I am trying to get back into the groove of blogging after being away for more than a week. This is not a new post – but Sunday Favorites is a way for me to showcase an older post.
Sunday Favorites is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely and always entertaining Chari at Happy to Design. You can see a full list of all the particpants who are sharing Oldie but Goodie posts. Please hop on over for a relaxing Sunday afternoon of reminiscing.
So why did I name my post “Two-fer” Met Monday? You’ve all heard of a “two-fer” haven’t you? “Two fer the Price of One?” Well, that’s what you’re getting today. Two Before and Afters’s in one post.
I am also breaking away from my home to share with you my second home. My home away from home…the home that allows me to pay for all the pretties in my first home…the home I can’t wait to leave at the end of the day to head home…my office.
In July 2008, I made the decision to start my own Real Estate firm. It was a five year goal and I was on tract – and more than ready. I purchased a small office building instead of renting. The purchase price was “as-is,” and the Seller was mighty proud of how he had furnished and decorated it. Below is how it looked when it was purchased.
The ink where I signed my name on the deed was not even dry when I started painting and re-decorating. 🙂 The area you see is the large waiting area when you first enter the office. There are three larger offices and a conference room.
THE BEFORE
I needed something to go on each side of the print above the distressed, white cabinet. This is one of my favorite prints that I own. I love all things botanical. This used to hang in my former office, but when hung alone in the new office – it looked very insignificant. So, I searched in my basement and garage for items I already had. Nothing seemed to do any justice to the print. Then, I remembered two metal grates I had purchased at Michael’s at a year end sale, for about $6 bucks each. I bought them simply because they were on sale, but didn’t have any clue what I would do with them. (Oh please….don’t even pretend you’ve never done THAT before!) 🙂
Using some ordinary floral wire….I attached the planters to the fronts of the grates.
It then looked like this…
I am famous for saving wreaths and baskets for recycling the florals. My attic is filled with them, I never throw them away. And this was a time which called for recycling like no other. My decorating budget was….well….$0.00
I tore apart a wreath and a floral arrangement, too…and started filling the containers.
This is what I ended up with….
In case you’re wondering…although I am a huge fan of Creedence Clearwater Survival (its an old Southern band in case you didn’t know LOL) – that is not what the three letters on the wall stand for. It’s my business name – Crossroads Carolina Realty.
(By the way….my logo reads “…where all roads lead to home!”
Here is my business logo….
Here are some more views of the waiting area…
I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my office, and also my floral project. Thank you, Susan, for hosting Met Monday.
Happy Home Away From Home….Barb
Keetha Broyles says
Quite the transformation(s)
View CommentAllidink says
How very cute! It looks so sweet 🙂
All the best,
View CommentAllison
Diane @ Four Paws and Co says
What a fabulous re-do with a very skinny budget! Yep, I have also bought treasures without a purpose in mind, but sometimes I get bit in the butt over my purchase, that’s stored forever till it’s finally donated… ☺ Diane
View CommentKim @ Manning Family Tree says
Loved it the first time & guess what? I still love it!!!
View CommentCindy says
Gorgeous! What a great re-do, homey, warm and beautiful colors~ I bet your clients love it! Cindy
View CommentWsprsweetly Of Cottages says
YOU are amazing! All I can say is some of us got it and some of us don’t. 🙂 Congratulations, Susan, YOU’VE GOT IT! Those turned out just beautiful!
View Comment~smiles!
Mona
Gypsy aka Tam says
Awesome Makeover – I’m certain that your clients feel very welcome in this warm and cozy space. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Sunday,
View CommentTam
Dana and Daisy says
it looks cozy and homey, especially right for a realty office! great cost savings too!
View CommentBarb says
cool transformation barb… i have lots of hidden treasures stashed around my home. after the wedding i think i’ll start brining them out of hiding and find creative ways to use them while i redo my home.
View Commenthave a wonderful sunday and a great week 🙂
Cindy says
Awesome! Great vision!
View CommentDixie says
Barb… what a fantastic transformation… feel free to drop by French Lique… I have a few rooms that could use your touch!
beautiful! Dixie
View CommentHappy To Be says
GM Barb glad to se you back up and running my friend…Now you know I loved this office redo before and am so glad you shared it with us again…proof you can do a whole lot without spending alot of $$$…well done my friend…May you have a great Sunday…hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
View CommentFeedsack Fantasy says
I have Monday open for your visiting … LOVE the transformations. They are lovely. Very creative.
