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.
Laura
June 27, 2011 at 8:01 pmgot one of these and then our dog ate it before the baby was born. so, yes, a flip camera please!
Kelley
June 27, 2011 at 8:03 pmI’m completely behind on technology so the flip camera sounds great! Love the chair in your office.
Carla
June 27, 2011 at 8:19 pmI’ve been wanting both a flip camera and an Eames chair forever! Seems like the camera may be easier to get my hands on!
Kellie Butler
June 27, 2011 at 8:27 pmWhat a great giveaway! I really need a video camera. I love how you document your family’s life so beautifully with pictures and video. Best of luck on the office redo.
Liz
June 27, 2011 at 8:30 pmI would love to try one of these cameras out!
Mary
June 27, 2011 at 8:32 pmWow, this is so generous! I would love to win. Love your blog by the way. You always have such fresh ideas and I love your no-fuss style!
Jenna
June 27, 2011 at 8:32 pmI’d flip for a Flip! And I’m really excited to see the process and outcome of your office.
Kara
June 27, 2011 at 8:42 pmHi I’d love to have the Flip camera! what a fun way to document my family’s life :)
Jeanette
June 27, 2011 at 8:43 pmI would love to win a flip video camera!
misshotcakes
June 27, 2011 at 8:44 pmcute to hear your voice :)
Whitney
June 27, 2011 at 8:46 pmI just got a puppy and would love to document his clumsy runs and adorable face with a flip cam!
Vilija
June 27, 2011 at 8:50 pmMy husband and I live thousands of miles from our families and are starting to plan for little ones. I would love to be able to capture some of our moments on video to share (not to mention a bulldog who snores and barks in his dreams would be pretty cute on video too).
Kathy
June 27, 2011 at 8:55 pmIt would be a trip to win the flip! or perhaps I will take a trip w/the flip if I win! :)
Jenn
June 27, 2011 at 9:11 pmI would be thrilled to win a Flip!! GL with the chair search!
Eilis
June 27, 2011 at 9:11 pmThanks for the giveaway! Looking forward to seeing what you do with your office!
ali
June 27, 2011 at 9:31 pmI WOULD LOVE a flip camera…and I love your office and that you are showing it how it is. It’s nice to see rooms in live in condition and not staged…makes this momma feel a little bit better about being human and not having the perfect house.
:)
Susan C.
June 27, 2011 at 9:37 pmGreat giveaways! Can’t wait to see how you decorate your office. :)
christine p
June 27, 2011 at 9:37 pmi would looove to have a flip to film all our wonderful family moments
Andrea
June 27, 2011 at 9:37 pmI would love to win a Flip!
Lilis
June 27, 2011 at 9:42 pmfinally international reader can participate :)
I would loveeeeeee to win the camera !! my son will have his 3rd Bday on Oct, and I would love to document his first birthday bash with his nursery friends…..
Erica
June 27, 2011 at 9:45 pmlove the Eames chair! I’m sure whatever you end up doing will be wonderful!
Danielle
June 27, 2011 at 9:52 pmI’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your office. My own space is looking pretty uninspired, but my excuse is that we’re trying to sell our house.
In the meantime, I’d love to enter the drawing for a flip camera. Look out 21st century, here I come!
Rosemary
June 27, 2011 at 10:06 pmSign me up! I was just thinking today I needed a video camera. It’s fate!
Jenni
June 27, 2011 at 10:08 pmYay for flip-cams! :)
Valerie
June 27, 2011 at 10:08 pmFlip camera is awesome! I love your office plans, too. I need to have a re-do here! Thanks for the give away!
Sandra
June 27, 2011 at 10:09 pmIt looks like you are going to have a lot of fun imaging possibilities! I need to do the same to my office, and a camera would be great to record the “adventure” so I can share it with my in-laws, who live across the country from Texas.
Jeanette
June 27, 2011 at 10:10 pmMy husband and I were just talking about how we need to get another video camera. Our 3 kids are growing so fast!
