November 8, 2011

Command Center Reveal!

As any busy family knows, being organized is essential to avoiding communication breakdown and loss of sanity:) I feel like I'm constantly organizing and re-organizing only to feel like I need to organize myself again. But during the rare times when I actually am organized, I  feel a lot calmer, relaxed and able to tackle my to-do list without running around in circles like a chicken with my head cut-off. So when I decided to venture out and start blogging, I realized I really need to get my #@$! (stuff) together and get organized once and for all! So I kicked my husband out of the office (love you dear) and began  my 'organizing my #@$! spree'! I started by creating a few little projects to make my life easier, such as the  DIY Dry Erase Board and the DIY Linen Covered Cork Boards projects. These little projects were all a part of a bigger picture I had in mind of creating a central command center to run family & blog life harmoniously.
 Now that it's FINALLY finished, I couldn't be happier!! 


 
It's got everything I need to keep me on track. I use my Dry Erase Board

to write down my daily to-dos (I did modify it a teeny bit from the original post! But that's just because it worked better horizontal than vertical and the colour of the frame was a little too bright. Perfectionist, I know. Can't help but keep tweeking things:) 
I also made a Dry Erase calandar using  an old frame that I had bought at IKEA as well as some scrapbook paper and embelishments. I'm not a big electronic calander girl. I like the good old pen and paper, write stuff down and cross-it out method! So this oversized calendar works great for me. I can see everything we've got going on for the month laid right out in front of me.
Also, the  DIY Linen Covered Cork Boards really come in handy to pin up inspiring pictures or fabric samples I come across. As much as I'm loving Pinterest these days, there is really something to be said about a good old fashioned inspiration board!


We already had the credenza which has great storage for all my binders, paperwork, books and drawing tools. These silver tins were from the dollar store, left over from my Wedding centerpieces!



 I  painted and distressed a  ceramic canister I found at a garage sale to accessorize the shelving some more. It also doubles for storing bits of junk you don't want cluttering up your drawers:)


I also wanted to add a little more visual interest to the wall. Those of you who know me well know that I just LOVE typography! Especially 3-dimentional letters:) So I naturally wanted to add a little something across the top that was inspiring to me, like a word or a phrase. I came across these wall letters at Hobby Lobby and originally intended to spray paint them a metallic silver, but after I brought them home, I really liked how the gold looked mixed in with the stainless steel frame and the soft turquoise accents, so I decided to keep them just as they are.


Instead of using just one big word, I was inspired by the 'BE' to create a little saying to remind me to always be myself and decided to paint it on using a simple letter transfer method. 
 
So here's the breakdown on how I created this painted quote in case you decide to make one too:

First, decide what you want your quote to say! I thought about words to describe how I want to 'BE' and came up with 'generous, kind, true and you'. (I saw a quote on pinterest that took the word beautiful and broke it apart to say 'be-you-tiful'.  I loved it! So I changed the 'you' in my quote to reflect this.)

Use a word processing software (like Microsoft Word) to type out your quote and scale it to the size you want using the font you want. I printed mine out on 8 1/2 x 14 paper then taped it together as the quote was too big to put on one piece!


 Once you have it printed out, flip it over and rub a pencil (the softer lead the better) over the entire back of the print to be transferred.


 Once you have done that, tape the image on the wall where you want it to go.


 Using a sharpened pencil or ball point pen, simply trace the outline of the image. Once you are done, remove the paper and the pencil will be transferred to the wall!

It's kind of hard to see on this image, but I'm sure you get the jist!!

Next, grab your paints and get painting! I  used Martha Stewart craft paints in some of her Metallic colours.


 

And there it is folks! Super simple one of a kind wall quote!


Now if I can only figure out how to hide the gosh darn ugly air vent!! Covering it up is not an option, so what to do, what to do? I tried adding a shelf underneath one in another room and leaning a picture over it as to not cover it completely, but it kept blowing over! I was also thinking of adding something else to the other side of the "B" just to off-set it and divert the eye away from this monstrosity. Anyone have any great ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Here's a few more images from the rest of my office-in-progress.


I need to accessorize my desk a little bit more and add a desk lamp. The tray was an old red laquered tray I had laying around. A coat of  metallic silver spray paint gave it new life!


I'm also on the hunt for a chair or two for in front of the window to add a cozy reading nook. A few more accessories on the wall beside the mirror and this room will be complete!

Well I guess now I really have no excuse not to be organized!

Until next time!

22 comments:

  1. Cleaver way to transfer your image to your wall! I like the be-you-tiful idea too :)

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  2. I love the mix of organization and be-you-tification! Everything has a purpose, yet it all looks so wonderful together. Very well done. Now come and do my office!

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  3. That turned out so well! Love the gold "Be" -but then again I love anything gold these days! PS - love your curtains too!

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  4. Absolutely LOVE this! I'm planning to feature it next week and I also pinned your linen corkboards! Where did you get your curtains....I love that pattern! :)

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  5. Very cute project! Love your pin boards. Carrie

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  6. Great way of adding a quote and love the organisation.

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  7. Love organized spaces! YOu have some very creative ideas like the Be true and the stenciling! Looks great!

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  8. Looks fantastic! I'm just in the process of getting organized after a major reno. Can't wait to start to put together instead of ripping apart. Happy new follower would love for you to check out my piece of blogland.

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  9. The command centre looks wonderful, the calendar is fab! You did an amazing job with the stencilling, not sure I'd have such a steady hand.

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  10. I LOVE this! I would love if you would share this at the Crazy Cute link party happening at Between U & Me right now! I've got a totally awesome giveaway this week, too!
    OOH! AND, I'm your newest follower! ;)
    www.betweenuandme.com

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  11. Absolutely in love with the Idea!! Reminds me to get organized....;)

    love
    J

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  12. What a great command centre - I read several of your earlier posts and got some great ideas from you. I am following and have put a link for your blog on my Creating... links.
    - Joy

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  13. I love love love this!! You have some really cool ideas!! I'm a new follower!

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  14. What air vent? Seriously, I did not even notice it until you mentioned it and had to go back and look for it. It's painted the same color as your wall so it "blends" well. Love the Be...

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  15. Great job Sarah! I like your framed to do list. So cute! Since you like typography, I will try to send you a link that I think you will love.

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  16. I featured this post on my blog today! ;)

    www.betweenuandme.com

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  17. Very cute! I love what you did with the Be's!!

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  18. Love your command center! Very pretty. The only thing I could think of doing for your vent is to 'highlight it'. I know at Lowes they have this metal decorative mesh-cover stuff that you can put over the front of radiators. What if you got that & put it in a frame that would be big enough to cover the hole. Then used the rest of the panel to decorate some other way. Or put it in a bigger frame (to balance the 'Be') & it would cover the hole plus come down on the wall a little further.

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  19. Just lovely!!! I'm trying to get off my duff and decorate my house and this is a great idea for my office.

    FYI, regarding the air vent Home Depot sells "fancy" air vent covers you can replace it with a nice gold one with design details and make it part of the decor.

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  20. You've done a lovely job, it looks beautiful! I've got this linked to my command centers post too today, well done!

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  21. Did you use a special kind of paper to transfer the words to the wall?

    lindajlue@yahoo.com

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  22. This looks fantastic! Love the organizer and the wall words!

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