If you missed that post, I blogged about the transformation here. Honestly, it was such a simple DIY for such a big impact. It took easily less than 15 minutes (plus a few extra for installation.) I’m so happy with the chic industrial vibe of these little numbers. Who would ever have thought I’d be found gazing dreamily at a basket of bills with a happy smile on my face?
And on the other side, the Alex cupboard. This is home to bulkier items such as the laminator, laptop bag, and nappy bag (because it’s always getting packed at the kitchen bench and it’s handy to have it stashed nearby.)
When I designed our house plan, I included a recessed area to the left of the study space to hold a filing cabinet. This has already proven SO handy for filing away household paperwork as it comes in. It’s within arm’s reach of the desk and yet slightly tucked away so that it doesn’t command attention.
Back to those big blank shelves. They would be called upon to store everything from paperwork and stationery to scrapbooking supplies. I needed a cheap and stylish storage solution, and once more, Ikea proved up to the task. I went with the classic white Kasset storage box. At $2.50 per box, it’s well worth the time it takes to assemble them.
I already had some nice wooden magazine holders kicking around in a cupboard. Onto the shelf with them! I considered spray-painting them white, but in the end decided the pale birch timber is a nice accent colour so everything isn’t too matchy-matchy.
The white crumple box was comparatively a bit of a splurge at $19.95 from Howard’s Storage World, but it was so cute I could not resist.
It’s not the most usual piece of Scripture to have on display, but it’s very meaningful to me. I love the story of how King Solomon took the time and care to make his surroundings beautiful, both in the Temple and the Palace. As an interior decorator, that gives me assurance that God is pleased when I use my creative gifts to honor him. King Solomon took on a vast number of building and beautifying projects, and he completed them. He followed through and carried out his plans.
This really speaks to me as I launch out this year with this new blogging endeavour. A project-based blog takes an ENORMOUS amount of work, and it can feel discouraging to pour endless hours into something and then receive no comments on a post. But God reminds me that my task is just to remain faithful (there’s that word again!) and follow through on my plans.
My study space is at the heart of our home. When I planned our house, I knew that I wanted this area to be right off the kitchen – for starters, so we could use it as a “command centre” to corral paperwork that otherwise ends up dumped on the kitchen counters – and secondly, so that I could snatch moments throughout the day to catch up on emails and blogging while also keeping an eye on the kids playing.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of my new study space! I’m thrilled to bits with how it turned out. There may have been several nights where I was up until midnight finishing things off, and I must admit I felt pretty exhausted by the end! But it’s amazing what can be achieved in two weeks when you give yourself a deadline. It’s exactly what I dreamed of, and it feels so satisfying to have it complete.
I’d love you to share your thoughts. Do you have dreams of making over a study space? How would you describe your ideal home office area?
Linking up at Get Your DIY On: Room Revamps!
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Absolutely love what you have done with your space Karen… So fresh. Love reading your blog too…
Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Looks great. I love your stencilling. <3
Thanks, GingerSmiles! I was really happy with how the stencilling turned out!
Looks great! I'm going to see if I can find some of those "mail baskets" you used so I can try them out at my house. I've been looking for something similar for awhile but just can't bring myself to pay the price for the real deal. Can't wait to see more of the new house!
Megan, yes, the real thing can be up there in price. I found these popping up everywhere once I knew what I was looking for. You probably won't have the exact same brand in the U.S., but I've seen similar on Amazon, so I know you guys have them. Check out your kitchen storage section – good luck! š
Absolutely love what you have done with your space Karen… So fresh. Love reading your blog too…
Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Looks great. I love your stencilling. <3
Thanks, GingerSmiles! I was really happy with how the stencilling turned out!
Looks great! I'm going to see if I can find some of those "mail baskets" you used so I can try them out at my house. I've been looking for something similar for awhile but just can't bring myself to pay the price for the real deal. Can't wait to see more of the new house!
Megan, yes, the real thing can be up there in price. I found these popping up everywhere once I knew what I was looking for. You probably won't have the exact same brand in the U.S., but I've seen similar on Amazon, so I know you guys have them. Check out your kitchen storage section – good luck! š
Happy blogging and everything else that demands our attention in an office space. Feed and conquer in one area of the home. Love it! It looks gorgeous!
