Design Advice: Lackluster Law Office

The decor in law offices is typically about as exciting as you would expect – tan walls, wood furniture, lots of files and papers.  Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get a ficus.

Back in my lawyerly days I was mentored by an awesome attorney, one of the smartest chicks I know.  She recently switched firms and wound up in this glamorous office.

But there is a bright side – her firm actually encourages the lawyers to decorate their offices.  Imagine my delight when I got an email from my former mentor asking for a little design advice!!

Although she really wanted fun colors like hot pink, lime green and orange, she worried that such vibrant colors might be too much for a law office – so she requested a variety of options, some including the fun colors and others with more traditional “office” colors like warm reds, greens and tans.  Keeping a “traditional but not stuffy” design scheme in mind, her only other requests were for a lamp, some artwork and new, matching in/out boxes.

Design Quickies don’t usually include 10 options – not gonna lie, I got a little carried away!!  If you have the strength, check out the different goodies I whipped up for her:

Option 1: artwork 1, artwork 2, artwork 3, artwork 4, artwork 5, artwork 6, frames, lamp, shelves, trays (from See Jane Work, no longer available - try this or this instead).

The artwork in this design is a more affordable, somewhat DIY version of a very popular set of art from Crate & Barrel, as well as Ballard Designs.

{ You’ll notice that these floating shelves make an appearance in each design – they are super long and will look awesome on that long wall by the bookcase.  I would stagger them so that the upper shelf extends over the bookcase a bit, and the lower shelf is scooted to the left (towards the door) at least two feet.  That way there will be room to lean diplomas, add a narrow vase, personal photos, a book, etc. }

Option 2: artwork 1, artwork 2, artwork 3, artwork 4, frames, lamp, shelves, trays.

Option 3: artwork, lamp (from Target, out of stock – try this, this or this instead), shelves, trays.

{ This print is a steal as compared to an almost identical print from Ballard Designs. }

Option 4artwork 1, artwork 2, lamp, shelves, trays (from See Jane Work, no longer available- try this or this instead).

Option 5: bull dog artwork, basset hound artwork, lamp, shelves, trays.

{ Disclaimer: I definitely didn’t expect her to pick this option, but when I came across these quirky prints I just had to concoct a little design with them in honor of her bull dog and beagle pups. }

Option 6: artwork, lamp, shelves, trays.

Option 7: artwork 1, artwork 2, lamp, shelves, trays.

Option 8: artwork, lamp (base & shade sold separately), shelves, trays.

{ The Bed Bath & Beyond artwork is a an affordable alternative to the Z Gallerie piece. }

Option 9: artwork, lamp, shelves, trays.

Option 10: artwork, lamp (from Target, out of stock- try this, this or this instead), shelves, trays.

Whew!  Still with me after all that?  If you were redecorating your office, which option would you choose?  And speaking of offices, what’s your office situation?  Do you work from home, from a cube, from a corner office?  Or maybe your office days are behind you?  Do tell!!

Click on the following link to snag some design advice of your very own – Interior Design Services.

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Introducing . . .

Ahh, I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally write this post!!!!  This big news has been in the making for the better part of a year, so my anticipation is huge!

Introducing . . .

So, by now you know that in June I left my job at a law firm to start selling real estate with my husband.  Well, the beginning of this story actually starts last summer, way back when Jason and I started our quest to find our very own fixer-upper.  The quest was long and arduous and involved personally touring at least 100 houses.  At least!  Seriously, if a house came on the market in our price range, we saw it – often more than once.  Fortunately for us, we were able to tour all of these houses as we pleased since my good ol’ hubby was (and is) a realtor – so convenient!!  However, this also kind of fed our madness since we knew that we could see all the houses that we wanted without irritating a realtor that would have to show us around.  And this is also the point where my love of houses turned into more of a passion.  I realized that I adored touring home after home, comparing their attributes and price points, and even the ultimate haggling over sales price and concessions once the perfect home was found.

