When I joined Leigh-Ann as a partner in Freckled Nest Design we had a big task ahead of us: to take her freelance business and turn it into something that was ours together, and hopefully bigger than both of us. When we started making that decision we had an amazing opportunity to move into a studio in the heart of our city. Rent here is affordable and the place was too good to pass up (oh hello, hardwood floors & soaring ceilings) so we took over a gorgeous space with our friend Jill from Lune Vintage and set about making it our own.
It was magical and surreal, and made quitting my job even easier than it already was. Though, to be fair, there's little I find more tempting than a room filled sun and vintage clothes. Something about having a place to go made the big decision I'd made to be full time freelance feel even more real and definite than it had before. It made it feel tangible and less uncertain because I could go there and tackle it in small ways every day.
At the time, Leigh-Ann and I were just starting to figure out what it meant to own a business with someone else, and I was navigating stepping into a brand with a style defined by Leigh-Ann's personal style and personality. We needed face time (a couple years of it!) to find out what we wanted to grow together, what our working styles and strengths are, and to figure out how the heck this was all going to work! We'd imagined a business with a big handmade component, live workshops in Winnipeg, and planted roots and hired a local assistant to move toward that.
The only thing was that our business? It had other plans.
At every turn, everything that was growing in our business was web design related and our passion for what we were doing just kept growing with it. The plans for live workshops turned into plans for eCourses, online workshops and creating tools for our clients. As we got closer to starting our third year together, I looked around and realized that we were running a 100% online business with the overhead, scheduling conflicts and demands of owning a retail store.
It was obvious that we had a choice to make: re-new our lease and stay until summer or transition to working at home. Our new dreams for Freckled Nest Design made the decision to leave the studio a simple one, and this year I've been figuring out a new way of working for 2013. (And new ways to bug Leigh-Ann all day long! Mwhahaha!)
So, welcome to my home office. Please take a look around and make yourself at home!
The change has been incredibly positive and has reaffirmed that we're paying attention to both what we need and where our business is taking us. I'm so much more productive than I had been at the studio (which also means not having a second place to clean, shovel snow & maintain!), I have my dogs and twitter for company, and while it's challenging in its own way it's a challenge that fits into my life really well.
It's not what I expected when I set out a few years ago, but it's a wonderful surprise that's still unfolding. More than anything, I'm grateful to be here discovering what's in store, day by day.
LAST UPDATED ON: April 10th, 2013
CATEGORY: All Posts
Good things does not come cheap indeed! And this is the kind of thing that you would spend money for the comfort and productivity it give to your work. This is just both inspiring and motivating. Keep it up
I love your office! I’m curious about your Ipad screensaver.. is that an app?
I can see why it was such an easy transition, your office is lovely :) Our businesses do tend to have a mind of their own when we’re first starting out don’t they!
Oh I’d love to have a home office!! Yours is particularly beautiful:) All the best for this new chapter.
Well the home office looks lovely and I wish you much luck as your business continues to grow!
your office space looks so cute, i think working from home works if you set aside a designated (and organized) space for yourself..which you have!
What a beautiful space! Good for you for making the decision to change things so you can move forward. I’d love to hear your home working productivity tips if you’re willing to share.
So organized and adorable!
xo Ashley
thetiniestfirecracker.com
Oh that is so exciting how quickly your dream took off! Sounds like making it a work-from-home was the best decision! Congrats and good luck!
Definitely makes sense to lower the overhead if your business is taking that turn instead. :) It’s always good to remain flexible, and the transition ends up being a quick and easy one. Cute space!
Your desk looks like such a fun and cozy place to work! I’m so glad that transitioning to working at home is going so well for you!
your office is beautiful, kyla. i love the wall decor and how the space baths in all that light.
That sounds like a great change! I would love to be able to work from home.
Your home office is beautiful! I love working from home, especially because I have my pup to keep me company :) I also recently discovered this site, Coffitivity (http://www.coffitivity.com/), that provides the ambient noise of a coffee shop! It’s a little silly, but sometimes the ambient noise actually helps me get more work done that total silence and makes it feel like a more fun environment – especially when I have a fresh glass of homemade iced coffee sitting on my desk.
Good for you guys making smart choices for yourselves and your business! I often wonder if I could be a productive at-home worker and I think that maybe I could…if I had your office. So lovely!
Beautiful studio space! I love the chalkboard picture frame! x
http://lemon-freckles.blogspot.co.uk/
I love the little pops of turquoise you have going on. :)
I still need a proper home office (someday, I hope). I have a room in our basement that’s my office. It’s finished with carpeting and everything, BUT the lack of windows/sunlight just kills it for me. I’d rather sit in the living room or kitchen table. Plus, distracting though it may be, I prefer to not be isolated from the rest of the house that much. Someday I’d love to have one of those fancy kitchens with the built-in desk that matches the cabinetry.
It’s a change that makes so much sense! Enjoy the new level of productivity!
Thanks Elizabeth! I’m relieved that it’s worked out well. I worked from home when I was freelancing part time and found it really challenging, but this time around it’s not as much of an up hill thing. Thank goodness lol