The Office

The very first computer we got was given to us by someone (?) and it was huge! We really did not have a clue what to do with it at all. I remember putting a floppy disk with family history info in the drive and seeing names of my family. There was no program on the computer to make this info useful, but I felt great success!

I think we mostly used it to play solitaire.

After that not particularly useful computer we bought our fist desk top. We bought a few programs and games for the kids, learned how to use email and moved into the digital age.

That computer started in the basement, but we soon realized that thing needed to be close to where the action was. It moved into our kitchen on our cool new IKEA computer desk.

Fast forward a smidge, we upgraded our system and reworked our little pantry into a home office. It was terrific! It was a pretty small kitchen, so it was just dandy to have that space back.

And then we moved to the big house. Again, we had a dreamy pantry and we knew immediately it would be our little office.

Hero worked in the outlets and the phone line and the pull-out shelf. It was awesome to just close the door on that little set up.

Oh, and we used the upper shelves for kitchen stuff. Multi-tasking at its best.

Moving again brought a little dilemma to our computing situation. We had no pantry. Um, you mean the computer has to sit out? 

What now?

This was the temporary solution. Antique desk from my Great Grandma Sucy, tower on the side with the internet router balanced on top, and the printer over on a roll-around cart. Wires hanging out all over and dust bunnies collecting all in there with the giant speaker in the foot space.

Nice.

So, Hero and I got to work. 

Usually when I say "we" I really mean "he". But not this time - I was totally in on it! Of course, he went and purchased all the materials, made all the cuts, and nailed and screwed everything together.

But I helped with the design (so did Hero), held the boards while they were being cut (by Hero), held things in place while Hero attached everything, and was a huge support for him concerning little details. 

I also brought Hero ice water.

Yes, that is Hero holding something there, but I was busy photographing. He said he could handle it on his own.

Through the cord access opening in the lower part.

I did not need to hold anything here.

Look at that! It is awesome! We were done with the body of the "office". Doors were next, but we felt we could get this baby up and running soon!

Here is the part that I did all by myself. I filled holes and painted and stained. And I waited for a long time to let it cure so it would be good and dry.

That was about one day.

Hero and I loaded it up, got all the wires under control, and edited all the junk out of the desk drawers and kept only the essentials close at hand.

We are in love!

But wait, what about the doors?

Um, we ditched them.

The tower stuck out a little more on the bottom that we thought it would (Really we measured! We just thought we would turn it the other way.) I have always adored those cute little curtains used in place of doors under sinks but never found them very practical. This was my chance! I made this little cutie to slide back and forth as needed (to access the tower or the printer) and it works great. 

And I got that "little skirt under the sink" thing out of my system. 

Maybe.

The upper doors got nixed when we loaded the upper shelves and decided it looked pretty great. 

Done!

(We are so easy.)

See those potato chip tins to the left? They hold blank CDs and DVDs and other e stuff. I knew those things would come in handy. 

I have about seven more. 

What kind of person ends up with a potato chip tin collection?

Anyway, we found a good home for the antique desk. My aunt came to get it and claimed it would be a perfect sewing table. I am so glad it has a loving home.

Would have been funny if she were going to use it for her office.