I've written for Creating Keepsakes for a few years now. I'm not even sure how many articles I've had published and I have no knowledge of which ones helped people most or if people really enjoyed them or not but I can clearly state that I have gotten more emails by far about my "objects in my office" article than in any other! I like to think it's because I explained myself so well in the other photography articles so people don't need to ask questions...right? That's the line my sister tried to comfort me with anyway.
I know exactly how many words I get for my photography articles and so I work very carefully to craft the most efficient use of them as I'm writing. But I wrote the office article without having asked how many words I could use and I way overwrote! Thus they had to edit quite a bit from it and in that editing a lot of the product sources were removed. So, I thought that I would post all the photographs and sources here so that anyone interested would be able to find what they are looking for! Plus, a lot of the photographs were cropped so it will be fun to show you the whole thing!
So here is a photograph of the boys in my office. Mark likes to call it my art supply closet because it's so small. It's literally 6x8 feet. It was listed as a third bedroom, because well... this is New York and a 6x8 bedroom is normal. If you missed the article, it was on how to transform a small space on a very small budget.
Looking at this room from the outside, you can see that it has a normal sized glass door that was cut in half to look like French doors. I think it's funny but I like them because I can see what is going on with the boys. As you can see, on the right hand side is the back of the couch in our main living area.
This is the view of my office from the doorway with my wide-angle lens. You can see the wood from the door frame on the sides of the photo. It's small but I love it!
The stars hanging from the light are from Candice Carpenter's online shop:
http://www.peacoatsandpartyhats.com/
She has some really cute items in her shop and at really great prices.
If you turn to the left this is what you see.
It's the main wall. I love, love how it turned out! The wall is painted with black chalk board paint, which they assured me I would be able to paint white again when we move. I'll let you know if that is true when and if we move. The desk was a birthday gift from my husband a few years ago. He picked it out himself! I know, amazing. He also got a great deal on it, he bought it at what was called T.J. Max home but I think it's now called Home Goods? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. The white magazine holder on top of the desk as well as the white library catalog looking drawers in another photo are from there too!
Starting from the top right:
The first box holding the rub-ons is a Chinese antique that I purchased years ago on a trip in California with my Grandmother. Next to those are some glass apothecary jars I got for a great price (12 dollars, I think) from a store in here in Brooklyn. The Simplify sign was from the mill at Garner Village in Utah. The star was a birthday gift from my sister.
The shelves are from Ikea. They're made to hang on their own, but I added cheap black brackets from Home Depot so that they could hold more weight.
The red bins with the black chalk board on the front are from the children's storage section at Target. I got them on clearance but I think they still carry them.
The red wood magazine holders are also from Ikea. They come in a plain Birch color but I taped off the labels and painted them red.
Here is another view.
The jars with the chalk board on them are from Costco. They actually come with Biscotti in them.
The jar below is from Taipan Trading Company, one of those stores that has great deals if you are good at looking through the bad stuff. It's based in Utah.
These suitcases are all over now, you can get them from a few places I got these from Paper Source. And the polka dot take-out box is from American Crafts.
This is one of my favorite things in the room:
The letters are vintage letter press letters that I collected in Ohio. The Frog Prince was from Mark on my birthday and it's from Sundance. One of my favorite things in the office is the letter press frame from Sycamore Street Press. My sister designed them for Eva. I had a lot of questions about these so if you want to order them you can go here:
http://shop.sycamorestreetpress.com/
Scroll down a bit, and yay! They have two new colors too!
Next up, If you turn right when you enter the room you see this:
The calendar is from Pottery Barn Outlet. My sister bought it for me when she saw it on clearance because she knew how much I wanted it and she is super awesome like that. The table is from Ikea. It is actually a kitchen island. You buy the shelves below separate from the top. It was perfect for me because I could get a really narrow top which I needed for my little room. As it is right now I can put one hand on this table and one hand on my desk in the last photo if I'm standing in the center of the room. You can also get different types table tops. I chose stainless steel, but you can get white, black,or wood instead.
