I Have a Real Office!

ByKaren Witemeyer
37 Comments

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Usually, I am very resistent to change. Habit is comfortable, and I like being comfortable. Ha! However, as my children became adults and my nest began to empty, I started contemplating the possibility of a fairly significant change – a home office.

For the majority of my writing career, this is how I wrote:

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On my bed with a simple lap desk. It worked, but I dreamed of having a real office.

Last year, that dream started to come true. First, we purchased new carpet. And since we had people in the house moving furniture, we asked them to move one of two twin beds out of my boys’ room and move my youngest son’s large desk and a hand-me-down bookshelf in. This worked for several months, but this was a bedroom for little boys and the paint was in bad shape and there were sports pictures and hat hooks fastened to the walls. More change was needed.

I went to a paint store and grabbed samples of neutral colors I could add to the walls and got my artistic daughter-in-law to help me choose. We decided on a lovely soft shade of green called Contented. Isn’t that a wonderful name? Hopefully, it will be prophetic. Then I took the plunge and bought paint. This was in December. Over spring break last month, I finally found the time to put the paint on the walls. We redid the trim and doors as well, and my hubby even updated our outlets and switches.

Wes likes finding unique knobs for our cabinets and doors, and he surprised me last Christmas with some closet door handles in the shape of a pair of cowboy boots and a saddle. They are so fun!

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Having a day job duing the week and writing all weekend makes it hard to find time for home improvement projects. So over the next couple weeks, I did touch ups to the paint and then finally moved the furniture back. Well, most of the furntiture. The hand-me-down bookshelf didn’t survive. So, I ordered a new one. It came in last week, and I put it together while listening to a vitual writing conference on my computer. Two birds, one stone. It took most of the day since I stopped frequently to take notes during the conference sessions, but I was quite proud that I built this all my myself. Woot!

Then came the fun part – decorating! The old shelf held mostly promo materials like stacks of bookmarks, postcards, and other random items. But the new shelf I selected had doors that closed at the bottom, so I tried to put most of the promo things down there and then used books and other fun items for the rest of the shelves. The paper roses are from my niece’s wedding, sentimental and beautiful!

The small table in the corner is my tea table. I drink a lot of tea while I write, and I love teapots and books, so this is where I keep all of my bookish mugs. I also found a wonderful teapot from the Bronte sisters museum in England that has a quote from Jane Eyre, my favorite classic novel. The teapot reads, “I ask you to pass through life at my side – to be my second self, and best earthly companion.” And the tea cup says, “Reader, I married him.” So perfect for a historical romance writer, don’t you think? The teapot sits on an 1848 copy of Jane Eyre as well as an antique copy of Pride and Prejudice. My daughter cross-stitched the boots and sunflowers for me last Christmas as well.

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There is a lot of empty wall space above my desk that I will eventually fill with a cross-stitch pattern that I am working on. I had to set it aside to work on a project for my youngest son’s upcoming wedding, but maybe next year I’ll have it framed and on the wall as the final piece of the puzzle.

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The other half of the room still has a twin bed and dresser in place in case we need the extra bedroom for visitors, but I’m thrilled to have a space all my own to write.

Do you have any home projects you are working on?
Or any projects you’d like to do?

My next project is to install built-in shelves in our front room to create a home library. At the pace I’m going, we might have that done by 2026. Ha!

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For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and gospel hymn singer who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

37 Comments

  3. What a great space, Karen! I especially love the tea corner. I remember how happy I was when I finally got a dedicated office. I still write in other places throughout the house, but more and more, I find myself at my desk in my quiet office. You’re going to love it! P.S. I’m so impressed you put together the bookcase yourself! Those kinds of projects are CHALLENGING!

    1. True confessions – There were 3 weird anchor screw things that I had to get my husband to help me with. The tool they’d supplied in the box wasn’t working for me. But that was only about 30 seconds of help, so I’m stil claiming I did it my myself. Ha! I’m a writer who thrives in quiet, so having a space where I can close the door was a must.

  5. What a lovely office! I too still have a twin bed in my office as well. Love, love, love those door knobs!

  6. Karen, creating this lovely writing space acknowledges how much you treasure the gifts God has given you and will continue to write for His glory. A beautiful testimony!