View CommentTFN ~ Marydon
marty39 says
This transformation amazes me. You have such a knack for seeing the potential and invisioning the possibilities. I love the end results. It looks gorgeous. Hope you’re not working too hard. Miss you around the neighborhood. Love ya, Marty
View CommentKim Kasch says
Wow that does look homey and cozy – perfect place for nerve-wracked home buyers
View CommentVivienne says
OMGosh that is gorgeous! If my real estate office seemed that homey I probably would say, never mind with the house-hunting, I’ll just move in right here! It is just beautiful!
View Comment(And absolutely I buy things on clearance and wonder what I’ll do later…)
Thanks for stopping by to visit me. 🙂
Kathy's Red Door Welcome says
This is a lovely transformation. Who would know it’s the same room? Looks very inviting!
View CommentCarmen says
Wonderful! Love it!
View CommentKBeau says
What a homey waiting area. How is the real estate market in your area?
View CommentCathy says
Wow!!! What a wonderful transformation!!! It is so much more YOU now!!! You did an amazing job!!!
Thanks for sharing this!!!
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!!
View CommentXOXO
Cathy
Chari says
Hi Barb…
My friend, I’m so glad that you joined in with the fun of Sunday Favorites…what a great post to reshare!!! I missed this post the first time around so it was such a treat to see it!!!
WOW…how exciting!!! A brand new office for a brand new business!!! I can just see you…so excited and decorating your little heart away!!! Hehe!!! You’re such a talented decorator/designer, Barb!!! Your office is fabulous…I love that it feels like you’re sitting in a living room instead of a cold sterile office environment!!! I love the furniture…that pretty little dry sink or cabinet is beautiful!!! Ohhhh…and I love the wall art…those decorative iron wall panels were so pretty and I loved that you added the wall pockets with the pretty floral arrangements! Fabulous!!!
Loved seeing your business card too! What a great, inspirational post!!! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!!!
Have a super Sunday, my friend!
View CommentChari
xinex says
You really did a fabulous job on this make-over, Barb. I am glad you reposted it, so many great ideas!…Christine
View CommentCarrie says
You did a fabulous job with the office makeover! The planters on the grates look great with the floral arrangement.
View Commentjanet says
Barb, your office makeover is absolutely beautiful!!!! so pretty and so inviting. Im also admiring the cabinet between the two chairs, as i just picked one up at a yard sale and im still in the process of deciding on my reinvention.
View Commenthugs
janet
Betty says
Great tranformation; so when’s the opening day party? You said you decided on July 2009.is that when you will be opening? How do you plan to advertise your opening of the business? I wish you a lot of luck; you’ll do well. You’ve got an entire military base of clients available to you. go get ’em!
View CommentBetty says
Is this what you did with your winnings from Mississippi Casinos? LOL!
View CommentBarb @ GritsandGlamour says
Betty – you inadvertently pointed out a typo. I started my business in July 2008. I have been in business almost a year now, and I am doing well. We are blessed to have such a thriving military market, and the low rates and VA loans are a double blessing.
As for Casino money…I came back a few pounds lighter b/c I left some of my backside there. Thats how bad I lost. LOL Oh well…I got to meet Paula Deen! 🙂
View Commentlisazahnwrites says
That is a very pretty re-do of your office. I’d feel right at home as your client. And I love to see such creativity at a budget of $0, because that’s what my budget usually is!
View CommentKammy says
Hey Barb !
View CommentI love how you changed your office – the change is very warm and not so stuffy like most offices. You have taste and it shows. I really love how you mixed the fabrics and textures. Love your wall art on such a cheap budget too !
Hugs ~ Kammy
Hollace says
Beautiful makeover!
View Commentlaurie @ bargain hunting says
Barb, your office is incredible. If you have to have a home away from home, this is the way it should look-so comfortable and pretty. You are so cute-yes! of course, I have bought something(s) just because they were a good price, and I had no idea where I’d use them. You sure make great use of your buys! laurie
View CommentCass @ That Old House says
Oh my goodness that office turned out so beautifully — what a change! You are very talented — good eye for detail, and for charm!
View CommentLovely…
Cass
PS CCR… hahaha… yeah, I remember them too!