Trying Out a Standing Desk + Livening Up My New Office

I split my work days between two spaces: my lovely home office (above, with its DIY walnut waterfall desk, sunny window with mountain view, and a handy treadmill in the closet), and a windowless office space which literally used to be a closet (below).

I am really trying to make this closet-office work, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to work from home some days, but if I am being honest with you then I have to admit that the dreary, windowless space has made it difficult to stay motivated.  It was especially difficult when the days were the shortest, because I'd commute in the dark both ways and then spend the entire day under fluorescent light.  I know that this plight is not unique to me and many, many people log their working hours in less than ideal conditions - and to some, I probably have it really good (did I mention they recently installed a heater in this closet office?  #spoiled).

I also know that I have been very lucky.  Getting to work from home for 10+ years was a luxury and I took for granted how the sunlight pouring in kept my mood elevated and my brain focused.  Adapting to a new environment - the job and the office - has been challenging, but that's life.   

I knew the adjustment would be difficult, but what I didn't predict was how the job would wreak havoc on my body, thanks to a 2-3 hour commute (depending on winter road conditions) each day, combined with extended periods of sitting at a desk.  When I work from home I can skip that time commuting, plus I am more inclined to get up for breaks.  I toss a load of laundry in the machine, take the dogs for a pee break, or hop on the treadmill for 15 minutes.  At the office, I just sit and sit and sit and sit - sometimes I even sit on my breaks and lunch because someone comes in and we chat.  Or I just feel too blah to get up.  For some reason, I just move less at the office.  By the end of my first week, I was getting so sore and achy that it was actually painful to drive home.

The saddest thing is that I am doing research in workplace health - and my own work space made me unhappy and unhealthy!

I decided that I had to make some changes.  I brought in a few things from home to make my desk a little nicer and more functional - even something small, like switching my mouse pad for a prettier cacti one and bringing in a photo of Hubby and I, made me happier.



It sounds silly, but buying an inexpensive electric kettle made my office situation so much better too, because having a nice cup of tea any time I want is so relaxing and comforting, plus walking down the hall to fill up the kettle gives me a reason to move at least a few times a day - but I'm not blowing my pay check by wandering over to the cafe every day.

 

Don't laugh, but I also went exploring and found a bathroom really far away and that's the one I use - so once I filter my tea (haha), I've got an excuse stretch my legs.  Now that the weather is warming up (but still kinda snowy and icy where I live), I keep some boots with good tread under my desk so I can go for a little walk around on my lunch. 

All of these little changes have added up (and I still have more changes to make), but the biggest change was adding a convertible standing desk - which has actually made a HUGE impact on my health.  My physiotherapist warned against a standing desk because standing all day can cause health problems too, but I really wanted the chance to switch between sitting and standing.  I did a lot of research and the problems sitting causes us are so alarming.  The solution seems to be avoiding staying stationary: not sitting or standing in one place for too long.  So a desk that converts from sitting to standing - and a commitment to move more during the day - seems to be the best way to combat the negative health impacts of sedentary jobs like mine.

To help me make my office space healthier, AnthroDesk sent me their ErgoSpring Standing Desk Converter (and an anti-fatigue mat) for review and this standing desk been a life changer for me.

It is HEAVY, so Hubby helped me haul it in (say that three times fast!).  Set up was quick and easy (10 minutes - just as promised), and because of the weight this desk is incredibly sturdy.  It grips my existing desk with four strong suction cups.  Sometimes I lightly lean on it when people come in for a chat (shhhh, you're not supposed to do that) and it doesn't even wobble - it's so solid.

By grabbing two levers on either side, I can lift or lower this convertible standing desk with ease thanks to the gas spring technology.  The desk has six different height adjustments available: 44cm, 43cm, 38cm, 31cm, 22cm, 13cm, which is what I wanted because, at 5"9, I'm not freakishly tall but, as my Mom says, I have a long turkey neck, so I like that the desk height can be adjusted - I always use the tallest height setting.  

In the lowered position, it raised my work surface a bit, so having an adjustable chair was necessary.  