Marcie
June 27, 2011 at 10:14 pmHow timely. I was just telling my husband tonight that I’d like to have a flip camera. I’ve been doing some playing around learning how to do some simple video editing and would love something more than the video mode on my regular digital camera. Here’s my first 35 second stab at videography:
http://www.redtelly.com/2011/06/guard-dog.html
Josh @ Wait Another Day
June 27, 2011 at 10:19 pmI can’t wait to see how the room turns out! Before and afters are such a guilty pleasure of mine haha.
Oh, and it’d be nice to win the camera too!
Lisa
June 27, 2011 at 10:21 pmI hope to win! Thanks for the giveaway.
Sara A
June 27, 2011 at 10:22 pmI have wanted one of these for a long time and this would be so fun to win! I would keep the rug and replace the chair. I know what you mean about nothing being standard. We also have a 100 year old house and everything in it has to be customized. No off the shelf ease for us!
Roxann
June 27, 2011 at 10:23 pmLove your ideas! Would love a camera, too.
Andrea
June 27, 2011 at 10:30 pmi’d love of a little flip cam for the 10 month old little boy adventures and for my blog! thanks for the giveaway!
Nicolette @ Momnivore's Dilemma
June 27, 2011 at 10:30 pmI think you could recover that Eames chair on a dime {100?}…really just depends on the fabric choice.
I’ve been purging books as well. I donated 100s, and still have 1000s. In the age of the kindle…there’s something so precious about a book.
Perhaps join paperbackswap or give some away on here!
Penny
June 27, 2011 at 10:31 pmMy little boys love making movies of thier antics, and my iPhone needs a sidekick for it. We could make some awesome videos with the flip! :*)
Amanda
June 27, 2011 at 10:34 pmI think painting the trim white with a nice neutral wall color is definitely the way to go. I have no idea how much it would cost to re-upholster a chair… probably a couple hundred dollars. So if you could find the chair and fabric for cheap/reasonable it would likely be worth it.
Kerry Axley
June 27, 2011 at 10:46 pmLove your blog, thanks for another great giveaway!
Tina H
June 27, 2011 at 10:48 pmhere in indiana…I was quoted $250 (+ materials) to re-upholster a similar chair. the flip – might actually allow me to make videos of my lovely girls. they are two and three…so everything I do must be quick and easy or it doesn’t get done! :)
Ivette
June 27, 2011 at 10:50 pmThe camera looks awesome – looking forward to seeing your ideas and paint choices!
Juliene
June 27, 2011 at 10:58 pmFlip me, please!
jessica
June 27, 2011 at 11:10 pmgreat post- i love getting little sneak peeks into your always pretty spaces! and great giveaways! fingers crossed!! :)
Grace
June 27, 2011 at 11:43 pmThis would be perfect for capturing my son’s 1st birthday next month!
janet
June 28, 2011 at 12:05 amThanks for the great camera giveaway. It’s fun to hear you voice!
Jessica
June 28, 2011 at 12:36 amI loved my flipcamera- until my daughter threw it out the window. But what I really love is that rug!
Robin
June 28, 2011 at 12:56 amI am excited to see what you do with your office/playroom! Thanks for the opportunity to win a camera.
{JenM}
June 28, 2011 at 2:06 amI’m very eager to see what changes you make to your office. Love that you created space for Eleanor and August. We were just talking about how great a flip camera would be now that our baby Linnea started walking.
Linette
June 28, 2011 at 2:07 amFantastic giveaway! Sign me up!
Joanna
June 28, 2011 at 2:41 amA flip is just what I need! Thanks for the giveaway!
Srednivashtar
June 28, 2011 at 4:21 amIf the flip camera raffle is open to international readers, I’d love to enter!
Holly
June 28, 2011 at 6:45 amI can’t wait to see the changes you make. I’d love to win a flip camera!
Heather K
June 28, 2011 at 7:34 amI am due in 3 months so this would be a great camera to have!
Kim
June 28, 2011 at 8:01 amI cannot wait to see what you do with your office! I do hope you are able to find the chair of your dreams at a bargain price. Would love to win a Flip!
Elise
June 28, 2011 at 8:18 amLove your style…good luck with the office! The flip camera would be great!
Patricia
June 28, 2011 at 8:22 amI’m getting married later this year and we didn’t hire a videographer so I’m trying my hand at winning the flip camera. Love your blog :)
lis
June 28, 2011 at 8:24 amWe have an old non-hd flip. Love it but would love even more a newer HD model!
