My studio/study/office was overdue for an overhaul, and last night, it finally got one.

You can see from the “before” photo below (SHOCK! I remembered to take a few!!!) that I had rigged up a desk using three card tables. This left a large gap behind the desk, and the tables bowed in. Ordinarily, I would have covered them with a tablecloth or three, but my kids have a habit of leaving their, um, residue on my desk when they visit, and I got tired of having to wash and rewash. The cords were unsightly, and there was just too much black for me to feel like it was really my space.

Last Thursday morning, I got up for the third day in a row, planning to do something about the mess that was my workspace. I took my energy into my kids’ room, chasing a diaper for Squiggy, and lost my footing on a piece of tulle, which severely bruised my tailbone, knocked my neck out of whack, and derailed all the plans I had for the day. (Moral of the story: Tulle and hardwood floor are a BAD combination.)

I gave up the idea, figuring I would just wait, but on Sunday, on a whim, I got up and hit Craigslist, just to see if I could find a new desk. The third desk I found in my price range and with my specifications turned out to be the same desk I owned in Virginia before we downsized for one of our moves.

I. was thrilled.

It arrived last night, and we let the kids stay up while we put it together. I half wish we’d video-taped the experience. Every time we moved one of the pieces, there were gasps and freaking from both parties. Pip sat down in my desk chair near the door and declared it “the worst idea we ever had,” all the while journaling about how we would “never do this again.” She also lectured her father about being nice to her after she was sent from the room for her lack of encouragement.

“God says you have to be NICE to me, Dad.”

ANYWAY.

I was already planning a studio reveal, but on the way home from chiro in this morning’s rain (Yay! My chiropractor fixed me!), I decided that I needed to work with the white light we get here on cloudy days. I channeled this plan into my reveal and put a “redesign” shoot together to give you a tour.

I decided to use the desk hutch as a low shelving unit, since it centered so well on the wall under the mirror I’d already installed.

I tend to keep my things in little arrangements around the house with very simple surroundings. These arrangements make great detail practice in different lighting, and they say a lot about who I am.

I have two windows in my office – a large one facing our street, and a smaller one facing our neighbors’ house. I think the small one offers the better view – and light. Mia, our crotchety fat cat, agrees.

I’m totally loving the new look, and while I hope at some point to have a real studio outside the home for client meetings and concentrated work, I’m glad to have a place to work for now.It just makes me smile.