My NEW Office Reveal: how to create designated spaces in an open plan
Making a new office, creating spaces in an open plan. With my becoming a single gal I went back to my old plan of putting a rental suite in my basement. But then I needed to figure out where my workshop was going to go! So I moved it to my biggest bedroom on my main floor but then I needed a guest bedroom so I lost my office lol.
At first I squeezed my desk and computer into my living room which worked fine but I also hated it because I already don’t have a very big living room.
Where I do have some serious extra space is actually in my entryway and dining room. Amazingly this room USED to be my grandparents’ old wood shed! It was my mom’s idea to go ahead and incorporate it into the house and BOOM I have this amazing huge entry.
Here are the before and during the renovation photos. Yes, that is a picture of a blank wall because that wall is now gone and YES that is my incredible Mom helping me put in the floor in the old wood shed to make this space! ๐
When I first moved my computer in here I figured out real quick that my old computer desks were going to be just HUGE for this space. I already had this ancient kitchen table of my grandparents’ that I refinished years ago so I went ahead and used it for my new office desk.
Buuuuut….. it was kinda short for my computer chair. (At least, too short for me, I like to cross my legs up on top of the chair when I work for long periods of time.) With feet flat on the ground I could get under the table but it bugged me because I just can’t do proper posture for very long no matter how hard I fight it.
(It wouldn’t be the first time someone stopped by to find me with one foot on my desk by my monitor, one leg under me and my keyboard balanced somewhere in between.)
SO, at first I was going to figure out how to raise the desk and then I started working on this blog post and mentioned how much I loved my computer chair but I had my heart set on an old banker’s chair. Up until I found this chair I had NEVER seen one thrifting and I honestly believed it was a pipe dream.
And then there she was ๐
It was like the thrift Gods answered my prayer!
And I literally did nothing but just bring this chair in, slide it under my old table and stare at the perfection of it all. What were the chances?! The fit is PERFECT – like they were made for each other!
Amazing note on how awesome my mom was. This chair was out of my budget. I knew I couldn’t get them down to what I was willing to spend so I was just walking away. My mom stopped me, told me to grab it and she bought it for me ๐
At first I put the desk on the east wall (under the windows facing my deck) but that turned into a terrible idea. I mostly work at my computer after my day job in the evening so I had the sun setting at my back – the glare was so bad I couldn’t even see the screen!
That got me thinking about how I could better shift this whole area around. This is a LONG room (like over 20 feet) and breaking it up into sections seemed like my best course of action. Here’s the before and after of the floor plan.
I had this pretty red dresser in my old guest bedroom (now my workshop) so I brought that over and turned it to face the dining room table. This dresser had sat out on the screened in porch through decades of northern Minnesota winters and summers. Neither my mom nor aunt knew where it came from but I rolled up my sleeves and stripped it anyway. I think it turned out absolutely beautiful!
One amazing perk: The storage in the dresser is SO cool. Having that kind of space beside my dining room table means I have a place now for all of my cards and board games. I even have room in the top drawer for gloves, scarves, hats etc.
The dresser also provides me with a landing area when I get home from work. Mail, keys, purse and anything else I’m carrying goes right there.
Which is particularly awesome to me because I absolutely HATE anything on my table. Which makes no sense because my dining room table is usually totally covered in drop cloth and whatever project I’m currently working on lol.
(I’m pretty sure this is me unconsciously working against my own procrastination. I hate my dining room table covered so that means I get my projects done in double time!)
I refinished these two old rocking chairs when I refinished the table I’m using as a desk. They’re not the sturdiest anymore but I still love them and keeping them together is just natural.
The table between them I inherited from my grandparents’ and it is the only piece in the room I have not refinished. The storage bench my grandparents’ made and I fixed it in the post last week because my old dog Diesel actually left bite marks on the lid lol I also made a no-sew tufted cushion for it.
The closet doors I made years ago are still going strong! They need another coat of paint but, otherwise, I’m quite happy with how well they’ve held up.
The barn door closet that covers up my electric panel gives a nice spot for guests to hang their coats and I’m still pretty smitten with it because that door used to be the outside wood shed door, so it only moved a couple of feet!
My home keeps evolving and changing by the minute but where this room felt like SO MUCH wasted space before now I feel like I am actually utilizing it. I love having my new office close to the heart of my home. My old office was beautiful and having my own real room for an office was nice but it also felt lonely.
Moving this part of my life front and center and creating not just this section of my home, but my WHOLE home, based on who I am has been absolutely amazing.
You come into my house now and there is no question who the woman is who lives here, what she loves and how she lives. My grandma’s house is finally becoming a reflection of not just my grandparents but of me too!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
The remodel looks incredible! Those floors are gorgeous!
