Last year, I was either using a stolen wand, or the Spellotape I had on there just wasn’t doing me any justice. If you were following along during the Spring 2022 ORC, you know that I didn’t even come close to finishing my Harry Potter-inspired home office. I’m pretty sure I have my wand (and my aging body) to thank for that. Luckily, my spell casting didn’t cause me to regurgitate slimy slugs…it just caused me to strain a muscle in my back.
But guess what? I’m back for round two! And I plan on at least reaching the 95% completion mark, just to stay on par with all my other house projects that are also sitting at 95%.
On the prodding of my good Instagram buddy Leslie, I signed up for the Spring 2023 One Room Challenge (which I’ll just call ORC for short). While I’m lucky that this office has been tucked away for a year and not impeding my daily life, I can no longer let passersby think that we’re hoarders based on the current state of the yet-to-be-finished office. (I removed the blinds last year, and yes, you can see straight in there.)
So, let’s get caught up on where we started this whole thing, and where we currently are.
Accessing the Pensieve
Here’s where we started the Spring 2022 ORC:
- Cleaning out the Room of Requirement
- Removing all baseboards and trim
- Removing window coverings
- Prepping and removing carpet
- Planning new builds (i.e., the built-in cabinets/shelves, window seat for the dogs, and a fireplace)
Check out my first Spring 2022 ORC reel here, and then the first week of progress here.
Fast forward several weeks, and this is where we had to stop last year:
- Popcorn ceiling removed
- Carpet pulled up to make room for the built-ins (we’ll replace the flooring at some point, but it’s not in the budget for now)
- Air vents re-routed
- Cabinets installed
- Window seat base installed
- Fireplace base installed
- Most brick adhered to the wall
- Most new trim installed
- New lighting installed
- First step of painting the ceiling completed
- Beadboard (last-minute addition) installed on the window bench and behind the not-yet-installed shelves
- Secret door projects started
About that time, we were six weeks into the ORC, and I’d strained a muscle in my back about four weeks in. I did my best trying to move forward, but I had to listen to my body and let it rest. Because of that, the office sat in disarray until a couple months ago. It essentially became a dumping ground—yet again.
The current state of things
Back in February of this year, I’d taken two days off of work because we’d planned to meet some friends in New Orleans for Mardi Gras…until we learned that roundtrip tickets would cost us $2,600. Not even kidding. Instead, my husband flew with some friends to Ottawa to watch hockey games, and I stayed home and got some work done in the office.
To get you up to speed, here’s what I accomplished in those few days:
- Bookshelves were installed
- Wood grain was filled in on all the vertical pieces
- Trim was installed to the top, the vertical trim and the horizontal trim for the fixed shelves
- Most bricks were installed (not pictured)
- Base coat on the ceiling finished (not pictured)
- Nail holes/joined wood filled with wood filler
I’ve made very slow progress, but luckily, ice fishing season is mostly over, so I don’t see any travel plans getting in the way of the ORC this spring. Although, my garden will have to take some precedence at times.
You may be wondering what’s left to do. So am I. It’s quite an overwhelming list, so maybe I’ll share that once I have a better plan. After all, this perpetual procrastinator is doing what she does best…procrastinating.
Follow along
Make sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up with the progress of this Harry Potter-inspired home office. I’ll be posting in stories, possibly making some reels, and, of course, you’ll see some carousel posts as we make our way through the Spring 2023 ORC.
Swish and flick!
Have questions about the office or my plans? Let me know!
Frels at HoMN 