Lisa
June 28, 2011 at 8:30 amI’d love the flip camera! Thanks for yet another great contest.
Alicia
June 28, 2011 at 8:33 amHave you tried an architectural salvage store for the door? There used to be a place on Southport (near Addison) that had tons of doors. I’m pretty sure, it’s not there anymore. I think it’s Anthropologie now, but another store might have the right size door for you.
lynn
June 28, 2011 at 8:42 amI realy need this flip camera! long trip to santo domingo.
love your style..big fan.
my little diva andrea(6) will loved, omar (3) and me too.
good luck **suerte*** to us!!
clare
June 28, 2011 at 9:18 amMy husband has been bugging me to get a video camera (other than the crappy one in our digital still camera). We have a 2-year-old and 2-month -old, so there’s a lot of action around here.
Analu
June 28, 2011 at 9:20 amI’d like to win the camera, but the comment here is really going to the chair, the Eames one. Oh my God! So pretty! Won’t you give one of those away? Lol! Kisses and hugs from Brazil!
karen
June 28, 2011 at 9:28 amoh, that camera could capture so much in my little home. Pick me, I’m a peach!
Rebecca
June 28, 2011 at 9:34 amCan’t wait to see this remodel! Oh yeah, and I’d love the camera too :)
April D.
June 28, 2011 at 9:38 amIt will be fun to see what you come up with. It would be even more fun to finally take some actual video footage of my two little ones!
Shay
June 28, 2011 at 9:40 amMy camera is so old and doesnt have great video capabilities. This one would be great to have!
Tabea
June 28, 2011 at 10:30 amKeep the rug – it’s really nice. Love the camera, too!
Kara
June 28, 2011 at 10:36 amDo you have an upholsterer that you’ve worked with? It wouldn’t hurt to get an estimate, but I think it would be worth it. It doesn’t look like it would require that much fabric.
Hope I win the Flip cam!
Kaitlin
June 28, 2011 at 11:16 amI love that shape of the chair…I say get it upholstered to match the rug, then you can have your cake and eat it too!!
Carol
June 28, 2011 at 11:17 amWould love the flip camera, to tape my crazy kids!
Christa M
June 28, 2011 at 11:18 amI don’t think I’ve ever heard your voice before….I enjoyed this post. I also enjoy the fact that you’re giving away a camera! Best wishes on the room redo!
Rachel
June 28, 2011 at 11:49 amReupholstery is a really good idea if the chair you found is super affordable. Go for it!
Jessi
June 28, 2011 at 11:52 amLet us know when/if you post that zig zag rug on craigslist. I’d like to get my hands on it! :)
Brandi
June 28, 2011 at 12:00 pmI’m a blogger and to be able to have the use of a video camera would be amazing! I have an almost two year old, lots of fun friends and plenty of things that are video worthy!
Andi
June 28, 2011 at 12:01 pmI love that people bust your balls when you have a sponsored post but when there is something in it for them look at all the responses!!!
Ana
June 28, 2011 at 12:14 pmI’m working on my own home office to be able to do more freelancing and to accommodate guests. It’s slow going. But a Flip might be motivating!
marlena
June 28, 2011 at 12:23 pmi like adventurous travel and my friends & family are always curious, so a flip would definitely add a lot to my travel memories/documenting!
Lori B.
June 28, 2011 at 12:27 pmWow! I’d love to video my kids with this!
Marthalynn
June 28, 2011 at 12:34 pmWhat an inspiring post! I’m so excited to watch you make this room into a wonderful work/play space. (And I’m planning to steal some of your ideas too!) Great giveaway :)
carol
June 28, 2011 at 12:38 pmA Flip would be soooo cool!
Christina W.
June 28, 2011 at 12:40 pmleaving a comment to enter! i have a fantastic link to a DIY under-the-desk wire fix that gets all your wires out of the way, but i just got a new computer so it’s not in my bookmark folder atm. i’ll hunt it down and post it later!