Thanks Cassandra! š LOL – feed and conquer – love it!
That looks absolutely amazing. Your stencilling is so inspiring. I am building in some Billy bookcases from Ikea into a downstairs TV room at the moment and you have inspired me to stencil the backs in something similar. Thanks also for mentioning the paint colour, I have been looking for a soft muted blue for a downstairs bedroom and that might just fit the bill…off to get a sample this morning! I also can't wait to see more of your new house!
Thank you, Lynne!! Stencilling your Billy bookcases – what a GREAT idea – and you will never guess what I've just finished doing!! š I'll be sharing the result in an upcoming post. It was well worth it – made such a difference to a very plain piece of furniture! Great minds think alike… š
Happy blogging and everything else that demands our attention in an office space. Feed and conquer in one area of the home. Love it! It looks gorgeous!
Thanks Cassandra! š LOL – feed and conquer – love it!
That looks absolutely amazing. Your stencilling is so inspiring. I am building in some Billy bookcases from Ikea into a downstairs TV room at the moment and you have inspired me to stencil the backs in something similar. Thanks also for mentioning the paint colour, I have been looking for a soft muted blue for a downstairs bedroom and that might just fit the bill…off to get a sample this morning! I also can't wait to see more of your new house!
Thank you, Lynne!! Stencilling your Billy bookcases – what a GREAT idea – and you will never guess what I've just finished doing!! š I'll be sharing the result in an upcoming post. It was well worth it – made such a difference to a very plain piece of furniture! Great minds think alike… š
Another beautiful space Karen.
Thank you so much! You're very kind.
Another beautiful space Karen.
Thank you so much! You're very kind.
I love the colours, the idea, the execution. Well done, it's simply fabulous.
Oh Sam, thank you!! You're lovely!
I love the colours, the idea, the execution. Well done, it's simply fabulous.
Oh Sam, thank you!! You're lovely!
This blog post makes me want to break into song and serenade you with "You are the stencil queen, young and free only thirty-three" (Hope you're thirty-three, it doesn't quite work if you're not) Hehe. xx
Hahahahaha! š You're so funny! Pretty close actually, 34 as a matter of fact, but I'll take 33 any day! š
This blog post makes me want to break into song and serenade you with "You are the stencil queen, young and free only thirty-three" (Hope you're thirty-three, it doesn't quite work if you're not) Hehe. xx
Hahahahaha! š You're so funny! Pretty close actually, 34 as a matter of fact, but I'll take 33 any day! š
A beautifully pulled together space Karen. I love that it's defined as a space of it's own by the stencil but sits perfectly with the kitchen and living room. Also loving your little baskets sprayed black. I'm thinking about using some of these in our pantry. Loving your house more and more with every detail that you show. My study area is tucked in a nook in our lounge room. Built in book cases have been done (just need some crown moulding) and the desk is next on my hit list. After the epic kitchen rebuild is finally finished of course.
Thanks for your kind words, Fiona! Oh, your study nook sounds absolutely perfect!
A beautifully pulled together space Karen. I love that it's defined as a space of it's own by the stencil but sits perfectly with the kitchen and living room. Also loving your little baskets sprayed black. I'm thinking about using some of these in our pantry. Loving your house more and more with every detail that you show. My study area is tucked in a nook in our lounge room. Built in book cases have been done (just need some crown moulding) and the desk is next on my hit list. After the epic kitchen rebuild is finally finished of course.
Thanks for your kind words, Fiona! Oh, your study nook sounds absolutely perfect!
Wow, this looks great! I'm sure it's inspiring you to get lots of things done!
Thank you, Samantha! It sure is – I'm loving sitting down to work in my new study space. Funny how my whole life feels just a little bit more organised now! š Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Wow, this looks great! I'm sure it's inspiring you to get lots of things done!
Thank you, Samantha! It sure is – I'm loving sitting down to work in my new study space. Funny how my whole life feels just a little bit more organised now! š Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I love EVERYTHING about this!!! Pinning pinning pinning!
I love EVERYTHING about this!!! Pinning pinning pinning!
