06.27
2012

My Teeny Tiny Home Office

We don’t have much extra room in our home so I have all of my computer “stuff” (oversized printer, silhouette machine, camera chargers, etc) and paperwork stored away here in this big armoire. I hate for wires and electronic stuff to be out in the open so this works perfectly. I have never really liked the way this piece looked, however, I LOVE it’s functionality. It’s a long story but I actually got it for free a few years ago and design-wise it has always driven me a little crazy because it was so clunky looking and really too large for the space, but practicality-wise, I have to say I couldn’t live without it! So, seeing how I have been on a painting frenzy lately, I decided to go ahead and paint it to see if lightening it up would help. I like it so much better now! Unfortunately, thanks to the fact that we live in a townhome and therefore have very few windows in our whole house, the only windows in this room go off to the porch so the natural light in here is awful for taking photos. Especially on this side of the room. I was too lazy to get my tripod out so these are pretty grainy and the color looks lighter in these pictures than it does in real life. It is a darker grayish/tan than it appears in these photos.

I am happy with how it turned out and the best part – not only did I get this piece for FREE a few years ago, I painted it for FREE too! They were giving away free quarts of paint at our Ace Hardware so I of course snatched one up. The paint was a different brand than I usually use but I had them mix up a Benjamin Moore color for me – Valley Forge Tan. I would say it more gray than tan though.

Here it is before. The other night when I was about to start painting I realized I wasn’t sure if I had any pictures of it before so I took this one. Thanks to the fact that it was in the wee hours of the morning and with no natural light it looks worse here in the photo than it actually did. (Although it was very heavy/clunky looking!)

When I looked through my photos later I could just find glimpses of it. Seeing how I never liked it I always made sure it was cropped mostly out of pictures.
I want to get rid of the glass and add chicken wire like I did for my parents hutch, but the glass is not going to be as easy to take out of this piece so I’m not sure when I am going to attempt that.


 

I think this new color works so much better in this room now. This is a photo from earlier this year when it was still black and you can see on the left where it sits in relationship to the rest of the room.
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer! We’ve been quite busy. Dana was here this past weekend and we spent most of Saturday at Busch Gardens. Here she is with Lillie:

And here is a picture of Lillie and Jon with the ENORMOUS flamingo Jon won for her. I think next time we will play something that Jon is not so good at so we don’t get stuck with any more ridiculously oversized toys. =) It was quite the challenge getting it in the car and takes up about half of Lillie’s room. I have no idea how I am going to ever be able to “discreetly” get rid of it – haha!

I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!

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49 thoughts on “My Teeny Tiny Home Office”

  1. The new paint totally lightens up the size of the armoire. I'm really digging the little windows towards the top, that's so unique! And, I totally get your frustration over the mongo stuffed animals. My husband keeps showing up with them for our daughter. 2 giraffe, a dog, and a bear completely take over her room :/ I've no clue how to make them disappear one day!

  5. Free is a very good price! I think it looks wonderful painted. I really like the glass especially since you said there's not a lot of natural light; the glass adds the reflective quality of a window/mirror and looks nice there. OHMY… that flamingo- too funny. Yes, Jon definitely needs to "aim" at smaller animals! I bet Lillie was over the moon though!
    xxjoan

    1. Joan – I hadn't thought about the reflective quality of the glass! That's such a great point. Between that and what Michele pointed out below about it keeping the dust off all of my electronics, which I hadn't thought of either, I am definitely going to keep the glass!

      And yes, Lillie was beyond thrilled. She was so proud as we walked through the park the rest of the night with it on Jon's shoulders…me – not so much! Haha!

  7. Love the new color. But then again, I love everything in your house!
    HA! Love the flamingo! Lillie will always remember it, that's for sure!
    Have a great day. Luanne

  8. Jen,

    You got that armoire piece for FREEEEEEE??????? Girl, I swooned. Love it.
    Even like it black – but not for your space – your painting it looks GREAT!!!

    Now, you didn't ask but I am sharing: I would keep the glass in it – if your electronics are stored in there the glass keeps it dust free – which is a good thing for electronics. Just saying. I love chicken wire goodness, but for that piece I would say it is perfectly finished as is.

    But ignore me, too – whatever you do turns to magic.

    I love love love that piece.

    1. Thank you Michele! Actually, I had not even thought of that about the dust! I am so glad you mentioned that! I think I will just stick with the glass now! Thanks for that tip. I would not have thought about that until it was too late.

      I hope you are feeling better!

  9. I am impressed that you accomplish so much wonderfulness out of that tiny "office". You are pretty amazing!!!!!

    Okay I had to laugh about the flamingo. I "discreetly" get rid of all the stuffed animals that come home from the rodeo each year too. Usually, my kids never notice but that thing is SO huge…she will notice!

    Kim

  10. That flamingo is hysterical! I know what u mean about those huge stuffed animals. Did u seat belt on the way home? Haha.The armoire looks great. It must have taken awhile to paint. Does Ace Hardware normally mix B. Moore's paint for u or do you go to the B. Moore Store? I love B. Moore shades but the store isn't that convenient. Beautiful job!