The height and ergonomics are perfect, but I am still struggling a little with the mouse because if my keyboard is where I want it (centered), my mouse is moved to the right and then my hand feels like it rubs under the desk.

But the positive impact on my health has been amazing.  I still experience some pain and stiffness because, as my physiotherapist tells me, I shouldn't be sitting for more than 2-3 hours a DAY - and I do that just driving to work and home.  However, I do feel a lot better better thanks to this standing desk option.  When I'm standing, I try to do some light stretching and movement while I work and that helps a lot - I never keep my feet planted in the same standing position for hours on end.  Plus, when I'm already standing I seem to be more inclined to move, which is great!  The key, for me to feel good, seems to be finding the balance between sitting, standing, and walking around.

I would definitely suggest a convertible standing desk as an option to anyone who sits for work, with the caveat that you alternate between sitting and standing to reap the full benefits.  Huge thanks to AnthroDesk for sending me this convertible standing desk!  The best thing is that they have both a Canadian website and a US website and - major perk for my Canadian friends - they offer free shipping in Canada (for orders over $50).  Check out their FAQ page if you're interested in more information on standing desks.  If you're ready to commit, they offer regular sales and discounts, so be sure to follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.  There's a giveaway on the US page right now (good luck!). 



While I adjust to this new work environment, I'd love to hear from readers who have made their work spaces happier and healthier - what are your tips for me?

How I'm Hiding My Closet "Gym" | Simple DIY Curtain That Hides a Track

I have an obsession with squeezing as much square footage out of a house as possible.  In both the townhouse and our current lakehouse, I've crammed closets full of furniture, art - basically treating some closets as mini rooms.  Now I'm transitioning our office closet into the most ambitious purpose yet: a teeny, tiny home gym.

In case you missed it, the previous office closet makeover looked like this:

Here's the before:

I loved how we turned the office closet into a little nook and there was still lots of storage space, but eventually we realized that we didn't really need the storage space.  I had emptied those pink bins awhile ago and we spent December and January shredding files so we could ditch the filing cabinet altogether.  After a little de-cluttering, we removed the shelf, repaired the wall, rolled on a can of (slightly off-tint white) paint, and were left with this blank slate:



Now the office closet is home to our sleek new SpaceWalker treadmill and we'll be tackling some more projects, like adding a fan, installing and outlet, and storing our weights, etc.  Even though the new treadmill is so gorgeous, I still wanted the option to conceal this space so I enlisted my Mom to sew a DIY closet curtain.  When we moved here, I had to choose between the existing bi-fold closet doors and a smaller Ikea Expedit, or no closet doors and the bigger Expedit - I chose the latter, with no regrets!  A sliding door like the beachy glass one in our bedroom would be lovely but so awkward, because the bookcase is pretty close to the closet opening.  One day maybe we'll spring for a pocket door (or ditch the Expedit?), but we had leftover curtain track from the laundry room curtain system, and I found a gorgeous cream linen for only $3 per meter - so clearly the Universe was steering me in the direction of a closet curtain.

I wanted to do the closet curtain the same way my Mom and I did the laundry room curtains, because seeing the track never bothers me, but my Mom is so ambitious.  She's always thinking big and she has so many clever ideas.  With some work reflection, she came up with a simple DIY curtain that easily hides the curtain track and looks so seamless.  

Here's how to easily sew a curtain that hides a curtain track.

Supplies:

• White linen fabric
• Curtain track + hooks
• Sewing machine and thread
• Non-Woven Interfacing (ours was about 4" wide, doesn't need to be fusible)
• Shirring tape

The process was actually very straightforward.  First we washed and dried the fabric to settle any shrinkage and then gave it a quick iron.  The edges and bottom were hemmed as usual (folded over, ironed, sewn down) - pretty basic for a curtain.  The top is where we got creative.  To stiffen the top and keep it from drooping and exposing the clips and curtain track, we used non-woven interfacing, which was sewn right into the top seam to give it some stiffness.   

Next we sewed on some shirring tape, focusing the stitching on the bottom third so the top edge of it was loose. 

This is where we attached the clips from the curtain track and - voila! - a super simple curtain that hides the track!  We didn't do any ruching or shirring, we just evenly spaced the clips and so when the curtain is closed it has some soft folds.

Here's a peek at the back:

When the closet curtain is open, it looks like this:

I love this as a solution because it was fast and easy!  I know not everyone would opt for a closet curtain because it can look dangerously student-y, but living in this cottage on the lake I think I can get away with some relaxed design choices.  I wanted to share because if anyone liked the idea of a curtain track - but not how I opted to keep the track visible in the laundry room - then this is an easy alternative.

I am starting to lose track (haha) of how many curtains my sweet Mom has helped me make!  Thanks to my Mom, after that little patterned curtain misstep, both the bedroom and the office boast beautiful back tab tweed curtains (if you need a really detailed back tab curtain tutorial, here it is), the bathroom has a custom, floor-to-ceiling shower curtain, the laundry room is hidden behind some pretty polka dot drapes on a track - and don't forget the clever layered sheers she made for the townhouse and those sweet ruched curtains for the guestroom.  Speaking of guestrooms, she whipped up dreamy sheers for the bunkie too - oh, and the silk drapes and bedroom sheers in the townhouse as well. 

The only space that doesn't have curtains yet? 

Her place!  Oops.  I really owe her a sewing session soon...  

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New Beachy Art for the Office from Minted

I had the absolute pleasure of working with the folks at Minted to bring a little bit of a more beachy feel to the home office.  Last fall I re-decorated my workspace, ditching my beloved DIY treadle sewing machine desk for a more mid-century inspired, walnut waterfall desk for two.  I also added DIY back tab curtains (in the most perfect turquoise tweed), gorgeous new white leather desk chairs and mod task lamps, plus a lovely leafy plant.  Then I shopped the house for the rest of the makeover: my favorite velvet chair (heaved from a trash heap years ago), art by Hubby's grandpa, a sentimental antique trunk, and an old painting I made for a magazine feature.  I loved everything except my painting - which can't hold a candle to Hubby's grandpa's art - but it was just a placeholder until the right piece came along.  

You might have noticed that I am so slow when it comes to decorating, but I don't like to buy cheap stand-ins or accept comped products that aren't the the right fit.  I prefer taking the time to find the perfect thing.

That's where Minted comes in!

They offered up any artwork of my choosing and I spent an embarrassingly long time pouring over the website, narrowing down my choices.  The amazing selection can be kind of overwhelming, but luckily I had a focus because we had just returned from Punta Cana and I was committed to adding more beachy elements to the lakehouse decor. 

During my search, I kept coming back to this gorgeous watercolor print of a woman floating lazily in a vintage-style swimsuit.  The piece ("Float" by Betty Hatchett) captured that beachy vibe I was craving while still staying true to my mid-century modern aesthetic.  Plus I think it plays well with the sweeping brushstrokes of the abstract art across the room.  I didn't want anything that would compete too much with Hubby's grandpa's art - I love keeping the focus on those sentimental paintings.

"Float" also calls to mind the figures in the mid-century Hungarian posters in the bedroom and also repeats that pop of orange that crops up here and there in my decor (like this photo I took that was turned into a painting). 

It's perfect!  I ordered it in a massive 44" by 44", framed in a simple white wood frame (that's made in Italy).  Because it has a lot of negative space, I don't find that it overwhelms the room.  But then, I LOVE big art!

It was shipped so securely and quickly.  Of course computer monitors will change colors, but I think the website is a very good representation - I was very happy with my order and it looked exactly how I expected it to look.  That's a tricky thing to nail with online shopping!

I recently picked up a turquoise "LIVE LOVE LAKE" pillow that I just could not resist.  I was shopping for a gift and spotted tables and tables full of turquoise lakehouse decor - it was too much temptation... (here's a similar pillow in green and this lake house pillow is cute too although this bolster is definitely more my color palette).      

There's nothing like a gorgeous piece of art to breathe new life into a space and I've gotten so many compliments on this new piece!  At other times of the year, the sun pours into my office window but right now the office is a bit shady, especially because the leafy trees in the forest behind us fill in, which is lovely, but they obscures the light quite a bit.  I'm happy for this cheery piece of art because it helps brighten up the space and encourages me to hurry up and finish my work so I can get outside and go jump in the lake!

This post was sponsored by Minted but all thought, opinions, and product selections are my own!
The selection at Minted is incredible, with something for everyone, but it's a touch overwhelming so I'll be doing some round ups of my curated picks in the future.  If you're hunting for art for a space, let me know in the comments and I'll make some suggestions to get those creative juices flowing!

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Home Office Makeover with a Colorful, Mid-Century Modern Inspired Look | Before + After

I'm so thrilled to finally have a home office space that inspires and motivates me.  Since it was originally a dumping ground for piles of unpacked boxes, I was relieved when we cobbled together a functioning space last spring, using my old DIY treadle desk and cast-offs from other rooms (like the teal drapes, the maple dresser, and the black arm chair).  We even tackled a few small office DIY projects, like turning the office closet into a little turquoise nook, plus hacking the new white Expedit and building magazine storage bins for it, but we really didn't give this room the attention it deserved - until now!

Here's a quick reminder of the "before(s)" (you can see more photos here):

After living with the space for awhile, Hubby and I devised a wishlist for the perfect home office:

• Desk for two
• Hidden cords and simplified tech (no more hulking printer sitting on the desk) 
• Minimal office clutter
• Space for Hubby's great-grandfather's trunk (there's NO room elsewhere and it's special)
• Comfy chair to curl up in and read
• Uplifting color palette 
• Design that feels cohesive with the rest of the lakehouse
• Room for a treadmill

Check, check, check!  Here's our home office today:



I can't even walk down the hall without peeking my head in and smiling, plus working in here is an absolute dream.  We still have a few small projects we'll tackle over the next few months, but I'm loving the new home office!  Here's a closer look at everything we chose:

The Turquoise Tweed Back Tab Drapes

I'm embarrassed to say that I ordered this turquoise tweed fabric in back in the spring of last year!  It's the perfect turquoise, shot with shimmering cream so it's a soft hue.  Using the same back tab curtain sewing tutorial we used for the original bedroom drapes (and my new green tweed curtains in the master bedroom), Mom and I whipped up a set for the office as well, so both bedrooms have the same style of window treatment now.

The DIY Solid Walnut Desk

With the curtains squared away, next we figured out the ideal desk proportions/measurements we wanted and built a solid walnut waterfall desk with Hubby's Dad, using solid walnut counter top from Craft-Art.   

Remember how I mentioned that the cords will be hidden with our simple desk design?  The magic is in that little inset panel of walnut wood we added to the back of the desk.  I pulled the desk away from the wall so you can see how we used some screws to affix our power bar back there and then used screw-in hooks to corral the wires.  It's such a simple cable management system, but everything is tucked behind the desk neatly, between the wall and the inset walnut panel, so not a single cord can be seen from the front or side - just the tiny tail of our laptop cords and the lamp cords disappearing behind the desk.

We ran the power bar cord down the leg of the desk and to the left where it plugs into the wall.  I have a woven storage basket tucked there so we can collect paper to recycle or burn, and it hides the outlet and plug.  As much as I enjoyed my DIY treadle sewing machine base desk, it was a challenge to corral all of the wires, so I just love how all of our cables and junk are completely hidden with this desk.

You might have noticed that I ditched my big monitor and keyboard.  I needed those to write a 300+ page dissertation, but I prefer just using my laptop these days.  I also no longer need to print hundreds of pages and scan dozens of book chapters, so we gave my old beast of a laser printer to my Dad and bought a sleek wireless color inkjet that I keep off my desk.
 
I thought about building a little desk organizer but find that I don't need it - pretty much everything is on my laptop and when I'm furiously making lists (a lot of which I make on my laptop now too), I'll grab a pretty pen and notebook, which I put away at the end of the day.  My brain cannot function with a messy desk, but I spent years with my desk piled high with exams to mark and illegible research notes written on receipts in the middle of the night.  A perpetual student until only a few years ago, I've dreamed of a clean, uncluttered desk like this for twenty years.

IT FEELS SO GOOD.

