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Mini Manor Blog

    Monday, April 16, 2012

    New Desk

    I'm not sure if I can talk about it yet. It's still a little sad for me, but I finally gave in and turned the library into an office.
    Why did I change it into an office if I loved the library??
    Because I'm married and that's what you do when your married, you take lovely rooms that you love but barely use, and turn them into rooms that your husband needs and uses. Bitter ? ? ? I'm not bitter at all, what makes you say that?? ;).

    In all reality I can count on one hand how often we used the library in the last year. I was always in and out of there, picking out new books, putting old books away, grabbing a magazine, but I never once sat down in there and read a book. I'm what's known as a Bed Reader (not to be mistaken with a Bed Wetter). I do 90% of my reading in bed. So having a designated space to read wasn't really functional. Our house isn't big enough to have rooms that are pretty but don't function!
    And lastly,
    the straw that broke the camels back, the library wing back chairs looked really good in the living room! It was meant to happen!

    Eventually I got kind of excited about adding a desk, something fun, something light, it didn't need a lot of storage because we had my desk which has lots of storage. It also couldn't break the bank, since this is our second go'round at this room it had to be budget friendly.
    We went to Ikea, as soon as the words budget friendly came out you knew where I was headed, right?
    Here's what we got:
     The base is VIKA ANNEFORS, and the top is a VIKA AMON. For a total cost of $110!! Not to shabby!
    We picked this desk combination for a couple reasons:
    1) I love Ikea White. It matches my little desk in the corner, and it matches the bookcases behind!
    2) It had a large, work surface. Lee often has Large documents to work on so a large work surface was needed.
    3) I really liked the open shelving at the front.

    What I didn't like was all of the nuts and bolts holes:
    As it turned out, all the holes weren't really a problem for us because the main reason we bought the desk is so that I could store books in the front, and make the desk blend into the bookcases.

    To me it blends seamlessly into the room, like it wasn't an office at all and it's still a library! ;) or not!
    Honestly, I'm so glad that Lee has a space to spread out and do some work. Plus it means the dining table will be paperwork free more often!!
    Now if we could only agree on a desk chair we'd be set :S. 
    Posted by Maillardville Manor at 3:54 AM
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    Labels: Office

    42 comments:

    1. Simply LKJApril 16, 2012 at 4:05 AM

      Ashli, it looks fantastic! I love that you now have office space for Lee to work in, but you still kept the feel of the library...love double duty rooms! I am loving that desk. We are looking for a new one for Katie to streamline her room before she heads off next fall and Ikea is the perfect place to shop for one. Regarding the chair...I have the one from ZGallerie in white/chrome. I think Megan does too as we have the same desk. It's funny, every time we are watching a tv show with an office the chair seems to pop up. It is sleek, with clean lines, not too modern and blends in perfectly. Mark is fairly tall, not as tall as Lee but 6'2", and is comfortable in it as well. It's a bit pricey, I got a combo deal, but it has been a great chair.

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    2. Simply LKJApril 16, 2012 at 4:10 AM

      It's called the Malcolm chair. $259.

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    3. LucyApril 16, 2012 at 4:50 AM

      Beautiful, he should be able to do lots of work in that beautiful space. We have just moved our piano out of the lounge and into a through room which was starting to resemble a dumping zone, it looks great there now and am wondering why we had not done this before (probably because it is so heavy and took alot of grunting and groaning for the hubs and I to move it!).

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    4. KathyApril 16, 2012 at 4:58 AM

      Ashli it totally works and I like to pop of colour with the books.

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    5. MichelleApril 16, 2012 at 5:24 AM

      I bought that same table about almost 4-5 years ago for my scrap table. :) The storage in the "legs" is great. I liked that feature too. yours blends seamlessly right into your library with all the books you added. Mine, it has been moved to the play room in the basement. My top wasn't even 24 in. deep. When working on my scrap projects, I would invariably shove stuff over the front. I ended up getting a table that is deeper.

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    6. Janell @ House of FiftyApril 16, 2012 at 6:31 AM

      It's a fantastic use of space, it is a battle, setting up rooms for how we think or wish they'd be used, then settling in and repurposing them for how we actually live. You've made it look great, love all the shelving! Janell

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    7. Ami at A Sierra HomeApril 16, 2012 at 6:42 AM

      That looks perfect for the room! I love, love, LOVE white desks. Can't wait to see what chair you choose. If it's like my house the challenge will be finding the comfort/function the hubs wants (who doesn't give a hoot about how it looks!) while still keeping it stylish for you!
      p.s. I spent a (really) long time going through old posts (this is definitely my new favorite blog!) and saw your original plans with the desk in the window 'nook'. What made you decide not to do that?

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 16, 2012 at 12:16 PM

        Thanks Ami! I'm so glad you're enjoying the BLOG!!!!

        You have a great memory! We did plan on adding a small desk in the window nook. But once we got the chairs in and the secretary desk in, there wasn't any room left.
        Also, I'm easily distracted so a desk in front of a window isn't the best solution for me!! haha
        Hope that answered your question!
        Lots of love
        Ashli

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    8. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 7:19 AM

      I can't believe how gorgeous your home office is. Love the desk.

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    9. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 7:30 AM

      Lovely desk! Once you have it all accessorized you'll love it!

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    10. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 7:47 AM

      Wow! I absolutely love the new desk. You're right, it blends so nicely in the room.

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    11. Mrs. EApril 16, 2012 at 8:11 AM

      Love, love, love your space! I've been looking for a large work space and this is perfect!!

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    12. leahApril 16, 2012 at 10:28 AM

      Awe- I loved your library... but the office looks very nice too. I just put a desk in our living room so that we would have a place to work. I would looove to have a space strictly dedicated to an office. Lucky girl.

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    13. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 10:58 AM

      I love your new desk and love the way you organize things. Can you share a few tips on your blog on how to organize your paperwork? I have been married for 6 years and we have at least 6 boxes of statements, bills, receipts etc etc and there are more to come each week. I am looking for a better way to organize them and the appropriate folders or files to store them. Can you share with us how you get them organized?

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 16, 2012 at 12:08 PM

        Yes definitely,
        I did a small post about it recently, here's the link:
        http://www.maillardvillemanor.com/2011/07/organized-office-and-paperwork.html
        But I'm definitely planning on a more in depth post soon!!!
        Hope that helps
        lots of Love
        Ashli

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    14. Nothing But Blue Skies...April 16, 2012 at 11:30 AM

      I think it was so sweet of you to surrender your pretty library to your lucky hubby! It looks FANTASTIC with that desk in there! I am so surprised, because I really loved the way your library looked. Great job hunting down just the right desk, Ashli!

      xo-Lisa

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    15. Tracey Ayton PhotographyApril 16, 2012 at 11:38 AM

      She Ashli, that is why you and Lee are perfect together. Sure, he does a lot for you ...... a lot BUT it's big things like this that create the perfect balance that you two have. I too am a "bed reader" I found half of the Christmas photos, now I am searching for the rest. Those are the ones we took at the end of the day so I really want to find them as they are all the vignettes and kitchen. Wish me luck.

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    16. Tracey Ayton PhotographyApril 16, 2012 at 11:38 AM

      Oh I said "she" I meant "See"

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    17. KateApril 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM

      I liked it before, but I love it now. Why not think of it as a study, which is after all, just a small library with a desk in it. Sounds much more home-friendly than "office".
      I've got myself that same IKEA desk combo (but in unvarnished wood) and it's perfect.

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 16, 2012 at 12:17 PM

        LOVE IT!!! It's now known as the Study!!!
        thanks!

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      2. Simply LKJApril 16, 2012 at 5:45 PM

        That is what we have always referred to our "home office" as, but for blog sake I always called it the office. Study is the perfect blend of office/library!

