office space

So I bought a desk this weekend. I don't know about you guys, but buying items like this is really hard for me, because I cannot make a decision to save my life. I know what I like and I know what looks good, but actually committing to a desk. Wow, that is hard. How am I ever going to commit to a guy forever....  

In my dream world I would have an office like this or this, maybe even this. However, they don't really go with the space I am working with. I have decided I want my our office space to look something like this. I love the crisp white and clean lines. I even braved Ikea alone yesterday and bought this desk.

But you know what is really freaking hard. Like even harder than picking out the desk... Picking out a chair to go with it. The chair makes the room when you have such a simple, white desk. Oh boy, oh boy. I don't even know what direction to go. Annnnd, why do all chairs have to be so expensive. Plus, I have a theory, the more money you spend on a chair the less comfortable they are. Ugh. I just want to be able to use my desk to study for my personal training certification, but can't do that if I don't have a chair. Brad did not understand my dilemma last night as I was searching the internet for what felt like forever instead of using my free time to study. BUT YOU CAN'T STUDY AT A DESK IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHAIR TO SIT ON. Needless to say, I was not very amused when he tried to set a time limit for my internet use. What am I, a child?! 

Anyway, here are some of my favorites. I really, really love the colored folding chair from Anthropologie, but I still don't know what I am going to end up with.

desk chairs by brooke-l-smith featuring a swivel-chair

Side note, why does every Polyvore template have shrubbery on it?! Green plants next to my picture does not make my collage of chairs look cuter. The one I picked still does nothing for me, but I was too lazy to create my own, because I am a horrible blogger...but that is neither here nor there. Anyway, if you have any say on what kind of chair would look best with my desk or where you can find inexpensive ones, let a sister know.

Linking up with Sami for these office space shenanigans. Now if only I had a red stapler. 

Help me! 

<3 BB 

Mini Apartment Makeover

Blame it on the grey weather and extra time being stuck in the apartment or maybe it's the fact that I feel like I am living on my own with Brad gone this week, but I am itching to make a change to the apartment while he is away... shh, don't tell.

It doesn't help that I keep getting emails from West Elm everyday, or my co-worker, Tyler, being the nice guy he is, left a West Elm magazine on my desk yesterday, because he knows my weakness for the store. Fueling my fire. Stores like West Elm make me want to do drastic, expensive makeovers to a space that is not my own.  However, once I came back to reality and realized I do not have the funding and the apartment is not truly mine to makeover, I decided to try and come up with small, inexpensive ways to add personal style to the place.

So, last night when I was killing time before bed, I was browsing Pinterest and came across some very cute coffee table arrangements and decided decorating our coffee table would be the perfect way to fill my design craving in an inexpensive way.  This is what happens when you get up off the couch to head to bed and then look at the clock and see it is only 8:26 - you are forced to kill time on Pinterest and wait for an acceptable time to actually go to bed aka 9:01pm.

all images found via Pinterest. 

all images found via Pinterest.

I am hoping to find an inexpensive decorative tray, add a few coffee table books I already have, including my favorite Post Secret books, obviously candles (who doesn't love an excuse to buy new candles?!), and maybe one or two other cute items that bring a little character to the table.  I love the small dog in the picture above.  

This is the space I am working with, thanks Ikea: 

Any other ideas or items that might be great for the coffee table? I don't want to add too many things to the point the table is no longer usable. There is that fine line between cute design and clutter and this girl hates clutter! Plus, more things on the table, means more opportunity for Brooke to spill on them... I'm clumsy like that.

Cheers to Coffee Tables! 

<3 BB