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The Workroom, Ready to Work!

I spent the first half of this week digging through still mostly-packed moving boxes of shop supplies, juggling baskets, bins and lists, fluffing and re-fluffing things, and now? The studio workroom is done! The very first, very, very done room in this whole house.

Let’s go!

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This small room was a former bedroom of the second floor apartment, and after installing a new window (the previous window had been taped off with plastic for years, and as a result, was foggy, cracked and useless), we had ourselves a blank slate. Fresh paint and baseboards gave this nook a fresh start – in addition to having the contractors square off the doorway last fall – and our goal was to keep it feeling bright, fun. I love it so, so much:

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The workroom is, simply, a glorified packing and shipping room. (It’ll also double as a bonus room for wrapping gifts, trimming labels and storing office stock!) Remember our paper pipes? They’re hung within reach of the counter, which’ll allow me to speed up the shop shipping – which, quite honestly, is one of the most daunting tasks of my work week.

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And this rug! I have been absolutely obsessed with dark floral prints for some time now, and I’d been lusting after this one for far too long. As much as I wanted it to work, I didn’t want it to overwhelm the room, and none of the sizes available felt like a good fit – both literally and figuratively. With the space being barely a 7′ box, I opted for Lulu & Georgia’s pretty Rosie rug which came in a pint-sized 3’x5′. (While I would’ve loved nothing more than to purchase the 8’x10′ for the main studio space, it wouldn’t have been the best financial move with so many unfinished projects on our plate right now. Boo adulthood.)

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You’ve already seen that I layered art along the top of our salvaged wood shelves, but the opposite wall needed something, too. I opted for something larger to avoid clutter (my worst enemy!), going with this bison print from Sandra Dieckmann (which had a former life in the studio of yore). Not wanting to waste one of our favorite prints on a small wall in a small room, Scott and I agreed that catching a glimpse of it coming up the stairs felt right; yup, it draws you in (or so one would say).

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The perfectly gaudy gold light fixture was picked up at Rebuilding Exchange, and I waffled for far too long on its wood finish. To paint? Or not to paint? In the end, I figured that my indecisiveness was a sign to let it be, and I’m happy I did! We lengthened the chain with a lamp kit, allowing it to swing into the center of the room off of the very un-centered junction box.

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Finalizing this room was such a huge step for us!* Not only will it completely change my workflow for the better, but checking off one entire room gives us that boost that, hey, we’re really getting somewhere! It’s so easy to dwell on the unfinished – the baseboards, the patchy kitchen, the old bathrooms and closet-less bedroom, to, um, name a few – and we often have to remind ourselves how far this home has come since last summer.

The workroom came together in manageable chunks over the course of March (and a baby bit of April), and you can check out each step by clicking on any of the sources below (and if you’re using a Reader, you may need to click over to view):

I consider myself a very lucky girl to have this dedicated space, and yes, it was an absolutely intentional decision to have a ‘bonus’ room during last year’s house hunt. Anyone with an in-home product based business can probably agree that the shipping mess can feel frustrating at best, but can I just say that I’m looking forward to packing my portraits this week? Ooh, bold words.

*Okay, if we’re splitting hairs, we still need to pick up a plant caddy to protect the hardwood floor. Thank you to Lyndsey and Nina for that tip! Green thumbs, we are not.

And PS… if anyone in the Chicagoland is interested in the former painting/shipping table, shoot me an email!

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  • angela4.3.14 - 7:24 AM

    Everything came together so well! LOVE the rug & light fixture especially. Plus all the light is fantastic.

    Angela @ Number Fifty-ThreeReplyCancel

    • Kim4.3.14 - 11:43 AM

      Thank you! I’m so glad I decided not to paint the light fixture.ReplyCancel

  • Kelly Goldman4.3.14 - 7:43 AM

    This space is awesome… and the light fixture is PERFECT. Nice job!ReplyCancel

  • Emma4.3.14 - 7:54 AM

    Love! That light fixture is perfect too. Well done!ReplyCancel

  • Shannon4.3.14 - 7:59 AM

    I absolutely LOVE how this space evolved! Looks fabulous!ReplyCancel

  • Katie4.3.14 - 8:01 AM

    I want to live in your workroom!ReplyCancel

    • Kim4.3.14 - 11:42 AM

      Me too! Just to soak it up for a while before I re-enter the rest of the house!ReplyCancel

  • I’d LIVE in that little room. So perfect. I can barely pick a favorite part but the close up of that rug made my heart skip a beat. Ooooh yes.ReplyCancel

  • Laura @ Rather Square4.3.14 - 8:52 AM

    I really like how this room is utilitarian AND pretty. It seems like the perfect little space to do your packing and shipping, with everything close at hand and – bonus – nice to look at while you’re working. The rug is a great pop of color and pattern for the small footprint too. (And if I had room for it in my house, I’d take the old table off your hands!)ReplyCancel

  • misie4.3.14 - 9:26 AM

    love.everything.ReplyCancel

  • karen4.3.14 - 10:42 AM

    Ablsolutely gorgeous! I love the rug and the gold accents.ReplyCancel

  • Julia@Cukoo4Design4.3.14 - 12:13 PM

    Perfection! I wish I’d have an area like this in my homeReplyCancel

  • Sarah4.3.14 - 12:17 PM

    Beautiful job. I’m so jealous of that table, and the gold accents everywhere are perfect! I have one weird thought that could help you out if you find that you often have to stand there for more than a few minutes at a time – sneak one of those cushy floor mats (they’re about $20 at Costco) under your beautiful rug. They’re usually super ugly, but if it works to have them under a rug (I’ve never actually tried it) then you won’t have to look at it and your back wont ache, so shipping will be less of a painful process.ReplyCancel

    • Kim4.3.14 - 12:32 PM

      That’s a great idea! Our friends have one of those in their kitchen, and I LOVE standing it. It’s funny how something so small can make such a huge difference in comfort. Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Cait4.3.14 - 12:39 PM

    Love how everything came together!

