Last August (before I was blogging), I was featured in the local Birmingham News paper for a room redo that I sent in. There’s a section in our Saturday paper called Spaces that features homeowner’s “before” and “after” projects that they have completed. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from them after I completed my office nook and sent pictures in. They called me, set up a time to have a photographer come out, and then ran the article. I felt like a mini-celebrity at the time and of course, went out and bought extra copies for my friends and family. It was fun to have people from church and other groups that I’m involved with tell me that they had seen me in the paper! I blocked out my last name…just thought that would be best not to share that on here.
Made the Local Paper….Again!
So fast forward to now…..this spring I’ve noticed that they are now featuring Garden redos, with the same layout of “before” and “after” photos and a blurb about how the project was completed. I decided to send in my little garden redo that I just shared with all of you last week and was very surprised to get an immediate call back the next day saying they wanted to feature my little garden in the paper. I was SO excited….again! They came out last Wednesday, took the pics and it will probably run next weekend. So, I thought I’d share my little office redo with you and I will also show the other garden redo when it runs too. I feel sure that they must not be getting all that many submitted, since they called so fast. 🙂 All the more fun for me!
This is the “before” shot when we first moved in. This is a tiny little area off my laundryroom, really just the end of the small hallway downstairs. It’s 6×9, so big enough to do something with, but not too big. I decided as soon as I saw this space, that it would be mine! So, my little office nook was born.
Here’s the space today. I bought the desk from Target (online). The 2 shelves came from Ballard Designs clearance center in Atlanta. They were white & I painted them black. They have been some of the best things I’ve ever bought from Ballards. They still weren’t cheap in the outlet store, but are great, substantial shelves that I will keep forever.
The lamp was a different color, as were all those baskets you see below. I wanted baskets to store all my things in & couldn’t find any that went with the lime green I was using, so I bought Green Apple spray paint from Lowes & found all the baskets (cheap) at different stores. Taped them off & painted them all green! They hold catalogs, paper, misc. stuff I want hidden.
I found this HUGE frame at a yardsale last year for $10. I knew I wanted to make a bulletin board so when I found it, it was perfect for that. I aged the gold with some brown paint, added some foamboard cut to fit the frame, covered it in my leftover kitchen fabric, added the ribbon & tacks & there you go! It’s great to put up reminders, calendar & all those little things that you want at your fingertips.
Bought this black bookcase at World Market. It was on sale at the time, so I knew it would be a perfect fit in here. Filled it up with all my “stuff” and it’s a handy little storage area for all my decorating things. Those bottom baskets were found at a yardsale & I painted them with my nifty Apple Green paint too.
So, this is my little office space, where I spend so much time. It’s a total reflection of my personality & I love every bit of it! It was so exciting to make the paper & I’ll be sure & share the garden redo too. This is fun!
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Francie M. says
Well goodness, why wouldn’t they call you? Everything you do is just lovely.
What a wonderful office space!…and your garden is a place anyone would want to be.
Ohhh, I have been to the Ballard Outlet in Atlanta…someday I’m going back loaded with $$$ 🙂
BeachysCapeCodCupboard says
Congratulations on your DOUBLE feature in the paper! You do have a beautiful way with decorating! =)
PAT says
Great news Rhoda. I’m looking forward to a post about your latest newspaper article!!
Pat
Back Porch Musings
Rachel says
What an awesome use of space! I just recently found your blog and I am getting so much inspiration from it. Thanks!
Rachel
Trudi says
That is so cool to be in the newspaper. Your space looks really great. Love your bulliten board. I have no black in my house and for the life of me, I can’t seem to fit it in right now with my colors. Maybe in a few years, I’ll redo the living room.
Trudi
Kristy says
Your office space is just beautiful – I love the black and the lime green together! Painting the baskets to match was such a great idea. I desperately need to add some storage for magazines to my office, and baskets would be great, but I’d love to make them really colorful. Can you tell me more about the process of painting them? Did you need to prime them first? Was it difficult to cover the baskets well? Did you paint the insides as well, and was that difficult? I’d appreciate any info you can provide – thanks!
