My NYC Home Office

Hello everyone! I finally wanted to share some photos of my current office space here in my NYC apartment. These particular photos were shot by Janis Nicolay earlier this year. When I first decorated this space, I wanted something WILD & colorful, so I added FLOR tiles - which I love by the way & colorful art!

Interestingly enough, I just found out we'll be moving to another apartment in November!!!!  That means apartment NYC hunting next month + new office...woo hoo! Exciting!

Zebra print tiles are by FLOR

Abstract artwork is my own - you can see more in my online gallery via cocoa & hearts

all food prepared by my husband

hanging to the left is my 1st ever cocoa & hearts painting!!

gold love print via my shop made by girl

-images by janis nicolay

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DIY: Linen Memo Board & Neon Push Pins

Hi Made By Girl readers!! It's Jenny Bevlin on this Monday morning with a great DIY for your home. I'm in the middle of redoing my home office/craft room. One of the things that I really wanted for my space is a really great memo board. I don't know about you, but I love pinning items to memo boards to have around always to keep me inspired. 

I love Pinterest, but there is just something about having images (that I LOVE) around me to keep me inspired! As far as memo boards go, I knew I wanted something that was neutral in color to make the images I put on it to really pop! 
 

I did some searching on the internet & found this linen memo board. However, I feel like $149 is too much to spend on a memo board and I knew I could easily DIY it. For the push pins, I knew I wanted something fun. I love the neon and neutral trend, so I decided to make some neon push pins. These push pins are a great compliment to the neutral linen fabric. Don't you think??

   

Here's what you need to make this memo board:

• Cork Board
• Linen Fabric
• Staple Gun
• Staples (Make sure your staples are the appropriate length. Staples that are too long may poke through the other side of the board.)

 
Steps:
 

Lay the fabric out and place the cork board on top of it face down. Cut the fabric around the board leaving about 3 inches or so all the way around the board.

 

Before you staple the fabric to the board, make sure you iron the fabric so that it is crease free. Next, staple the fabric to the back of the board all the way around. Make sure that you are pulling the fabric tight around so that the fabric will be nice and tight on the front of the board.  

Leave the corners for last. For the corners, you will just fold them down and over as shown in the picture and then staple down. 

 

Here's what you need to make these neon push pins:

• Flat Head Push Pins
• Acrylic Paint
• Clear Nail Polish
• Foam Board (I used this to put the push pins in to dry)

Steps:
 

Dip the head of the push pin in the paint. I then poked my push pins into a piece of foam board so that they could stand upright while they dried. 

 

Once dry, paint the push pins with clear nail polish. 

 

The best thing about this whole project is that everything cost a total of $25! Now, what should I buy for my office with the $125 I saved?

- images and post by Jenny Bevlin

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I Love Lonny...

I've been occupied with soooo many other things that I neglected to take a look at the latest issue of Lonny Magazine! I FINALLY got around to it yesterday &  was pretty impressed!  I was particularly blown away by Michelle Adam's office in NYC - the before & after pictures are a must-see! I love everything about this office space! It exudes CREATIVITY & STYLE....don't you think??  

This would be an ideal place to come to work to everyday -assuming the staff was just as nice right?? Can't have nice place & CRAPPY boss....that doesn't fly well with me. 

Either way, regardless of any opinions circulating the internet about Lonny Mag & what was said in the NY Times - blah blah blah, I find Lonny Magazine to be a BIG hit.

Some bloggers think they have it ALL figured out about what people should say or NOT say in the media, but who are WE to judge?!?!?!?

At the end of the day, Michelle is super cool.....she's been a sweetheart to me for as long as I can remember & never once was arrogant. 

I'm just glad we have all this accessible EYE CANDY to be inspired by! Michelle has brilliantly delivered it to us & for that I thank her.

So what did you think of Lonny's new office space? It it a hit with you? Are you still enjoying the content in the mag???

-photos by patrick cline

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Update on My Day......(Via Made by Girl)

Hey everyone, how's your DAY going so far?? 

As for me, I've been dealing with this kitchen RENOVATION for a few days now, I feel exhausted. Today the door installer is here, and I admit he's actually doing a pretty decent job. Thank God. Unlike the other contractors who were a bit of a mess! WOW, I now have a white kitchen!  

All we need next is: 

• Back splash
• Panel around the island 
• Hardware

Well, I ordered the hardware from some company online on December 4th, and they still haven't shipped! That's not nice is it?? Well, you can be sure I'll be on the phone after this post looking to ask where the hardware is. If they haven't shipped, I'm just going to ask for a REFUND & go elsewhere to buy them. Anyway, more pics coming soon!

In the meanwhile, I filled up the plain wall behind my desk with another painting I did!  It's a smaller version of the LARGE ART piece I did for our living room. What do you think? Adds a bit of PRETTY to my work space no??

image by jen

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Neat surprise at West Elm....

It was super nice to walk into my local West Elm store & see my home office displayed as one of the winners! Ok, I knew it would be there, but I didn't know when....so it was definitely a nice surprise! Thank you West Elm.

For more images of my office go here.

click photo for larger image

image via my iphone

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I seriously need a new office chair ...

Deciding on a new chair for my little workspace in my office. I sit there when I'm working from my laptop usually....and need something pretty & comfy. I can always add a cushion if I needed to, like I have now. The current chair I have I purchased from Target about 2 years ago and i think it was only $80. I can afford to spend a little more this time around, but I didn't want to go past $250. Any suggestions? I LOVE white, but is it practical?? Will it get too dirty? or should I just get black? What kind of desk chair do you have?? I'd love to read your comments.

UPDATE: I bought one of these chairs, but I will reveal it when it arrives! :) Thank you sooo much to everyone for your suggestions.

(BELOW): My desk area in my office/studio.
I am leaning toward the white chairs, but may change my mind. I don't care for a colorful chair as much because I can always add a colorful cushion.


1. Grey mesh chair 2. Bungie chair 3. Burgundy Chair 4. White Conference chair 5. White Chair here or here 6. Bungie low back chair 7. Team office chair

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