    1. Haha! It did sit next to Lillie (and halfway into the trunk behind her) on the way home!

      Our Ace Hardware actually carries Benjamin Moore so it's really easy for them to mix the color up for me. That's normally where I get my Benjamin Moore paint. Sometimes I got to the actual BM store, but most of the time it's easier for me to run into Ace.

    1. I've been using flat on just about all of the pieces I have painted this year. I really like the way they look. For a few of the pieces I have added a wax over them to protect but I haven't needed to do that for all of them.

  14. I love the color you used. Looks great:) Oh, and we have had huge toys/animals we have had to sneak out too!

  15. Hahahaha I love the flamingo! We have so many tacky things that my kids got really attached to hanging around the house. Periodically I just add one to the goodwill box. Sometimes they get taken out again by little hands before I make it to the donation center though 🙁

    Looooove the lighter color- it's so much more cohesive now. Great job!

    1. I just did a big Goodwill cleanout last week and was so proud of myself! Everything felt so neat and organized! And then two days later this flamingo made it's way into our home – ahhh! No idea how I am going to get him into a Goodwill box without Lillie (or Lola, even!) noticing – haha!

  16. Beautiful! I love the color you chose. It blends so well with the rest of your home. Thanks for the constant inspiration! I think I pinned at least three pictures. 🙂

  17. I keep missing out on that free paint! LOVE the new look and that you got it for free! Wow! I also like the glass- it reflects a bit more light. I could totally use one of those in our townhouse.

  18. The armoire looks fabulous in its new paint!! No surprise, though, you have such good instincts in your decorating. Every little girl needs a stuffed lovey that her daddy won for her–I'm 54 and I STILL remember fondly the 3-1/2 foot tall Cuddly Duddly (dog in doghouse) that lived in my playroom until his stuffing could no longer hold up his enormous head. 🙂

  20. Okay I have to comment on the flamingo. When we were at Sea Word in San Diego, I dared my husband to win a GIANT stuffed Shamu whale. This thing was 8 feet long. Well, being that my husband is a basketball player, he won it at the basketball/hoop game with his first $5.00 try. Problem was there was NO ROOM in the car for me, my kids, husband and that Shamu! I was not leaving the stuffed prize in San Diego… so I did what any "good" mom would do and took the train home! Shamu fit in the car and *I* was on a train! LOL… We had that whale for years and finally gave it away just this year. 🙂

    1. Okay this is hilarious!!! You actually rode home on the train so Shamu could ride in the car. You should get the mama of the year award! haha I hate those giant stuffed animals. I wont allow my kid to have one. If you dont be careful they start taking over! Than how do you get rid of them??!

    2. Okay – that made me laugh out loud! I agree with the person that commented below and said you should have won "Mother of the Year" for that for sure! Haha! I didn't know your husband played as well! Jon was a Tarheel and then over in Europe for a couple of years so we should have known better than to have him take the three point shot – haha! Next time we will have to have him play the dart game or something else and just tell Lillie – "Oh bummer, we didn't win!" Haha! I am still giggling just thinking about you taking the train…I think I will now forever remember that story and think of it when I look at Lillie's flamingo!

  21. It only it was a TAD bit smaller it'd look like a built-in against that small wall space..but FREE is FREE…can't mess with that right? You didn't show us the inside of it…so we can get organization ideas!

  23. We have a humongous white bear that my husband won while we were on our honeymoon 26 years ago. It would not fit in the car or the trunk so we strapped it to the top of the car. Several years back we un-stuffed it and it is now folded neatly and in the closet. I couldn't bear 🙂 to part with it.
    Rebekah

    1. Haha – yes, I know! As soon as I finished it I wondered why in the world I had put it off for so long. I've been meaning to do it for forever!

  26. I love how the armoire turned out!!! Since you are in such a painting frenzy, you should come to my house and help me out 😉 Do you have any tips on painting furniture/cabinets? I would love to paint my kitchen cabinets, but am so afraid. Your townhouse is lovely, and seems very spacious. Lillie looks so happy with her new pink friend, I don't know how you will be able to get rid of it, I know it would drive me bonkers if I had in my daughter's room…to funny though.

    1. Haha – yeah, it was bearable the first day or two now it's driving me insane! It takes up half of her room – haha! For furniture I would just say just go ahead and pull the trigger! Most pieces don't take long and it's so much fun seeing the transformation. Kitchen cabinets are quite the undertaking, though! I would highly recommend priming them first and then painting. I didn't do that with mine and really regret it. It is an extra step but it is definitely worth it!

  27. I love the piece. I just had to say the little glass windows look great and it looks more elegant than it would with chicken wire I think. But whatever you like, you do a good job with your home!

  28. Oh Lord have Mercy… Good luck with the pink flamingo, smile…
    And the new paint color totally transformed that piece… i can see how it is really functional for all your "project" stuff, and i think it's kinda cool looking! I love that you did it all on a budget!

    Cindy

  30. you got an amazing deal Free !!! I have this same desk in Black and purchased it at office depot and is the christopher lowell shore computer Armoire and is a 600 dollar desk 🙂 Looks Beautiful redone in your space

  35. Oh to find an armoire like your's! It is unusual and simply beautiful! I wonder how hard it would be to find one like it. Going to start looking!

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