enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

BEFORE

Beforephoto

AFTER

Afterphoto

Better right?

Here's what I realized : Before our "office" was a home office. Like the kind of place were you keep your computer and all your books. The place that you work in after you come home from your real job. Totally great. Except that this is my real job. Our home office needed to function as the place where our computers are stored but also as the place that I run a business out of. And for about $110 I made it do that.

I adore the new space.

BIG CHANGES :

  • bought a new peg board to hang ribbon, tools, stickers, packing tape and book cloth tape.
  • moved the tall bookcase that was filled with Paul's medicine books and my scrapbooks into our bedroom and it is now actually finishing off a extra nook we had in there nicely.
  • bought a new expedit bookcase from Ikea to take it's place.
  • bought six new storage boxes from Ikea.
  • moved my fiction/non-business books out of the horizontal bookshelf and into the closet (which became empty when I took out my sewing machine, fabric and baskets of minibooks)
  • moved the little white bookshelf over to my desk area and it now holds stuff that I need to keep within reach (mailing labels, stamps, notecards, pens, receipt box, etc.)

RESULTS :

  • SO MUCH MORE SPACE TO WORK
  • packing materials are not on the floor
  • boxes and storage cubbies for in-process projects (no more piles!)
  • better sorting and storage for my inventory and paper/envelope collection
  • easier to clean/organize and more space to grow
  • it feels so much more REAL a.k.a "this is my job space."

Office

The two bookshelves now hold almost all the "business" stuff. (You can click to enlarge and see what is what.) I filled in my pegboard a bit more and so far am loving the set up.

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On the other wall, my personal craft stuff is stored an Ikea kitchen island (I could not find a link) that I use as a desk. The boxes hold current projects (25 to do book, holiday book, fall book) as well as art supplies and rubber stamps. The three baskets on the bottom shelf hold my mini book collection.

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On top of the table is my new paper trimmer. I finally bought a "professional" paper cutter and I can't say enough good stuff about it. It was expensive, but worth it for the ridiculous amount of trimming I do.

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P and I still share a desk and a printer and that works out well. I added the little white bookshelf to the side to keep extra stuff within easy reach but not have it cluttering the table. The bulletin board right next to my computer is super helpful too.

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And that's that! Thanks for touring. Please let me know if you have any questions – I'll be answering them in the comments.

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64 responses to “office redo : complete.”

  1. Kate aka stinkydudette Avatar

    Love you new spacious space! I’m jealous cos I only have a teeny corner in the balcony – seeing I stay in a small apartment. chuckles Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  2. Kal Avatar

    Come do my studio!! I have 1000 sq ft!

    Like

  3. Johanna Avatar

    Ooh, thanks for the tour! I like how you share “big picture” and “detail” shots. Your box system is quite the inspiration to me, as I am currently in the process of finding homes for things after this office renovation revamp of ours, too. Same motivation … to make the space work as a REAL office for our new husband-and-wife design team business. Wow. That sounds big. Thanks again for sharing your space!

    Like

  4. susan Avatar

    Your studio space looks fantastic ! and I know I’ve learned the hard way (and honestly am still learning) that tidy + organized = happy + success. I’d love to know more about your favourite books (mini reviews perhaps), fav tools etc … I’m on such a tight budget, always, I do hesitate t buy books and I live in a very rural area – no bookstores to browse in. Rock On!! Susan

    Like

  5. Shir Benovich Avatar

    Wow! Great change! Great inspiration!
    I need help organizing my craft area.

    Like

  6. Alexandra Avatar

    It looks AWESOME! That’s so exciting! It looks really, really great.
    My question is: What do you keep in your drawers of your desk?

    Like

  7. Melissa S. Avatar

    Your space looks amazing! All your hard work has really paid off.
    I have that same trimmer and love it. You won’t ever regret that purchase.

    Like

  8. Tanya Avatar
    Tanya

    Great work space! I am sure that working is way more “fun” when you have a workspace that makes you happy and is set up and organized in a fashion that is conducive to the environment you hope to achieve. I love the set up. You used your space wisely. I do love that kitchen island idea for workspace. I might have to look into finding something similar!

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  9. Mandie Segura Avatar

    Looks awesome! I’m in need of something like this, but we’re traveling soon & then moving a week after we get back, so I’m planning on just waiting until we’re in the new place!

    Like

  10. Monika Wright Avatar

    Melissa S and Elise:
    I am looking to upgrade to a pro trimmer since I do quite a bit also. My husband recommended a different trimmer than what I see. Could you share the brand so that I could do a little research on it?
    Thanks…organization is fun for me, too and I get more accomplished when I walk into a clean, happy space, not a desk covered in remnants!
    Have fun and Craft On!

    Like

  11. jodi Avatar

    it looks so great!!! i bet it is a joy to go to work in there each day.

    Like

  12. Ingrid Aukan Avatar

    I must say. I stumbled across your blog last week, and you’ve already inspired me enourmously. Your adorable minis make everyday scrapbooking possible. Hooray.
    I love your space, too. I’m a student, so that whole an-entire-office-just-for-me-thing will have to wait, but I don’t mind. Some day. 😉 I recently organized the space I do work in, and it made the whole difference. Love it!

    Like

  13. Pamela Avatar
    Pamela

    Thanks so much for the tour! I especially love how you labelled the pictures of your shelves to let us know what’s inside 🙂

    Like

  14. Nadia Avatar

    I love your new “work” space. congrats on the new digs! ciao!

    Like

  15. Lauren Stennett Avatar

    Wow, that looks great, so inspiring!

    Like

  16. Sarah Marguerite Avatar

    I have finally given up trying to make my dining room a real dining room in my first apartment. Your studio inspires me to make it a functional and colorful craft space!