This is sooo pretty. I did the same stencil in my craft room that I'm working on so I feel your pain. I've been looking for some shelves so I'll have to check these out.
Haha – yes, it wasn't the most forgiving pattern to work with, was it?! I'm really impressed with the Ikea shelves so far, they're very sturdy and were pretty easy to hang. They come in a few different lengths too.
This is sooo pretty. I did the same stencil in my craft room that I'm working on so I feel your pain. I've been looking for some shelves so I'll have to check these out.
Haha – yes, it wasn't the most forgiving pattern to work with, was it?! I'm really impressed with the Ikea shelves so far, they're very sturdy and were pretty easy to hang. They come in a few different lengths too.
I love everything about this space from the paint color to the chair to floating shelves. Stecilling is like the bane of existance but I always love how it turns out when people do it. Fab job!
Thanks heaps, Jennifer! Totally agree with you about the stencilling – it's always so painstaking to do that I'm cursing it in the middle of the job, but the end result is awesome enough that I somehow keep going back for more! Ha!
I love everything about this space from the paint color to the chair to floating shelves. Stecilling is like the bane of existance but I always love how it turns out when people do it. Fab job!
Thanks heaps, Jennifer! Totally agree with you about the stencilling – it's always so painstaking to do that I'm cursing it in the middle of the job, but the end result is awesome enough that I somehow keep going back for more! Ha!
What a beautiful transformation! It’s gorgeous and functional. Bravo!
Thanks so much, Jill! xo
Wow! This is stunning! You’ve inspired me to spruce up my home office. š
Yay, so glad you’re inspired! Thanks for stopping by, Katie! <3 xo
I like your file boxes! I used to have my sewing paraphernalia stored in a collection of pretty tins on shelves in my sewing room, but I decided to put all them in photo storage boxes from JoAnn — all the cardboard tan color. It’s visually less cluttered and also saves space! Now, what to do with my pretty tins?
Ah yes, the storage shuffle. š You can never have too many pretty boxes and tins! š
Wonderful! it’s so nice to read a post from a fellow Aussie (who understands the pain of Amazon shipping limitations!!) am planning to copy you š 2 questions – how thick did you go for the wooden desk top, and how high does that make your desk from the ground? (Does the height of the Matt blatt replica chair work well with that height?) thanks!! Sam Ps sorry if this posted twice!
So sorry I missed this, Sam! I’m afraid I don’t have those details handy anymore because we moved out of that home almost two years ago now. I’d suggest sitting down at the chair you intend to use and then measuring what is a comfortable height to work at. Your cabinetmaker could also give you a standard measurement to work from. xo
“I’d suggest sitting down at the chair you intend to use and then measuring what is a comfortable height to work at”. Brilliant idea, for some reason I would never have thought of that (have only ever had pre-built desks, that’s prob why) but it makes perfect sense, thanks! I copied your industrial baskets makeover the other week (but with Howard’s Storage baskets as I couldn’t find anything like the KMart ones you used anymore) and it worked absolutely perfectly btw so an incredibly belated thank you for this post! š
Oh yay, you’re so welcome!! š xo
Love this. Is your home office located in the kitchen? I still haven’t figured out the best place to locate my home office…
Yes it is, Amy! It’s off to one side, so the walkway in between creates a bit of a buffer between the busy kitchen zone and the office space. If I had all the room in the world, I probably would have chosen a less high-traffic spot, but on the other hand, I loved having our family command centre right there near the kitchen. It suited how we used the space. xo
What a wonderful, beautiful and inspiring post! Yes, I’m about 4 years too late here, but such is the way of life! LOL. I just came over from Pinterest… Totally inspiring visually and aesthetically, but when I saw that you had a faith – it adds a whole extra dimension that I needed! I’ve just finished my first year of my second degree, and now that I’m through to the second year of my Law degree, I’m acknowledging that my home study area needs improvement. So much inspiration here on so many levels – thank you so much, and blessings from New Zealand!! š xx
So great to have you here, Erana! Thank you for those sweet words, and I wish you all the best with completing your law degree! I would need a pretty study area to get me through that for sure… š xo