“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”
–Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
It’s a good thing I hadn’t read the above quote by Virginia Woolf before I wrote my first ten novels. Because I did not have a room of my own (or much money) back then. It wasn’t until our kids started leaving for college that I finally got a dedicated office. Even though I’ll probably always write in various locations around the house, I do love my office. And four years after moving to Missouri, I have a “new” one!
If you follow me on social media, you know that we recently did a “switcheroo” at our house, turning my old office into a guest room and a guest room into my new office at the end of the hallway.
Here is a before and after of the side-by-side rooms.
We painted both rooms and the hallway and changed out a ceiling fan, but the biggest change by far was the addition of a window in my new office. There were no west-facing windows on the upper level of our home that overlooks a shady wooded area, and we’ve always said how nice it would be to get more light into that end of the house. But oh, what a mess it was for a while. Cutting a hole in the side of the house is a big production!
But what a difference it made! I am absolutely loving my new office, and my views into the woods are so inspiring!
I’m on deadline with a new book so I’ve spent a lot of time in that chair by the window. Because this room is 20+ feet up in the air, I feel like I’m sitting in a tree house—or a deer stand, since deer stroll through the side yard daily. 🙂 One of my first views was this sweet new fawn!
I did a lot of paring down while we moved everything out of both rooms for painting. With the exception of my great-grandmother’s daybed, which my sister is going to take, all the furniture from my old office moved over, but everything feels so cozy and new in this arrangement!
I’m so pleased with how well this $75 garage-sale rug we bought in Wichita fits into the room. It doesn’t show up well in photos, but the color we painted the walls—Sherwin Williams Rainwashed—is prominent in the carpet design.
I’m also happy with how the wall behind my desk turned out. The Paris map was a garage sale find a couple of weeks ago and it anchors a small collection of prints and paintings that I gathered from other parts of the house to create this gallery wall that will eventually be a “souvenir wall” since, Lord willing, Ken and I are going to be visiting some of the places depicted later this year! More on that soon!
This library cart holding my reference library and books on the craft of writing is handy to the left of my chair and that narrow aqua rolling cart was another antique shop treasure I found the week after my office was finished.
I know it sounds strange that this gal—who wrote my first few books at our kitchen table and in a cramped corner of the living room with four kids swarming ’round—now cherishes a private, dedicated office so, but I do!
I love having some pretty light-catchers on the windowsill, but I don’t want to block the ever-changing view. Once in a while we see peeks of the sunset through the trees. And I can’t wait to watch the leaves turn orange and gold this fall, and later see snowflakes float down outside the window. But I think these spring and summer views will always be my favorite of all.
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Gorgeous! Every bit of it. But um, don’t you mean Brainwashed? 😉 I love all the personal touches and can’t wait to see it in person. Hopefully sooner than later!
Haha! Crazy autocorrect! And I agree, can’t wait to give you a personal tour!
Wow, what a beautiful room and view, Deborah!
May you write many beautiful books there, with God’s blessing.
Thanks so much, Traci! That is my prayer always: that my books would glorify God. So appreciate you taking the time to comment.
What a lovely view to provide a peaceful environment for writing and to allow creativity to flow. Enjoy!
Thanks, Suzanne. I’m sure enjoying the new space, and I think I appreciate it all the more having written my first few books at the kitchen table, having to move everything off twice a day for the family meals.
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous window! And I’ll say it again–you really need to write a book about decorating. Every room in your home is beautiful, cozy, and welcoming. Now you’ve made me want to go through the house looking for places to cut through walls! I moved our bedroom furniture around yesterday, and my hubby hasn’t stopped complaining! (He doesn’t like change). :-). Good thing I keep him from getting too settled in his ways!
Thank you, Angie! Means the world to me coming from you. And LOL at your hubby not liking change. I am very blessed that Ken may tease me about always rearranging, but his only rule is that things need to be convenient. (Sometimes we have differing opinions on what IS convenient. 😉 )
Gorgeous! I never tire of looking at the changes you made – just lovely!
Thanks, Kelly. You make it fun to share!
Hi Deb, it looks great — the perfect place to write and be inspired!
Thanks, Carrie. I hope you’re right, since I’m on deadline and NEED inspiration!
Absolutely love it!!
Thanks, Robin. I’m still pinching myself that I get to work in such a pretty space with such a gorgeous view.
What a fun, warm & inviting room! I love it when people’s homes & decorating styles have character & reflect the individual’s personality & interests. 😀. The window & its view are amazing!
Thanks so much, Amy. I agree. Home decor has been one of my favorite things, even when I was a teenager decorating my bedroom that I shared with my messy sister. 😉 (She’s no longer messy. Her house is beautiful, and both my sisters are decorating inspirations to me.)
Such a fabulous update! That view is way too pretty NOT to have a window overlooking it. And I love that your window is round-topped. So charming!
Thanks, Becky. I had an arched window in my office in our small-town Kansas house and have always missed it. Slowly, I’m combining the best of all my offices to get a “forever” office space. 🙂
You are a master decorator, Deb! Everything is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Betty. I’m not a pro, but I do enjoy it!
Wonderful looking switch, Deborah! You have such a gift for interior design! And I understand the “window drama”. I put an egress in the basement when I had it finished! What a project! But, like you, I love it because it’s right near my needlework table and lets in lots of sunshine. Keep sharing your household adventures – they always look so inviting!
Thanks for feeling our pain, Lynne. But as you say, SO worth it once it’s done. So glad you got that sunshiny spot for your needlework!
I love your new room! Your choice of decor colors are some of my favorites. The window is a nice touch!
When we moved into our new home six years ago, we went from a tiny backyard in a close-to-the-house-behind-you neighborhood to a nice, big backyard with a tiny bit of woods & a big yard in the neighbor’s house behind us. I LOVE the view out our back windows & LOVE watching the trees change every season! It’s not necessarily a spectacular view, but it is OURS & it is beautiful to me! I’ve seen the occasional deer & I enjoy watching the birds. My favorite season is Fall, so I always enjoy seeing the leaves turn, but I also enjoy watching the leaves come out in the springtime. 😀
You sound like me, Lori: your favorite season is fall…until it’s spring. 🙂 Our backyard views sound similar. The trees hide most of the neighbors from sight (until winter) and we get the benefit of our neighbors’ huge back yard and side woods adjoining ours which makes it feel like we have a huge yard and live in the country.