Be forewarned - I'm sure you know Ikea and how great trying to put furniture together is! Here is the bag that came with all the boxes!
And I put it together all by myself! I don't recommend that though because some of the pieces were really heavy and I had a hard time positioning things while bolting them down and holding them all alone!
On the shelves are my paper storage trays from Display Dynamics. They are great! I'm not a fan of vertical storage for paper because I feel like the corners always get bent on the corners so I avoid it if I can. These trays are stackable and perfect!
On top of the table is the Making Memories desktop Carousel. I use it to store all my basic tools so they are right at hand. This would be great for quilters and other crafters too.
If you enter the room and turn around to face the door you will see this:
I knew that I wanted a lot of space to use as a inspiration board so I put up chicken wire across the whole wall. You can buy it at home depot and then just use wire clippers to cut it to size. With just a few strategically placed nails you have a perfect place to clip up photo's.
The Brooklyn Poster is from:
http://orkposters.com/brooklyn.html
They have a bunch of different cities.
And now we come to the most requested item in the room. The fruit and vegetable bin that I keep all my supplies in. It's from an independently owned furniture store called Red Tree, in Louisville, KY. I believe you can order a catalog from them on their site. I loved that store when I lived in Louisville and would visit often.
The best thing about it is that the tin bins inside the shelf come out so you can bring items with you to the work space.
This is the wall you see as you enter:
I have to give kudos to Cosmo Cricket for the top print with the camera that says It's Picture Time! I love it so much that I emailed them and they made a larger print for me but it is a tag in one of their recent lines. Love them!
http://cosmocricket.blogspot.com/
The letter basket below that is from Home Peddlers Design! I love that company!
Below that are these:
I bought these from Ikea in the kitchen section. They are plain white and then I asked my friend Emily of Emilykate designs to cut some vinyl for them. I've gotten a lot of questions about the fonts and I'm sorry I can't remember which ones that I used! I know that there were two, one for the letters and one for the numbers. If you order them from Emily I know that she kept a record of what they are. I need to ask her again because don't you think they would make for really cute house numbers?
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5231204
The black frames in the next row were just a few dollars from Robert's on sale. They were unfinished but I painted them black and then added metal to the inside. The square in the middle is from Making Memories.
I think that is it! If you have any questions about anything else leave them in the comments and I'll watch for them!
Love your blog! Left an award for you at mine. Thanks!
Posted by: Holly | January 25, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Your room is beautiful and such an inspiration! I love all the personal touches that make it so much more than an office/workspace. Amazing....you should be on HGTV.
Posted by: Thauna | January 25, 2009 at 03:27 PM
wow. very inspiring. one of these days i'll be organized like you and your sister. (thanks for linking to our frame mats, too!)
Posted by: eva jorgensen | January 26, 2009 at 11:26 AM
hi candice,
yes, you have to go back to the doughnut plant! (we went last monday too --mlk day and it was closed. we thought it was just for the holiday but it sounds like from your comment they are closed every monday. good to know!) the creme brulee was our favorite.
and i just took a look around your adorable blog! i love what you do with your photos. also, we have a chalk board wall in our apartment and i had one in my old apartment around the corner before i got married too. they are wonderful and we love them! (and yes, they paint back to white perfectly. no messes there.)
xo
naomi
Posted by: naomi | January 26, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Hi,
What a great pictures!!!!! I have never seen like these pictures. Totally mind blowing. Thank you so much for posting such an excellent pictures.
- Kate.
Posted by: Closet | January 28, 2009 at 04:00 AM
wow! love your room! It doesnt really look that small in the photos. I may do the chicken wire thing in my room too- so clever!
I am wondering about the last photo- what is the thing holding pencil crayons? Is that what they are? Pencil crayons? It's under the 3 white buckets? looks very cool.