And, of course, Jason and I ultimately did find our dream house, and we remodeled it within an inch of its life.  And through that whole process, we realized that we were a great team.  An awesome team, actually.  We balance each other really well, and can actually stand being around each other for ridiculous periods of time.  We also do well under pressure.  Hmm, the wheels started turning.

At the beginning of this year, we began talking seriously about starting our own real estate team.  Jason was already a realtor and loved it, and I knew that at the very least I wanted to get my real estate license.  The plan was for us to work together to start the business, which Jason would run until I left my job in February of 2010.  For several months, we spent nights and weekends developing a business plan, starting a website, designing our yard signs, and all that other fun stuff that goes along with starting a new business.

Introducing . . .

Well, we all know that I didn’t quite last until February of 2010!!  Once the whole process of creating our business began, I just got way too excited thinking about the future, and I knew that I couldn’t wait months and months to finally join the team.  So, once everything (for the most part) was in place, I told my firm that I was leaving (and of course cried like a baby – I’m such a wuss!!).  They were lovely about it, and sent me on my way with happy wishes and good vibes.

Introducing . . .

So that’s the story!!  Our little real estate dream has become a reality, and it’s more exciting than I ever imagined.  You’ll have to scope out our website – and I can’t wait to read all of your comments about this whole shebang!!

This post is shared with Hooked on Houses.

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I Told A Fib

First things first – you guys are hilarious!!!  I knew y’all would come up with some crazy facts (and lies) about yourselves in response to yesterday’s post, but you really outdid yourselves!  Here are a few of my faves from yesterday:

My dog weighs about 40 pounds more than I do.  ~ Jill

I went to a mormon college for one semester so I could ski the rockies for credit.  ~ Christy

I chased Luke Perry for an autograph after a broadway show and was nearly hit by a taxi in the process.  ~ Stacy

Truth, lies, I don’t care – that’s funny stuff.  You guys are awesome!

But okay, down to business.  Out of my 10 facts yesterday, 9 of those bad boys were true – and here’s how you guys voted.

I Told a Fib

Here’s how it all breaks down, in order of how many votes each fact got (from least to most):

1.  My husband and I have been together for six years.  TRUE

Jason and I both started law school in August of 2003, and we were in the same section (the first year of law school, the entire class was split up into three sections – you had all of your classes with the people in your section, so you spent a lot of time together!).  My friend had a huge crush on Jason’s friend, so our two groups of guys and girls started hanging out all the time, like most nights and weekends – so much for studying!!  By the time I finally realized I really liked my hubby-to-be and wanted to date him, another good friend of mine in the same group had decided that she liked him!  My friend wound up being very gracious when I finally got up the nerve to ask her if she would mind if I went out with Jason – and the rest is history!!  Jason and I got engaged after we graduated in 2006 and married in 2007 (and the very next month, my gracious friend married a great guy that was also in that same group of friends!).

Pretty as a Peony

2.  I am a middle child, with an older sister and younger brother.  TRUE

It’s crazy, for all of our differences my older sister and I are so similar in a ton of ways.  We went to the same college, joined the same sorority, were in the same law school class (but not the same section!), had the same group of friends in law school (which was awesome because she got to know Jason really well), both became lawyers, and now live about 4 miles from one another.  It’s been pretty great!!  My younger brother is also awesome, and lives just as close to me as my sister.  He’s outdoorsy and super-smart, and is always off kayaking or hiking or doing something cool.

I Told a Fib

And it’s actually my sister’s birthday today, so Happy Birthday, Caroline!!

3.  I broke my arm during soccer practice in 6th grade when I was hit with a soccer ball.  TRUE

The next year, I fractured that same arm while doing gymnastics.  I love that these stories make me sound somewhat athletic, when that couldn’t be further from the truth – most people can manage to get through sports without breaking limbs!

4.  I studied abroad in Australia when I was a junior in college.  TRUE

See that little arrow down there?  That’s where I lived for about six months during my junior year of college while I attended the University of Queensland (I use the term “attended” loosely – I’m not gonna lie, there wasn’t much studying going on!).

