Danielle Hatfield

strong, stimulating and brewed fresh daily

  • About
    • Who the hell I am and what I do
    • FAQ
    • Work with me
      • Services
      • Speaking & Training
  • Blog
    • All blog posts
    • Cocktails
    • DIYs
    • Recipes
    • Reviews
    • Social Media
    • Policy
  • Press
  • Contact

DIY: Creating Your Own Closet Office

April 18, 2012 By Danielle Hatfield 2 Comments

Share

Library closet after taking out shelvingOur library closet has been on my radar as a potential quiet work space for quite some time.

For the last 3 years it has been the home of shoes and purses. . . that was until recently. I decided that having a private place to write blog posts, take a phone call or simply to research was more valuable to me than a mini fashion warehouse.

So, I decided to spend some time online and of course browsed the Pinterest search results for ‘closet office‘. . . Though there were many GREAT ideas here (I’ll be reclaiming the hall closet and reorganizing it into my super awesome DIY/craft station next!) I still had a difficult time finding an “inspiration” closet that was as narrow and deep like ours.

It really presented a unique challenge for me, as I wanted this project to be a ‘use what you have’ DIY.

Going off to see what I had on hand to transform the space, I came across my Benjamin Moore Color Stories paint (perspective) that was sent to me some months back when they launched. (I have been dying to use it in a DIY for what seems like forever!) Thanks to Lucianna Samu and her book ‘Paint Saves the Day’, I am forever looking for new painting projects.

Vintage Gardner Glass Mirror

While I was rooting around in the attic, I also rediscovered my Gardner Glass antique mirror, purchased way long ago when I lived in New York. These two items, coupled with my husbands Great Grandmother’s Sewing Machine, an old sewing chair and a spare frame . . . I knew I could pull off this project in an afternoon!

I painted the walls and the trim in the closet first, then began the process of “aging” my vintage mirror frame.

I’ll work on a more detailed DIY for everyone but for now, here is a rough and dirty aged frame DIY.

  • I took and old candle and ran it along the edges of the frame and current paint job
  • I then dusted off the debris and added a coat of my Benjamin Moore Color Stories paint (perspective).
  • Once dry I took a hand sanding block and began sanding where the wax was. The paint easily came off!
  • Next I took my scraper and began running it along the frame, letting 49 years of paint and beautiful walnut wood show through in fits and starts.
  • I happened to have an empty walnut frame that fit perfectly around the antique frame of the mirror. It was the finishing touch and added depth I was looking for!

The most difficult part of this project was taking everything out of the closet and finding it a new home. . . this displacement offered me an opportunity to see all of the things I was “holding on to” but not using and pack up a few boxes to take to Goodwill. Admittedly, I have also been inspired by Leo Babauta’s book The Power of Less.  (Each weekend I am devoting time to streamlining my life and eliminating clutter.)

Our closet office - a quiet place to writeAfter the closet hardware was removed, the holes were patched and the baseboards cleaned – I have to say that I was literally  watching the paint dry. I simply couldn’t wait for it to be finished!

Shelving is still on my ‘to do’ list to add at the very top of the space so that we still have additional storage, as well as adding a hanging light over the desk and recovering the vintage sewing chair that also has some seat storage. . . Other than that I think this project is complete and usable. Not bad for a Saturday afternoon!

One thing I learned after reading Jennifer Duchene‘s book Le Chic Cocoon is that we all need our private spaces – regardless of how small that space might be. And as she aptly points out we should never “wait for someday” to create that space.

It’s the simple act of creating a small, private, usable room in the library that adds to our closet office’s charm . . . being surrounded by antiques with special meaning gives me the ‘perspective’ I need to sit down and write. (having a place to hang my favorite Mr. Rogers Sweater is a bonus!)

—

Have you turned a home closet into an ‘office’?

What creative ways do you use your home’s layout to create unique environments?

—

Special thanks to :

Benjamin Moore for the free sample of Color Stories– LOVE that we can share our stories in color!

Lu Samu for the autographed copy of ‘Paint Saves the Day’ – always inspires me!

Dreamwalls Glass for sharing in my excitement that a mirror I had owned for 14 years came from them and helping me learn how to care for it!

Jennifer Duchene for her autographed copy of ‘Le Chic Cocoon’ and for teaching me to let go so that I can grow!

Content Protection by DMCA.com

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: antiques, Banjamin Moore, Closet Office, DIY, Dreamwalls Glass, Gardner Glass, Jennifer Duchene, Le Chic Cocoon, Leo Babauta, Lucianna Samu, Paint Saves the Day, The Power of Less.

