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Deuce Cities Henhouse

Wow, So Many Changes

Dudez, I never intended for it to be such a long absence here on the blog. I’ll start by saying that this has probably been the craziest few months of our lives. We were finally settling in with the West Wisco cabin, when Jeff was offered his dream position at a new company located right on the banks of Lake Tahoe, in C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A. I’ll save you some suspense and let you know that we are not re-locating. He is taking the new job though, after much soul searching and many, many late night conversations, we decided that it was time for him to make the move, say goodbye to his much loved company, and set out on a new adventure. Today marks his first day at the new job and he will be commuting between here and CA for the next six weeks or so, after that he’ll be working from home with week-long trips to California every month. Scary. Different. Nuts.

We spent the last 10 days preparing for the change. He had added a cushion for a tiny bit of “vacation time” between the new job and the old. The kids started school two weeks ago, and everything seems like it has been sitting in limbo while we have been waiting for him to start his new pozish. All very new and exciting, but super crazy and a little terrifying.

For the first time in 9 years I have days to myself where I don’t have to drive a kid anywhere! For reference, I had spent the last three years driving somewhere between 2-3 hours a day, whilst also trying to get a bunch of other shit done. Finn and Gus both started school last week and they take THE BUS. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this new excess of time and freedom (?). Just two weeks ago, I thought it would be just me here all day in this house, but now I’m going to have the husband-dude working from home right when I was supposed to be entering to my new zen mom time. We need to get this guy a dedicated office with a door, stat.

Office Plans | Deuce Cities Henhouse
TODAY is my first official day of no-kids and no-husband (for the next few weeks). Luckily I have a new project for the house and I’ll be spending a good chunk of my time designing and setting up Jeff’s new in-home office. What was our music room, will now be an office with a little bit of record storage and a piano. Sounds cramped, I know. Howevs, I think I’ve figured out a way to make this room very multi-functional, while still being very office like.

The room is oddly shaped, there is a “bump-out” on the long wall which unfortunately breaks up the space and makes it very hard for furniture placement. I’ve decided the best way to handle this problem is with a little thing called symmetry. I tried a lot of different variations of furniture layouts but nothing felt right, until I placed the piano and desk on opposite walls, and flanked the desk with vertical vinyl storage.

Office Plans | Deuce Cities Henhouse
I’ll be removing the shelving that currently sits above the piano, and instead will be replacing it with a large piece of framed art. That way when Jeff is on video calls, the piano won’t be visible behind him, instead we can situate the computer in such a way that the large art will be the backdrop to his calls. Having the desk situated under the long “piano” window will also help to reduce glare but allow him to feel like he’s not in a cave because he’ll still has a view. In his previous office his monitor sat on the opposite side of a large window and he was always battling glare. He never let me arrange furniture for him there.

Office Plans | Deuce Cities Henhouse Office Plans | Deuce Cities Henhouse

I’m also going to build in custom shelving into the recessed nook above the radiator. It will be the exact depth of our turntable, pre-amp and receivers. This way our jamz can be still have a home near the records, but the equipment will no longer be on display.

Sharing mock-ups today, but hopefully a lot more progress on the office and cabin updates in the coming days. I finally have time to blog again, it’s been so long – thanks for waiting for me.

16 comments
in Around the House, music room, My Life, Office Space
16 comments… add one
  • Kate September 11, 2017

    WOW! That is a LOT of change. Good thing you have an adorable cabin to escape too :D

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      I know! It is a big change, hopefully we can get to the cabin a few times during these first six crazy weeks!

  • Marti September 12, 2017

    Whoa! “Scary. Different. Nuts.” sounds like a good blog tagline. Good luck with the transitions and enjoy your mom zen time!

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      I should’ve used that title, you’re right! Thanks, keep your fingers crossed for me.

  • Vanessa September 12, 2017

    Isn’t public school and free transportation just the best thing since sliced bread? Congratulations to your husband, make sure you join him in Tahoe whenever possible, it is stunning there.

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      School rules! Love your suggestion, it just so happens that the kids’ have an extra long weekend the same weekend Jeff finishes up his six week stint. We just booked a little a-frame in the woods and are excited to join him and see what this big lake is all about!

  • Jo September 13, 2017

    It’s going to be awesome. Have you thought of having a radiator cover made? I have rads and they have something like a box with no front that slides right over them. the front is a metal grate that i bought at home depot and painted. I can send pics if you are interested. That way you can set stuff on top of it, and it’s just a bit more storage. I love mine.

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      Hey Jo! No, I had’t thought of radiator covers. The rest of our main floor all has built-in radiator covers, and I love them, but I also love the look and detail of these vintage radiators, so I am always torn when it comes to covering up. I’ll have to remember that as an option if we run out of storage. Thanks!

  • Stacey W September 14, 2017

    Wow, we are in a similar boat, difference being the company in California is still convinced they can get somebody to move to San Francisco. Eventually, they will fold and make my husband an offer and there we’ll be.

    On another note, I didn’t get a chance to comment before (because I was in a cabin in the mountains), but your cabin looks AMAZING. It has set the standard of what we want in a cabin of our own.

    Enjoy the mom quiet time, I know I forget to take time for myself when the kids are at school.

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      Hey Stacey! Geez, I never thought having a job change could be so stressful. I hope all goes well for you and your husband – I understand now how tough these negotiations can be now seeing them first hand.

      Cabins rock! A mountain cabin sounds amazing!

  • Lindsey September 14, 2017

    Looks great! Congratulations on the new job and the new chapter. :)

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      Thanks, Lindsey! We are super stoked!

  • Amy September 19, 2017

    Welcome back, so good to read what you’ve been up to, just thought you were enjoying the cabin. When I read about the new job and the commute, I was scared for your family. But one week a month, that should be okay. Got to follow the dream and support each family member, to be their personal best. Can’t wait to see the new office come together. Of course, always love your humor.

    • Scoops September 20, 2017

      Hey, Amy! Glad to be back! I’d be lying if I didn’t say that we were doing a lot of cabin enjoyment –
      while at the same time trying to figure out the next big step in our lives. Keeping the positive family vibes going was my biggest concern with this new job, especially because I felt we had just gotten to a really good place in our relationship and with our kids. The good thing is we both have tools to help us stay focused and present when we’re together and apart, and I’m confident we can make this monthly travel work. Thanks for the support!

  • Kristina November 10, 2017

    I absolutely love this and the final product! Can you share what program/website you used to design the room?

    • Kelly Phillips January 27, 2018

      It’s sketchup. You can download a free trial of the pro version for 30 days

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