Sure, I know… you don’t think it’s possible.

Not a blank-slate room transformed into a fab-looking and great-functioning office.. with a budget under a thousand dollars?   Nope. No Can Do.

Well you just hang-on a watch me work it!

OK First things First

Photography Du Jour

Step One… find yourself a brilliant, savvy and budget-conscious Interior Designer such as….. uummm… ME! Ok – that’s one step done already.

Step Two: Asset Assessment.  That is Designer Code for “Note what good points your room already has going for it, and what contributing items you already own.”

BEFORE

In the case of my project, this includes; A basically nice room with plenty of natural light,  lovely plantation shutters, a decent amount of space, a fireplace, nice flooring and built-in book cases.  Useable items I already have; a glass drafting table, black shelves, and  paint.  I have leftover Duron paint in a color called “Watery”. Cash and a couple of his friends have said they will do the painting for me. (hate to think what kind of Paybacks that’s going to cost me)

Wow — that’s two steps done and I haven’t even had to stand up!

BEFORE

Step three: The Wish List.

First, brainstorm your Wish List… that is, scribble down everything that comes to mind, no matter how crazy or seemingly unattainable (you just never know).

Here’s some of mine:

• A comfortable chair in which to drool over new products (should it be a drool-resistant fabric?)
• Furniture and layout that provides a comfortable place for meeting clients over Coffee… with Ginger, of course ! tweaking floor plans, and enjoying a nice chat.
• Shelves and cubbies to store and organize samples, my fabric library, etc. (something a bit nicer than the clear plastic storage tubs shoved into a closet which is my current “system”)

For the actual BrainStorming phase, don’t hamper your thoughts by trying to place them in any order – just let it flow. After you’ve got it all out on paper… then try to rank it according to importance.  Now we’ve got a Plan and it’s time to get to work.

I gather my measurements; of the room, doors, windows and the items I already know I want to use and with this I create my diagram of the space.

OFFICE FURNITURE LAYOUT

Determine some choices of color schemes/fabrics that work for the room.  In this case, for my office, that will be colors that make me feel productive and materials that are appropriate for the budget. The blue-green of Duron”Watery”  paint on walls would freshen up the office and make me feel happier about working late hours, I think.

Next Step: Shop, Gather and Bargain!

FIRST FIND: OFFICE LOUNGE CHAIRS: $150

To safeguard the budget, I turned to Craig’s List where I found red velvet upholstered lounge chairs with nailhead trim for $150 I was pleased to see that they are by Charter Furniture; well made and long-lasting!  After a good cleaning, they’ll be perfect for the Client Chatting requirement.

Accessories: one of my very favorite parts!

Love love love this simple and clean sconce. The soft, modern style is exactly what I want. And at $90 each, they’re a steel. They have an understated gleaming neutral gold finish.

For some extra character, lets add a black and white zebra print rug for $75. This will compliment the red chairs well.

Hello Beautiful!  An amazing  large Sun Mirror would work well…. $110

And these adorable Peacock pillows go perfectly with the chairs.  Gotta have them at $125 each

There’s “want” and there is “need”… I NEED a pair of these gorgeous, elegant candle holders. For just $45 each.

These interesting vases will add texture and drama.  At an impressive 12 and 18 inches tall they’re well worth the $40 and $70 price tags. These will be perfect for the mantle, but are on back order until August.

Mr. Dodat

My Scratch ‘n Dent pup for just $29! Talk about elegance!  This lovely, serene whippet sets a mood and makes a statement.  I got one similar for a steal due to a slightly chipped ear but I think it just ads character.  His name is now Dodat.  He is housebroken and hardly barks a all.

Oh, I just LOVE the final phase… when all the elements are assembled and it’s time to FEATHER THE NEST and arrange, place, and decorate!

READY MADE FRAMES FROM A LOCAL CRAFT STORE- Photography Du Jour

MY DESIGNER "TO THE TRADE" RESOURCE LIBRARY MAKES IT EASY TO ASSIST YOU IN CREATING YOUR DREAM SPACE. - Photography Du Jour

FRESH FLOWERS BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE AND PROVIDE COLOR AND SCENT. -Photography Du Jour

AFTER- Photography Du Jour

AFTER- Photography Du Jour

It’s all FUN when you’ve gotten to this point.  And have a look at how wonderfully it turned out! Clean and crisp and inspiring.  Organized enough to be functional but accessorized enough to raise the spirits.  Work feels like pleasure in an environment as welcoming as this, with a few “friends”, like Dodat, to keep me company between clients and on late nights working.  And, yes, we did do it all for under  $1,000.00 so – guilt-free and on-budget! Mission Accomplished!