    I know it’s pretty pricy as an 8×10 (well, 7’6″x9’6″), but I think the Workroom’s 3×5 Rosie rug would relate well to the nuLOOM Kilam Floral, if you opted for that one in the studio. Or maybe that’s almost too matchy-matchy?ReplyCancel

    • Kim4.3.14 - 1:11 PM

      I did think of that… but you’re right. I worry it’s too matchy. That’s not to say it’s still not an option though!ReplyCancel

      • Cait4.3.14 - 1:44 PM

        Committing to a rug is hard! Or maybe my problem is that I have too many rugs I like, not enough money, and I can’t pick which room they should live in? Boo adulthood indeed. I think my temporary solution is to swap three rugs we already own around, but I’m one rug short and can’t decide on the perfect golden-yellow rug for the master.

        I’m sure you’ll find the perfect option for the studio when the time comes!ReplyCancel

  • What a happy space! I really love the rug. It’s such a great mix of girly and modern.ReplyCancel

  • You guys have done an awesome job on this little room! A sign of great things to come for the whole house :)ReplyCancel

  • I LOVE that light fixture!ReplyCancel

  • Marie4.3.14 - 5:18 PM

    So so happy for you, your working space is absolutely fabulous. And the size of the rug is perfect as it allows some room for your great plant and the hardwood floor can be seen too. It gives an impression of space, really great job.ReplyCancel

  • erica4.3.14 - 8:50 PM

    Gorgeous! Love every detail!ReplyCancel

  • […] new studio workroom looks like a happy place to prepare orders. And pink, […]ReplyCancel

  • Kerri4.4.14 - 3:09 PM

    what a great use of space. you’ve really utilized all the space for the best function!ReplyCancel

  • Trude4.4.14 - 5:52 PM

    It looks gorgeous! It must make it so much easier to get that part of the process out of the way. :)ReplyCancel

  • Lynn4.4.14 - 11:33 PM

    This looks absolutely amazing! Love, love, LOVE the way it turned out! Doesn’t it feel good to be able to check off an entire room? Can’t wait to see how the rest of the house shakes out. Question … where did you find the white wire baskets? I’ve been looking for something like that. Thanks in advance!ReplyCancel

    • Kim4.5.14 - 6:01 PM

      Lynn, thanks! Those are actually Elfa drawers from the Container Store! They were a perfect fit.ReplyCancel

  • Amanda4.5.14 - 4:09 PM

    This room looks so lovely! It came together really well! I wish I had a room like this just to do gift wrapping and crafts. Haha! I love love love the light fixture! Glad you kept it normal.ReplyCancel

    • Amanda4.5.14 - 4:09 PM

      Oh PS: please tell us the story on those teacup succulents! They are adorable and I want to create them!ReplyCancel

      • Kim4.5.14 - 6:02 PM

        Thank you! Do you mean the banana plants? We picked up those planters from a flea market last year :)ReplyCancel

  • Looks amazing, I can understand your excitement! I am about to tackle my own workroom and have been looking at storage benches. Too bad in Australia the same $378 bench costs $999! Seriously!ReplyCancel

  • Jodi4.14.14 - 10:41 AM

    it looks fantastic!! and i LOVE that rug.ReplyCancel

  • […] baskets keep everything in plain sight and easily accessible via Yellow Brick Home  (Other wire basket options […]ReplyCancel

  • | BHG Style Spotters2.26.15 - 8:05 PM

    […] (via) […]ReplyCancel

  • Sara4.21.15 - 5:47 PM

    Love the pipe holders for your tissue paper! They look fantastic and I’m wondering how they function since they kind of overlap each other. Any issues with grabbing one sheet of paper and having more want to come with it, or having an entire stack slip off the pipe? Thanks! :)ReplyCancel

    • Kim4.21.15 - 6:11 PM

      Thanks! I use the front pipe about every other day, and I put rarely used paper on the top (back) pipe. In my case, it’s super easy to pull from the lower (front) pipe for tissue paper, and if I need specialty paper from behind, I do have to be a little more careful. I’d recommend the same for anyone wanting to replicate this!ReplyCancel

  • […] credits: The Glitter Guide, Yellow Brick Home, The Everygirl, Esla Events office In Rue Magazine, photography by Jessica Burke, Camille […]ReplyCancel

  • Caitlin12.1.15 - 1:57 PM

    I package and ship out all of the OTAT merchandise and this room is my DREAM!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Tracy12.5.16 - 9:58 AM

    I know it’s been 2 years or more but where did you get your work table from? It’s awesome!ReplyCancel

  • […] Yellowbrickhome.com […]ReplyCancel

  • Krystal Rosado3.21.17 - 12:29 PM

    Hello! Where did you get your new shipping table? We’re look for something like that!!ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.21.17 - 12:33 PM

      Hi Krystal, the table is from IKEA, although they sadly no longer sell that model!ReplyCancel

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We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

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