Emily W
June 28, 2011 at 12:54 pmFirst time commenter, but I have been reading for a while! I am due to have my first baby any day now, and that camera would come in handy!
kim coleman
June 28, 2011 at 12:57 pmI have never had my own camera, always wanted one I just haven’t been able to prioritize getting one. My husband has an old, outdated, huge camera that only he seems to be able to figure out how to use. All of our photos are of me since he is always the one taking the picture. I would love to be able to photograph his sweet face for once! thanks for your blog, I always look forward to reading your posts. You are an inspiration.
Amber
June 28, 2011 at 1:18 pmI’ve been longing for a flip since our daughter, Eloise, was born. This would be great to start documenting her second year. She turns one on Friday! Thanks for the giveaway. I so enjoy your blog.
Alison
June 28, 2011 at 1:32 pmFun! Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I may be in need of a home office setup soon, and I’d love some inspiration. I’m dying to do a big office supply order from Poppin :)
And I would definitely make good use of a Flip cam — I hope to have some fun adventures coming up very soon, and I’d love to be able to record them!
Charisma
June 28, 2011 at 1:35 pmwe don’t have a video camera and would love one to capture our precious baby growing up. Thanks for the giveaway!
Frances Robson
June 28, 2011 at 1:40 pmI would love to have a video camera to get some footage of my four children! Thank you,
Frances Robson
Stephanie
June 28, 2011 at 2:08 pmWould love to win a camera! Good luck with the office remodel!
Christy
June 28, 2011 at 2:13 pmLove your blog!!! Would love to win the camera to document our own remodel!
taralee
June 28, 2011 at 2:34 pmso excited to see what your office will look like [and your studio, too]!
Stephanie
June 28, 2011 at 3:12 pmYou’re style is so pretty and carefree! Would love the camera!
Amanda Juetten
June 28, 2011 at 3:16 pmFlip camera!!!
Your p.s. question was about the reupholstering of a chair, well, I wouldn’t think it’d cost much, just the cost of the fabric, plus a little hardware. It would be worth it for 1/4 the cost of a new chair, even half the cost if it was a style you loved.
JENNIFER O'CONNOR
June 28, 2011 at 3:35 pmI would love to have a video camera! I am due in January and would love to capture every moment!
In regards to the re-upholstery question– I am a contract designer for a large univeristy and we re-upholster whenever possible (its green and cheaper for the client). On a chair like that you would definitely want a professional to re-upholster it since it has so much stitching, and parts of it may require speical glue to adhere the fabric properly. I would say expect to spend around $3-400 on labor plus your fabric. Good luck with your search!
Lauren
June 28, 2011 at 3:35 pmI love the little desk for Eleanor! I’m hoping to eventually work from home and will definitely steal that idea! What did you do with her between the happy on a playmat and happy at a table stage? (ie: the beginning to crawl and eat everything in sight, especially computer cables stage)
I’d flip for a flip!
LaniB
June 28, 2011 at 4:00 pmI’d love to get a new flip to record my new baby…he is already getting so big!
kate so
June 28, 2011 at 4:18 pmYes, please. As always – amazing contests.
Kelly in DC
June 28, 2011 at 4:32 pmUnless Hermann Miller offers to give you a new chair, I’d definitely go for re-upholstering one, That way you can make it a fun accent piece (and I know you’ll find a great material) I love that you’re giving away a flip! I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Melissa
June 28, 2011 at 4:44 pmA flip would make videos of my little Elanor and her brother so much easier to share with family!
Hilla
June 28, 2011 at 5:08 pmamazing giveaway…supercool camera…especially for unforgetable summer holiday moments
Shelly P.
June 28, 2011 at 5:29 pmYay for the flip!! Can’t wait to see what your re-design looks like:)
Sarah
June 28, 2011 at 5:33 pmOohh I’d love a flip camera
Ali
June 28, 2011 at 5:48 pmOooolala a flip….pretty please with a cherry on top pick our little family of 5! My husband and I have three kids: 7, 4, 2 and we don’t have a video camera to document these big personalities and all these moments you know the crazy, sweet, exhausting, and fun days with our kiddos! This would be the ultimate gift for our family! I’ve always wanted a flip and as the family documentor this would be a dream come true!
~ Ali