Office Overhaul: Where Practicality Meets Playfulness
Updated: Apr 2
In the whirlwind of business life, a little sprucing up is sometimes all it takes to put a sweet smile on your face. Join us on our journey as we re-vamp our home office space, balancing functionality with just the right dose of fun!
Spotting the Signs of Change:
This space has been used for over 25 years as a computer room, homeschool headquarters, and other catchall space. It had been redone a few times over these years, but just using pieced together furniture we had collected since we had been on a one-income budget.
Now we have an actual business that needs to run efficiently. Imagine desks buried under paperwork, bookcases that have seen better days, supplies everywhere, and a vibe that screams "time for a makeover!" We couldn't ignore these signs – it was high time to breathe new life into our workspace and shake off the cobwebs of monotony. We also were desperate for more storage for all the supplies needed for our thriving business.
Due to Stacie's health issues, it took a lot longer to complete this project than it would have in the past. She was determined to do this though as the office area, while useful, was also becoming a hazardous falling issue for her, as well as draining on her mental health. Thankfully she had so much help to make this whole thing possible.
And the years of dreaming got started...
Brainstorming Brilliance:
Armed with creativity and one too many cups of coffee, we brainstormed ideas for our office facelift. Our office space, located in our home, is just a small room. We had to do meticulous measuring and calculations to make sure the combo of new and old furniture would fit, while making sure said furniture was also big enough to store our supplies and products. We used a floor plan app to help us decide how to arrange everything we needed- a desk and office duty areas, packaging area, supply storage area, and product display. We finally had a plan and started ordering what we needed online.
Diving into Design:
With visions of productivity, organization, and playfulness dancing in our heads, we got down to business. We still needed to continue doing business while we were redoing the office. So we moved everything out by sections, including items on the walls, and by the timing of when items would be delivered to us. (Shout out to the delivery people that had to lift all those heavy boxes. They are amazing!)
Of course nowadays, furniture has to be assembled, so much of our time was spent doing that. Our house looked like a bomb went off!! Every empty space was now filled with things from out of the office, furniture components, tools... everything. It was a chaotic couple weeks in our home and our poor dog was so confused by our new, though thankfully temporary, life.
And so it Begins:
As we worked our way around the room, we'd move old furniture out, or to a different spot if we were reusing it, clean the walls and floor, put the new furniture in place, and put any necessary supplies into the furniture to try to keep some semblance of order.
We started with the product shelves, reusing two bookcases we already had.
Our products needed to be put in place first as we still have customers buying while going through this renovation. That was a bit tricky, but worked for us.
Next up we placed a new L-shaped desk to replace the well-used table. The previous table just took up too much space in the room. The new desk seemed so tiny when we got it in place, but offered a lot more storage and usable desk top area. We were able to have easier access to our cutting machine, computer, and other desk supplies. We also kept our file and copy area in the same spot, so that was the simplest part of this whole project.
The hardest area for us was a circuit organizer for a packing area. It was the hardest and most frustrating furniture to put together. However, once it was in place, it was well worth the struggle. We can now stand and box up your orders with everything that we need to do that organized in the drawers, cubbies, shelves, and hangers. No longer will our kitchen island be the place for doing this job. Yay!
Lastly the storage cabinets- strong, metal, and HUGE! Our precise measurements and floor planning app made for an almost perfect fit. (We forgot about the floor molding.) Thankfully we had a few extra inches in the plan just for a situation like that. These two cabinets provided more storage than our previous 4 bookcases.
With all the furniture in place we started going through everything we had taken out of the room or moved to a corner and got to organizing. It was a long and arduous process, but we had a place for everything with extra future space. Yay! Now we just have to remember where we organized everything. Lol
Letting Creativity Run Wild:
Who says workspaces have to be boring? Not us! We let our creativity run wild. Because why not? It's an office. We want to love it in there. We usually don't decorate our home with cutesy themed items, but we're a honey company, so of course we need to have some bee and honey themed decorations.
We were worried the giant Fingerlakes Honey Company sign Stacie made years ago would not fit on any of the walls. With a slight size adjustment, it fits perfectly on a new wall and is the first thing we see when we enter. We finished the room with an area rug that ties it all together. We think it adds a perfect finishing touch.
Unveiling the Sweetness:
After weeks of hard work, creativity, and perhaps a few minor mishaps (who knew assembling furniture could be so entertaining?), the big day arrived – the grand reveal of our newly re-vamped office space. We are only sorry we didn't take before pictures, but who wants to see that mess.
Looking Ahead with Glee:
We apologize for the terrible pics. Obviously we are not totally finished with this project as it is ever evolving...and needs better lighting!!! As we settle into our freshly spruced-up space, we're filled with a renewed sense of energy and excitement. Our office makeover isn't just about aesthetics – it's about creating a workspace where creativity thrives and every day feels like a new adventure. Even a little change can make everything seem better.
So here's to embracing the joy of work, infusing a little fun into everything we do, and transforming our office into a place where sweetness happens. After all, when work feels like play, anything is possible!
Quick Beesness Update:
We hope you enjoyed this peek into our office makeover. Don't forget, we have our Eclipse Honey commemorative labels available on our 8oz and 1lb jars until April 8th. And lastly, we wish all of you who celebrate a very blessed Resurrection Day this Sunday.
Until next time,
Stay Sweet.
Tom and Stacie
Tom and Stacie Filer
Tom and Stacie are the co-owners of Fingerlakes Honey Company located in the bee-utiful Fingerlakes region of New York State. When they are not tending to all things bees, they enjoy spending time with their grown children, their dog, and lots of chickens on their homestead. They love learning more about the bees they foster and helping others to learn more about them as well.
Comments