Spring Into Action - Week 3 - My Desk Reveal

Today is the third and final week of the Spring Into Action project party and I get to share my desk area, as complete as it is thus far.

My goal was to get it organized and to lighten and brighten it. I was so excited with my various finds while also using what I already owned. Here is a glimpse.

 

These were the pieces I decided to incorporate. The clipboard being the piece with all the color inspiration I thought I would use.

 

Some more pictures of the space.

Before..

(Warning - you will see wires below the desk. I did not attempt to hide them for the purpose of taking pictures this time. We have been having some internet/phone issues so these have been left accessible for the time being).

After...

 

The details...

Nailhead trim strip on Premier Prints Traditions in Natural/Sweet Potato fabric (from fabric.com) along entire back panel.

 

File pockets by Martha Stewart from Staples...for household and work papers on the left,

 

 

and for the kids' school paperwork on the right. I also found a smaller pocket for the school directory so that it is accessible and there is a home for it.

 

Accessories which are functional and add color and/or pattern...

The gift store clipboard.

 

Vintage Etsy toast rack now a letter holder.

 

 

Flower vase from Goodwill now a pencil holder.

 

 

Floral bowl from Goodwill used to hold Post-Its.

 

 

I added some white mini roses in a silver jug from an old tea set I own.

 

Glass heart-shaped paperweight, one of a set of 3 from One Kings Lane bought a while ago.

 

 

In the hutch above the desk, decorating and design books, organized by color, and a basket to hold incoming mail. I used sample fabric I had on hand - which coincidentally coordinates with the colors being used in the space - as a backdrop for labels.

 

Filing cabinet and hutch on the side of the desk holds cards in a basket and magazine holders for subscriptions and catalogs. A bill sorter and a decorative plate made for me for Mother's Day a few years ago.

 

 

Vintage Hollywood Regency waste bin from Etsy below desk.

 

 

 

 

I hope you like this space as much as I am loving it. My desk is more certainly organized and so much more cheerful now. On a different day I will share the rest of the space - behind the doors of the hutch and the drawers below the desk.

If you would like to read the two previous posts on this party click on the links below;

Spring Into Action Project Party - My Desk

Spring Into Action - My Desk - Week 2

My work for this room is not complete. I have yet to share the other side of the study with you. It is another project and has a very special piece of furniture. Another time.

Do stop by these other lovely blogs to check in on their reveals for this fun Spring Into Action party.

1. Suzy – Saved by Suzy

2. Tiffany– Living Savvy

3. Kerry– Design du Monde

4. Laurie– Traditional& Modern Design

5. Cathy– Room Rx

6. Carrie– Hazardous Design

7. Sam– The Junk House

8. Becca – From Gardners Two Bergers

9. Jean– Flower Hill Design

10. Nancy– Powell Brower Home

11. Linda - My Crafty Home Life

Thank you, Linda, for coming up with the idea to motivate each other through these past few weeks. It might have taken me longer.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Spring Into Action - My Desk - Week 2

This is week 2 of 3 of the Spring Into Action project party where 12 blogs have joined forces to motivate each other, and hopefully those who visit, to complete a project that we need to see through to completion. 

I chose to share my desk make over and am excited to show with you the pieces and colors that I am incorporating in this space to make it more functional, organized and pretty.

This clipboard is the color inspiration I shared with you last week. I had talked about the desk being the place from which I manage bills and other paperwork as well as kids' school papers; the place from which I blog, work and study.

 

This is the desk as it was until a few days ago. I had begun contemplating ideas to organize and beautify this space back in the Fall as I was heading into a hectic holiday season.

I thought the back panel was a great spot to make over and a great place to start - I looked at the 56" x 18" as a blank canvas. It has been begging for some color and I would not be me if I did not put something colorful up there and so I decided to add fabric - a soft furnishing to a room with a lot of wood.

For the past couple of months I had these pinned to the board from a selection of swatches I had ordered from Fabric.com. I narrowed the fabrics down to these two because I liked the colors against the Mountain Lane by Benjamin Moore on the walls.

Then I picked the one I liked best because of the off-white background which would lighten the space - I found the one on the right a little too busy so I picked this one and I liked how it looked in the room with the paint on the walls.

It is Premier Prints Traditions in Natural/Sweet Potato.

Here are the fun desktop/hutch items I have put together - some already owned, some purchased.

