desk DIY

When I found out that I was going back to school this fall - I immediately knew one of the first things I needed to get working on was creating a nice office space. I needed to make a space that would make me happy to spend hours and hours studying in {err...that "studying" is what I dread!}. 

First order of buisness would need to be a desk. You see, I have had the same desk in my possession since I was 12 {so not that long.....lol} and it was not very functional; in fact throughout my undergrad it was a nice dumping ground corner display space in my little apartments bedroom and the dining room table ended up as my "desk".  So when I got thinking about a functional desk for me I knew I needed a large, wide "table" like space to fulfill my study needs.  While searching online and purusing pinterest I found this World Market beauty! Problem: they don't ship to Canada. Well not actually that big of a problem I could have got it shipped to the border pickup and went and got it but when I did a little more research I found this building plan.  After showing it to my husband we decided we he would follow the plans and build it ourselves himself.

In the end we adjusted a few measurements, made the desk higher and wider, and ended up with some a little different than either of the original inspirations but I absolutely LOVE it! I am so happy to have a handy husband who was patient as I changed my mind a few several times along the way.

After it was built - it was my DIY turn.  I had really wanted the desk to have a rustic/weathered feel to it and had read on pinterest {of course where else!?} that if you let steel wool sit in vinegar for 24-36 hours you could "ebonize" or "weather" wood. So I gave it a shot. After testing it on sample pieces, I found that it was a lot more "weathered" than I would like. So after further research - I prepped the wood with steeped tea - let it dry and then applied the vinegar-steel wool mixture. Turned out perfect!

Finished it off with some Tung Oil to seal it and voila! I have my dream desk for far less than it would have been to purchase.

Next I hope to recover the chair, create some shelving, add a chalk/cork board and add a little more style to this office!

So what do you think? If you want some tips further on the construction, staining or finishing process feel free to leave a comment or send me a mail!


 

so it begins...

{pretty corner of my desk}

I'm still a few months from the beginning of school and I am already busy with "school-related" stress.  Paperwork and more paperwork has been on my plate, from filling out applications for a student loan to providing my immunization records to my faculty, then add on the prep for our honeymoon, finishing up my last couple weeks of work and trying to keep our home in order I am nearing the end of my sanity - and it's only just begun. Yikes! Thank goodness we have Africa to look forward too for a bit of R&R before it begins again.

My hubby and I have been busy prepping my office for an ideal study area and we DIY'ed a desk.  It turned out really, really great - I'm so happy and I love that I am writing my blog from it today {much better than on the couch on the little coffee table. 

Stay tuned, I'm working on a post to show you the process and reveal the desk! If you follow me over on Instagram you have already seen it.

Have a happy weekend!



Honeymoon Talk!

I'm writing this post to you sitting on my patio soaking up the rays of +30 celcius sun and listening to some Florence + the machine {love}!  We will be leaving for our honeymoon {squeal; I've been waiting for this since last September} in Kenya and Tanzania in just over a month!!  I am currently in preparation mode, thinking of what I need to purchase, pack, double check etc etc.

  Sitting here with bead of sweat dripping from my brow {hyperhydrosis much?!} I am realizing I also need to prepare for the HEAT. I am NOT a heat lover, well not unless I'm near a pool/beach/lake and sipping a fancy cold cocktail.  It has me thinking and probably you as well, "why are you going to Africa then? silly girl!"  Well the answer to that is that even though I don't like heat, I like adventure! Add spending 2 solid weeks of no work, potentially seeing the most amazing landscapes and animals EVER all with my best friend, husband and co-adventurer - I'll suffer in the heat because the experience will be worth it. 

Guess Africa may have not been the most romantic choice for "honeymoon destination" as I don't think romantic involves the constant scent of bug spray, potentially having delusion from malaria medication, chances of lion attacks and probably being sweaty, smelly and dirty while driving across the Savannah on a jeep.  But I guess I look at it - that we said for better, for worse why not test him out on some of "the worse" early on ;)  Plus we can share our "romantic" time while in Zanzibar where I will be sipping those said cocktails on the beach, so we get the best of both worlds with this adventure!

How did you spend your honeymoon? Did you take one, or not?  So many of my previous co-workers, family member and people I talked to said they never took a honeymoon. After hearing that my husband and I made a promise that we would take one within the first year - and we would make it memorable no matter what it took.  Well we have made good on that promise, and although we now have a dwindling bank account we will have memories we hope to share and talk about for a lifetime!

via