I’m working with Sherwin-Williams to redo my office. I’ll have a $1000 budget to use, and I’ll be trying out the new line of HGTV® HOME by Sherwin-Williams color collections and paint. I also have two giveaways to tell you about too! But first, let’s discuss the office.
I started to make some changes to it last year. I rearranged the furniture, brought in a pretty mirror and a crazy zigzag rug, but that’s where the progress stopped. I was going for a kind of granny chic look, remember? Then I found out I was expecting (and I had zero energy), and we also started on the basement remodel (yes, I still need to finish my studio and the playroom too). Then I had my baby (sweet little August), and well… work on the office kind of stalled.
The room is more than just an office though. You’ll see in the video below that it’s also where Eleanor and August spend much of their time playing, and I would like the room to feel cozy and happy. Want to see how it looks right now?
To recap, these are the main issues I’ll be addressing.
- Either the rug needs to go, or I need to reupholster or replace my office chair. They don’t match, and since I do like the rug a lot, I’ll probably switch out the chair. The Eames Management Chair is still the chair I dream of owning, but they’re very expensive and I don’t want to buy a knockoff. I’ve been watching eBay and Craigslist, but I may have to keep looking for an alternative.
- I need to move the redundant computer and clean up the cords on my desk.
- Storage and organization: Yes, please.
- I’ve had a curtain for a closet door since we moved in to this house in 2007. Our house is 100 years old, so nothing is standard. We’ll need a custom-sized door, which is why we’ve put off fixing it for so long.
- The window needs curtains and a new shade.
- I’ll be painting the trim white, and painting the walls. The HGTV® HOME by Sherwin-Williams colors are grouped into 8 collections to make it easier to choose colors that will work from room to room in your house (I liked the Livable Luxe and Traditional Twist collections). There are a lot of nice greens, but I’m leaning toward a light, creamy neutral for the walls, along with painted white trim.
- It’s time for the ceiling fan to go. It’s not terribly ugly, but it hasn’t been working well lately and I’d like to replace it with a prettier light fixture.
Now, about those two giveaways…
- Need some color and design help in your house? Enter the What’s Your Color Now? sweepstakes for a chance to win a $5000 home makeover from BHG.com and HGTV® HOME by Sherwin-Williams!
- I also have a 4GB Flip MinoHD camera to give away (so you can make stellar videos like mine, ha). Just leave a comment on this post to enter for the camera (one entry per person). This giveaway is open to US and international entrants, and will run through June 30 at midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly on July 1.
Good luck to you in both giveaways!
p.s. How much do you think it would cost to reupholster an Eames Management Chair? Say, if I found one from 1986 with really awful fabric?
July 1: Congratulations to Jennifer, winner of the Flip camera! And remember, there’s still time for everyone to enter the What’s Your Color Now? sweepstakes.
'F' for Freebies, Office, Painting
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473 Comments
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June 27, 2011
I would think in the Chicago area you would be able to find a good vintage one on Craigslist at a good price. I often envy the larger variety of items you can find in the Chicago Are Craigslist listings.
How exciting to do an office/playroom re-do! I loved Young House Love’s take in their last home with the same combo, with the addition of a guestroom.
Love your ideas, you always seem to come up with something that turns out beautiful, yet different than the mainstream. Keep us posted!
I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
i love that rug too, but i’m sure whatever you come up with will look fabulous!
Your office is in much better shape than mine! I love all the fun colors and zigzag rug! As I’m expecting my first baby at the end of September, I’d love the flip camera to document his/her firsts.
Eek, I can’t wait to see what you decide to do–your interiors always turn out so (for lack of a better word) lovely! Also, I like your video! It’s so odd to hear a blogger’s voice, but I think it kind of enhances the blogging experience lol!
Get the chair you want…you are worth it! Please enter me for the flip camera! Thanks!
Can’t wait to see the final product!
Hello!
I’ve always loved your zigzag rug. I hope you can find a new chair/paint colors to match it!
