Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Curated Corners: A Fresh New Light & Art Filled Office Before and After- for $0.00


After clearing out some furniture via Craigslist, Eureka, inspiration struck! I stopped everything to re-arrange and ended up with my favorite workspace to date. I work from home for hours at a time but ridiculously enough, never thought to expand myself beyond one corner until recently! Now I feel fresh and inspired, full of ideas! Best part, I didn't spend a cent. I used only the flea market finds, art from my personal collection, thrifted things, and stuff I've made to add function and character. Let me show you around my new headquarters:


On the far-right corner art-wise we have my often-coveted dinosaur art print from the flea market, two Junko Mizuno art prints from a magazine ("DIY" post on that here); the colors really match the dinosaur print's, and my beautiful framed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animation cell. The magazine racks are from IKEA. They're holding my Whole Living/Vegan, Art/Design, Travel Magazines and some favorite comics books. (Transformers of course.) The framed Transformers "art" and matching push-pins I made from it are in this DIY post.

Cube Unit: Gift, Cork Board: DIY here Typewriter: Family Heirloom. Lamp: Second-hand find

On the right-hand corner we a cube shelf unit hosting inspiration/research tomes, another run-off gift from mom, my iconic much-coveted lamp, typewriter from mom's childhood and more local art. The award-thing is a 1st place college photography trophy.


There are two prints by Robert Land in that corner, the Loss Zaat is an exclusive numbered print from my favorite local theater, Sunray Cinema. The gorgeous robot is from an art jam session. (Game board shelf DIY here.)

Typewriter Table: $3, Flea Market Mod Side Table: Free, Curbside IKEA Magazine Racks: Gifted

I have my record collection in the little mid century modern side table, it was a lucky curbside find that needs some TLC. I hope to host a record player on the table top in the future so I can listen to my favorite records (Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, Jackson 5, and assorted Disco and Soul classics of course) while I work. Any recommendations for good, small record players? It's a happy coincidence that the silver on my industrial typewriter table matches the gifted IKEA magazine holders.


My large expedit unit mirrors the cube unit in the left corner. The boxes host mugs and such that haven't made it into my Southern Crossing Antique Mall booth. Some of these books are for sale in my Etsy shop, but most will be scanned and sold as part a vintage ephemera line I'm working on.


Rope Jar DIY here. Tanuki from a 100-Yen Store in Japan (see my 100-yen store haul). I won the Mid Century Modern Kokeshi in a TasteMakers giveaway and the little Soundwave Transformer is a rare unused eraser from my favorite pop culture flea market vendor. The Tanuki hosts thumbtacks and nails because I'm forever re-arranging things!


I love that it only took some creative re-arranging to land at a happy new work space. I didn't end up having to spend massive bank on wood for custom shelves like I'd originally planned. It's not perfect. I could use an attractive packing station; boxes for and merchandise are living in my bedroom closet to minimize visual clutter, but overall it's been lovely working in a well balanced space surrounded by my favorite things. It's inspiring.


And of course there's always a beautiful Yuko cat burning a hole into you with her olive eyes, begging for her feed.

(Check out my DIY game board push pin tutorial up today as well. )

What do you need for a functional workspace? No matter where I've worked I've got to have lots of stimulating art and color.
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22 comments:

  1. Looks awesome! I love all the natural light. It looks like it would be a much more productive space for creative stuff!

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    1. The natural-light is just amaaaazing in here. So bright it's hard to take photos of the place actually ;D Thanks Michelle. Very fun space to work in.

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  2. It is just beautiful, and very inspiring!

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    1. Thank you! I love working in here! Wish the photos weren't so inconsistent but that sun with 4 windows, it's tricky ;D

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  3. It's amazing what a big difference you made with the same space, same items. Very nice. I NEED light when I work. I like thunderstorms but hate working in a dark room. I need better lighting in my workroom for those days. I crave more organization. You would faint if I showed you my workroom. I wish you lived closer. I'd invite you over for some help. I'd even make you a vegan lunch. Or try.

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    1. I so would, too :D Lighting is sooo helpful, and I'm working on better organization systems all the time. They'll be detailed in my business eBook when that finally comes out, haha.

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  4. Well done! It looks less sterile, much more creatively inviting. Its amazing the transformations that can occur with just stuff you already have.

    Yuko is so darn cute!! She should get together with my white cat, Mr Scampers. They'd make an awesome couple :)

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    1. They would, our cats are twins :D And yep, sooo much better in here now, dunno how I left it sterile for so long. Guess you have to wait for the muse to strike sometimes.

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  5. Looks great, Van! Overall, it feels like a more inspiring, creative space than how it was before.

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  6. Fabulous job, my friend! Even though you have expanded your space, it has an appearance of taking up less space. You will never ever see a picture of my work space....your head would explode! The main computer I use, also is the family computer. So the kids are there quite a bit, so there are popsicle sticks, legos, snack wrappers, homework papers, water bottles etc...in addition to my general disorganization. Also, I have a crappy back, so if my back is particularly bad one any given day, I just leave crap all over the place, and get to it when my back is better (after chiropractor visit)....Maybe I will send you a pic on your birthday or something. But if your head explodes, I wont clean up brain particles and gut splatters. Just saying...Your work space is lovely, you should be super proud of your organization skills and spacial planning!

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    1. I can't imagine keeping it all neat with kids, too. Gah! Tricky enough to keep on top of it all without 'em. :D

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  7. decluttering does wonders, love your new space! i've been gearing up (mainly mentally) for a big declutter-rejig of our apartment since feb, but the big moves still awaiting to happen... hopefully we will manage it before baby comes. yuko is such a beautiful creature, by the way!

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    1. Good luck on your declutter-rejig. She is s thing of beauty, it belies her cautious/anti-social nature. Gotta get her to act normal around guests! haha

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  8. Very nice change!! And I agree-- love the light you have there. I think it's better than my house. Good to see Miss Kitty this morning too.

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    1. Thanks. Lucky to find this roomy, light-filled apartment.

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  9. It's wonderful. Really, it is! So roomy. & inviting.

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    1. Thank you Rebecca, I definitely feel more inspired here. And no longer ashamed to bring people over, it's random guy approved right now ;) bwahaha

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  10. Your office looks amazing! Great job!

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