Marilyn says
You are so talented, of course they would want to feature you!!!!
I wish you could just come to my house and redo everything. You’ve got such great taste and are definitely inspiring!
It's a Mom Thing says
That is awesome, just awesome! I love the color scheme. You just have a way of making things so beautiful…a little classy, a little sassy. I think it looks great! And what a great way to use a little space.
The Feathered Nest says
That is so very cool! Congratulations!!! I love everything you do. You always think of everything down to the littlest detail!
That Ballard Outlet isn’t much of an outlet in terms of price is it! Plus lots of times things are broken and they still want alot for it! Have you seen that magazine Do It Yourself? You should send your pictures into there. I like that mag because it’s mainly before and afters that people did themselves. You’re home would be a perfect feature!
You are sooo talented (that’s why I always bug you with my questions LOL)!
Manuela
Rhoda says
Thanks, ladies! It is pretty fun to be in the paper. I’ve never been in there before last year, so I have to say, it is a blast.
Kristy, I answered on your blog too, but for anyone else who may want to know the answer to painting the baskets, here’s a recap: As far as painting those baskets, all I did was tape it off with painter’s tape & spray painted with Apple Green paint from Lowes. As long as you tape off where you don’t want the paint to go, you’ll be fine. All my baskets were different colors, so this was an inexpensive way to unify them to one look. So, just look for mismatched ones & spray away. I wanted black accents, so I did find some that already had some black on there & I didn’t have to do anything but tape off & paint green.
I painted some of them inside, but not all. Just depended on what the inside was made of or looked like. Mine are all sort of a wicker basket look & they really take the paint easily.
Thanks again for stopping by my blog & for such sweet comments…ya’ll are great friends!
Rhoda
Southern Heart says
I am absolutely thrilled for you, my sweet friend!! You *should* be in the paper—you are talented and creative! I can’t wait to see the new article.
My parents redid my mother’s childhood home when I was 3, and it was featured in the paper (eons ago!). If I can find it, I’ll share it with you.
Once again, I’m so excited for you—and I always enjoy seeing pictures of your beautiful home.
Rosemary says
Everything is so beautiful. How fun to be in the paper. Our paper did an article, of all things about front doors. My door made the paper, because it was interesting and we did it ourselves.
Loved everything in your post today.
Check out my latest project, when you have time.
Rosemary
~Dawn~ says
oooh I just love it! Rhoda you are so talented! I only wished we lived closer to each other – we’d be yard sale/decorating buddies for sure!
Looks great – and I have a picture that no longer coordinates with my study so I’m going to take out the picture and make a bulletin board just like yours! Thanks for the great idea!
Dawn
Pittypat Papery says
Love, love, love the redo. How clever you were to transform such a small space into a beautiful and usable space. Congrats on making the paper and for sharing the redo with the rest of us 🙂 Enjoy your pretty “new” room. Diane
Susie Q says
Oh Rhoda! Your home is stunning!
And, may I add that YOU are stunning as well. What a beauty!
Your sense of style and color is awe inspiring! I bow to you!!
I have been so awe struck by the homes my new blog friend’s share with us…you, Andrea, Pat, Kim…so many great designers and talents.
You are a wonder. A special lady.
Hugs,
Sue
Anonymous says
That is SO wonderful that your gorgeous garden made the local paper’s pages! And yes — of course — they would call you back — your re-do is classic and timeless — and will make a great story! Well done!
I just love your blog!!
Jan (teacats) over at Rosemary Cottage whose garden is water-logged with all of the spring storms here in Texas!
Tonja says
What a cozy space! I LOVE what you did! You just be very proud. Don’t you enjoy taking things and re-purposing them to use another way?
The Decorated House says
Your little office area is packed with so much fun and great ideas.
How cool that your gardening will be in the paper, too. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the article.
Donna
Deb says
Congratulations. Your office space is gorgeous.
KLKinFLA says
Your space is so pretty…love your French memo board and the lime green accents!