Above is the street we live on …Palm Tree lined …I love it really. But we don’t actually own property here because we refused to buy when the market was inflated. However, it hasn’t bottomed out yet and here we still abide, almost 5 years later, in our tri-level condo in Sherman Oaks waiting for homes in LA to be listed for what they are worth …and they’re not quite there yet.
A couple weeks ago we decided that since it may be even longer than we anticipated and rentals are low right now that maybe we should just go find a house to rent for the next year or so while we wait. As we were browsing West Side Rentals we actually found the empty unit across from us, not 20 feet door to door, listed for almost $200 less than what we’re paying and it’s the exact layout but mirrored.
Husband called our landlord, who is amazing, and told her that we wanted to move into it …and I’ll spare you the details and get straight to the point.
We got our rent lowered the difference! Which makes the bird in unit 6 who screams what sounds like HELP!!!! and echos through the courtyard at 7am every morning . ..lunchtime …and evening …a little more tolerable.
So since I know we’ll be here for at least another year, I decided it was time to do a little spring cleaning to spruce up the place a bit.
Now, I’m going to be honest when I say that 1. The office never was decorated in the first place. It became the room where everything got thrown in when guests were on their way and I was in a frenzy to clean up downstairs. 2. Once I thought we were going to move, I cared less about keeping the house clean and the office became the junk room {kind of like the way I’ve felt about keeping my body in shape the past couple years as we were trying to get knocked up …2 years later, 5lbs extra, a saggy butt and no baby} …admittedly not the best tactic.
My side of the office …Before . . .
…horrendous. I can’t even believe I’m showing you actually …lol.
And… After
I found an old white bed skirt in the closet …ironed it the best I could, doubled it and used it to hide all my files and trash.
It’s not going to be featured in Architectural Digest or anything but it’s 100% better now and I have so much more work space.
1. “On the Way Up, On the Way Down” by Ciao Chessa
2. Gold sequined “M” by Love Shill {I also used it as a Christmas tree ornament here}
3. Leather water bottle cover …I made these for the Dixie Chicks 2000 – The Fly Tour. They wanted to cover the labels instead of pealing them off. I made so many different designs for them but I only have this one left that I kept for myself.
4. Dreaming figurine ~ gift from Alison
5. Silence and Noise ~ Photography Print by Leigh @ JKL Design
6. “NY at Night” by Kelly Ann Studio
7. My own work
8. Adorable crocheted turtle by Tiffany
9. Drop Dead Cute and Oh! My God I Miss You ~ Yoshitomo Nara postcards gifts from droll girl
10. “Live What You Love” by Hijirik Studio …love seeing this when I walk in now.
11. Free monthly calendars by Lisa Rupp
K.Line
Damn, I can’t see the photos. This is torture…
Maggie May
Great job! It’s much lighter and prettier too, and I love an organized room.
Lauren From Texas
I can’t see the pictures either! 🙁 I’ll keep trying. But i love the links to the cool stuff.
Alison
If I could bring myself to send you a pic of my bedroom… OH THE HORROR!!!
What is the furry pinkness on your chair?
I love it – its all light and happy. I am inspired to toss and make my son rearrange stuff…
thanks love
J-Diggety
“Horrendous” you say? I say “normal”… I will spare you pics of my apartment 😉
Encourages me to get busy with my own spring cleaning. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks, but then all I do is look at the mess and then go do something else. I love the results but HATE cleaning! 😛
~ J
Lauren From Texas
I can see it now! Looks fabulous. You’ve now motivated me to spruce up my workspace.
Sher
Now come on over and tackle my place? LOL!
Thanks for stopping by….
http://www.fashionafterforty.blogspot.com
Leigh
I also agree it is normal, no matter how much I try I just have so much stuff I need to find a home for and I am a pretty organized person. The office always gets the piles.
So cool to see my print up. You did an amazing job at getting the office organized. love it!!
Thank you Maegan 🙂 xoxo
bookmanie
I am a loyal subscriber of your blog, I would like to create a link to your wish site.Bookmanie post links to blogs anglophones. j’habite Nice in France and want to exchange ideas, communicate. A blog that is used to it at the base. Thanks for those who would have understood.
