Around The Room | The Office In Progress
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This is one of those posts where I grabbed my camera and took some shots of life "as it is."
As it is around here right now means lots of projects in progress, piles on the floor, and me still simply trying to see and feel just how I want this space to work (while working in it).
As you come into my office you walk by built-in shelves (they were built into an alcove that was already there) that were designed to fit 12x12 albums with extra supports for the weight. The spotlights were already there and that top shelf has become a good spot for some of my larger projects and "A's" (most found at antique or junk shops).
The yellow walls were here when we moved in - those walls, along with the one window at the far end, make it a bit of a challenge to get the colors in the photos correct. I like the yellow but I daydream about having it all white.
Looking into the office while standing by the shelves this is what you see:
01 | A small couch with a TV for kids and/or husband. I can see the TV from my desk (just in case I need to have the TV on while working on my computer which is just about never).
02 | The area opposite the couch is where I hope to have a sit-down table one of these days. Right now it's a catch-all for things that need to but put away or hung up (more specifically photos and art that don't yet have a home in our home). I have a bit of fear that the same thing will happen when I put a table there, but the goal is to have a place for the kids or friends to come over and work on projects. There's also a little chalkboard for Anna and a small bookshelf along the wall that holds my art/design/craft/scrapbooking books.
03 | My computer table/desk and all my hardware. I just recently turned the table around so I face into the room - much happier with that setup.
04 | My work table - originally a kitchen island.
05 | Sewing machine and typewriter and more storage.
06 | Lockers. I found these at an antique fair a few years back and I still love them. They hold extra adhesive, painting supplies, ribbon basket, embossing stuff, etc.
Here's a closer look at some of the spaces mentioned above:
My computer table. Along the back of the couch I've got a row of wire shelves that hold my computer tower, printers, scanner, etc.
This is what it looks like if you are standing over by the lockers and look towards my computer table.
12x12 paper storage on top of a piece I picked up at an antique shop. There's nothing in those drawers just yet. The wood piece hanging on the wall is from Pottery Barn.
Here's what you see when looking from that corner over towards the lockers:
I'm still using the same kitchen island I've had since I first started scrapbooking. I have dreams of a bigger work surface - like two of these from Ikea placed back to back.
A layout in progress.
Next to the table is a rolling cart I found last summer at an antique fair. Still not sure I love how I'm using it right now, but it's working.
Stuff on the floor next to the cart.
And the sewing machine/typewriter/more storage area.
Other things currently on the floor include:
My December Daily supplies. I want to go through what I have left again and see what I might want to use this year and what can be shared.
My 2010 Project Life. A sad thing happened to this a few weeks ago - it fell off the ledge it had been sitting on and exploded onto the floor. My next task is to go back in and attempt to put things back in somewhat of an order.
It's all a work in progress. The room, the projects, etc.
My dreams for this space include skylights and some sort of hardwood flooring vs. the carpet. Someday.
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149 comments
Oh, thank you for posting this! It looks so ... real! I see shots of scrapbookers workspaces on the glossy pages of a magazine and I hate that my space isn't pristine. But my scrapbooking room is a real place! I'm really doing stuff in it, not just arranging it for show! So, so good to see your inspiring, functional, at-work space!
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Thank you so much for this peek into your work space. I dream of that IKEA piece too, ever since I saw it in Donna Downey's space. But I've realized I really like digging through my "bits", so the bins I have now are probably best for now.
I have a bump-out attic space---yellow too, though our ceiling is lower, and the slanted walls don't allow for bulletin boards except next to the window. We have a similar low window that makes placing a bookcase or desk under it impossible.
I can't articulate how much I appreciate this---seems like most people wait until everything is "picture perfect" and it's hard to imagine the space in work mode. Love your generosity!
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I love seeing you albums so neatly aligned..Is that a Starbucks "A"? It looks like one.
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Not sure where it's from originally - I purchased it at a local antique fair last year. It's one that lights up.
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thanks for sharing - this was a cool post to see everything. i love the antique lockers - really cool. and yeah that ikea workspace looks like fun!
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Thank you for sharing so much of yourself! I appreciate the inspiration you give me. I have a question for you. In looking through your photos of your space while there are projects, piles, etc around the room it is still organized - you know where everything is generally and to me it looks like you can easily find what you need. With all the products out there and all the new ones coming out how do you keep this all under control? I have trouble working in a messy,disorganized space but no matter how often I tidy up my space 5 minutes into a project there's stuff all over. A good case for learning digital scapbooking? Any advice?
