Offices are Tough, Part Deux

Let's face it, my husband's office "transformation" was a pretty big yawn. I mean, it was okay, but it was a nice enough office to begin with...nice paint colors, pretty fabric on the chairs, decent furniture...it was just stark - and don't get me started on the lamp again. I don't think the photos did it justice as far as making it an inviting space. That said..these photos are of an office I did for a law professor at the U of Wisconsin..(he paid for the transformation..not the "U")...I only put that in there because there were some pretty jealous office neighbors, who were too cheap to pay me..let them live with it.

At the time, my husband was with the U of WI, but at a different, smaller, podunk campus, where his office was a hell hole...In fact, I showed him the photo below while I was working on the project, and he said, "wow, that's a really nice office"...I told him that was the "before" photo, which shocked him, as his office wasn't nearly as nice as that - poor guy...I never even tried on that one...it would have cost a fortune. This office cost around $10K to do...my husband's most recent....nothing..I did all the art, and I had all the blue-and-white - but, I digress.

Anyway, these are the befores....ripped out those bookcases, and installed new, wooden ones down the side of the room..also, a new, two-drawer lateral file (none of which is pictured). This is the "after" of that shot...my client let me put nice lamps in...and I did later add a piece of artwork on the end wall. I had beautiful grasscloth down the long wall, and had the room painted. Installed new carpet (I won't go into the asbestos situation, which was finally resolved)...if there is asbestos in a public space - and anything built before the sixties usually has it, you cannot rip it out, unless you can bring in Hazmat suits and evacuate the entire building - ended up just going over it with carpet...shhhhh.

Here's the other end of the room...I do wish he'd have let me do some sort of nice, wooden blinds, but he was adament about just taking the ratting blinds down...he said he never closed them anyway...I was fine with that.

I got these shots in before his new computer set up was installed, but it was not as invasive as the old one...

There, that's it....perhaps one day, I will stop obsessing about the lamp for my husband's desk, but I doubt it...

This One's for Kelly

I love Kelly...never met her, but I love her...I follow her blog, http://www.muchtodowithnothing.blogspot.com/ . She's my greatest cheerleader. KiaKai/Kelly...you said in a comment on my last post that my life was more exciting than yours...I seriously doubt that..seriously...for example, yesterday, I; got up..made beds, fed cats, cleaned litter boxes (bleached and washed and dried, or else Raisenette won't use them), did three loads of laundry, swept the floors, did last night's dishes (I seldom leave dishes overnight, but wasn't feeling well), cleaned out the fridge (evolution was taking place in the crisper), cleaned all the appliances, cleaned the countertops (I found out that plain old rubbing alcohol makes them shine (thanks to my friend, Stephanie), filled out my quarterly taxes, went to the post office, sanded and painted my french door that opens out to the porch, worked on my office (found my desk), went to the grocery store, went to the bank, came home and cooked dinner (catfish, tomatoes, and green beans), did dishes, watched "Dancing With the Stars", went to bed, read three pages of a book (an ex-husband has written a novel, and although I am "described" in it, play no obvious role, thank God...I don't think it's very good, as I fell asleep reading it). That was a day in my "exciting life"..HA!

Kelly can refurbish, refinish, renovate, restore, and repurpose anything...really....and she's a very kind person...she loves animals, as do I...

Well, for some reason the photos of my husband's office just don't do it justice. I think it's because I used a flash, and was in a hurry, but here they are...

Love What You Haven't Done to the Place

Was a comment delivered to my husband by some people, who were business associates visiting his new office. My husband's response was, "yeah, and my wife's an interior designer". So, Friday I loaded up some art (he had taken my desert painting earlier, but was afraid to hang it)...some blue-and-white Chines vases, some hand-painted black-and-white photos, some bookends, etc., and struck out for his office (forty-five minutes from where we live).

I took photos of the space after I put everything in place, but am struggling with uploading onto my computer (have to call in the geeks)...but, I will try again tomorrow. I personally, think it looks much better...he likes it, as does his boss...who was having a meeting when I arrived...(they moved into the conference room while I did my magic)..At least it is a decent space to begin with..

See this lamp...this is a butt-ugly lamp...I am trying to convince him it has to go..he has no windows (which is why I put a landscape in...I traditionally put landscapes in offices with no windows...creates a "vista" to look out upon). I quoted the late, great Oscar Wilde, who was reported to, on his deathbed, have said, "either this wallpaper goes, or I go"....I tried it with the lamp. He doesn't want to buy a lamp for his desk, so I am going to have to be sneaky, and just find one at a very, very good price for him.

He wants nothing on his desk, so that he can, as he says, "spread out"...You would think that after twenty-seven years (in March), I would have him trained better...

I will return with photos of "after".

Right now, I am going to go and eat ribs..yum.

It was 72 here in Texas today; we are reaping the rewards of months of searing heat...took a five-mile walk, had lunch at Fish City (oyster nachos with pico de gyo (sp?), and some ice cream, as my mouth caught fire...gardened...planted a Datura (purple and white moonflower), and a few red yucca - well..had to murder fire ants in one of them before I can plant.

Not an eventful weekend, but sometimes, those are the best.

P.S. Next day: My husband just called to say it was lovely to walk into his office this Monday morning...nice.