Cathy Voyage
Wow, what a difference!
Tiffany
love all your prints! (I have the live what you love one but not the one with the heart. I might need that one now!) and I think the eiffel tower one will look great in my office. Off to check out the links…
and thanks for the mention on my little turtle 🙂
Pamela
gooood work Maegan! nicee love it!
xxxx
drollgirl
love that your rent is now CHEAPER!!! i wish i could get cheaper rent from my cunt landlord!
and the office looks great. just fab! WELL DONE!!!
The Reality of Happily Ever After
FANTASTIC! The Mr. and I have been cleaning/organizing since we moved in and well… we’re getting there!
CONGRATS on getting your rent lowered $200! WOW!
Georgia B.
fabulous!
some day i’ll have my dream workspace. can’t wait!
Adventures in Newlywed
It looks great!
Manda
Why did you make bottle covers for the dixie chicks? random, but very cool! Office looks good 🙂
Diana
it looks awesome and you have a beautiful blogging area!!
Kristin
I’ve been thinking about buying a picture from Monica. I think I must. The office looks great! Wanna come over here and organize mine? Ah ha.
Jules
I can’t believe how much work you did! It looks great! I’m not even going to ask how long it took! But if you need another cleaning up job……
LC
Looks great! I like how you used the bed skirt to hide stuff. Now you’ve inspired me to do some much needed spring cleaning at my place.
down and out chic
go you, it looks soooo much better. great job (isn’t it a great feeling to have a space revamped like that?)
*~! megs !~*
looks awesome!
and i need that mannequin. i have been looking for one for years and can’t find one i like!!
kelly
thanks Maegan… this is very inspirational. I’ve been wanting to redo my office or i think finish what i started cuz i just lost all steam. the flow is so much better and sends out good vibes… maybe just maybe things will turn around for you..(regarding body/baby post)xoxoxo
Suzanne in TX
Great job–it looks wonderful. Don’t you feel even more creative when “your space” is so organized? I need to try to get mine done–thanks for the inspiration.
Michelle
I love the inspiration board!
AsianCajuns
This is so inspiring! Cath and I have been busy of late, and we’re getting ready to move into a new apartment- you’re post is making me so excited to redecorate and organzie- whoohoo! Hope you had an awesome weekend!
Yaya
Good job! And hey, you got your rent lowered and you don’t even have to go through the hassle of moving!
TheBeautyFile
WOW! Totally amazing, it should be featured on a makeover show! I love the prints on the wall. (especially the CC & Live What you Love!)
It must feel so good to have it so clean & pretty!
black vanilla rose
What a transformation!! Your office is so adorable. I want one just like it xxx
Mrs. D
It looks great! Very nice and neat now. I saw a Scrabble game there!! Do you play much? I love it, but my husband hates it so I never get to play except for on computer 🙁
...love Maegan
Oh man, I’m sorry the pics weren’t loading …I don’t know why but it seems my blog is taking forever to load as of late …must figure that out. Hopefully it’s working now.
..Thank you 🙂
…and yes …it feels so much better to work in here now that it’s all clean and pretty 🙂 I love it.
TeeTee
I am so jealous of your clean desk.
If only mine looked like that…..
~Mrs. Guru~
Very nice! You did an awesome job!
~ Kelly Ann ~
You are too sweet Maegan! The NY street photo looks so good. Love your office very chic! I’m going to post it on my blog-Hope that ok –
Thxs
Kelly
apriliniowa
I did something similiar to my home office. It, at the end of the day, makes a huge difference. Keep your chin up about all else. Hope you and yours are well. 🙂
Children of the Nineties
Wow, it looks great! It’s so nice to work in such an open clean workspace…not that I would know 🙂
Style Porn
I seriously have a ladyboner for organizing. I could do it all day. I get sick pleasure out of scrubbing my bathroom with a toothbrush. Doesn’t it feel so good to have a clean, organized space?
Elizabeth Marie
Usually you inspire me with what to wear but now you’re actually inspiring me to CLEAN? 🙂
No, it looks great and that is the best feeling!
