Office After Photos

I had picked a paint color in Florida for the office, but after seeing it on the walls, it was too orange. Fortunately, this second color appealed to me - a match for Benjamin Moore's Honeymoon.

I'm not sure why I decided to go with wood tone blinds in this room. It just felt right and I do like them. They are a nice tie-in to the color of the bookcases, though I'm sure white would have worked well too.

My desk and chair were bargains beyond belief. I found the chair for $16 at a second-hand furniture store and the desk for $65 at Salvation Army. I marveled at the fact that I was able to find a gold chair and a desk with gold leather inserts when I had gold walls.

Besides the gold leather insets in the top, the desk is all solid wood and in fabulous condition with only the tiniest of nicks here and there. I suspect it is cherry, with the interior of the drawers solid oak.

I had already purchased on sale a cottage style cheapo desk at Office Depot - it was cute, but today's cheap construction. When I found this, it was much less expensive and much higher quality so I returned the other. Normally I wouldn't buy a piece of this style, but it was too good to pass up and in the end, I love it.

The day I found the desk, I was making a quick see-if-there-is-anything-new run through the Salvation Army that is about 2 miles from the house. I spotted the desk, but found no price. I immediately made physical contact with it to establish squatter's rights. A man came by who was obviously interested also and politely asked how much. I said, "no price." He offered to go up to the cashier and ask, whereupon a supervisor appeared, opened drawers, doors and did a general survey. $65! To which I immediately said "sold!" The helpful man flashed a smile and clicked his fingers in a "darn, I lost out" motion.

I got the brand new 5x8 gold rag rug on ebay for $40.

My first-ever recliner is by Lane and was found at Habitat for $150. It's in excellent condition and no cracks in the leather. I plan to add a floor lamp next to the leather recliner. The kilm throw pillow I've had for years.

See the little shaded night light? I picked up 5 of them in new condition and various colors at an auction for $12.50. So far I've already used 3.

The elegant looking valances were picked up for about $18 at Walmart!

These are the two bookcases that came with the living room armoire. In the photo, they are not yet pushed against the wall since the painter still had to do some things there. I loved that there are lights in the top. I hope to find a storage piece to put between them.

Hmmm, I wish I would have hung those valances so the window frame showed at the top. It would have meant hanging them below the level of the blinds because of the valance header. Is it worth making new holes that have to be filled? Next question, there are matching cafe curtains. Should I or shouldn't I?

The mantel is still in a state of development. The silk orchid was from a thrift store for $4, the clock (a pitted, old-looking, rusty metal) was $10 at Ross, the candle holders were from my garage and the turned wooden decorations were $3-6 a piece on sale at Hobby Lobby. A mirror I've had for years, but is not being used will go over the mantel, but it will have to wait until my next trip since it wouldn't fit in the van.