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.
Here is the before:
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.
Linking up!
