I was planning to share before and after pictures of my kitchen with you next. But the past few days have been cloudy and I want to post sunny after pics! Plus I’m super excited to share my shiny new home office with you. So today is all about the office. Which contains lots of official Office merchandise. Shocker, I know.
Before moving on up to the East Side, I lived in the West Village for nine years. There is nothing like the energy of the West Village. I’m determined to move back there one day. When I have, like, a bazillion dollars. That’s the only way to afford a West Village apartment with space, light, and views. My old apartment was tiny. Natural light was sparse. Views were quaint, but I longed for big sky. So I was thrilled to find a place with lots of windows and southern exposure. I immediately knew that this area to the right would become my home office:
Writing near the windows with intense natural light and fresh air and sweet views all day is beyond amazing. I really needed the change. Trying to write on a “charming” West Village crooked floor while my chair kept wanting to roll away from my desk was not my idea of fun times. Nor was trying to write while my downstairs neighbor snored and coughed and yelled into his phone all day. Ah, memories.
Walls were skim coated. New floors were installed. I was very specific about not wanting wires showing in my office. Exposed wires bother me in general. To create a streamlined look, my electrician rewired the area so that the phone jack and eight outlets were all positioned together:
I had this fantasy of moving in and immediately working in my new home office the next day. That fantasy kept me going over the extra month I had to spend at my old place, counting down the days until I’d be immersed in my peaceful writing oasis. Did I move in and start working the next day as planned? Not exactly.
This is how I worked for about three weeks after moving in. I had strategically taken my sexy iMac to Shiny Happy Apple World for a check-up the day before I moved. When my contractors explained how much dust and plastic and drilling I’d be living with over the next few weeks, I asked the Apple friendly neighbors if they could take care of my computer until things settled down. Being made of awesome, they agreed. I worked on my MacBook Pro. Well, I tried to work. Finally being free of Mr. Snore was a huge relief. But living with a team of contractors while on deadline? Challenge accepted.
All of the drama was worth it. After the renovations were completed, my office settled into its current state of Zen retreat:
The original plan was to create a separate room for a home office. But my architect insisted that we keep the space open. I am so thankful for his expertise. Putting up walls would have blocked the light and views. And this apartment is all about the light and views. Instead, I positioned the modules on the right to create a sense of enclosed space. Headers from my Barnes & Noble floor displays are on the wall. I also put up prints from book cover photo shoots. It’s still a work in progress, but I love my office so much. I can breathe. I can write. These are good things.
Keep on breathing and writing…
This looks so amazing! It’s really nice to have that one cozy space that you can write in š
This workspace has made such a difference already. I was always battling noise and darkness and not being able to file one more piece of paper because my drawers were bursting at my old place. Being able to spread out and breathe is so refreshing. I’m a happy girl š
Lovely!
Thank you š
That is gorgeous! The office looks great! You’re giving me some great ideas for my new room! š
Oh good! Have fun with it!
This office is beautiful! I made a dream board of my dream home, and my office looks so similar to this! I love the artwork on the wall!
Dream boards are incredible. It’s amazing how quickly dreams manifest once you put them out into the Universe. Here’s to your gorgeous dream home!
It’s so beautiful, Susane! I’m envious of you at the moment. Very much so š
What is written on the wall? I got the ‘Imagine’ and ‘Inspire’, but the other one I couldn’t get. A little help there?
Love the whole ambience ā¤
Thank you so much! The third word is Dream. You know I’m always dreaming big…
Oh wow! I thought it to be ‘Create’, but Dream is even better š
And yes, you always are. And thanks to you, many other are, too š
Your new office is absolutely gorgeous! I’m so happy that you feel refreshed and happy in it. Your apartment is looking incredible and I hope to one day be able to recreate your office (in my own personalized way of course) for my own home when I’m older. I’m glad that you can breathe and write even more amazing books. š
Breathe your soul into what you write… xo
What a sweet comment. Thanks for your kindness, friendly neighbor ā¤
Beautiful! As I said before, white furniture is great!! Hope your home office inspires you even more!
Oh, the inspiration has been amazing here so far. I’m confident there will be much more magic to come…
Where did you find the desktop storage thingy? Your new work space looks very nice and bright!
The desk and hutch are both from Pottery Barn. I heart them.
Hi Susane! My name is Anita and I’m thirteen years old. In my grade, a lot of us had grown up very fast as in boys and dating wise. Everyone has already dated, and a lot have already had their first kiss! My boyfriend and I just recently broke up because according to him things weren’t working out. We weren’t together for even a month, and I sometimes think part of the reason we broke up is because I didn’t want us to kiss. I haven’t had my first kiss yet (unlike a lot of girls in my grade) and I don’t want to be throwing it away. I’m still young and I don’t want to waste it. After people get bored of hugging and holding hands they kiss, and once they get bored of that, all that’s left is sex! And I don’t want to be one of those girls that is doing everything at sixteen all because I rushed when I was this age. I was wondering what your opinion was on the topic and if you think I’m looking at this the right way, so, what do you think?
Also, I love your writing. All of your books inspire me to want to become a writer, and be a better person like a lot of your charecters do. What made you aspire to be a teen author?
Thank you,
-Anita
What a beautiful office space! Love the pops of colour!
Thank you, friendly neighbor š
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