The Modern White Leather Desk Chairs

We gave my beloved desk chair to my Dad.  He bought it for me in high school and it was a custom fabric choice - don't ask me what I was thinking - so I was sad to see it go, but my Dad was using a really crummy chair in his office so I'm happy he can make use of it now.  I really wanted a matching pair for Hubby and I, so we ordered two soft white leather mid-back chairs by Meelano from Wayfair (they come in different colors and also a gold base finish). 

I LOVE these chairs so much!  They have a much smaller scale that suits the small size of the room.  The mid-century inspired design complements the look I'm going for in the lakehouse, plus they tie in the cream leather from the living room.  They are really, really comfy, but not as loungey as my old chair (which was comfy enough for me to lose hours watching videos or reading blogs).  These days I'm more focused on the task at hand and try to get in and get out of the office efficiently so I can spend less time sitting, which is a health objective of mine.  I kind of like that although this chair is fabulous, it doesn't beckon me to put my feet up and take a nap like my old chair did. 

Because they're light, I appreciate the brushed aluminum handle on the back so we're not always touching the leather.  I love clever design touches like this:

The Sculptural White Desk Lamps

Just in case I decided one day to bring back that ginormous monitor, I wanted really tall desk lamps - but they needed to have a small footprint because our desk is fairly compact.  I rounded up a bunch of gorgeous mid-century modern inspired table lamps and was almost ready to order one, but then I found the perfect Stilnovo lamps on Wayfair.  These lamps have such a sleek mid-century modern vibe, plus the slim, elegant design and cream finish complement the chairs so well.  I've always loved the Serge Mouille lamps and these have a similar look, but a much more realistic price.  The simple design allows the height to be adjusted quite dramatically:

The Reading Corner:

The office "nook" is going to be the new home of our treadmill and also some vertical storage, so Hubby's great-grandpa's trunk needed to find a new home in the office.  It's not my typical mid-century modern style, but it's super special to Hubby so I really wanted to make room for it.  It's also practical:  it houses my new wireless printer plus other office supplies.

Above the trunk I hung a soft abstract painting I made for a magazine feature.  When I'm hibernating in January, I might paint something new for that spot.

Beside the trunk I tucked the displaced velvet chair from the living room.  It needed a new home, we needed a cozy chair to curl up in...  It's deceptively comfy and I love that if I'm working, Hubby can read a magazine or book in here if he doesn't need to use his laptop.  We're spending more time together because of the office re-design and I love that.  Plus I feel so good that I could use furniture and art that we already had to decorate this corner - my only splurge was the planter! 

The corner needed something and when I added this giant, low light loving peace lily, the whole office came to life.  I already have one of these planters in the dining room so it helps contribute to that sense of flow and cohesiveness I want to create in the house.

The Ikea Expedit Bookcase

I am still smitten my white Ikea Expedit bookcase - our DIY plywood magazine storage bins and the turquoise Ikea hack are still going strong.  My collection of vintage Strawberry Hill Pottery has grown a little, but not much else has changed with the bookshelf.  I have a calendar I hang on the left, but I removed it for photos so you can't see what kind of trouble I get into.

Whew!  That's the tour of our refreshed home office.  I used a wide angle lens (so excuse the distorted proportions) to try to capture the room as a whole.  This is the view when you walk by the office:

SOURCES:

Waterfall Desk: DIY Project 
Chairs: Leather Mid-Back Chairs by Meelano from Wayfair
Lamps: Stilnovo from Wayfair
Artwork (above desk): Bert Weir
Artwork (above trunk): DIY Project
Curtains: DIY Project (fabric from U-fab)
Velvet Chair: Vintage Makeover Project
Pillow: BlueBelle Gray from Chapters Indigo
Walnut Planter: Modernica
Trunk: Antique
Bookcase: Ikea Expedit
Magazine Storage: DIY Project 
Turquoise Bookcase "Doors": DIY Project
Ceiling Fixture: Ikea Vanadin

GET THE LOOK:

I couldn't have put together such a beautiful space without the help of U-Fab, Craft-Art, Wayfair (and, of course, my father-in-law!), so I have to say a huge thank you!!  And thank YOU to everyone who reads Dans le Lakehouse, because you motivate and inspire me every day.  

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