Our house is not very big, so when it came time to look around and find a spot for a home office, the only place I could think of was a closet on the stair landing. So this is where I log my blogging hours - in a closet!
It has worked out well, although it is really small. I put some little wooden animals along the door frame, that my Grandmother brought back from Zambia when she lived there in the 1970s (I had a very cool Grandmother).
I painted the walls cream and wallpapered the backwall with blue toile. I happened to have an old office table that was a pefect fit for the closet. I actually had to take the legs off to get it in, but it works beautifully.
Let's take a tour:
You can see part of my little house tin collection along the back of the desk. I use some of them for storing cords and things.
It has worked out well, although it is really small. I put some little wooden animals along the door frame, that my Grandmother brought back from Zambia when she lived there in the 1970s (I had a very cool Grandmother).
I painted the walls cream and wallpapered the backwall with blue toile. I happened to have an old office table that was a pefect fit for the closet. I actually had to take the legs off to get it in, but it works beautifully.
Let's take a tour:
You can see part of my little house tin collection along the back of the desk. I use some of them for storing cords and things.
This is one of my favourite little house tins that Kate brought back from France. Do you recognize the house - it is Giverny, Monet's house.
Now we move on to the messier side of my desk on the left. Lets just say I'm a piler not a filer and leave it at that, okay? Okay.
Yep, not too pretty. Sorry about that. When I'm sitting down I can't actually see the mess, as the piles are mostly above eye level, which is a relief. I get to gaze at some of my lovelies on my magnet board instead.
My daughter, Kate, bought me this print from a brocante in France when she visited last summer. I have yet to get it framed because it is an unusual size, but I'm enjoying it on my magnet board anyway. Aren't those mademoiselles just so french and so divine.
I also have my calendar that I made using Smilebox (I wrote a post about it here back before anyone was reading my blog). I look forward to each new month, but at the same time am sad when I turn the page - very conflicting.
Then on the upper shelf I have some games - what do you think - too many games??? Yeah, I probably do need to get rid of some, but we are a game-loving family and I use games at work to make speech therapy fun.
My younger son, William, made this pencil holder cup for me at nursery school, when he was about 3 years old.
The fish print at the top is a batik card from Indonsia that a friend gave me years ago. The owl on the bottom was a sketch my older son, Malcolm, did when he was in Grade 9 or 10.
So there you go - my little office. Now when I blog, you can picture where I am.
I'll let you in on a little secret, though, it usually doesn't look like this. I tidied and sorted so I could invite you over to visit my little office-in-a-closet. Just keeping it real!
Linked to the Parade of Homes Linky Party at Poppies at Play
and Where Do You Blog? Party at Centsational Girl
Hi Grace...what a fabulous space and you're much tidier than me. I really, really love toile yet I don't have any...must fix that. Yours is beautiful. And I really like the way you've placed the animals on the door frame..like a little welcome.
ReplyDeleteI love the animals, too. What a cute place to display them!
ReplyDeleteI want an office closet, too!
:) Laura
Love the animals above the door, very clever! I also love that you use your children's artwork in your office. We do that too! You managed to get quite a lot in that space. I'm impressed. (Yes, it's hard to get rid of the games. I understand.)
ReplyDeleteGreat office space Grace! And I love all of the personal touches you've incorporated into such a small space, it's perfect! I'd have to agree that your grandmother was very cool!
ReplyDeleteKat :)
Oy my goodness, what a cute space. I love the animals above the door...nice touch.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute office space and well use of the small space.I love the toile and your cute accents. Very well done!
Joy
That is a cute little space, Grace. I love the blue toile and the personal touches from your family. I use some of our kid's school crafts and gifts in my hobby room for storage too. Makes me smile to look at them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tiny perfect space. I just love the toile.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting in my home office/craft room at the moment ...let me tell you it is definitely not camera ready!!!
That little closet is full of memories! And I am also a piler, pilers unite!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great space. Love the little animals.
ReplyDeleteGrace i love it! I really love the wallpaper. You did such a good job - i wish i could do that - my house and kevins house are both very old (mine was born in 1917) so we have very small closets :( You are so creative!
ReplyDeleteHi Grace, great job on the home office! I have a bolt of that same toile and I'm just waiting for the right place to use it. Great idea, and it makes such an impact in a small area like this. I'm a piler too so long live the pilers! K xx
ReplyDeleteOkay, you are brillant. What a clever use of space! LOVE LOVE LOVE the toile!
ReplyDeleteKrystal
sassysanctuary.blogspot.com
Very cool idea for an office room! It doesn't have to be huge and I really enjoyed how you've decorated it. The wall paper was a great idea! I'm glad to hear that it doesn't always look that tidy:) For some reason clutter is DRAWN to my computer. It's always a mess!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking to the parade!
XOXO,
Andy
o my goodness, I'm looking at all your pics and just love it! love love love the wallpaper in the closet, laundry room, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting another idea for my hallway closet....lol
I love the wallpaper in your closet and all the items that mean so much to you. The desk looks great in there too.
ReplyDeleteI love all the little home tins and I really like the toile in the back. Very nice. I'm in a closet office now blogging away too! I'm still working on decorating it though! Thanks for sharing your space.
ReplyDeletePretty! I love the space you've made...the wallpaper, all the pretty details -- it's just lovely! Thank you for sharing*
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet spot! I love the blue toile wallpaper...it gives the space a real punch of fab!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute/practical/efficient use of space! Love it!
ReplyDeleteGrace I LOVE your SWEET little space, it's DELICIOUS! ;-) That toile is fabulous and I love how you've taken an intimate little area and made it YOURS! I'm your newest follower! OH, BTW, I LOVE SMILEBOX too!
ReplyDeleteSweet; love the toile!
ReplyDeleteS
xo
Lovely, Grace. Your blogging closet appears to have everything you need, and it's done with great style.
ReplyDeleteConnie
I like your little office! Those wood animals are such a cool touch, and the wallpaper is really pretty, too.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this!! It is amazing what you can do to a space any size!
ReplyDeleteI love the portraits that you took. I love the wallpaper. I wish I had your creativity and skills.
ReplyDelete