 

1. Edible Arrangements vase in quirky shape in turquoise, from Goodwill - new

2. Toast rack from Etsy shop, Bluebell

3. Floral fun little bowl from Goodwill - new

4. Premier Prints Traditions Natural/Sweet Potato fabric - new

5. Two's Company clipboard

6. Hollywood Regency mini waste bin from Divine Orders - new

7. Task clips from The Container Store - with 'Send', 'File' 'Do' and 'Read' on them
8. Bejeweled letter opener from a local gift store

9. Green basket on sale from The Container Store

I am sure you can guess what the toast rack will be used for!

This week I picked up this double pocket from Staples. It is part of the Martha Stewart - Home Office with Avery - line, in white.

About 10 days ago I pinned the fabric to the panel with nailhead trim purchased here. It comes in a long strip - 10 yards - with every fifth nailhead requiring a nail (included in the pack).

It was not too difficult to get this installed.

 I first pinned the fabric to the back panel using pushpins..

...and then began to fasten the strip to the fabric with the nails. I did not need a tool to cut the metal when I reached a corner. I just bent the strip back-and-forth until it snapped apart.

And that is my project update. So far so great!

I hope you like what you see. I am excited!

If you missed last week's post on the introduction to this project party go here.

Now it would not be a party if it were not for these other lovely ladies so please head on over and check out their wonderful projects.

1. Suzy – Saved by Suzy

2. Tiffany– Living Savvy

3. Kerry– Design du Monde

4. Laurie– Traditional& Modern Design

5. Cathy– Room Rx

6. Carrie– Hazardous Design

7. Sam– The Junk House

8. Becca – From Gardners Two Bergers

9. Jean– Flower Hill Design

10. Nancy– Powell Brower Home

11. Linda - My Crafty Home Life

 

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

'Spring Into Action 2012' Project Party - My Desk

I have teamed up with eleven other blogs for a 'Spring Into Action - The Undaunted Dozen' project party. We will each be sharing a DIY project of some sort. This party will provide support and motivation to those who might feel overwhelmed or daunted by a DIY project or just require a little nudge to get things started and of course, to see the project to completion.

I have decided to share my desk revamp. This is a project that is more important than any other current project in my house.  The home office is where I spend a lot of time. The desk is where I tend to daily paperwork -  pay the bills, manage piles of school notices - work from, study, blog and so on, therefore the need and certainly the urgency to give it a little face-lift.

I started to evaluate the scope of this mini-project during the months of November and December last year. Life was getting busier and I needed a better organized system and a prettier space would be nice, too.

I had begun the cleaning up at that point but do not have many good 'before pictures'. Here are glimpses of when I started to tidy up.

A collection of random items - pens, pencils and scissors all in in one holder, a decorative plate made for me by my youngest daughter for Mother's Day a couple of years ago, an emptied letter holder.

I had a bunch of notices, post-its, list of recalled children's medication, something from my youngest, again - her little pencil-drawn hand with my lipstick - a little of everything, pinned to that panel. I even had neighborhood recycling information handy!

I brought in cleaning supplies.

I cleared the back panel. These pictures were taken over several days so some things were moved around during the course of the day. I had just the desk light on so this picture is dark. You can see more items used daily like my hand cream, La Source from Crabtree & Evelyn and a blue-&-white coaster for my cup of tea.

This is the color of the walls in the room, Benjamin Moore's, Mountain Lane. I had liked the effect of dark wood furniture against this olive-like green.

My desk chair is very similar to this one from Staples. It is in a smoky grey faux suede fabric.

 

I started to look at other colors I could incorporate in this space. I had purchased a few of these very pretty paisley clipboards to give as hostess gifts about a year ago.

I decided I could keep one for myself. I thought this would be a great jumping off point to introduce a fun color palette and to breathe life into this space.

So there you have it. My desk revamping 'Spring Into Action' project - Part I of III. Stay tuned for the next update on this which will be in a week on Thursday, April 12th.

Now please do visit the other ladies who are a part of this project party. I am sure they would love a visit from the ever-supportive blogging community.

 

 1. Suzy – Saved by Suzy

 2. Tiffany – Living Savvy

 3. Kerry – Design du Monde

 4. Laurie – Traditional & Modern Design

 5. Cathy – Room Rx

 6. Carrie – Hazardous Design

 7. Sam – The Junk House

 8. Becca – From Gardners Two Bergers

 9. Jean – Flower Hill Design

10. Nancy – powell brower home

11. Linda - My Crafty Home Life

Do let me know if you are also in the process of completing a DIY project. I would love to pay you a visit.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa