This is my office. Or at least, this is what it looked like yesterday, for awhile, after I had carted piles of books and binders and files and other must-haves out into the hall (see photo below).
I am, for the moment, office-less.
For years, I have been working on a grotty old desk using hand-me-down bookshelves and tables to fill in the gaps. The table beside my desk was too tall and actually had a hole in its top. I covered it with a board, but still. My office furniture left quite a bit to be desired.
And so finally, last weekend, I took the trip to Ikea to buy new furniture, a whole suite of it. Woo-hoo! We hauled 23 boxes home in two cars, with the desk top tied to the hood of my CRV. And last night was the night designated to start putting stuff together.
But, as you can see, we didn't get very far.
That photo to the right shows the assembled base of the free-standing bookshelf. What you can't see is that we did actually get two shelves of it put together. (And, um, when I say "we" I mean that in the royal way because I sat in a chair and exhorted people to work harder. I'm not so good with putting things together because I get frustrated and quit following directions, or fail to read them in the first place.)
So, my office now has one half-finished shelf unit and a few random screws and tools in it. Besides that, there's a long way to go–a desk, a cabinet that hangs on the wall, and a rolling cart–all of which need to be assembled. And that is why I am sitting at my kitchen table as I write this post. The living room is full of the remaining Ikea boxes. And the family room, my other refuge besides my office, is full of the cast-off furniture. (Anybody need a grotty old desk? It's yours for the asking. But act fast, because Saturday morning it goes out on the curb with a "free" sign.)
I'm feeling very rootless and riled up by this, far more than I thought I would. After all, I'm the one who happily sails off to Nashville and LA, declaring that all I need is my laptop. But apparently I need my laptop and the security of knowing where all my stuff is at home. (Because check out the photo to the left–that's half of my office, piled in the hall. There's another pile across the way.)
And now I understand why I resisted making this change for so long. Because it is complicated and hard. I'm not complaining, because I'm thrilled about the new furniture and what it says about where I am–ready to step it up. I just hadn't anticipated how much upheaval there would be.
So, somebody make me feel better–have any of you gone through something similar? Tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel. (And by the way, I promise I will post photos when the new furniture gets assembled and everything is put away.)
Elizabeth
I sort of like putting furniture together unless whoever wrote the instructions leaves out some really important piece of information (the assembly instructions to a rolling computer cart I once put together did not say that one of the shelves would ONLY fit a certain way. It was a hilarious fiasco for a while).
When I moved from a house I shared with my husband to the one I have now alone, my living room was packed floor to ceiling with boxes. I sat in a corner by the front door and wept (downgraded from 2,200 sq ft to 1,200). But after a weekend of loud music, serious out loud talks with myself, and a couple of glasses of cabernet, I conquered the boxes, and the mess became a house which is a home (though it could use a good dusting).
I rather like working in clutter, but those stacks of boxes made me feel claustrophobic and crazy. It was temporary, though. Everything (mostly) found it’s place.
Does that help?
Charlotte Dixon
Hi Elizabeth, Oh, that helps so much! Thank you. I guess after a glass of cabernet (my drink of choice also) anything is possible.
The only problem with the Ikea instructions is that there are no words, just images of funny stick men pointing and gesturing.
Roy
Hey Charlotte:
My office, too, is now in boxes, We are in the middle of the big swapping of the master bedroom and the downstairs big room. The painter finished painting today, so, we’re hoping to reassemble both rooms soon. The large pieces of my office are stacked in the garage, and the boxes of books are stacked all over the bedroom. The kitchen table is my makeshift work space for now, Good times, eh?
Charlotte Dixon
Roy, Glad to know I’m not alone! I’m hoping for reassembly this weekend, but things always take longer than I think they will.
Derek
Well, you may have read my mind somewhere along the line in doing some improvements, because this week we have been bathroom-less. The old one was ripped out within hours on day one, but then there were some snags with the new units, causing a delay with the tradesmen putting it all back together. I am thinking right now, that I wish it had been my office instead! Hopefully this will be the last day of washing at the kitchen sink as all the correct units have now been delivered and I am just waiting the arrival of our plumber. :-)
Jessica
I am completely officeless at the moment. I’m even apartmentless. I know all my writing files and books are safely packed away back in my parent’s house, but that is a whole hemisphere away so it’s not as comforting as one thinks.
I am desperately hoping that when I start apartment hunting next week I will at some point walk through a doorway and discover my new office.
I get my computer back tomorrow after a three week separation so I’m hoping I will be able to manage with that connection for the time being.
The thing that’s keeping me going is my dream of a new office with a big sunny window. I’m sure your brand new Ikea furniture will excite you more as each piece comes together. Imagine your new organised office with beautiful furniture and the opportunity to discover each manuscript and book’s new home. ;)
Christi Corbett
Charlotte,
I just went through reorganizing my desk so you have my sympathy. My computer recently gave up so I had to get a new one, and took the opportunity to “tidy up” while I moved the new one in.
Now, everything is nearly how I want it, and dust free. We’ll see how long it lasts :)
Just take a small task on and complete it before moving onto a next one…
Christi Corbett
Charlotte Dixon
Derek, Okay, you win, being bathroom-less is much worse. Much worse. But be careful what you wish for there, or else before you know it, you’ll be tearing up your office!
Jessica, I’m holding the vision of a gorgeous sunny office for you. And I can’t believe how much blogging you’ve gotten done, even though you are without a computer! I can’t wait to see what you produce when you get everything unpacked.
Christ, Is your new computer all set and humming away? What a good thing you did, to take the time to get organized. It took me, and I’m not joking, 7 months to go through everything in my office and get it sorted out in advance of getting this new furniture.
My New Office | Charlotte Rains Dixon
[…] tour of my new office. I love it. You can see the photos of the moving out process here, and then you'll understand why I love this new space so much. It is far less cluttered […]