Home Office Part 1: The Before

Say HELLO to the most neglected room in the house (aside from every room in the basement...shhh).

We call this the home office, but it's more like my makeup room/occasional guest overflow room. It still suffers from the original paint color, which is a green-toned beige (vom), and a half-hearted attempt at decorating (yours truly).



My new job has me working overtime at home occasionally and I'm finding that the living room couch just isn't cutting it. I need this room to become a real home office (slash makeup room...I just love the natural light for putting my face on in the morning). Apartment Therapy just started their monthly call-to-action this month called the "Style Cure". From their website:

"Step-by-step, day-by-day, we'll work together to makeover a room in each of our homes. Whether you choose your living room, bedroom, kitchen, entryway or bath, by the end of the month it will have a fresh, renewed look for you to show off and enjoy."

So yeah...that's happening. I don't plan on sticking each and every assignment but I know this will be a good way to keep myself accountable. Today's assignment was to take "before" photos. Enjoy:

Not sure if anything will happen with this closet, but here's a picture anyway.

I painted this file cabinet and have another one waiting in the wings. We'll see how the color goes with the new style.

The makeup station. God, I hate this IKEA Micke desk. It started sagging within the first year (of light use!), what a POS.

Some cable management is also on the list. Especially when I add a laptop, monitor, tv, etc.

The difficult part will be doing something about this view since I plan to face my desk this way. The window looks into our neighbors yard, which features a moldy tarp (seriously, there is greenery growing on that).

The best thing this room has going for it is the office chair. I custom-ordered it for Boyfriend's birthday a couple years ago (thanks to a lovely friend in the interior design business) and it is still the sexiest office chair I've seen. Not to mention, comfortable!

Now for a to-do list (boring I know, sorry, it's just for me).

• Paint walls (possible accent wall)
• Build custom desk 
• Buy/hang new curtains
• Dye daybed covers
• Paint other file cabinet
• Figure out more storage
• Replace light fixture
• Replace light switches and outlets
• Manage cables
• Set up printer/shredder station (preferably hidden)
• Set up monitor
• Hang art
• Improve window view somehow
• Bonus: Install more 3-prong outlets
• Bonus: Organize closet
• Bonus: New rug
• Bonus: Replace daybed if dye-job goes poorly >_>

I don't anticipate this being a very expensive project. I'm giving myself a budget of $300 (not including bonus items) which I can hopefully come in at way below. 

Anyone else doing a "Style Cure" of their own? Do tell!

And now I shall leave you with a little teaser. Get excited :)