Yay!
You may be able to reupholster that chair yourself. Many office chairs have cushions that screw on from the underside. Can you contact the seller to see if that is the case?
Fun! I love redoing workspaces, mostly because I have an intense love of organizing and office supplies. Also, I’d love that camera. ;)
I *love* this chair. I can see why you wouldn’t want to accept a knockoff! Just reupholster that baby yourself! :)
I love your rug! If you put it on craigslist let me know so I can come up there and get it:). Great ideas for the office re-do, I’m sure it will look lovely.
Fun make over! Would love that camera to take stellar videos too!! Excited for the ‘after’!
Can’t wait to see what you do with it, you are such a source of inspiration! We are adding on to our house so there is a lot of painting in my future….
I find it quite admirable that you’re taking on this project with the two little ones in tow! My husband and I are redoing our shared office and it’s going terribly slowly. Can’t wait to see the results! I love your “granny chic” idea!
I also think you should keep the zig zag rug and find a new chair. I bet whatever you do it will be lovely! :) And I’d love to win the camera.
Love the video tour! :)
And fingers crossed for the camera!
I love the zigzag rug, and I actually really like your current chair, so reupholstering that is a good option to match the rug!
What great giveaways – both things I could really use, lol! Have fun revamping the office!
I love that the kids have a space in your office as well. Can’t wait to see the finished product.
I love watching your makeovers unfold. Can’t wait to see it. Would love that cam too.
Can’t wait to see what you do with your office!!!!
Can’t wait to see the after!
I’m looking forward to seeing how it all goes. You’re keeping me inspired! With love from the Philippines!
It’s not even finished and it already looks miles better than my home office ever did (or could). I can’t wait to see the final result.
And I’d love the camera, it would help document my upcoming trip to the US.
Nicole — I would LOVE to buy the rug if you decide to sell it. If you want, let me know and I will snatch it up so you don’t have to put it on craigslist!
Excited to see how it all turns out!
I love re-decorating. our house is old and when I start getting the strong urge to move I re-do something. It’s cheaper than moving and I feel like I have something new
I’d love to win the camera, I’ve got a new grandbaby due in august!
I really love the zig zag rug. I hope you end up keeping it.
Looking forward to seeing the finished office! I would love to win the camera!
I want to make my space lovely!
I would keep looking for that chair, reupholstering it if you can find a decent price on an older one sounds like the way to go because the shape and design of it is so pleasing.
I would also love to be entered to win the Flip!
can’t wait to see what you do with your office!
I’m excited to see it all come together!
Can’t wait to see the result! Would love to win the flip too :)
I love the current rug and would keep looking for a white office chair. White office chairs seem so modern and lady-chic!
That chair is gorgeous!
Can’t wait to see you work your magic, Nicole. I’m partial to the rug because of it’s color and pattern. A chair in white would definitely be lovely. How about a rugged white denim or canvas fabric? If I won the flip I’d share my recent endeavours!
Oh man – what a fun giveaway!
Now I’m very confused :) So the office is separate to your studio – In my head the office and studio were the same room, and this room had moved to the basement and it was now Eleanor’s bedroom!
Is August going to move out of the nursery when hes a bit bigger too?
yay for a flip video. as we don’t have a video camera at all (and we have an 11 month old) this would come in quite handy!
Oh a FlipVideo! So exciting! Baby on the way and this would be amazing to have!
I’m excited to see your progress. It’s actually nice to see the before pictures.
- Sarah
So excited to see what you do!
super exciting! looking forward to seeing the finished space.
I always get excited when you start a new makeover, so of course I can’t wait to see how this one turns out! Just curious, is the flip what you made your video with? I still have the first gen flip, but if the video is that clear now, I may need to upgrade!
I used to have a first gen Flip too, and the HD ones are much nicer.
It will look fantastic once you’re done – as the rest of your house does. I’m not too familiar with sherwin williams colours so I’m interested to learn more about their colours :) have fun!