  7. Karen, I love it! I’m so happy for you. I hope your office gives you tons of inspiration.

    1. So true, D’Ann! I must confess that 15 years ago when we bought my youngest son a desk for him to use for homework, I helped him choose one that I would like to have someday. 😉 Patience has paid off. Ha!

  10. Your office looks great! I love that paint color. We’ve had a custom home built over the last year and it’s finally supposed to be finished and ready for us to move in by week after next. Woohoo!!

    1. Congratulations, Christy! Having a home built is huge! So many decisions to make and so much patience to wait while it slowly comes together. Hope you love it for decades to come!

  11. Love your plaque about tea. I took am a tea lover and do counted cross stitch. Love a good cup of tea while reading Christian fiction. I’m sure you are enjoying your new writing location.

  12. Very cool, yet practical and fun! I love that paint color – and the name of it! I hope your new office space works out for years to come!!

    1. When we first selected the paint, I worried it would be too pale, but it ended up being perfect. And I love the name. I think I’ll remember it for years to come as it inspires me to greater contentment in all areas of my life.

  13. It makes me happy to read about your office project. When our children moved on to an adult life we did something similar.
    It has been 25 years now and the projects being planned here are along the line of remodeling bathrooms to install showers for us as our mobility lessens.

    1. Change is inevitable, isn’t it, Jen? As much as I like to resist, it comes whether I want it or not. Better to adapt and move forward as you are doing than to deny the truth.

  15. Oh, I love it! What a great space to call your own. Such lovely personal touches that will make your writing environment more cozy (and productive, haha!) Thank you for sharing it!

  16. Karen, happy writing in your new home office. It’s marvelous!!! As a die-hard fan of all greens it’s always the perfect color in my opinion. And I love the named Contented! Absolutely perfect & cozy! So happy for you! ☺️
    Now that I know you’re a tea drinker I may have to keep my eyes out for some fun tea accessories. Gotta spoil our favorite authors.
    Do you have a favorite tea? ☺️

    1. Emilee – You are always such a sweetheart. I love greens, almost any shade. I have fairly simple tastes when it comes to tea. I like black tea flavored with honey. However, over the last few years, I’ve discovered that there are many wonderful blends of black tea out there. Each one is a little bit different, and it’s been fun to explore them.

  17. We have so many areas in our 20 year old house that have seen better days. Between the pets, kids, and life, it is all showing its age. I just spiffed up the main bathroom and my little girls are thrilled to use it. Our other bathrooms need updating; we have water damage, loose tiles, and a barely functioning shower stall, but I really want to do my kitchen and open it up more. 😜

    1. After fixing up this office room, I suddenly saw all the other places that needed paint and repair. SOooooo many. We slapped some paint here and there for a few of the worst spots, but I just don’t have time to worry about the whole house, so for now, I’m going to celebrate the one room in the house that is fresh and new. 🙂

  18. I feel very contented looking at that colour.😁 go you!what a great space, and so much better for your back and arms not working off your lap as much.
    I made a writing space with a second hand desk a couple of years ago and I love it! Having a place that’s just mine for writing is, well, epic! As for the rest of the house, there are many areas in need of help and I’ve starting following zillions of DIY on instagram for ideas.

  20. Your new office space looks so nice. Great job on putting the bookcase together. I’ve always loved doing stuff like that. I just reorganized my desk with some little stacker shelves & a small shelf at the end of my desk – I put those all together, too. 😉 – I’m pleased with the outcome. It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?

    The hardest part of any home project to me is just getting started! Right now, we are in the throes of cleaning/purging/organizing/decluttering our garage. It’s a huge job… one we’ve put off far too long… but seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel is exciting & encouraging. I’m truly hoping it gives us the courage to tackle the basement next!! 🙂 The desire is definitely there, but it’s the “umph” to get started & the time to actually DO the job that seems the hardest to find.

    There are a few other little projects in my mind’s eye, but it’s one day at a time. Hopefully one day they’ll all get done. Best of wishes on your future library! 🙂

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