About Danielle Hatfield

Owner/Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm - DIYs, recipes and sharing my 2 cents on social media

« Bag It The Movie: Is Your Life Too Plastic?
Recipe: Cucumber Cups Stuffed with Spicy Crab »

I love to share recipes, DIYs, and my two cents on social media.

I am also proud to be the Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm where I have worked with my partner and husband Brandon Pierce since 2009.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Help me keep my website ad free!

daniellehatfield

I love #DIYs, #recipes, and sharing my 2 cents on social media.

daniellehatfield
My #handsewn kitchen curtains are finished! I lo My #handsewn kitchen curtains are finished! 

I loved spending time over the weekend on this #handmade #SewingProject. 🧵

The #RecycledFabric was once part of a bed skirt and I’m so happy that it has finally found a new life. ❤️
🧵 #HandSewing gauzy curtains for the kitchen an 🧵 #HandSewing gauzy curtains for the kitchen and watching #MurderSheWrote.  I’m in heaven. ❤️

#sewingismytherapy #SewingByHand #sewingprojects #sewersofinstagram #sewingproject #sewgood #sewingmeditation #sewingbyhand #slowsewing
A little #WatercolorLandscape I did this morning o A little #WatercolorLandscape I did this morning over coffee. 

#NotAllWhoWanderAreLost ❤️

#watercolorbeginner #watercolor #watercolor_daily #watercolorart #watercolorpainting
“She could be herself, by herself. And that was “She could be herself, by herself. And that was what now she often felt the need of - to think; well not even to think. To be silent; to be alone.” - 
Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

#currentlyreading #woolf #amreading #ViginiaWoolf #tothelighthouse #bedtimebook #bookstagram #readinginbed #openbook #booksta #bookish
HELP! #WhatIsThisThing? An #EggWhisk? A #YarnWin HELP! #WhatIsThisThing? 

An #EggWhisk? A #YarnWinder? Something to do with #canning? 

It’s been hanging in the kitchen for about 3 years and I still don’t know what it is.😩
So I’ve started painting with #watercolor recent So I’ve started painting with #watercolor recently. 

It’s been years since I’ve painted anything but walls or furniture. 

I’m enjoying the challenge of being a #watercolorbeginner - I’m watching tutorials, making mistakes, and enjoying the quiet time I spend being creative. ❤️
😍 Cold rainy days call for serious #comfortfood 😍 Cold rainy days call for serious #comfortfood! 

I whipped up a batch of my #BeanlessChili yesterday and could not wait to make @thebrandonpierce and I some fully loaded #chilicheesefries. 🤤 SO MUCH YUM! (and the chili is even better on day two) 

I may or may not be able to move... send more jalapeños. xxoo
I spent some time tonight #handsewing a few coast I spent some time tonight  #handsewing a few coasters for around the cottage using fabric I’ve been saving for years. 

I love making time for  #handsewn projects like this. It’s helping me use every inch of these gorgeous #FabricRemnants and providing me with some much needed time away from my digital devices. 

What creative #diyProjects have you been working on? 

#cottagelife #cottagestyle #handmade #fabriclove #sewingproject #sewingismytherapy #sewingprojects #sewingmakesmehappy #stashbusting #digitaldetox #digitaldetoxing #cottagedecor #cottagehome
I’m dreaming of spring and the blooms in our sma I’m dreaming of spring and the blooms in our small #cottagegarden. 

We’ve inherited many lovely flowers from @thebrandonpierce’s grandmother and have let nature take over in a few places to show us what would grow unaided. 

After a few years of “let’s see what grows” mantra, I’m excited to begin a more purposeful approach to our #smallgarden. This spring we hope to introduce more flowers that bloom seasonally. 

My personal goal is an English style garden that includes a more diverse landscape of color that makes the most of our #smallgarden. 

I’d love to have more of a #potagergarden that is a mix of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. 

For those of you who have a #greenthumb I’d love to hear your suggestions. We literally have a #postagestampgarden - so space is a consideration. 

I blame all the #britishmurdermystery shows I watch for my obsession with a small but lush garden dream.

#cottagegarden #cottagelife #cottageliving #cottageflowers #cottagehome #cottagecharm #roses #daisy #pinkroses #familygarden
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

subscribe for email updates!

I’m so proud to be part of this book!

Popular posts

  • How to save your iPad from the loop of doom : A true story of patience and curse words
  • Recipe: Clara’s Depression Era ‘Poor Man’s Meal’
  • The History of Haint Blue
  • Sew Sexy: How to remove a cowl from a sweater
  • Recipe: Krispy Kreme Delight Martini

Content Protection by DMCA.com

Follow @dhatfield

Copyright © 2021 Danielle Hatfield ·Foodie Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress