My New/Old Desk...

Well, I love a bargain but a bargain doesn't always look exactly like what you had in mind.  Believe it or not, we have been in our home nearly 3 years now and I still didn't have the right desk.  My sister was kind enough to let me borrow her old one - but it wasn't quite the right scale.  So, I've been patient - and I suppose a little "tight" when it comes to buying a new desk.  I mean lets face it - who doesn't love the desks in Pottery Barn - but sometimes - that is just not in the budget.  But...

 

 

...a 20 dollar desk is certainly within reach.  I recently found this old school desk at the Mission Store - it was turned up on its side and I just really liked the simple lines of it plus it just felt like it a neat history to it.  I remember my teachers having these types of desks when I was in grade school - like FOREVER ago!

 

 

It was orangey-brown and dirty but it had good bones - so I bought it.  I was looking forward to giving this solid wood desk a good home.

 

 

I had some thin plywood leftover from a previous project.... 

 

 

 I simply rubbed some paint on them and immediately wiped off the excess for a lighter look.

 

 

Don't tell anyone - but I just hot glued them to the front of the desk to add a little interest.  I didn't have any good wood glue - so when all else fails - bring out the trusty glue gun!

 

 

I really like this simple added detail.

 

 

I left this little slide-out unpainted...

 

 

It has great wooden dividers in the drawers...

 

 

...A really nice big top - perfect for lots of paperwork - even though honestly, most of our "paperwork" is done at the kitchen table ;-)

 

 

It fit nicely into the space...

 

 

...Plus I get to look out the window when I sit there and enjoy my window box.

 

 

So I'm pleased with my $20.00 fixer upper.  Speaking of "Fixer Upper" - is that not the greatest show on HGTV right now? I simply LOOOOOOVE IT!  Can't wait for next season!

 

 

Hope you are enjoying some fall decorating - I'll share a little of mine with you next!

 

 

Christmas in the Office...

Well, we made it - we were able to have the Christmas Home Tour (minus the snow & ice) on Tuesday night and we just had a lovely evening.  For all the locals that stopped by - thank you so much - it was wonderful seeing you.  And for the rest of you, I thought I'd do a little mini home tour with you over the next few days.  As I always say, our home is nothing fancy, it is just home.  A house is just a house, it is the people in it that make it a home. 

Enjoy!

Here's our office...

blues and browns with a few friendly FAKE farm animals thrown in...;-)

 

My new curtains - I love them - thank you Beverly! 

A Merry Christmas Banner made from old book pages hung below a beautiful painting that was recently given to us.  Its actually a painting of the farm belonging to my husbands great grandparents.  It was a generous gift and it means so much to us - it looks like it was painted especially for this room but it was painted many many years ago.  We will treasure it always!

There is our FAKE cow head - I love this girl!  I just think she looks so cool - I've got to give her a name.  Most all of our real cows here on the farm have names - she needs one too.  We'll have to work on that.

 

Here is a cabinet "in the works".  When I say I quickly painted it - I do mean QUICKLY.  She needs some sanding and some glazing.  I simply stenciled some numbers on the inserts.

 

On top of the cabinet - you'll find a clock, my "cow breeds" print, that sphere "thing" that I love and a little Christmas greenery filled with some feathers, pine cones and antlers.

I'm happy with where this is going.

Now, the desk is another story.  It's actually on loan from my sister - hence, that is why I haven't drilled holes for the cords.  I think I've decided I'm gonna try and build one - wish me luck on that one.

 

 

BUT, I still do love my map from IKEA.

 

 

And I love my lil' brown reindeer...

 

 

On the door is just a bunch of greenery tied up with some burlap ribbon and feathers.

 

 

You can see here that this tree is placed in an old shipping basket I got years ago. 

 

 

The tree is topped with peacock feathers and 75 cent clearance flowers from Hobby Lobby.  I'm not for sure what they are, I just call them pom-poms.

 

 

Besides a few balls, all of the ornaments on this tree are made of paper.  I made lil' pinwheels from folded book pages and topped them off with a button center. I also purchased cards from the dollar bin at Michael's (12 in a pack) and cut them into circles - I made 24 ornaments for 1.00 - I also used the envelopes that came with them to make name tags for my packages.  Yes, I love a bargain.

 

 

The tree also has a few small banners that I stamped with the words, "Peace, Hope & Joy". 

 

 

And that's it - the Christmas office tour..

 

...Hope you enjoyed it. 

 

 P.S.

 I've been married 17 years on Sat., Dec. 14th..

 

 

I. AM. BLESSED!

In this room...

...lies MANY projects.  But today - I thought I'd share a super simple one.  Come on in...

to the office.

Today's project - bench. 

My sweet Papaw Ronald, who is nearly 81 made this bench for me about 3 years ago.  It is made from a double bed and is still in its original finish which is one of the reasons why I love it so much - besides the fact he made it for me of course.

On the back you can see where 44 years ago - this bed was antiqued by A.A.A., B.S.M., and G.S.A.  You can see where it is dated December 27, 1967.  That is why I can hardly bring myself to paint over it.  

And I happen to really like the crackle finish.

 But, the bench needed a face lift and I was not about to paint it.  So off came the seat - you can see it has had a couple of previous fabrics on it ;-)  Now, no comment on my upholstery skills - hey, nobody looks under there anyway - right.

 This lil' redo is nothing that a staple gun, staples, some scissors and new fabric won't fix. 

 It just doesn't get any easier than that.

 I was fortunate to find some fabric that matched EXACTLY - lucky me - the color of the walls is Sea Salt by Sherman Williams.  Now, I will confess - stripes on the horizontal may have not been the ideal choice but I was trying to find something that would not compete with this other fabric that I had already splurged on.  Do you ever get the cart before the horse?  Well, I do - especially with fabric. 

I also had my map as some inspiration and my peddlers mall leather desk chair.

Now this room is far from finished.  Here are a few other things that are going in there when it is complete - a brown dresser

a wicker chair

some more brown and cream fabric

checked rug

 a globe and some other "officey" things - when I find the right ones.

Oh, and the most important thing - a desk.

 So stay tuned for the completion of this room one of these days.  I'm going to be real busy in the coming days and weeks however- getting ready to go full swing into greenhouse season at work - I begin planting tomorrow - spring is right around the corner you know and oh how I love flowers!

 I'll shed a lil' more light on this room soon. 

Have a great week everybody!