Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Studio Office Reveal. Part 2.

The studio office setup continues!

As you can see, Baby has made herself right at home in my computer/transcribing corner.

Please be careful of the bird lamp, Baby!

Last week I showed you the fabulous vintage green writing desk, parakeet lamp, and chalkware Mary statue that sits on one wall of the studio/office.

I'm afraid the computer/transcribing corner lacks the same vintage charm.

It consists of a small faux wood desktop set on metal legs and an old beige file cabinet. I've had it longer than I can remember. (The jury is still out on whether I'll try to paint the file cabinet white. The ideal time to do that would have been before it was moved into the room, so my guess is it will forever more be boring beige.)

The wicker 3-drawer storage unit was purchased at Target and the bird lamp at The Christmas Tree Shop, both maybe about 5 years ago?

The computer/transcribing desk sits next to the bedroom's one window (which is quite large) so it's a very bright room, although it's hard to tell on this overcast day!

One of the nicest things about this new room is that it came with an awesome roommate - Tiger!
Tiger sleeps on Amanda's old bed, which is currently across the room from my computer desk. Since Amanda often comes home from the city for visits, she still sleeps in this bed with Tiger.

They've been doing that for over 20 years, since 1993 when we got Tiger as a kitten.
(I love this picture!)

The small bedroom that I just moved out of (Court's old room) needs to be thoroughly de-cluttered and have the wallpaper stripped. After that it will get a fresh coat of paint and have the 33-year old wall to wall carpet torn up and new hardwood floors put down (hooray!).

Once that is done, the twin bed will be moved into that room...

... and bookcases will line the wall of my new office where the bed now stands. Or at least that's the plan.
(I love this picture of Tiger. I caught her just as she was about to yawn!)

Tiger will be 21 years old this August (or as our vet likes to say, of legal age!)
As Tiger has aged, it's gotten harder for her to get around, so a makeshift set of stairs (round storage boxes and an old vanity stool) allows her to get up and down from the bed that she has always slept on. Her food and water bowls have also been moved onto the bed. And since it was also becoming more difficult for her to get to the litter box down in the basement, we set one up in this room for her.

Tiger loves to hang out in her "Tiger Den" that sits atop the bed (a cardboard box with a blanket lining and an overhang of blankets on the roof). I'm hoping she'll want to stay roommates with me and have her "Den" set up on the floor, which would actually be so much easier for her. But if she rejects that idea and insists on sleeping on top of the bed, as she's done her whole life, I'll hold off on bringing the bookcases in and just keep things as they are with the bed in my office.

In my last post, you may have noticed the baby gate set up in the doorway of my new office studio. As I mentioned, we set up a litter box for Tiger in this room since it's so difficult for her to go up and down the stairs to the basement.

The gate was put up to keep this handsome boy out. For those of you who do not own both dogs and cats... For some very strange reason, dogs consider the little droppings in a litter box something of a gourmet treat. Yes, (gag), you read that right. So this gate is the equivalent of a "Restaurant Closed" sign for Mr. J.
Who knew we'd be needing it again so soon?

Of course Baby isn't going to let a "Baby" gate stop her from getting in. Nope. 
The Baby gate is clearly not Baby proof!
She just leaps over in a single bound.

All the pieces you see in the background (two of Amanda's old bookcases and a small apothecary chest) are sitting here temporarily until I move yet another bookcase from my old office in, but I first have to give it a fresh coat of paint.

So, yes, it's a bit of a cluttered mess in this back corner right now, but all in good time! Hopefully I'll have more to share soon!


Have a great week, everyone!

Donna

16 comments:

Maureen Wyatt said...

As much as I like everything you have done in your office, I'm more intrigued with how you have managed to make it comfortable for all the pets who insist on sharing it. Except for the litter snacking dog that is! lol

...Madame May... said...

... Wow ... getting there, your room's looking good...tiger is doing well for her age, I hope ours gets there too, she's 15...gorgeous photo of Amanda and Tiger sleeping.... precious
Oh yes, the old eat the kitty poo when no one's watching trick! Our dog did that too :)

...:) ...
blessings

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

It's coming along nicely and I laughed at Tiger ...who was looking a little bored there right before the yawn! :)

J said...

You are doing a great job getting organized!
Baby really enjoys her view and the proximity to "mom." My Charlie likes to plunk himself in FRONT of the screen!
I'm so glad that Tiger is comfortable in his senior years. We have the same problem with the "litter box snack station" and our dog - ewww!

Claudia said...

Tiger is beautiful! We do everything we can to make life easier for our sweet pets, don't we?

The studio is looking great, Donna!
xo
Claudia

Susan said...

Donna, I have to say, that is the NEATEST office space I've ever seen. Oh my GOODNESS. You are soooooo organized. It looks really,really nice.

I was so happy to hear that Tiger is 20 years old. That's how old Honey Cat is. Tiger's luckier, though. I don't have a second litter box upstairs where Honey sleeps. She still has to truck down to the one in the kitchen corner.

The vet said only one thing is keeping her alive-----love. ha!

Nice job, Donna. Susan

Hcolton said...

Isn't it funny how after our children leave home we still have to child proof and arrange our stuff to accommodate our beloved pets. lol

Maria (Magia Mia) said...

You are such a wonderful kitty momma....makes me smile....:)

NanaDiana said...

I think you should change the name of this post to Pets & Their Peculiarities! lol Love that you have had your kitty that long! Wow- that is old for a cat and glad that you accommodate your baby to get on and off the bed.

Love the "restaurant closed" gate! How funny and what a great idea!

Your room is looking good. How great to have a space of your own like that- xo Diana

Unknown said...

Your office is coming along beautifully! I can't believe Tiger is almost 21 -- that is amazing! Here is hoping she has another 10 or 20 years to go! PS Baby is just gorgeous.

Merlesworld said...

I had to laugh as we only have Angus sometimes and he does think cat droppings are so tasty.
Merle.........

Melanie said...

I like how you're setting up your new rooms, Donna - especially since I'm redoing Tim's room at the same time! I know what you mean about tearing out very old carpet (ours was 25 years old) and putting in the hardwood floors...so much better! Your Tiger is so sweet. I can't believe she's almost 21 years old. Our oldest cat, Zippo is turning 15 in a couple of weeks and so far, he can still jump onto the bed and kitchen table (!) but I know that will gradually go downhill.

Suz said...

oh you do understand....Poor tiger.I have old Ms Kitty O'SHea...and she's half his age...
I so get the dog thing...ha ha
my dog did that too...oh ick
I love your lamp
and Baby...does she leave the old guy alone?
Our flooring starts next week...the cleaning of the clutter and stuff just about killed me ....
why did I gather so much?

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

I loved touring you office with you. Like you office our office has "areas" that are really looking good and others in different stages. Kinda feels like my life. I love Baby and Tiger. Our dog Bo (before he died) thought cat poop was like dessert, made me want to throw up. Right now I've painting our bedroom, bathroom, front and back porches. Gosh does it never end...but then what would we do?

BeachGypsy said...

the office is looking great!! I left you a reply underneath the "Wisteria" post okay? Happy sunday!!

BeachGypsy said...

the "dont breed or buy while homeless die" over there on your sidebar, where did you get it or did you make it?? I'd like to put it on my blog as well,not sure how to or if I need permission to use it you know where it came from or if you made it may I use it? Thanks for your help!