Green in Home Office

So here’s what the home office area in the living room used to look like. You can’t tell in this photo but at the far end of the desk there’s a window. Mini and Bonus love sitting on that window sill and to get to it they used my desk as their walkway. It meant I constantly had to wipe the desk top. Like every time I wanted to use my computer mouse I had to wipe first or there would be dirt stuck underneath or pet hair obstacles for the mouse to overcome. It got old after a while and I even had feather duster next to me in the end. So I figured I’d try to rearrange things so Mini and Bonus wouldn’t be as tempted to use my desk.

 

I  figured that placing the desk against the wall would keep it furthest away from the window. There is a bit of glare from the window onto the computer screen but it’s not as bad as I expected and less bad than other placements I tried first.

 

After I removed what was on that wall I realized that not only were there holes from what was hanging there before but also from before before if you know what I mean. So I filled those to get a blank canvas.

 

I took inventory of the paints I had at hand and decided to go for the green I used on this unsuccessful project. There wasn’t nearly enough for a whole wall so I taped out an area using a level, pencil and masking tape. This very same wall actually saw similar action when I used the space as my bedroom after we moved in.

 

 

Here’s the first coat…

 

 

… and here’s the second coat on with the tape removed and a picture ledge up. It was one I had left over and it fit nicely in that spot.

 

I added some knick knacks that were on the cube shelves previously and made a new screen saver using old photos from when Wille was a toddler. The wall “behind” the green reads a little off white in these shots but is actually pure white. I took the photos in the evening and had a bit if a white balancing issue there.

And did it keep Mini and Bonus off the desk? Yes! Mission accomplished. Also it opened up the whole living room nicely and Mini has here new favorite spot in front of the window as shown here. Success!

Ps. In case you're wondering the color code for the paint is NCS S3050-G10Y but I did add a tiny bit of white to it to last me longer.

Pps. The cat bed is by Whiskas. They don't make them any longer. I got ours at Ebay. Try doing a "Whiskas cat bed" search there if you want one.

Comments

[Claire/Just a little less]

Love the picture ledge it makes the area so intimate :)

[ideenpurzelbäume]

einen wundervollen Platz hast Du erschaffen ♥♥♥
wunderschön !
LG Petra

[Judith]

Nice! Sharp and fresh and very Benita :)

[mel]

Oh wow, I was just looking at that exact desk setup for my 12 year old DS at IKEA this last weekend. I love it, especially with the green and little white shelf, I liked those legs in the shop but seeing them in your setup I am sold. :)

[Amycapdet/May]

Now there's a lot of useful things on the table and yet it looks nice and uncluttered. That's so you! Love that green and how easily it frames the office spot. So neat!
PS. Your Ps and Pss made me smile ;)

[Jen'isère]

With all of your interesting rearraging, where is your bed now?

[Carlos]

Jen'isère - It's downstairs: http://www.chezlarsson.com/myblog/2012/08/bedroom-update.html

[Anna]

I love your unfussy approach to decoration, and how it always ends looking clean and easy in the eyes.
Benita = unpretentious chic.

[Sophia]

Ha ha, Pablo is so cute next to the striped cat! Is it him or Dali who was obsessed with cats?

[Carlos]

Sophia - Not sure. I know Andy Warhol did a whole series of cute cats though :)

[E]

är inte det här från dig?

http://pleasebemyhouse.tumblr.com/post/49193054614/cute-idea#notes

[Ola]

Cat's bed is great :)

[Anne]

Tvärtom fast mycket bättre som Puh skulle sagt!

[Carlos]

E- Yes, från gamla huset. Har dock inte kvar kaninen :).

[jja]

I like this change! And the white lamp. And the white holder for knick knacks on your table. Where did you get it from?
My cats also use my desk for jumping to the windowsill.
Is your desk really stable to work on with?
And where did you get that transparent mat under your keyboard?
Thank you!

[Carlos]

jja- The porcelaine tray came from a flea market, the desk IS table to work at and the transparent mat came from IKEA.

[Polly]

This looks really fab, well done!

[Bridget]

I adore how simple this is but how much of a statement it makes. So smart, so cute, and it's not very expensive, either. Love it!

[jane]

Love the green...I did get a similar cat bed here after seeing yours at this site...they get them instock frequently http://fab.com/inspiration/mint-pei-pod-with-yellow-cushion

[molly h]

love it. reminds me of the old green chalkboards at the elementary school i attended.

[Lisa]

I love the new set up! What a great idea with the color block--perfect for someone like me who is afraid of doing a whole wall in such a bold color!

[C.E.R.]

LOVE this, Benita! I've been known to do something similar behind framed prints for a little something extra!

[Hallie]

looks AWESOME!!

[gillian]

Hi Benita,

I usually LOVE what you do but this time, I am not keen on 'the facing the wall' office space. It is not good karma to have your back to the window.

[Hxx]

Glad Pablo got a good seat!

[Juliane at Modern Mural]

So lovely! The green+white color scheme is so clean and bright. The green in front of your desk is perfectly sized.

[Annika]

It looks great!

[Lynne]

Looks great and so uncluttered ! My desk set up is marred by visible cables from printer, two external harddrives, speakers, and a multi USB port. How do you hide your cables?

[Carlos]

Lynne - There's just a single cable from the iMac running under the desk and down along the leg of the table to the oulet and ome from the lamp also running along the leg. Gotta love Macs for that reason alone!

[Carlos]

Gillian - I'm not bothered about karma or Feng Shui or any of that type of thing, I just go with what feels good and works for me.

[Leena]

First I did not like the table against the wall but with the green paint and the picture ledge it looks really good!

[Christine chatelain]

Hi Benita,

First of all .i will Way , iMovie your Blog.
I m a French Woman living in Germany.
I Would like to ASK you where do you buy your desktable and is that a Eames chair ?

Thanks
Christine

[Carlos]

The desk is from IKEA and the chair is a faux Tulip Saarinen chair.

[Gladys]

As you are used to say "I la la love it". ;-)

[Gül]

so SMART! Loved that!

[Dana from CT]

Day late on this but I just saw a similar cat bed for those that are interested:
http://fab.com/sale/21699/product/102622/?ref=sr-p33

Love the green Benita!

[Lyndsey]

great working space! I just bought the same desk, and am so excited to use it. Could you share where your file cabinet under the desk is from? thanks!

[Carlos]

Lyndsey - The drawer unit is also from IKEA, it's the Helmer http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40107872/#/10251045

[E.]

I admire and like the way you use blocks of painted color to define a space. It is something I have seen written about but you actually do it very successfully. I tend to use art or objects (for example, in the analogous place over my desk I have a ribbon board). But a block of color really pops and it's easy to change.

[Jeanette]

I have read your blog a long time now and get really inspired by it. I love the New York skyline on the shelf. Am in NY right now and would like to buy one so I hope for a quick answer.

[Carlos]

Jeanette - I'm not 100% sure where I got it as I've had it for a few years. I think it was at the Moma gift shop. Hope you find it!