Magnetic Paint! - What the What!

Well, I've survived my first week back at work, post-holiday, and I thought why not start this month off with an office blog! Remember how over the last couple of months, I've been sharing the little renovations (like this one and this one) that I've had done in my work office. And though there hasn't been any huge changes (maybe the massive tv is a huge change), the office feels totally different. Can you find all the changes?

There have probably been about 15 mini changes, but they've all made a difference in how I work. The magnetic knife strips mean I can now hang big panels and stacks of documents clipped together on one wall. 

And on the other two walls, under my shelves and above my monitor, I can now hang reference documents that I use all the time. Of course, all you see is a bunch of blank paper, and that's because of the magic of photoshop and the desire to keep my work work confidential (though you totally know I'd love to show you what I'm working on!).

But back to hanging those reference docs up, it's made possible through the magic of magnetic primer! This one to be exact!

And because it's a primer, you can paint whatever colour you want on top, but it does go on black!

Now let me just say, that I like the ability to hang things and it's super useful to have a magnetic wall, but it's not a perfect science this paint, it's not super magnetic. Like you can't throw a magnet at it and have them stick (trust me, co-workers have tried). But also this paint is incredibly stinky! LIKE SUPER STINKY! Like worse than being "dutch oven'd" by your loved one after a Mexican fiesta. And it lingers. It's really bad. So this is not a project you want to do in the afternoon, because I'm pretty sure the fumes would slowly kill you while you slept that night (just joking, at least I hope). And it's not something to be used in a confined area without a serious ventilation source. Do you get my point! This stuff smells crazy toxic! 

And honestly, for the little bit of magnetic force it provides, I'm not sure it's worth it. SHHH, don't tell anyone I work with that I think this, because I begged for us to try this product. If doing it again, I would probably just get more magnetic strips, they are easier to install, don't smell and provide more force. But that's just my opinion. And I do like being able to hang things in different arrangements and it does give me that freedom. 

And I'm totally almost done my office. Now all I need is do get some more paper organizers, so that I have a shelfscape and add the text that I want for above my knife strips. Because I've already bought a couple of cute desk organizers (oh how I love colour!), so I'll soon be done. 

It's been a year...

...since I stood in front of a panel of architects, with my labour of love standing behind me, while they pick apart many months of thought and sleepless nights. It's been a year since I had my final architectural critique. 

And it's been a year filled with emotional ups and downs. and definitely a large collection of doubt.
After that final critique, an architecture friend asked me how it felt to officially be done, and I remember saying something about how I may have just realized that the last 3.5 years had been a total waste of my time. And that feeling of regret didn't go away right away. It lingered, all through Christmas, and sometimes I just laid in bed and cried (for realz).

And then I started to come out of it. I pulled together an RFP (request for proposal, the way that architects sometimes apply for work) with some friends, for a non-profit group that I adore the work of, and by some miracle my team won it. And shortly after the work started by some crazy insanity and legal means, I left the project team. And the feeling of regret returned.

And my friends rallied around me. And my husband held me. And my connections in the architecture community dug deeper for the belief in my work. And then this strange situation happened, that I found myself in a job so perfect, I never imagined that it could exist. And that's because it didn't, (and in some ways, still doesn't because I'm not permanent yet). But a hospital took a risk on me, and decided to hire me to help them get some of their stalled projects moving again. To not only use my architectural knowledge but to bring my clinical skills of group facilitation together into the amazingness that is my job.

And every day, even on the stressful ones, I can't believe that I get to do what I do. I can't believe that I'm living a life bigger than I ever imagined. And that the risk I took almost 5 years ago, to leave my life as an addiction and mental health counselor to pursue my passion for creating spaces that help people heal, was totally worth it. All those sleeplessness. Those endless hours in front of a computer. the absorbing of the abusive words and behaviour from the faculty and it's profs. All of the shit show that is architecture school was completely worth it.

It's been one of the most interesting years of my life.

Late Night Workin It Wednesday

With my bazillion jobs, late night work has become my norm! But officially today, I'm no longer a research assistant (a job that I've continued even though I'm no longer a grad student). It's bitter sweet. And I'll still have some work to finish up in training the new RA's, but I also had to make a decision about my time and spending it on more design/architecture stuff. And I can't wait to really get cracking on the "Clinton House" project. But really the focus of this blog is my office. My actually office and the last time we left it, it looked like this.

Well, the exciting thing is that lots has changed and today, it officially looks like this.

And I'm so totally thrilled with how it's coming along. As you can see, my back shelves are up and I've got lots of potted plants (which I potted in my office).

You might also notice, I had a desk extension added, though it's folded down in the picture, which is for when I'm reviewing big architectural drawings. And though it's really hard to see, but beyond that, there is a cabinet door on the bottom back cabinet, so that my rolled drawings aren't just hanging out. But my absolutely favourite part of this whole thing is those two black chairs.

Which I absolutely adore! And the funny thing is that they were FREE! And though everyone in the office jokes about my old chairs, I love them. The story is that several weeks ago, we were at the another one of the Hospital's sites and there was a ton, and I mean a ton of modern furniture, just waiting to be thrown out (which is totally heart breaking to me but everyone else sees this type of stuff as garbage). So I begged my director to have these two chairs brought over for me in the next move. And guess what arrived today! MY CHAIRS! They are in perfect condition and just add so much to the space. 

Because really, what's not to love about them! They have such great shape and style. And they are light enough to move around for meetings. Many think that they were probably from an executive office of the past, which would make sense since they have barely been used. But I'm smitten with them and so glad to have them.  Plus, I'm totally plotting a furniture rescue for some other items! But shhhh! That's a secret!