Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Drowning no more, a New Office is complete!

I really enjoyed helping this family take this space from piles of stuff that they didn't know what to do with to an area where there is now a space for everything. They were so frustrated with not knowing what to do in here that not only did they give up on organizing their office items but they allowed kitchen and garage items to end up in here as well. Just allocating those items to their rightful spaces really made a difference.

Here is where things were when we started:
This is to the left of when you walk into the room:

This homeowner is very handy so phase 1 was for them to get some things handled--remove the left file cabinet from under the desk to open that space, remove the armoire that was too dark, short and limiting in this space and build shelves. I provided exact specs and materials but instead of having to bring in an handyman that would require payment, he was able to do all this himself! He also agreed that the monitor was too large and that they wanted a wall mount monitor so that was handled prior to my arrival as well.

The use of these walls were so needed and finding homes for all the small items and creating zones was the top priority. I organized their file drawers years ago before they had 2 kids and they have kept up this system rather well.
Here are the new shelves completed! Behind the curtain is the other file cabinet and lots of storage for scrapbooking and family memory items.



The use of a Family Resource Binder, as well as binders for other often referred to resources, helped group together all the paperwork that had no home or always seemed to be left out. Drawers that can sort and house their office items complete this area along with bins and baskets that group together crafts, projects and decor items.



Part of the wall solution was a track that displays their son's artwork and an organzing system for their pens, stapler and craft items. All the little papers that come in now have a home with the clips. Most people need coupons and gift cards on clips as that is what some seem to have piled but each family has to create clips based on thier needs. This family has 4 clips for 4 things--internet log in info, tax deductible receipts, bills and events. One mistake made when trying to make your space 'perfect' is to not allow spots for the 'stuff' that you don't want there. Everyone's 'stuff' is different. In my home, it's the seemingly bags full of receipts that my husband manages to pull out of his pockets and won't allow them to be tossed as he 'needs to go through them'. In this home, it is small tools and items that need to go to an outside shed. If a spot isn't allowed for these items, they will just get piled. I have a pretty container that holds the receipts and this home now has a fun bin. Sure, he needs to put things away when he uses them and no we don't want to 'enable' a stasher, BUT we also want life to be lived without make a big hoopla over a screwdriver. SO, if he leaves it somewhere, it goes in the bin and he knows that the next time he goes out, he needs to take out whatever is in the bin. Finally, we needed some pretty things! A big part of this was to sew two skirts, one to go under the shelves and another for the side of the desk to hide the filing cabinet and the large bin that remained, full of kids color books and other large craft items. Then we added many things to tie it all together through pops of color! Flowers, great artwork that was being stacked in a bin created by their 4 year old and fun tags! These things aren't 'needed' but they sure take the space from boring to fun!!! And wouldn't you want to put your stuff away when all your bins and baskets are so cute?



Here is this area, complete!

The space to the left of the entry into this room didn't need too much. The book case blocked their laundry room door and made it difficult to move around so we switched it out for something a bit smaller. Their son's backpack now has a home, their bulletin board is a bit more organized, and they have a spot to set things like a purse or library books or item to return or anything that they need to handle that day. The fun bin for shed items is right there and is easy to take with him. Here are some fun side by side "Before and After" comparison shots! I know they were thrilled when it was complete and it was a rewarding project to see such a large transformation!



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29 comments:

SoBella Creations said...

I look forward to your new post. Thanks for showing the before and after pictures.

Adams Family said...

Wow...great job!! I really liked the track for the son's artwork. I also have a 4 year old and am currently working on an art display solution. Can I ask how you attached the pictures to the ribbon?

I love your blog - it inspires me to get more organized!

southerninspiration said...

OH WOW!! You are amazing.....you're not in Houston are you?????? I wish you lived next door!!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Suzanne

Runaway Farm said...

First I love the use of kid art work -- how fun and colorful! I must remember to go "up" more with my storage as we are out of space in this house and can't go out any further. I also love the idea that every family needs certain organizational items -- like the husbands tool bucket. I need to start thinking what we "need" rather than what I've seen other people do. Great job!

Mannie of MannieMandible said...

Great work! What a lovely transformation!!!

♥Mannie

Corinne said...

Wow, it looks wonderful. Now I need to go and implement a lot of your ideas. Thank you!!
~Corinne

Megan {The Brick Bungalow} said...

WOW! It makes it look so much bigger. I love it. I love all the baskets and organizational tools. And how you incorporated room to put "stuff" and art work. Well done!!

julie & joe said...

Looks great! You have inspired me to do some organizing in my office space.

