Home office bliss

The home office is so important to me since I work from home. I think with more and more people working from home these days we'll be seeing even more great home office inspiration and solutions in mags and blogs.

Happy Friday!

a fab duo office

via Ballard Home

so pretty!  The white, the cube shelving - the window seat!!

via BHG

Tons of storage for inspiration!  My shelves are always overflowing, but sometimes I feel like the more storage space I have, the more likely I am to hoard more stuff...
via Ikea

Looks like an archivists dream right?

via Inc.com

A down-to-earth but still chic space.

via House of Fifty

via Ivy and Piper

Only problem with this one is that the gorgeous wall mural might have me daydreaming of tree houses all day

via Sweet Home Style


Which one do you like best?

Help a reader with a decorate a condo-to-sell question! Pretty-please!

I have a tough question for you guys!
"I'm decorating our friends condo that he just purchased...for resale purpose. My decorating style is modern but has to be comfortable, uncluttered especially for resale. He has to tear out the old drywall because Florida had a problem with Chinese drywall. He wants to add architectural detail to the living room before hanging the drywall. What can be done to a typical condo living room to add interest but without closing it off? How can he make his condo look different than the other condos in the complex so that when a buyer walks in it screams, buy me."

This one is tough as I have very little (okay - no experience), with this sort of thing. Below are some ideas I have dug up that I think might work.

A. This would be for after the drywall is rehung, but "Another way to play up (or fake) architectural detailing in a room is with light. It's a good idea to incorporate a mix of light sources, so if possible, try to bring in overhead lighting as well as floor and table lamps. If you've got a focal wall, washing that wall with downlight can add a lot of drama to the room, as can picture lights or lighting installed inside cabinetry. If you can switch out flush-mounted ceiling lights for a pendant or chandelier, do. Adding sconces might require some electrical work, but if you're able to add the proper wiring, it can be worth the trouble. " - via ehow (click to read the whole article)

B. "Don't forget to look up. It's common to leave ceilings white and paint or paper the walls, and there's nothing wrong with that. But why not think beyond the walls and brighten up your ceiling with paint or wallpaper? Use the same color as the walls for a seamless look, or try something different; I like a glossy ceiling or a contrasting color or pattern. Depending on the style of your home, metal ceiling tiles can be a great, classic, yet modern look. They come in a range of styles, from simple to more ornate designs." -via ehow (click to read the whole article) With this tip, remember to pick a "buyer friendly" paint color.


C. Since you're style is modern - you may want to avoid moldings, wainscoting, and/or bead boards. One thing that really works for me is shelving - you can get very affordable modern shelving from places like Ikea, West Elm, and Crate & Barrel. Artfully adorn them with beautiful objects - nothing too large and distracting.

This image also shows another treatment - adorning one wall with wallpaper. Just make sure it's a wallpaper design that is not too extreme in anyway - modern - but clean, as you want all potential buyers to like it.
via House to Home

This is a great overall example of modern, but still livable decorating. Also keep in mind window treatments! I don't know what your living room has in the way of windows - but treatments (hard/and or soft) can make a huge impact.
via Domino Book of Decorating

I love the modern but cozy look of this room - the lighting and spine bookcase are very memorable.

via BHG

The two above images show how shelving and built-in nooks with lighting and make a big impact.
via From plus Function


I really hope this helps - please don't hesitate to click on the "comments" link below and leave your ideas. PS: If you get your updates via email click here - http://decorology.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-reader-with-decorate-condo-to-sell.html and scroll down to the very bottom past all the other comments, and you'll see a link to "Post A Comment"

Thanks!

Have a great weekend!

Lots of Kitchen inspiration!

I've been cooking a lot more, and therefore spending most of my evenings in the kitchen. I don't know if my cooking will ever get better - but atleast I can make my kitchen a little tastier!



Love this clutter-free, retro kitchen.

Small herb pots on the counter are a favorite of mine



The lamp on the counter is such a charming touch. I love the cabinets, too.

via House to Home

If you don't have an island - just retrofit a small dresser or console with a few hooks and whatever else you'd need on hand.

via BHG

Lots of great ideas for making the most of your space

Awhile back I posted some photos for making the most of small kitchens, and now I'm continuing that with some more general inspiration to use throughout the house. Lots of good ideas here- both big projects and little projects!

Not that many of us have extra closet space, but if you're lucky enough to have some, take off the doors and turn it into a small home office.

A cabinet nightstand will give you more storage opportunities than a table.

Use the inside of doors to store materials, I put spice racks on the inside of my cupboard doors and they're super handy.

Radiators can be huge space-wasters, install a shelf for instant surface space. I have one in my bedroom, and I couldn't be without it!

These benches have been stacked to make shelves, and they can also serve for extra seating or a coffee table in a pinch.

Drawers under the bed are a great storage solution - put them on casters for even easier storage
via Martha Stewart

If you own the space and have the budget, utilize high ceilings by creating this very cool scaffold style bookshelf
via Jac de Villiers


via James Merrell Photography


Even narrow spaces can accommodate furniture like this half-table


Get two-timing furniture that doubles as storage
via AT Casa

Even odd nooks are put to good use.

If you have major carpentry skills - or access to them, this Manhattan apartment dweller created a swiveling tv stand, which can totally flip around depending on if he/she is in the bedroom or the next room.
via Point Click Home

If you have weird angled walls (like many old apartments), find small furniture and make use of the space

Make your rooms multi-task. Keep your bookshelves for storage, and install a sliding curtain when in need of a less cluttered feel.


Use bookcases and keep your wall space by hanging art from the shelves.
via Domino


These console tables are great because they have shelves or rungs that act as storage.
via Joe Schmelzer

You can keep your crafts in the living room - just choose a storage solution that can camouflage supplies, and ties in with your decor
via Easy Living


Images via Briger and Briger

Image via Sunset Magazine

Solutions for a small kitchen

Not enough space? same here. First things first however, edit what you own! I know I'm guilty of having and hanging on to things that I don't really use or need. One thing that has really tamed that vice in me is moving every year. I would sell or donate more and more of my possessions with each move, because I was tired of all the boxes! I can't recall a time when I said to myself, "gee, I wish I hadn't gotten rid of that!" Regardless, sometimes your apartment or house still doesn't have enough square footage for even the most stringent minimalist. This week I'm going to focus on kitchens, where maintaining an organization system, once you have it in place, is crucial. Hopefully, these images will provide some solutions!


Magnetic strips are my best friend. And mount everything you possibly can, i.e., the dustbuster is mounted as opposed to taking up precious surface real estate.

Clear boxes, like these from muji, are really important at keeping cupboard chaos at bay. I hate having everything tumbling out while I'm searching. Stackable containers are great too.

Use the insides of doors too. This shelving system looks custom, but I utilized this idea myself. I bought some simple wire spice racks from Bed Bath & Beyond, mounted them inside my pantry door, and now I have a great way to organize my smaller jars and cans, and I don't have to dig around for them.

The skinny vertical bookshelves are really starting to grow on me, and the owner's of this kitchen used one to take advantage of even the smallest bit of wall space.

An organization system like this one can be found at Ikea, or other organization stores.

hmmm... love this kitchen rack, but I would need way more bottle mounts.

My all-time favorite kitchen organizing idea, made famous by Julia Child. So great!

Excellent use of space, and it's pretty too!

Look! No space went unused - a shelf in front of the window.

Images via my Flickr photostream