idea notebook
From Closet to Office Give an overlooked storage spot a major makeover in one weekend with these savvy ideas.
Coat the inside of clear storage bins with white spray paint for a subtly frosted finish.
PHOTOGR APHS BY (AFTER) MICHAEL PARTENIO; STYLING BY K ARIN LIDBECK-BRENT. OPPOSITE: (RUG) BEN GOLDSTEIN/STUDIO D.
Think you don’t have enough space for a home office? Then take a gander at the before-and-after photos on these pages. With a little time and a few low-cost finds, we transformed the cluttered two- by six-foot closet below into a functional workspace blooming with inspiration. Luxurious design choices—floral wallpaper, a beaded chandelier—make the small nook feel like a full-fledged room, while smart storage solutions maximize every square inch. Pretty accessories complete the look, turning this closed-door disaster into a sweet space worth showcasing. —JOURDAN CROUCH
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Open the page! Lift this flap for the “after,” plus how we pulled it off.
60 . COUNTRYLIVING .C OM . March 2010
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Eight steps to a glam little workspace 1. Wallpaper Our first, and most important, move: covering the walls in a lush botanical print that takes this space from closet to destination. ($60 per roll; grahambrown.com)
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2. Shelves Avoid the visual clutter of brackets and other clunky hardware with floating planks; they don’t overwhelm the tiny room—or obscure too much of the gorgeous wallpaper! ($19.99 each; 10⁄1 4 "W x 43⁄1 4 "L; ikea.com)
3. Organizers Why buy humdrum office supplies when storage boxes come in pretty prints, and you can use almost any vessel (cups, vases, trophies) to corral pencils, paper clips, and the like? (Boxes, $89 for three; indiarose.com. Trophy, $62; shoptwine.com)
8. Doors That Do Double-Duty
5. Lighting A dainty chandelier delivers more elegance than the usual overhead fixtures, while a desk lamp offers practical task lighting. (Chandelier, $276; mauradaniel.com. Lamp, $79; pbteen.com)
6. Chair This wickerand-metal design combines feminine style with practical function: Thanks to casters and an adjustable seat, it slides easily under the desk when not in use. ($89.99; ikea.com)
To keep odds and ends from hogging your desktop, take advantage of Benjamin Moore’s At Sea unused space on ($18.43 per the inside of the quart; myperfect closet’s doors. color.com) Cut pegboard ($28.99 for a 2'W x 4'L sheet and 36piece hook set; homedepot .com) and cork ($16.99 for a 2'W x 3'L sheet; shop .hobbylobby.com) to your desired dimensions. Screw the pegboard and cork into place, and frame with wood trim (68 cents per foot; homedepot.com). The final step: Paint the inner doors.
7. Rug Provide a soft spot for bare feet—and a bit of personality to the adjacent hallway—with a cheerful floor covering. ($95; 4' W x 6'L ; dashandalbert.com)
4. Our Recipe for a Custom Desk—That Costs Less Than $365! 6
+ Start with two standard metal file cabinets. ($79.99 each; 26 11⁄16"H x 14⁄1 4 " W x 18"D; staples.com)
+ Attach a wheeled stand to the base of each cabinet to make moving your desk a breeze. ($24.99 each; staples.com)
+ Brighten up your mobile file cabinets with long-wearing indoor/outdoor spray paint. (Krylon’s Catalina Mist, $4.29; buyaurapaint.com)
Position a ready-made melamine desktop on the two file cabinets, and voilà—you’re ready to roll. ($149; 24"W x 54"L; the containerstore.com)
7 SEE SHOP GUIDE, page 130, to learn more about the accessories that give this home office its good looks.