Milly
great job!!
Franco
I like white and color pallet you have going on, you own an Imac? are they good.
nice job
Keith
Great job!
Underfunded Heiress
Congrats on lowering your rent. That’s pretty cool!
Great “after” office.
Chessa!
I love it! Congrats on lowering your rent:) we did it too so now that we’re here for another year I did the same thing as you and tried to spring clean…I still have a ways to go but you are totally inspiring me! and, thanks for the shout out!! I love knowing that my work is hanging in your home. xo
Girl Japan
Congrats on the cheaper rent..soon you’ll be into your dream home– “we had to CUTT everything” for a while— but it will be worth it. Keep doing those fabulous DIY CL shoes and you’ll save, save and save.
Girl Japan
P.S. I Finally, finally mailed out your package… please forgive me for being late = (
hautepocket
It looks amazing, which begs the question: when are you going to re do mine?
Also, I *hate* you for the palm tree picture.
Meg Fee
i love cleaning overhauls! sometimes i think i let my room get really disastrous just so i get to constantly spring clean (even if i complain all the while).
this looks awesome. especially loving the back framed photos and #10–live what you love
Kez
looks great! No feeling better than the accomplishment you feel when you’ve just given your home a little makeover 🙂
Ana Aguilar
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ana Aguilar
Hi!,
I started following your blog a couple of weeks ago and I have to say you have such a positive mind that I really love.
It is really common to find these fashion blogs where bloggers spend hundreds of dollars or euros (I’m Spanish)in impossible outfits and complements that keep me thinking…my God! What do they work to earn the money to pay all these things?? And how the hell they have time to be shopping, posting a looking gorgeous?
I like your blog because it’s chic but realistic, head-grounded and keeps a great sense of humour about the day a day problems of a young couple.
I love the transformation. It may not be the next cover for a deco magazine, but it’s genuine and creative.
Congratulations and keep on with this cheer!
Hugs from the south of Spain!
EmerJa
I love ypur blog, and all the ideas you gove us in you DIY projects. Your studio is lovely too.
Audra, Green Meadow Lane
Where oh where are the pictures? I am from California and know EXACTLY what you are talking about. It is sooo frusterating how the home prices have doubled. Hopefully the inflation will cease soon and you can purchase a home. 🙂
abster
great job i loveeeeeeee it
diane
I thought your office looked fine before you did it, but it looks great now. I tried and tried to “see” the crochet turtle, but it looks like a crochet tennis ball to me. I love it that the Dixie Chicks didn’t want to peel the labels. And I love your solution for them, tres chic. xo
Lauren
beautiful! I’m jealous of your dress form.. haha, I really want one but don’t have any room. 🙁
being red
came out great!!! i need that kind of will power to just tackle my desk at home.
Mrs. Priss
Oh wow! It looks so adorably organized! I love that Live What You Love print… I was thisclose to buying it!
ambika
Congrats on getting your rent lowered. & this room is super inspiring–especially since we’re in the midst of a move and the whole house pretty much looks like your before pics.
LENORENEVERMORE
Fantastic…why not if you can lower the$$$…Love before after project! ~XO*
Hanako66
holy moly…..so much better! It is really cute:)
totally awesome that you scored a lower rent too!!
humble happenings
the magazines stacked under your desk are so neat and organized! now I wish I kept all the boxes and boxes of mine that I had- I never knew they could look so good under a desk like that!
Dana
Oh, it looks lovely now!!! My office is a disaster, I have to make an extreme makeover!!!
Check my prints at my Etsy Shop, you might like one of them 🙂
http://chicbanana.etsy.com
Xoxo,
Dana
Meghan
That’s 200$ to go towards more shoe projects, right 😉
Dirty Slipcover
Whoa!! I wish I had that much energy for Spring Cleaning! It looks so lovely now – I hope you enjoy it 😀
tanya
“Live what you Love.” Perfect. 🙂
Miss Eve
I love the look of your new office, so cheerful and lovely. Love the pictures on the wall too…it suites perfectly for you. Much love: Evi