after your workroom:)
Thanks Kim!
Turned out great!! Now about alphabetizing the bins….it will only take you a few minutes.
Makes things so east to find. 
The paint chip calendar may not help you with your schedule, but it still looks great hanging there not helping. I like the office in the closet, I am planning to do the same thing, eventually, when I get a moment, etc.etc. Donna G.
* easy
Thanks Donna! If you do the closet/desk thing make sure to have some outlets put in. I have one up above the desk and one down below and they are really, really useful.
WOW what a makeover for that room. I want get in there and work.
Kim, you are more than welcome to come over, roll up your sleeves and make a few coasters!….oh, did you mean do your work? I guess you can do that too…
It turned out great! Never thought about turning those bookcases on their side. Ingenious!
Thanks Dana! I wish I could totally claim that I’m a genius and it’s all my idea but I have to be honest – they had them that way in a magazine. Stealing is the sincerest form of flattery, no? I keep trying to tell the bank cashier that but so far, no luck
I am so envious! It turned out great!
Thanks Jennifer!
Looks amazing!!!
Thanks so much Pam!
David, it is beautiful and inspiring. I, too, would love to get in there and go to work. But I’d need a place to stay….
It Looks like everything will be in order and ready to hand. It is almost too beautiful–you need to mess it up.
Love, Sally
What a great space and so glad to have you join Wow.
Wow David, this is too awesome! And it only took a year…..Everyone seems to have already said what I was going to mention so…..Let me say that I’ve been working on my sewing room for much longer and can’t seem to find an end point. Maybe now that you have finished….you can come over and get ME to finish!!!!
Congratulations on such a beautiful, work inspiring makeover!
I love your workroom, and the calendar with paint chips is so inspired! The space is so fresh and light, what a wonderful place to work.
Thanks so much!
What a wonderful organized room you’ve created! I love it and now you’re ready to go to town.
be a sweetie,
Shelia
Thanks Shelia! Now, of course, it’s time to work on the garage…….
I love everything about this room!!
Fabulous job, David, that looks like a great place for you to create!
What a great space this turned out to be! So organized…great job, glad to find your blog…
Nancy
http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Thank you Nancy. I’m off to check out wildoakdesigns myself!
wow…amazing room!! I especially love the calendar & oh what one wouldn’t do for such a window =)
Thanks Angela. I’m glad you liked the calendar. It’s very easy and very inexpensive. The windows?….need some weather proofing.
OK after seeing this GREAT space, I am as green as your calendar…can you please come and help me do mine???
Thanks Claudia! I think I like the idea of “Dave Cheaney – Space Designer!” (it gets me back to my Star Trek childhood fantasies…..sort of). I’ll be right over!
Great workspace. It even follows my decorating mantra: “Clean, crisp, light and bright.” It will definitely save you time and aggravation.
One suggestion though, a comfortable chair at the computer desk will save you lots of back and neck pain. Ask me how I know.
Thanks Patti! That chair (I’m sitting at it now) is surprisingly comfortable. And I do mean “surprisingly.” I just stuck it there as a make-do and it’s been great. But I appreciate the advice and I probably will look around for something more mod/better. http://www.cheltenhamroad.etsy.com http://www.cheltenhamroad.wordpress.com
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This room is amazing inspiration! I do have a question-Where did you find the tabletop you put on the IKEA bookcases?
Thank you Rachel. The top was in the remainders/damaged section of Ikea as well. Although, honestly, a sheet of cabinet grade plywood painted white would work just as well. It’s the glass on the top that makes it truly practical.
That desk is awesome! Did you secure the table top to the bookcases/secure the bookcases together somehow? I am looking to create a practical/inexpensive/IKEA hacked L shaped desk for my work as well, and this looks perfect.
Thanks Stacy. To be honest, I intended to connect the pieces of the desk but haven’t yet. I had a piece of glass cut for the desk top and the weight of it keeps things in place pretty well. I will, eventually, probably put double sided carpet tape or something between the bookcase and the desktop just for extra stability. Alternatively, you could just run a couple of screws up through the bookcase and into the desktop.
That is good to know! What are the dimensions of the desktop that you put on top, and what is the box with drawers under the other side? I’d love a “parts” list
The desktop is 30×58 (it was in the IKEA Remainders department my local store always has lots of them)
The drawers were another Ikea item – I’m sorry I can’t recall the name of the product but it was from their Home/Office section.
http://www.cheltenhamroad.etsy.com http://www.cheltenhamroad.wordpress.com
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wow, beautiful! I am so jealous! I really need to sort my workroom out…
Wow! Love that you put the bookcases on their side {ingenious!} and the paint chip calendar is awesome & a nice change from the typical calendar. I’d never leave the room LOL It’s beautiful!
I must confess that, at this point, I sometimes feel a bit trapped in the room but it’s a nice place to be trapped I agree!
love the way you’ve used the shelves to create the L shaped workspace! And that calendar is great! Been looking to create a calendar for my studio that can also add a bit of color!
Thank you Wendy!