Every year at this time of year… I get the nesting instinct, bad.
It just comes with the territory of back to school, I think. Only this time, we’re in an apartment. So said apartment really felt my wrath the other day as I cleaned out the pantry, school supplies and all things study for the kiddos to gear up for school. As much as humanly possible in a two bedroom apartment, anyway. {Hashtag gratefullylivingontopofeachother.} I even started a donation basket for clothes and… you see where I’m going with this. I’m pretty sure the family took cover until the coast was clear. It’s in my blood. I just can’t help myself.
If you’ve been following along with the money pit series, then you know we’ve relocated. And for a year at least, we will be a little consolidated as a family on the top floor of the rehabbed house until we can add our master addition down the line. We’re excited about this little adventure, and we’re just ready to get in. For the love of all things septic tanks.
The top floor will consist of Jamin and mine’s sleeping quarters, the kiddos shared space, and a studio – for all of us. It’s the most practical solution for us, for now. This is where our home office magic will happen, as well as a designated space for the kids and all of their needed work spaces. Eventually, this will be Malone’s room, but for now, it’s to be our {new} studio space.
So here it is when we closed on the house…
And here it is now:
PS this photo kind of captures it, but that wall looked lavender before the carpet came out. Now it looks light blue. Can you see it? It never ceases to amaze me how colors read so differently next to each other.
We’re thrilled to have opened up this closet space! We’ve also run wiring through so the closet is now wide open, and has lights on the inside as well. Major storage is to be found here. It just feels so much more open this way, and should provide ample storage for that in-the-meantime phase.
Just a little sneak peek at the inside, but that’s another post for another day…
So we’re beyond excited to put it all together. Between the kiddos’ space and our new studio, we just want them to feel settled while we finish off the basement, take a deep breath, and establish our new normal. Whenever that comes. Hopefully before Christmas.
Meanwhile, we were absolutely thrilled to team up with Wayfair for some ideas for back to school.
If you don’t use them as a regular source, you’re missing out. Did you know they carry a little bit of everything for the home? Like, we’re amazed at how much of an incredible resource they can be for almost anything you’re looking for. Example: I’ve already moved on to the laundry space in my mind, {I mean, I have to stay busy when we’re at a stand still with all things house and move on to the next floor} and I’m looking for an {attractive} utility sink for the basement. I searched for a while and couldn’t find just what I wanted… and then I said to myself: Self… DUH. Wayfair will have them. And sure enough… They’re the Disney World of all things home furnishings. I was amazed.
Side note of a thought derailment aside, back to the studio space we have planned…
Our new studio area will be a little bit of a hybrid of our former spaces:
And homeschool room.
For a high functioning area that suits all our needs.
So since we couldn’t actually complete the space in time to show you how amazing their products are with what we chose, {see: septic} we rounded up an entire space for inspiration, instead.
We’ll be adding some of their awesome product to better suit this rooms’ size, as well as bringing in some oldies but goodies of our own. But in the meantime, we even found similar products in case you were interested in finding a look that may just work for you. We wanted to showcase some of their great solutions so that you can round up a few of your own if it’s on your to do list.
Another awesome side note? Wayfair is having a huge back to school sale right now. Save 70% on storage, furniture and more back-to-school buys. For all the little nesters like us who take some extra comfort in all things storage and baskets and freshly sharpened pencils. What can I say? School supplies and organization take me to my happy place.
Yes, please. So without further ado, here’s a few things we cooked up on our own, and some ideas you can see in our own space to come.
And a little bit of how we plan to position everything with a quick mock-up furniture plan we have laid out for the space…
Seating and Desks
7. + 12. First things first… {And we always go out of order…} The desks are front and center in this room. Since we already have some desks of our own, we plan to give our old ones a fresh coat so that they can be used again. And build a table out in the center, for an extra work space, since we’ll need a custom size to fit seamlessly. So it will have a little bit of a look like this {Don’t you just love my quick mockups? Shhhh don’t say anything}:
{And a little before and after gif action for ya to see the basic idea of how different the room will feel – this isn’t loading on mobile apps so you may just see the before again, and be all, where? Just know it’s kinda cool on desktop}
While we hate to lose that bookcase, it was also important to us that there not be a giant vent front and center on our staircase, which lands on the other side of that wall. It was taking up prime family photos and art real estate. And since we’re short on wall space in this home, we decided to move it. In this house, it was the only place to run the HVAC all the way up the wall, so we can drop the return vent down from the ceiling, instead. This is also smarter, because it creates cross circulation, with air vents on the floors for this house. They’d already started it there in the old plans, and that’s why the bookcase is there anyway. So this room will have a chase behind the wall for the new vent beyond.
Chairs
8. + 11. We’ll bring in our own chairs {similar to these} for the kids that stack easily out of the way when not in use. And some extra comfy chairs {which we’re super thrilled about} for our computer spots for both work and school projects as needed.
We plan to provide a place on that unused portion of the table that runs the width of the desks for all things printers and scanners. Stay tuned for those ideas. Like we said… high functioning for sure.
Bookcases and Baskets
5. Bookcases are the key to surviving all things school and organization in a high functioning space. We’re thrilled to bring in this pretty piece for ample storage, and even more thrilled with the price. There’s something about that raw wood that is oh so pretty!
4. 3. Baskets
You’re an unstoppable force when you pair them with a great basket or two, in order to design your own system for all things high function. Bonus: These are actually pretty to look at.
9. Rugs
You’ll probably see some of our oldie but goodies in the form of rugs make a re-apperance in this space, but in the meantime we rounded up two similar finds here + here. This room will be anything but stuffy with easy, colorful vibes.
10. Small Chest
For even more storage on the wall next to that closet, we plan to bring in our old light blue armoire from the studio to hold as much as possible since we’ll need all the help we can get with practical out-of-sight, out-of-mind storage. In the meantime, we found a fun look here.
Accents
We can’t wait to polish off the space with some fun accents!
1. Because globes just don’t go out of style. Especially in education. Be sure to check out Wayfair’s endless options.
Brackets – {not pictured} We plan to bring in some simple shelves with these great brakets above each shelf. They provide practical, attractive storage for the wall without crowding the space.
6. These lamps are gorgeous and practical, too.
13. This pouf adds some great extra seating with some additional floor cushions for a great reading spot.
2. Because it only felt right to top it all off with this amazing chandelier. It creates a space we’re all happy to be in, and every room needs a light like this if we do say so, ourselves.
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So stay tuned, guys. We hope to have it all decked out and ready to work hard when we move in, by utilizing some pieces that are high functioning and offer a ton of storage!
And don’t forget to take advantage of Wayfair’s awesome Back to School Sale! A great opportunity to peruse even more finds at great prices for just the right time of year.
Have an inspired day!
:: This post was brought to you in partnership with Wayfair. All opinions are 100% ours. Please read our full disclosure pertaining to partnerships here ::
Sherry says
I love the look of the new space and can’t wait to see it. I’ve never tried Wayfair, but it sounds like I’m missing out. Lol, I’ve got a dorm room to finish I’ll have to check them out.
Anna says
I adore your ideas! I’m checking this out – especially that sale!
Janet says
What a smart use of space when it’s hard to utilize it all, I’m sure. And so stylish too I can’t wait to see what you do.
Connie says
I want to order a rug from Wayfair but if the colors are wrong, I have to pay to return or exchange. Have you had experience with that?
ashley @ the handmade home says
I have not had to return anything from Wayfair {yet} in the rug department – sorry! If you have your heart set on a specific rug, you may want to research that rug, and even make sure you can see it in person at a local store first, if that helps.