Thank you Ariana!!
A beautiful room out of nothing. Well done Tarah and that dresser is not only practical but very pretty!
Thank you Mary, I am still SO in love with that dresser. It was so cool to be able to have a place for it front and center!
Your office looks great and I LOVE the chair! I’m so glad you found it!
Thank you Ann!!
This room is just beautiful. I hope it breathes new inspiration into your writing each time you sit down. It is warm and inviting!
Thank you so much Joanne, have a great weekend!
I have a large dresser in my office, too. My printer and supplies sit on top and the drawers are such great extra space! Love your office!
Thank you Donna, it is amazing how versatile dressers are, they are certainly not just for clothes lol!
Oh Tarahlynn – How wonderful! You are taking care of current needs while honouring your family’s history! Brilliant! How do you find the time to do all that you do? I think this is my favorite of all your posts! Thanks so much for sharing!
Toni, thank you so much! It has been an INCREDIBLY busy summer for me but I was so excited to get my office done I just couldn’t sit still til it was complete lol Have a great week!
Please share how you made those doors – the one that looks like French doors. They look so lovely!
Many thanks again for sharing!
Hi Toni, the link is here: http://www.grandmashousediy.com/closet-doors/ – they were pretty simple to make, just 2x2s screwed together, painted and then fabric stapled to the back. They aren’t perfect by any means but they’re still holding up pretty well!
Tara, I absolutely luv this makeover and swooning over that banker chair. You are right, I’ve never seen one either thrifting. So glad you shared it with us at wall to wall DIY Wednesday!
Thank you so much Ann!
First I need to say … even though we( your readers) may not personally know you, we are all proud of you and how you have persevered. You are now doing what you want to do with your life. You did a great job on the dresser ( as with all your other projects). I like how it makes a separation between the rooms. Also putting your washer/dryer behind the French style doors. Saying this will sound selfish on my part..but Unfortunately owning a house and property is a never ending job. So I will keep looking forward to seeing your Blog in my email.
Oh Kathy, thank you so much! And, OMG, you are SO right about the never ending jobs lol. Every time I feel like I get somewhere on my to-do list I’m reminder of several other things I need to do add to it! It is a good never ending job though, it feels wonderful to really make this place my own. Have a great week!
Beautiful! I can’t even tell you what I love best as it’s all so wonderful; right from you and your Mom working on this together to all the memory pieces you have in your new space. It all fits together so perfectly, great job!!
Thank you so much Heather, I just love that when I walk into my home now this is the space I step into! Have a great week!
It looks GREAT! I always love seeing what you are creating :)….
Thanks for sharing at last week’s Reader Tip Tuesday – ca’t wait to see what you share at this week’s party!
Thanks Jodie!
Stunning transformation. I feel inspired to update too.
Thank you Kippi!
I have been following your blog and all the amazing things you have accomplished through your hard work and determination to get things done. Since I love old things, I am in awe of all the things you have redone. I don’t know of many women that have endured the hardship of the cold to take care of your animals and I love you for that alone. I look forward to reading more of your blog and see all the wonderful things you do and the care you take with restoring everything you can.
Connie, thank you so much, it was a very hard winter with many trials that tested me right to my limits but this home just keeps on saving me. Have a wonderful week!
Well done! Love the new layout, too.
Thank you Stephanie!
You are such an inspiration to women everywhere! I love that you and your mom put in that gorgeous floor. As I homeowner I can agree, a house is never finished! When I separated from my husband I started to redecorate my home to how I wanted it. It is so liberating to be able to do things exactly how you want and not have to worry about someone elseโs opinion. Enjoy it!
Thank you Giselle! It so wonderfully freeing to be able to finally finish my spaces and take my time too!
It was great that you were able to make things work double duty. I am going to have to rent my former office out to someone, just to be able to keep my home with the Hike in Property Taxes this year. However where is the printer on your desk. I don’t really need a printer but sometimes in this day and
age I still need one. I have a very small desk at the present and I have my Medium plus the Wifi Unit hooked up beside it. I now need a smaller printer or some place to put it. I could slide the desk over just a tad bit and that might work. I will try that.
Hi Audrey, actually I have a wifi printer so I keep it in a closet and just turn it on when I use it ๐
Beautifully done. You and your mom “can take this show on the road” and make money. You are talented, creative, Innovative and smart. So, so pretty too.
Thank you Mae!
Looks great! Just wondering where you ended up putting the washer and dryer.
Hi Judy, the laundry never moved its still in our little laundry closet by the table. You can see the whole reveal here and are decision to purchase a washer and dryer combo to save space: http://www.grandmashousediy.com/washer-and-dryer-combo-unit/