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    18. Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute.April 16, 2012 at 12:52 PM

      The library was super cute. But so is this! The desk looks perfect and I like the books at the front to help it blend in with the bookcases at the back. Cute idea!

      :)

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    19. Jen GildayApril 16, 2012 at 1:51 PM

      I just love it! Honestly, it looks straight out of a magazine!!!

      Nice work, once again!
      Jen
      athomeinthenorthwestblog.com

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    20. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 3:31 PM

      Love it! We have the same desk and bought the SKRUVSTA chair in white. My husband is almost as tall as yours and he loves the chair.

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 17, 2012 at 2:28 PM

        Thanks!!! I'm going to check that out!!!
        ~Ashli

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    21. AmandaApril 16, 2012 at 4:07 PM

      I love the desk and how it blends perfectly with the room.

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    22. kateApril 16, 2012 at 5:10 PM

      Your study looks great! I have been following your blog for a few months and this is the first time I'm posting, that's how much I like it! And see how I'm already calling it the study? ;)

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    23. AnnApril 16, 2012 at 5:30 PM

      What a gorgeous workspace and my gosh, what a deal!!

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    24. mwimpApril 16, 2012 at 6:57 PM

      luv it!! and it does look like its what you always planned it to be!!

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    25. Megan // Honey We're HomeApril 16, 2012 at 8:14 PM

      The desk looks great, and you're right, it does blend right in with the library shelves! Nice! Such a bonus to have the dining table clear of paper now too!

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    26. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 6:44 AM

      Hi Ashli - just wondering, how wide is your desk top? Love your blog!
      Westlass

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 17, 2012 at 8:00 AM

        Hi Westlass,
        The dimensions are:
        Length: 59 "
        Width: 29 1/2 "
        Hope that helps!
        Lots of Love
        Ashli

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    27. AllisonApril 17, 2012 at 9:28 AM

      It looks fantastic, Ashli! It's a great use of space and beautiful. Nive to have your dining room table back, too. I recently got a white desk from World Market and still looking for a desk chair. I want pretty and comfortable!

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    28. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 12:16 PM

      Perfect, many thanks!
      Westlass

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    29. CurlijuliApril 17, 2012 at 9:29 PM

      I think it looks amazing! It's like a blend of both worlds - you still have your library and now your husband has a place he can call his office:) Very elegant and airy - I don't know why this particular word comes to mind, may be because of the white:)
      Congrats!

      http://curlijuli.blogspot.com/

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    30. Sharon / Ms Magpie DesignsApril 18, 2012 at 11:24 AM

      I love the desk! It would make a fabulous craft table....maybe then I could keep my dining table free of crap....errr...crafts. :)

      I just found your blog and I love it!

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    31. Julia RyanApril 25, 2012 at 4:24 AM

      I just love this and seriously so glad I found your blog. I really like your style!

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    32. ErinApril 26, 2012 at 8:22 AM

      looks great!
      I love the baskets under the window. where did you find them?

      Thanks!

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      1. Maillardville ManorApril 26, 2012 at 1:34 PM

        Homesense!!!
        Hope that helps
        Ashli

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    33. Bernadette @b3hdApril 26, 2012 at 7:46 PM

      Loved your library but the desk looks great. Hear ya on the chair fight front...my hubby wants practical and manly. I want delicate and girly. It's working out so far...compromise.

      Bernadette
      www.b3hd.blogspot.com

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    34. AnonymousJune 24, 2012 at 1:35 PM

      lovely.. where did you get your bookcases from? ikea also? thx

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      1. Maillardville ManorJune 27, 2012 at 8:00 PM

        Thanks, They are also from Ikea but we had altered them with some stock trim and a mdf top. Here's the tutorial:
        http://www.maillardvillemanor.com/2011/01/bookcase-tutorial.html
        Hope that Helps
        Ashli

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