Posted by: tanya | January 31, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Your office is awesome! I'm so jealous of your ability to create bright, beautiful, creative spaces. I want an office just like yours!! I mean I would take an exact replica if I could. :)
Posted by: Candi | February 03, 2009 at 01:08 PM
LOVE your STUDIO...so dang cute....can't wait to meet you at CPR! Chat soon, Sarah
Posted by: sarah goodman photography | February 11, 2009 at 09:08 PM
Love your room. I am still fixing my space in my daughter's room (which is my scrapbook room now). I do love your vegetable & fruit bin. I love Ikea too. I got
my desk from them 2 years ago, but still enjoy working in it. Thanks for sharing your creativeness!!
Posted by: Katrinna J. | February 25, 2009 at 03:28 AM
I am SO inspired! Just got into this paper crafting hobby last Nov. I can't believe all the things that are needed...well wanted! My next project is to create my own studio/office. Been researching photos for over a month now and have not really been moved - until now! Thanks for sharing your space and giving me ideas. Many awesome creations must come out of your special room!
Posted by: Joann | March 20, 2009 at 05:25 PM
I am in love with this space. Thank you for sharing! I especially love that fruit and vegetable bin... and I'm secretly plotting on going to carpentry school so I can make one for myself. Ha ha. Thanks again.
Posted by: Ashley | March 25, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Awesome Office! I love IT!
Tara
Posted by: Tara a.k.a teeleedee | April 13, 2009 at 08:38 PM
What an amazing space you have there! Beautiful! It must be very inspiring for your work.
Posted by: Lisa | June 07, 2009 at 04:54 AM
Goodness! I'm drooling over your space. Very creative and very well laid out. Love it.
The stainless kitchen island from Ikea? Do you recall the name of it?
Posted by: Jackie | November 21, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Life is only if the "first meet ", that would be...
Posted by: Air Jordan shoes | July 15, 2010 at 08:46 PM
Love your office! I pinned several of your office photos on my Pinterest today. I really love your work and your office!
Posted by: Viv @ The Eclectic Life | October 23, 2010 at 06:03 PM
I'm getting ready to organize my own craft room, and have been searching for inspiration! I featured your creative space on my blog! Thanks for inspiring! Here is the link:
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2011/01/craft-room-inspiration.html
~Alison
Posted by: Alison | January 12, 2011 at 05:12 PM
This looks awesome! Love it! I would love for you to link this to my Organizing Mission Monday link party! I will also be pinterest. That is where I found you.
Posted by: Sandy Jenney - Organize with Sandy | April 26, 2011 at 06:57 PM
Your office looks splendid, Candice! The design, the furniture, the wall items -- they all fit in together. Even if its small, your office is just so awesome that I'm sure even the people with claustrophobia wouldn't mind working there. Good job! It's a great manifestation of your creative skills. :)
Posted by: Clinton Harvin | April 27, 2011 at 09:58 PM
Another one wondering about the colored pencil dispenser! Where did you find it?
Posted by: KrisS | June 23, 2011 at 03:45 PM
Hi there! I too, am dying to know about the colored pencil dispenser. What a fabulous idea!
Posted by: Anna | June 30, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Hi there! The color pencil holder was from the pottery barn outlet a few years ago. I'm not sure if they have it in real stores still or not. Sorry! I wish I could be of more help on that one!
Posted by: candice | June 30, 2011 at 02:23 PM
I know I'm a little late to the game, but I'm wondering where the colored pencil dispenser is from? Sorry if you've already explained that item, but I couldn't seem to find it in your posting!
Thanks
Posted by: Karen Raffenaud | July 21, 2011 at 07:58 AM
I am so inspired! I would also like to know about the colored pencil holder! It is fantastic!
Posted by: Karen Raffenaud | July 21, 2011 at 08:14 AM
Thanks for sharing your room. I love all the explanations of where you got everything. Lots of info. I never would have thought of the chicken wire, VERY cool! I do love that black fruit and veg bin. I've seen the book shelf kind, but the removable bins are the most useful. I will look out for something like that for myself...
Posted by: LindaMar1 | August 02, 2011 at 07:25 AM