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By Ashleigh, October 19, 2009 8:31 am

The transformation is finally complete! Melanie spent the weekend sewing pillows not only for Maihar Design, but also for my lovely new office.

Below is the before shot – a drab, colorless space with much to be desired. Our vision was to create a space that had personality and some femininity, without pink covering every space of the room.

The result is below. The steel blue color of the walls quickly transformed the room before we’d even brought in any new furniture or decorations. I adore the paint color, and what’s more, it takes on different hues throughout the day as the sun rises and falls.

When redoing the space, we were budget conscious. We used furniture from throughout the house and our collective storage units. Total cost for paint, shelves, frames and some new accessories was roughly $350.

One of my favorite parts of the room is the space around my desk. The shelves frame my “L” shaped unit – which is actually comprised of a simple desk and console, two pieces never intended to work in tandem! Check out the unexpected piece of furniture for my printer – a mirror-plated nightstand – proof you can have fun when designing your office space.

These twin wing-backed chairs were pieces we grew up with at our parent’s home. Both were in our formal living room as children, but had subsequently made their way to the storage unit. Although they could use refurbishing, these two pieces work perfectly for my office redesign on a budget. Colorful pillows sewn by my sister add the splash of color drastically needed to make these chairs look modern and inviting.

Redoing your office doesn’t have to break the bank. A fresh coat of colorful paint goes a long way for the transformation. And for new furniture or accents, try shopping at some second hand stores for pieces that can be refinished by hand or spruced up with colorful pillows. Lastly, browse your digital photos and have them resized at a cost next to nothing. Personal photos in the form of artwork are a quick way to infuse your personality into your new space. Have fun!

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By Ashleigh, October 12, 2009 10:45 am

To say I am not a girlie-girl is a slight under-exaggeration. I am, in fact, the girl who had Godzilla breaking out of her wedding cake (it’s true). My sister on the other hand is the lover of all things pretty and pink. So, when she told me that she wanted to redesign my office, I was surprisingly excited.

I don’t like to spend money on myself, but I always see the adorableness in people’s lives around me and wonder why I sometimes appear so drab. I have quite a personality, and it’s about time I express it in my style.

My husband and I recently moved to a larger space so that I could have an office to myself. Unfortunately, two months after moving in, I had yet to really begin any decorating. My quaint little office had much to desire, as evident from the photos below.

A few weekends ago, Melanie and I got to work. The paint splashes on the wall are the only sneak peek I’m going to give you…for now.

After a long, fun weekend and giddiness from paint fumes, I’m happy to announce the transformation is almost complete. We’re waiting on some final accessories to be completed, but until then, prepare to be amazed by the craftiness of my big sis!