{Home Office Make-over!}

Before I show you this office I was able to design and complete I want to start our saying I am in no way a professional interior designer! I love all things pretty and I also love to organize! I dream of being a professional interior designer in my next life! For now, I'm living the dream, learning as I go, and I getting paid by friends and family to do consult and design work! (Just putting that out there!) 

Here is the story of this fun

  Home Office Makeover! 

My Aunt lives in Eagle Mountain, Utah. She is a pretty amazing woman who does it all herself. She works from her home as a Medical Case Worker, so she is extremely busy! As a single woman she plays the roles of nurse/mother/grandmother/sister/aunt/friend-  she has her hands full. 

Working from home defiantly has its perks, but- it also means you never really get to "leave" work. For her, she kept finding herself working into the night or early hours of the morning. She recently moved into this new home and while we were able to get her home in order- her office suffered, even though it was probably the busiest room in the whole house! 

(How come that usually seems to be the case?!) 

She called me a few months ago asking if I would help her get it all in order! I was so excited. 

It all started with a plan. 

I was able to watch her work and really talk to her about her needs. 

With that I took a inventory of the things she had, took detailed pictures and measurements of the space (since she lives in another State and I couldn't just swing by to look that things), and we also got down to business with the budget. 

Then we scheduled a 3 day weekend that The Man and I could come to her house and do all the install, organizing, and shopping for the space. The Man was more than willing to help in this project- he to Loves Her and knew she would be forever grateful! 

We loaded our tools, kids, and were on our way over Conference Weekend to start and complete the job. It did take us a full 2 days to do everything- that included shopping, building, organizing, cleaning, and then staging the room. We worked our hearts out- while my kids played their hearts out! 

It was a really great weekend and I can't wait to do more of this kind of work in the future!

(Take note: although it only took 2 days to complete the job I spent about a month making all the plans for the room! I had a detailed list of what I would buy, where, and step-by-step instructions of our day. The only way we were able to complete the room that quickly is because of all this planning!) 

I made a quick trip in March to take before pictures and start the process. Here is the pictures of the room how it was before I started… 

And here is more detailed pictures of it now,

After!

I gave her a smaller desk (with drawers!) from IKEA, I also like to face the doorway and be able to enjoy the view- as opposed to sitting with your back to the door.  I kept her old desk but set it up for more of counter space- she needed a large area to lay her paperwork out, now the two spaces are separate but much more functional. 

 This chandelier is my favorite part of the entire space. It originally was not in the design, but after seeing it at Lowe's on sale I couldn't resist! (I also may have went over budget a little with this baby!) But those shells and the detail- Im in love. 

After going through all the boxes and drawers I was able to sort it all and make sure it all had a home. I kept opening the drawers and admiring it all!

 I even brought my label maker to make sure she knew where everything was!

 We stopped in Taipan on our way and I found this huge print- it served as the inspiration for the whole room. (My Aunt has a love of all things Birds, this was a gift from me to her.) The other items I found around her home. (And shelf is from IKEA) 

I also got the corner desks, file cabinet, lamp, and rolling cart from IKEA. (Did I say how much I love IKEA? And it didn't hurt that it is just a few minutes away from her home!) 

This rolling cart has everyday use files as well as items that she uses and runs out of often.

I got the lamp shade and Navy curtains at Target, the vintage dish was already hers, and the print was a gift from my Mom- if fit in perfectly! 

This lovely little plant I got at IKEA and they call it a "money tree!" It was also a added bonus that it basically takes care of itself! 

 I had to throw in her little Work Mascot figure- I love the little things. 

This closet had absolutely no shelving and basically no use before. 

 The Man build the shelves to specifically hold these medical boxes. These boxes are filed alphabetically and now she no longer has to lift a million pounds to get to the box she needs. It's also a bonus that we were able to give her room to grow. 

 Now everything has a place and I mean e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g… and hopefully everything is still in it's place! ;) I actually gave her a call this week to see how it was all working and so far so good! (However she is in the market for a smaller/more comfortable office chair.) 

Yes, there are two gigantic printers in this office… we were able to incorporate her work and her home office needs both into this single space.  (All her home office is tucked in that black file cabinet now with room to grow!) 

I must also say that it wasn't just The Man and I that did all the work. My Aunt worked very hard all weekend sorting through boxes and boxes of paperwork. At first the task seemed almost to overwhelming! But I sat with her and we were able to go through every last item in this room! It was a HUGE accomplishment! I I can't go without saying how helpful my Cousins Sara and Bethany were in  entertaining my children. My kids were in heaven all weekend. 

I'm pretty proud of this space! Mainly because I know that it will help my Aunt be more productive and make work (and life) a little bit more enjoyable every-single-day! 

Who's next?!!