New Corporate Headquarters for Buttermilk Cottage

Or, in other words,

my NEW office/sewing room/work space.

Here's a reminder of what this room was like

when I started the renovations.

It's the downstairs bedroom,

to the left of the front door when 

you enter the house.

A look at the plaster

walls after the wallpaper

was stripped away.

The walls in this room were

in fairly good shape and

the crown molding was already there.

Looking in from the entrance at the front door.

 This is the view from my desk 

to the front outside.

There's a pretty little cottage style

garden just outside the window

which has been in bloom with 

different flowers since I've been here.

My old corner desk fit nicely into one corner of the room.

Can you see my sheep lamp on the side?

Isn't this a great lamp?

Particularly for me?

Before I moved I did a bit of

tweaking to my work table.

I chalk painted the bottom and legs.

I also put extenders at the bottom of each leg,

boosting the table up about six inches.

Since I do most of my fabric cutting here,

it's much easier on my back.

The extra height also provides a bit more 

storage for underneath the table.

The bins underneath roll out 

and their tops make a great storage space

for shipping bags.

The secret to this room

is using every available square inch of space.

So the space behind the door

has become a mini closet,

storing yarn.

Speaking of using every inch of space...

behind this closet door...

...is a craft closet to die for!

The shelves were already there,

so I didn't have to do a thing

except fill them up.

This was meant to be!

This white wicker chest with shelves,

first came to live with me 

as a chest for my daughter Kate,

as a newborn.

Then it became a storage chest 

in a bathroom at my next house.

Now it has become storage

for trays of color coordinated yarns.

Remember this chalk painted wardrobe 

from a previous post? 

It has made the move and now lives

in my workroom.

It provides "storage"

for some of my favorite baskets...

Not to mention a bit of fabric!

Daisy's new bedroom is also

quartered here.

Do you spy it beside my desk?

She particularly likes having her space

in the same place I spend most of my time!

Although she doesn't look it,

she's quite happy at her new home.

As I am too!

Back in Business Again...or

...finally finishing the past week's project

of painting my office/sewing room/studio.

Small room...big painting job, 

for me anyway.

Here's what I started with last Monday:

This room was last painted about ten years ago

when I moved into Buttermilk Cottage.

Vivid color seems to have been the mood then.

But I have been thinking lately 

perhaps a paler shade 

would be a bit more calming.

This lighter shade of blue is 

called "Dewdrop."

Monday morning I started my day with

a trip to Lowe's to purchase supplies.

The color had already been chosen,

so I was home quickly.

Then came the huge job of

dismantling the room.

This small space is the 

command center of my business and 

I pack a LOT into it!

Everything came out except my office desk

and a large work table.

There was no space for them to be moved to, 

so I had to work around them.

A temporary sewing center was established

in the dining room for any work that

came in and needed doing while I was in

the midst of the great painting project.

Next came the wall prep and caulking.

By the end of the day,

a coat of primer had been applied.

On the second day, 

I began applying the real paint.

(From this angle you can see into my

bedroom which is the "old" blue.

It will soon be painted the "new" blue too.)

By the end of the day the walls were all painted,

including any needed touch ups.

Day Three was a slow and tedious day.

I did two coats of glossy white on the crown molding

and one coat of off white on all the trim work.

That's masking tape you see under the 

crown molding.

Finally on Thursday I began moving things back in

and establishing some order.

From this...

...to this.

While getting things back in order, 

I have been very conscious of 

simplifying things.

Some of the artwork is gone, or changed 

for a fresher look.

My idea board was moved from one wall

to the opposite side of the room.

Except for some final

decor tweaking,

which for me, is always an evolving process,

all done!

I have decided painting is a lot like housework.

I hate doing it,

but love how I feel once it is done.

Office Window Redo...Finally!

Six years ago when I bought Buttermilk Cottage

I had to have a small addition made to it.

There was no space for me to work,

so I got a brand new office/sewing room.

The window treatments were planned

before the room was even finished.

Unfortunately, I did not consider

the natural light/sunshine in the room.

I have two double windows in the room, 

which are wonderful for viewing the garden... 

...or other little distractions from work.

However, there are certain times during the day

when the sunlight streams in so strongly

I cannot see the images on my computer screen.

There have even been occasions while sewing

that the sunlight reflecting off the throat plate

of my machine makes me wonder if

sunglasses would help.

I've let this go on for six years.

First of all, I liked the window treatment I already had.

Second, I thought I would have to get

custom made blinds.

The times I checked prices for that

were enough for me to put the project on the back burner.

A few weeks ago while in Lowes I took another look at their possibilities.

Lo and behold, they had a tortoise shell, roll up blind

(the exact look I have wanted for about five years)

by Levolor which Lowes would cut to desired width,

while I waited.

I actually have carried around the window dimensions

for a long time hoping I'd at some point,

find something that would work for me. 

I walked out with my four, custom-cut blinds!

Now the fun part...

Undressing the windows was no problem.

However, getting a ladder close to the windows was.

It involved unplugging computer, router, printer, internet wires,

and all the lamps, radio and other electrical things

that set upon a desk.

Then I could move the desk away from the windows

to position my ladder.

Why is it these projects ALWAYS create such

chaos and disorder???

And, of course while the windows were bare,

it was a good time to wash windows,

and really dust behind the desk,

which had not been moved since I moved in.  Ugh!

One down, three to go!

I didn't mention I had to reposition the curtain rods

while in the midst of this project, did I?

Me using a power drill is not a pretty sight, trust me.

And, if I dropped one screw and had to get down

from the ladder, I dropped at least twenty!

But, you know what?

It was all well worth the effort!

Shades up.

Shades down.

No reflection on my computer screen in the middle of the day!

Since I  think I may be redoing the paint in this room within

the next year, I repurposed my original curtains

to a simple valance.

Why did I wait SO long???

This week I'm linking with

Metamorphosis Monday/Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesdays/Savvy Southern Style

Look What I Made/Creations by Kara

Transformation Thursdays/The Shabby Creek Cottage

Feathered Nest Friday/French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday/My Romantic Home