Cupcakes and Cashmere

Before and After: Desk

October 19th, 2009

I rarely used to work at my desk and instead opted to balance my scalding computer on my lap while on the couch.  The bulky dark wood was not only uninviting, but the shape was not conducive to sitting at for long periods of time.  I had always loved Parsons desks (where the width of the legs equals thickness of the top) for their versatility and West Elm’s glossy version fit the bill.  I bought a sleek Lucite chair on eBay to accompany it and added a vintage phone and globe I found at flea markets, a simple lamp and fresh flowers.

before-desk1.jpg

{Before}

after-desk5.jpg

{After}

 

 

after-desk2.jpg

 

after-desk1.jpg

 

after-desk3.jpg

 

 

 

Advertisement

  • http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com Cafe Fashionista

    Your before and after’s never fail to amaze me. Loving the vintage telephone and the crystal clear chair embellishments. Perhaps you should be an interior designer – you have an amazing eye for all things wonderful! :)

  • http://alibdubrow.blogspot.com Ali

    Looks fantastic!

  • http://kwils.blogspot.com Kwil

    great set up. it does seem much more inviting.

  • http://www.sisterhood-of-bloggers.blogspot.com DL

    Hey I love everything you do with your apartment!!! it always turns up really nice!!! Great blog, it is one of my daily reads :)
    Kudos

    http://sisterhood-of-bloggers.blogspot.com/

  • http://cupcaketrash.blogspot.com cupcake.trash

    That chair is absolutely amazing!!!

    http://cupcaketrash.blogspot.com

  • http://mermaid08.blogspot.com Ariel

    i love the globe!!

  • angelina

    your desk looks great! i am in the process of making my desk more functional and i’m looking for a lamp, where did you find yours? it’s so cute!

  • http://www.aprettyproblem.com alisha

    lmfao how is that cat comfy on that plastic chair poor baby..

    love the flowers…

    http://www.aprettyproblem.com

    p.s. your thing on twitter about how cvs offered you chex mix instead of choc chips im still crying hahahaha.

  • http://www.thereadbaron.com Amanda Nicole

    Wow, a welcoming desk indeed! And don’t cats always have to be the first ones to try out a new piece of furniture?

  • http://copperoranges.blogspot.com Lexie

    i know this is about desks, but man lil luna has gotten so big! what a sweet kitty!

  • http://thelovelydove.blogspot.com Carissa

    what a beautiful desk! wish I had one like that. then maybe I wouldn’t work on the couch either! (I use a pillow to protect myself from my hot laptop…)

    your kitty is just so dang adorable, too!

  • http://silkesband.blogspot.com saara

    i luuv the transformation!!! To be completely honest I don’t like the chair so much but its amazing with the brighter color and I have a thing for the globes :D D Perfect!

  • http://www.thebudgetbabe.com The Budget Babe

    Your new chair is amazing, I’m still debating whether or not to get the clear console you have from CB2. Is it hard to keep lucite clean? I have a very slobbery dog :)

  • http://leilatalk.blogspot.com Leila

    I love the white! The see-through chair makes it definately! great job

  • http://www.smashion.com Vanessa

    What a new vibrant look your desk has! I love the decorations on it. Is the chair comfortable? I’ve been searching for a new desk chair lately~

    http://www.smashion.com

  • http://teddyloveslu.blogspot.com mart and lu

    it is so much brighter now…looks lovely! i especially love the globe and the vintage phone…it adds so much character!

  • http://www.ontheblogbandwagon.blogspot.com Wanderlusting

    The phone is what makes it. I’ve been looking for the perfect rotary phone for awhile now :)

  • http://www.iamstyle-ish.com tiffany

    oh, looks great and much more inviting! love the ghost chair too!

  • http://mlovesm.blogspot.com Mara

    love that little globe! hopefully you’ll sit at this desk more!

  • http://spiralstyle@blogspot.com Deborah Flanagan

    Love the clean slick look!
    check out my giveaway http://spiralstyle.blogspot.com/2009/10/spiral-style-giveaway.html

  • http://tulletarte.blogspot.com/ Jen Tarte

    As usual, very inspiring. I’ve been meaning to re-decorate my desk a bit. And I love the last picture! Apparently all my friend’s cats love to lay at that exact spot too, haha!

  • Christine

    Per-fec-tion!!