    Like

  17. Funnelcloud Rachel Avatar

    I love it! Now will you come organize my studio? Actually, I have a studio space (creative art projects & the home of my etsy shop) AND a home office space (where the computer is), so come to think of it, I have TWO spaces to set up!
    Our Thanksgiving weekend project is to actually build a bookshelf for my studio…we’ll see how that goes!

    Like

  18. bianca Avatar

    Reading this post genuinely made me happy. No really, totally happy and excited. I have forwarded it on to my husband as inspiration for my little workspace area. Amazing job and what an incredible budget!!!! I think my Christmas request for a “working” studio is not so far out of reach any more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Like

  19. twolittletots Avatar

    i love the after. what a great job and ikea is the best!

    Like

  20. Rebekah Avatar
    Rebekah

    great job and very inspiring. my craft area is in my walk through closet and is in serious need of excavating.
    i think the table is norden…
    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60045393

    Like

  21. elise blaha Avatar

    omgosh – dont tempt me. Ill plan a visit.

    Like

  22. elise blaha Avatar

    sounds like a good idea. Ill work on some posts for December. 🙂

    Like

  23. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! paper for personal projects, extra small embellishments, then random stuff like camera chargers.

    Like

  24. elise blaha Avatar

    Its a Rotatrim. I shared a link to the exact model in the body of the post. 🙂

    Like

  25. Jenn Avatar

    Looks amazing! I love that you’re using an IKEA island as a taller desk. What a great idea for a work table!

    Like

  26. Gabi Avatar

    Your working space looks AMAZING, Elise!! LOVE it.

    Like

  27. Uli Avatar

    Your “After” is amazing…
    Can you tell me, where you got this great “Thinking Cap” picture from?
    Thanks from Germany

    Like

  28. DianneT Avatar
    DianneT

    Wonderful job! You’ve inspired me, also!!

    Like

  29. Michelle Avatar

    What a fabulous, organized creative space! Thanks for sharing.

    Like

  30. Monika Wright Avatar

    Thanks Elise! As I reread the post, I see that you most certainly linked it up and happens also to be what my husband recommended! Sorry to be such a dork. Oh, and I plan to use some of the principles from your mini-album class in my December Daily! Thanks for always sharing good “stuff.”

    Like

  31. Mariangeles_Spain Avatar

    You’ve done such a great job!! TFS

    Like

  32. elise blaha Avatar

    glad you found it!

    Like

  33. Kal Barteski Avatar

    PS. So cool to see a couple of my little prints on your board. Your space looks awesome.

    Like

  34. elise blaha Avatar

    oh for sure. I love them.

    Like

  35. Stephenie Zamora Avatar

    It looks fabulous! You did a really great job… I am definitely going to utilize the peg board idea for my office’s art area! 🙂

    Like

  36. Carrie Rosalind Avatar

    Beautiful space! Congrats on making it perfect! 🙂 You’ve inspired me!

    Like

  37. Alison Avatar

    what a fantastic space elise! Love that you have made it functional – not just a space. isn’t that what a great room is all about, being functional not just pretty? I think that’s what we got lost up in most of the time!

    Like

  38. k. whalen Avatar

    looks SO great!! well done! im envious of all your space! 🙂

    Like

  39. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    What an inspiring space! Where did you find the white and orange storage boxes? They fit so perfectly, and come in various shapes it seems.
    Thanks for sharing with us 🙂

    Like

  40. Seaweedandraine Avatar

    SO much BETTER! Great Job. Want to come and make over my space? I have a corner of what has become the baby’s room, so most of my projects get done elsewhere! Love the Ikea kitchen island used as a desk too! 🙂

    Like

  41. Krystyn Avatar

    Absolutely wonderful…I am insanely jealous of those fantastic bookcases…wish I had more space for them. Looks great!!!

    Like

  42. Dominique Avatar

    Hi Elise, I’m from Chile and i LOVE your work, and seeing how organize your office is, i feel inspirated haha. Here we don’t have many or any scrap supplies and for a while i’ve reaaaaly wanted to start making books like yours but i haven’t found those rings here… could you tell me the english name for those? it’s binding rings? a friend is in USA and he will come for Christmas so i want him to buy my some, so i can start 🙂 and again, i really love your work, i’d buy you lots of things if it were easier but distance, problems haha take care

    Like

  43. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! the orange are from the container store and the white and green are from ikea.

    Like

  44. elise blaha Avatar

    i think binder rings or book rings would work. Tell your friend they are sold in packs of 100 at office depot for like $6.

    Like

  45. susan ku Avatar
    susan ku

    So bright, neat and organized! I love it and I love how it says YOU! I keep promising to take pictures of my space which I revamped this summer, but school has hit it like a whirlwind 🙂 Thanks for sharing your space and your inspiration. I love your blog!!!

    Like

  46. Jen Avatar

    Looks great! It’s been half a year since I bought my new desk and shelves for my office and I’m still working on it.
    I have the same expedit shelf but what I did was buy two desks that attach to it and had one of the shelves in the middle to hold up. The desks are huge!
    In fact the desk with your laptop on it looks like the expedit shelf. Anyway, enough rambling… nice job!

    Like

  47. Laura Avatar

    Love it! I’m trying to organize my craft space too (almost done!). My craft space has to share with bedroom space so it’s a bit of a juggling act to fit everything in!

    Like

  48. Kelly in Canada Avatar

    Hi Elise,
    Your room looks so organized and streamlined that it must be a joy to work in. I shudder to think of sharing photos of my little space in its current state. Anyway, my question is unrelated but I have heard so many good things about your mini book class that I find myself wondering if you plan to teach it again in the near future?
    Kelly

    Like

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