How I Added a Little Modern to My Home Office

I recently decided I needed to make a few changes in my office.  I can’t say this is anything unusual for me, especially because I am organizationally-impaired.  My office and my prop room are the two most difficult areas of my home to keep looking sharp, because they both require constant reorganization.

feminine home office details

 wire tiered basket from Home Goods

It’s been two years since I got this room really organized.  So I decided now was the time to change up a few things and make the room lighter and brighter by removing the curtains that have hung in this room since it was a nursery for my kids, along with the large bound rug that’s been in there for 13 years.  I pulled the curtains and rug out, which instantly made the room so much bigger.  Then I decided I needed a little bit of modern in my oh-so-vintage space.  So I ordered two of these:

modern chair

 ???

Can you tell what I bought?  I put them together myself!  But then I had to get Lego Allen to put them together correctly.  Oh, Lego Allen works for Mr. Man.  My kids call him that because he looks just like this guy:

lego allen

Say hello to Lego Allen

 

 

Allen is awesome about helping me out when Mr. Man is too busy.  Recently he helped me carry home a new piece of furniture for my dining room from an estate sale – Mr. Man didn’t even notice it for days.  So now the very cool pair of Baxton Studio Florenza plastic armchairs are in my home office:

baxton plastic chairs

Baxton Studio Florenza Chair

There’s one on either side of my desk.  This is the view upon entry into the office now:

retro home office

my home office

These chairs add a retro modern element to my very girly home office.  They are made of molded plastic, but are surprisingly comfortable.  And they were quite a bargain at $158 for the pair.

pink princess phone

still girly

My pink princess phone doesn’t currently work, but I’m going to ask Mr. Man to get it functional for Mother’s Day.  Which may mean that Lego Allen is going to fix it.

magazine rack

wire magazine rack – yard sale find

And I’m pretty happy with the new, fresh rendition of my home office.  Oh, and Lego Allen hung that chandelier for me, too!

feminine retro home office

home office

And I still have room for a cozy chair under the window, where I can curl up and read my design magazines and books.

retro office

20 Comments

  1. Jen C.

    I love it! And, by the way, if those fab chairs come up missing after cooking club next week, there’s no way I’m the one who took them. 😉

    Reply
  2. Beth

    I have the exact same challenges – my office, which never stays organized for very long, and of course my tons of accessories. Actually my assistant is coming over soon to re-organize……again, and pull for a vacant staging job. Your office has so much character, though. So cool.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Thanks, Beth. It’s an never-ending struggle (the staying organized part). I find that I do better with organization if it looks “pretty.” 😉

      Reply
  3. Lex

    I really dig those chairs in there! Nice juxtaposition to keep it feeling fresh.

    Reply
  4. Celia

    Can I borrow Lego Allen? Nice new updates!

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Haha, Celia!!! He’s pretty busy right now . . .

      Reply
  5. Shirley B.

    I miss the days when Lego Allen lived at home and would do things like that for me. So glad to see that you are putting him to good use! 🙂 ~ Lego Allen’s mom

    p.s. your girls are right….he looks just like Lego Allen. Just need to add the hat!

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Hahaha – We all love Lego Allen at our house, Shirley! And we love you, too 🙂

      Reply
      • Shirley B.

        Kristie, the feeling is mutual! 🙂

        Reply
        • Shirley B.

          By the way…your home is beautiful! Love what you have done to your office!

          Reply
  6. Linda

    Love the chairs… Such a pretty office too. I’m going to be working on mine this year as well. Organization is a constant battle since my space is so small. Fingers crossed one of my two kids moves out to I can move to a larger room.

    Reply
  7. Nicole Schmauder

    I love your home office. It is gorgeous and in a great command position for the desk as you enter the room. My only question is, “Where do you put all of your paper?” I see you have your “to read” setup with your magazine racks. Excellent! Where is your filing cabinet and your other action containers for paper like an inbox, bills, etc? Have you thought about creating an L-shaped desk using that extra wall space? If you use your laptop at your desk a lot, and L-shaped desk will give you the extra space to turn to your papers spread out. You might have to find a cute swivel chair though! I am a professional organizer and wish that I lived in the same town to organize your office and your prop room.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Wow, Nicole – I wish you lived here, too! The desk has 4 drawers that hold some paperwork, then I use the wire tiered stand for notebooks, fandecks, fabric samples. I have 2 closets in this room that I put shelves in all the way up – my kids use one of the closets for their school stuff, and I use the other to hold paint samples/pints, granite/quartz samples, and other related paraphenalia. My file system is practically nonexistent outside of my computer – I do keep client notes in my small notebooks and calendars. I pass on all the bills to Mr. Man – I don’t do accounting!!!

      Reply
  8. Jennifer Collins

    How do I get me a Lego Allen??? I have to wait for visits from Mr. Fix-It (my Dad). My Mr. Man means well but… hmhmmhmhmmm.
    I have a deep trestle table for my desk and when I moved it out from the wall (like you did) and was pleased with how much more use I get from the other half of it now that I can sit at both sides!
    Beautiful office, Kristie! Everyone should have an office that makes them happy to work.

    Reply
  9. Cindy

    Love the retro pink phone! What do your kids think of it?

    Reply
  10. Cornelia

    LOVE!!!!! Where did you find the rug? I love it!!

    Reply

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