I Told a Fib

I lived with two other girls in a little house walking distance from the university, and word on the street was that the house used to be a brothel!!  Who knows if that’s true, but I couldn’t help but notice the fully mirrored bathroom with the pole in the middle . . .  While I was initially scared to move so far from everything I’d ever known, it’s one of the best, and coolest, things I’ve ever done.  So many great friends and experiences and travels!  I need to scan in all my old film from studying abroad so I can share those pics with you guys!

5.  I’ve had Lasik.  TRUE

I used to be blind as a bat, but no more.  My eyes got zapped the day after Christmas in 2002, and it’s been awesome ever since!  I’m a total wuss and the procedure kinda freaked me out, but it was totally worth it.

6.  I graduated first in my class of 250 people from a public high school in East Dallas.  FALSE

Nope, not quite.  I was number 4.  Sorry my lie wasn’t something a bit more fascinating!!  But I’m flattered that most of you guys thought it might be true!

7.  I have been bungee jumping and skydiving.  TRUE

The skydiving was first, in a small town in Australia.  I remember being disappointed after this tandem jump because we were supposed to do a flip out of the airplane but instead we just jumped – bummer!!  It was a cool experience and I’m glad I did it, but I was surprised at how uncomfortable it was from the wind and cold!

Now bungee jumping, on the other hand, totally didn’t disappoint.  I was with two friends in Queenstown, New Zealand, which has been dubbed the Adventure Capital of the World, and the place where bungee jumping was invented.  How could we resist?  I remember panicking in the middle of the night the night before we were set to jump – I literally wandered around our hostel in the dark, without my glasses, trying to find a phone so that I could call and cancel (I didn’t realize that you had to cancel 24 hours in advance).  When I finally found a phone, I was too blind to figure out how to operate it, so I gave up.  I guess I was going to jump!  I’m so glad I did, because it was awesome – the most exhilarating and exciting thing I’ve ever done (and also the scariest!).  That first jump was the Nevis jump which, at 134 meters (about 440 feet), as one of the highest jumps in the world.  Here’s a link to a little YouTube video to show you what it’s like!  (Except when I did it, the river was dry – talk about intimidating!).  And, of course, I couldn’t resist taking another (lower!) jump when they offered us a second jump at a discounted rate – I’m a sucker for a bargain!  This link shows you what that second jump looked like.

8.  I don’t eat any seafood, except fried calamari.  TRUE

My poor husband – he longs for fishy dinners.  Too bad, because he married me!  None of the kids in my family eat seafood, although my sister is starting to branch out, and my parents eat very little.  I wish I did, though, because I know I’m missing out!  I’ve vowed that our kids will eat seafood – we’ll see how that goes someday!

9.  I have been on a photographic safari in Africa.  TRUE

Talk about an amazing adventure.  My parents sent me, my sister and my aunt to Kenya and Tanzania after my sister and I graduated from law school in 2006.  I’ve never been so in awe of nature’s beauty, and the welcoming nature of the African people.  I remember we were gawking over our first herd of zebras when our tour guide, wondering what all the fuss was about, said “What, you guys don’t have these in America?”  Um, nope!  I’ll do another post sometime to give you the full scoop on my Africa trip, but hopefully this pic that I took will hold you over in the meantime:

I Told a Fib

10.  I recently quit my job as an attorney to start selling real estate with my husband.  TRUE

It’s funny (but not very surprising) that you guys were most skeptical about this fact.  But it’s true!!  I know, it’s totally crazy, but all I can say is that it is the right move for me.  This plan has been in the works for quite some time, and now we’re ready to put up our signs!  I quit my job just over a month ago and we’ve been scurrying around like bunnies for the past month getting everything in order.  I’m beyond excited, and hopeful for the future.

So now it’s your turn – which of your “facts” are actually fibs?  How shocked are you about the new job news?  And stay tuned, I’ll be giving you guys the inside scoop on our new real estate team tomorrow!!

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