  • http://finaforever.com karafina

    awesome make over!! i’ve wanted a lucite chair for ages now, yours is perfect. Definitely much more inviting..

  • https://www.acozykitchen.com Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen

    What an awesome change! I’ve had my eye on this parsons desk from west elms for some time. The white looks so clean and gorgeous, though even if I had a desk I’d probably still sit on the couch with my computer–there’s just something about watching TV and internet surfing at the same time!

  • http://heart-of-light.blogspot.com Rachel (heart of light)

    Looks amazing! And perfect with the chair.

  • http://mahryskadaily.blogspot.com mahryska

    i love your revamped desk!!! totally cute!! and i love the vintage phone too! =D

  • http://www.maeko.org Maeko

    I need to streamline my workspace. It’s too cluttered with paperwork.

  • http://mikaelapronk.blogspot.com/ Mikaela

    so pretty!
    Your cat in the chair is a nice touch.

  • http://emilypanda.wordpress.com Emily

    super fun! I love the vintage phone oh your desk and the flowers! Fresh flowers for your tesk really add a personal touch more than anything in my honest opinion.

  • http://jennyvorwaller.com/blog j. vorwaller

    Lovely! I have a pair of the same chairs – aren’t they great? They look incredible no matter where they are in the house. . .

  • http://www.millybelle.blogspot.com Milltini

    Incredible how some simple changes really lighten the whole space up! Love, love!

  • http://anotherfishinthesea.wordpress.com Beth

    Lovely, looks magazine worthy. The phone is especially charming in contrast to the desk and chair!

  • http://allwomenstalk.com All Women Stalker

    Amazing transformation! Your furniture DIYs are truly inspiring.

    -meream

  • http://www.thenameisjin.wordpress.com Jheanell

    That looks awesome! I love the “ghost chairs”…I’ve been eyeing a pair from Ikea for quite some time, you’re inspiring me to go ahead and pick them up

  • http://www.sarahjio.com Sarah Jio

    Love the little white vases and cheerful flowers! My desk is a mess right now. You’ve just inspired me to clear out the clutter and get it back to cute! xo

  • http://foreverash.blogspot.com Ashley

    you are so chic, its ridiculous!

    xo ash

  • http://the-ensemble-project.blogspot.com/ connie

    great job!!! love those lucite chairs…do you mind me asking, how you much paid for them on ebay?

  • http://jamieofalltrades.typepad.com jamieofalltrades

    I’ve been thinking about getting that desk too. You’re inspiring me to do so. Your kitty is awfully cute too!

  • http://feteLA.com Ami

    OMG! I love love love that vintage phone! I have been yearning for one, regardless of the fact that I don’t have a home phone at all lol.

  • http://monicais.wordpress.com/ monicais

    Love the white/white look! Feels so inviting & the kitty shot is priceless XOXO
    http://monicais.com/

  • http://nikymarie.blogspot.com Nicole Marie

    its so cute! love everything you put on there for decoration. i would probably actually want to sit down and do my work there! and the kitty. awww

  • http://kerensgotyourtongue.blogspot.com Keren

    Ohmy, the desk looks amazing. White is the epitome of bright and sleek. ♥

  • http://orchidgrey.blogspot.com/ Orchid Grey

    this is so so beautiful and inviting! I love that lucite chair. You cat is so beautiful also!
    cheers!

    http://www.orchidgrey.blogspot.com

  • http://zandrarockefeller.bogspot.com Zandra

    Love your page darling!

  • http://feronia.etsy.com Clarie

    And I blogged about your new desk because it got me inspired!

    http://loveferonia.blogspot.com/2009/10/sorting-out-posture.html

  • http://velvetcupcakes.blogspot.com Kate Funk

    I love this!! So cheery and inviting. I have those little Ikea vases to, they are great for just a couple colorful blooms. Side note- My cat is all black too!!
    velvetcupcakes.blogspot.com

  • Mary Grace

    NICE!

  • http://thesoho.blogspot.com/ southern hostess

    It looks great! Your home is getting a fabulous makeover, isn’t it?

  • http://www.hausofhybrid.blogspot.com erin

    the phone reminds me of the friend episode where pheobe hates pottery barn. love the new look!

  • http://indarapatra.blogspot.com jayde

    have brown desk right now. white’s kinda high-maint. but it looks good, shabby chic with a hint of modern