My PHD

My computer tech needed an office redo, STAT!!!!!!! He is a very, kind man and helps our community out by teaching those without skills or jobs how to use the computers in, Adult Life Training. The office was closed over Christmas and I had only this short time frame to rejuvenate this small room. I had been there before because he helped me set up my website and immediately I thought of a light chocolate brown and black decor scheme. Let me put a plug in for the wonderful, helpful employees at Office Depot. The managers and staff there let me have at their cost, the black glass computer desk, the two chairs and a roll out file system. They also let me use coupons to save even more money. I love it when people give for others and then they too, share. Office Depot lost money on this but they gave for a great cause!

I love to take discarded, unused items and make them pretty and useful again. I found items in my garage, basement, craft room and went to work because I was giving my time for free and a small budget to work with. It’s very important to have nice amenities packed within small spaces. He had no where to hang up his coat. No microwave, no coffee pot and no fridge. I knew what I wanted to give him. Luxurious flare with a business approach and because he is quirky, funny and smart I incorporated some of his character into the space.  Isn’t it amazing what paint, fabric and ingenuity can accomplish? I hope you love the results as much as I did creating them!

Before pictures:

Help, this desk had to go, FAST!

Look at all his Credentials, Impressive aren’t they.

After Pictures:

 A big change for this small office. What a nice difference some paint, the walls are painted with Valspar-Iced Chocolate which was bought with a donation. I went online and picked the color out and the painter went and got it. He did a great job. I want to thank my husband for all his help!

Small, black organizer holds pens, scissors, etc. it was on sale for $6.00. Someone donated the flat computer screen. There is also a roll out file system under the desk. Don’t you just love that black glass? It was on clearance and it was the last one the store had. The two brand new chairs I bought from Office Depot for $27.00 each they gave them to me at cost and I used a coupon.

Close ups of the doubled layered prints I made.

 A picture of the second small plywood table I was talking about further down. These were both stacked one on top of the other and I got them free. I will add the same fabric as the other one. He has a microwave now. Next up a coffee pot and his fridge. I am doing a bake sale for a fundraiser this Sunday for those two items and auctioning off my free services for one room arranged with decorating hints along with a dinner for six including dessert of their choice which I will prepare for the winner who donates the most over $100.00. They get to choose from authentic Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Thai or American. I will post pictures of the baked goodies next week.

I adore this print that shows how to recycle old computers by turning them into grills. Now that is funny, just like my client.

I layered a print of a real ram memory chip on parchment and then the clear velum print of some animal rams!

I got this large mirror from my church for free. Someone had donated it. It was grimy brown and I’m guessing from the 1970′s. Was sticky with scotch tape on it and a few stickers. I bleached it. Scrubbed it and then it was painted glossy black. I found some red jute webbing for .99 a yard and then  added black brad nails all the way round it. I have $10.00 in the whole thing. What a beauty it is now!

 I found this delightful picture frame at one of fabric stores in the clearance aisle. The first place I always rush too at any store I go into. I was only $3.25 and a bargain as it has two glass panes. The background with the antique computer is printed on parchment and then the top layer with his name all over it was printed on clear velum.

This small table was not being used. I got two small tables from this as it was just plywood stacked up, so my husband took them apart and painted them black. I found this wonderful fabric that does not wrinkle on sale for $4.50 a yard. The gold, white and brown scarf piece under the plant arrangement I sewed is a high end designer that sells for $4o.oo a yard but I found it in the bargain bin, of course. I added the same black brad nails as the mirror.  The black, glossy vase was in my house and I only paid 3 bucks for it at Goodwill. Another one of my go to places for great deals. I had most of these brand new plants upstairs in my attic in a long plastic container because when I find things on sale or at yard sales I stock up. I purchased a couple more silk plants from JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts to create an arrangement that definitely evokes the  classy, elegant look I was after. The cattails I picked myself along the road and let them dry out. The black, little organizer has a pull out drawer with a ceramic knob. The back of it has scrapbooking papers on it as well. This had been silver and had been sitting in my craft room for years. I found it at Goodwill long ago. The green candle holder was on a grocery store Christmas clearance for $3.00 and it holds a Febreze Set & Refresh.  I LOVE that New Zealand Springs scent. The room smells as great as it looks.

http://www.febreze.com/en_US/producttype/febreze_set_refresh.do.

I found this Computer Whiz print on Google and then I took two old computer keyboards apart to use for his name which I put on foam and glued on. Appropriate for a Computer Genius!

 I call this the Positivity Corner. He didn’t have anywhere to hang his coat so I created one by the back door office with a lovely Ikea picture frame I purchased brand new from a second hand store, it was $10.00, what a find! Then I printed out some of my favorite positive quotes from Google and made this collage. The 2 coat hooks were found in our garage.

The lovely green, silk plant arrangement is placed so that it separates his Positivity corner and coat hooks out of the way of clients. You can barely see the encouraging collage on the wall behind it. John’s wife used the coat hooks immediately and told me, “I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the collage and will read some of it every time I come in!” In our rush, stressed life we all need a little pick me up and something to make our day smile worthy and this token of Positive quotes does just that!

I came up with this design because I wanted to show his quirky, funny side. I picked out a large, blank canvas and painted it black. Printed out funny computer cartoons and then dug out some scrapbooking papers and started creating this clock. Everyone loves it. I had fun with this piece and no it’s not perfect because work should be fun sometimes.

Close up of one of the cartoon pictures.

I took 9 budget friendly pictures frames, 3 bucks each, and then printed out vintage computer ads from Google onto parchment and then layered them by adding a top picture printed out on clear velum. So that the ad underneath looks faded. The perfect pictures for a computer office!

Here is a close up of one of my favorites.

Thank you for letting me do this office for you John. I enjoyed every second of it and there is nothing like volunteering your time to help a great cause!

Here is what John does for our community: Adult Life Training

http://alt-fw.org/public/?page_id=2

I want to personally thank the people at Office Depot Northcrest Shopping Center for all that they did in helping bringing about this lovely office space.

http://www.officedepot.com/