Wendy said...

All I can say is: WOW!

Joanna said...

What a great redo! The space there was so small but you made the best of it and gave them so much more area to work with.

The Pretty Neat Company said...

Thanks for all the great comments!

Adams Family, Did you mean how is the ribbon attached to the wall? It's pretty simple. I bought knobs, just regular old knobs that work with the room. Then any wire or even ribbon or twine would work. The only hard part is to have to switch the screw that comes with the knob to a double sides screw--one goes into the knob, then you screw the other end into the wall. Then you wrap or tie the wire/ribbon/twine to that. If you are using a corner like I did, use an eye hook or cup hook in the corner and twist it around that. Then I just tied ribbon onto that but you can flap it over and hot glue it if you want a more formal look--I've done this in spaces that aren't as fun or casual. Attached to the bottom is 'binder clip' (again, tie or hot glue a flap around depending on the look you want) and then you just clip that to the art. I have also matted photographs to this and used it as a photo display system as well!

Christine said...

All I can say is wow..and are you ever in Seattle? This looks so nice and organized! Great tips and ideas here..I have a small office and it looks like I need to get busy! Thanks so much for sharing!

Name: Annette said...

Fantastic! Your blog is so much fun to view.

Gina Sisco said...

Great job. They may not be drowning anymore, but I still am!! Can you tell me what the clips and tin buckets were hanging on? Thanks for the great before and afters!

The Pretty Neat Company said...

Gina the entire system is from Ikea. If you go to Ikea, it is the 'kroken' system. Just search that and it will come up. All very affordable and many many options. The buckets and hooks are all made for that system and then i just added the binder clips that I labelled. I have the same system in my boys' bathroom and it holds their toothbrushes, comb, washcloth, etc. Very cute and versatile!

frillsfluffandtrucks said...

It looks fantastic! I especially like the built-in shelves.

~ Sarah

Gina Sisco said...

Thanks for your quick response!!! To Ikea I will go. I wish I lived in Florida, need a kitchen floorplan for an old house, oh well. Keep up the great work.

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Wow - I love it! Everything looks sooo great! I love those buckets and baskets that you have labeled and the little ribbon for decoration!

Awesome job!

Jen

Anna Marie said...

Wow, I am drooling over all that beautiful organization. I really wish I lived closer to you.

Haven't you always wanted to see Missouri? Oh, you have...well come on up...and while you are here you can help us get organized :o)

Adams Family said...

Thanks for the response - that was exactly what I needed to know. I think I will use a modified version of that for our house. Thanks for all your great inspiration!!

Kristen said...

Love it!! Can you please tell me where you found the black bins...are they from IKEA? Thanks and keep those great pictures and ideas coming!

Lisa said...

Great job! What an inspiration you are. Awesome ideas! Thanks for sharing!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

What a difference - I love love love it!

Tausha said...

You are fantastic! What a gift you have. You just gave me a fantastic idea-I have a craft room. It needs HELP! I know that I should be thrilled that I have a room for crafts, but it tends to be the dump everything that we don't know where it goes room! It drives me crazy!!!!!!
I am thinking that I will look around the space and see what wondrful Pretty Neat ideas I can implement! Thanks for the inspiration! You rock!! I will be back!!!!

Joy said...

You have a very beautiful home!
(I saw it in the Christmas posts)
And I love that you help people beautify and organize their homes. What a rewarding job!
Just looking through your posts gives me the urge to organize!

Mandy said...

Ok, wow...wow...wow!
I got some great ideas here...the CLIPS, awesome & the art on ribbon (playroom, here we come)!

THANK you for sharing (again), you're keeping me on my toes around here!! ;)

Mandy

Anonymous said...

What a great transformation....I was wondering were the white shelves purchased premade?

Unknown said...

Your office is beautiful Great job with the transformation. Love it.

The Pretty Neat Company said...

I'm so glad you all are enjoying this post! Thanks for the comments!

Kristen, those blacks bins are great! I with they were from Ikea but there were on a random clearance shelf at Staples! Weird right? They were only a few dollars and I knew I 'needed' to use them! :)

The white shelves had to be custom built into that space. He used MDF for the shelf and the make 'cleats' to hold the shelf and then bought a decorative trim to cover the front and hide the support cleats. Then you caulk it all and paint! Actually, I had him paint everything first which helps minimize making a mess on the walls that are usually a different color. You still have to fill nail holes and touch up but it's FAR easier to do this then to paint them in place, IMO.

I'm glad some of you are inspired to get organized from this! It's such a nice feeling to get a project done, isn't it?