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Hi Lynn - one of the best ways I've found to keep it under control (controlled chaos) is to bring in less stuff :). That and I really like to use baskets to sort "like" things together. I have a basket for alphabets, I have a basket for embellishments, etc. But really, over the years I've had a lot more product than I do right now and I've found that storing all that stuff and working on organizing it takes up way too much time - it takes time away from actually scrapbooking. I'd rather be making stuff than worrying about where it should go.
I've also gotten in the habit of "allowing" it to be messy while a project is in process. When that's done I clean up before moving on to the next. I like having a clean slate to begin with :).
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You have an awesome space. I love seeing how others creative people work. You're inspiring me to take a new stab at making my space look better. It isn't very inspiring at this point. Thanks for sharing!
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Ali,
Thanks SO much for sharing this with us! It is so wonderful to see your creative space with all its imperfection. My space gets completely organized a couple of times a year, but that lasts only until my next project gets started. Since I always have something in progress, it seems to be always leaving a bit to be desired. It gets discouraging to see these "perfect" photos in magazines, but that isn't real. I moved my space a couple of years ago to our formal dining room -- a room that was NEVER used. The table in there was a 40+ year old table with a wood grain formica top given to me by my parents, so I use it for a workspace. I needed to be closer to what was going on in the house rather than in the basement, which also did not have enough light. It would be great to share your "real" ideas as you move forward and get settled!
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What a great and cozy workspace! Where did you get those shelves in the alcove (or if they're custom - how did you build them)? Looking for something similar...
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Hi - they are custom. We hired a contractor to build them into the alcove. I don't know much about construction but was able to communicate to him how many pounds I wanted it to hold :)...and his wife is a scrapbooker and friend so he "got" what I was talking about.
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Thanks for sharing! I like, as do many others, the "realness" of your creative space. We all have these dream spaces in our minds, but we make do with what we have for now. If we wait till we have the perfect space to craft in, we'd never get anything done. Dream of what you want, but work with what you have.
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Wonderful comment! That is a perfect sentiment and this was a timely post for me too. Just finished building and haven't taken pics to show my far away friends because things "aren't done" yet. Thanks for the inspiration to do it anyway!
Exactly!
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so nice to see that I'm not the only one who uses a piling system.
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Enjoyed seeing your work space and how it is a work in progress just like mine. Love all that space and openness. Hope you get all of it like you want before too long.
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Ali, it's so nice to see your space! Actually sort of a relief to see that you also have piles of stuff everywhere! Blogland photos can create stress (feelings of inadequacy) when everything seems so, so, perfect!! So sorry to hear about your album falling down - thank goodness you have lots of photos of it that will hopefully make it easier to put things back in place.
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Well now I don't feel so bad about all the stuff I have to step over to get into my room. LOL
You have a really nice space Ali
So sorry about your album exploding.
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always love your creative space ali!
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This was probably the best room tour I've ever seen! You made it so easy to understand the orientation of your room. Normally it takes me a lot of work to figure out how all the different parts go together. Love your numbered pic and explanation at the beginning to bring it all together right up front!
It must be so nice to have a big space like that for your different areas where family can come sit and friends can play with you around a table.
Can't wait to see it again as you continue to make progress on it. It's my opinion that the best way to know how to organize a space is to work within for a while. Of course, that could just be what I say because I'm so slow to get on the task of arranging rooms! ;)
BTW my room is a very bright yellow. I love the yellow but it definitely makes color and lighting tricky!
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Thanks Noell!
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This post comes as I am knee deep in making my scrapspace more functional. I have a small awkward space but thanks to a very handy husband it is coming together really nice. fun to see other works in progress.
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Love the peek into your room Ali. Thank you for sharing. Good to know that I am not the only one with stuff on the floor. hee hee..
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Thanks for posting this. I am currently working on redoing my room and this gave me some good ideas! Thanks!!
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Looks like my scrapbooking room - organized chaos! And I mean that in a good way. I am organized to a tee in my home life but somehow when I'm creating, everything comes out and stays out. Every now and then, I get the urge to put it all away but that lasts only as long as the next project!
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The built-in shelves for the 12x12 albums are awesome! What a great idea!
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