My feet don’t reach the floor when I sit in my desk chair to work on the computer.
If I lower my chair so my feet reach the floor, then my computer monitor and the keyboard tray on my desk are too high and give me a slight shrug while I work. You will not believe how much head, neck, and back pain that barely noticeable tic of non alignment can cause.
If I don't get a migraine, the pain makes me feel beaten up all over my body, pain shoots down my extremities, and I feel like I want to vomit.
It took me years to find the right person to tell me that a poor ergonomic work station not tailored to someone of my petite stature is the cause of my mystery symptoms.
Luckily, since I already use a desk with a lowered keyboard tray, most of the adjustments I need to do to make sure my arms are wrists are parallel to my keyboard are on my desk chair. I use a couple of thick books as a monitor stand (,) some painter tape on the bottom of my desk chair to remind me where to reset my chair height, and awareness that if for example, I'm starting to feel a shooting pain in my arm I might be hunching over or set the mouse just a little too far right from its original position which makes me overreach slightly.
That's the shirt story long on why my feet often dangle three and half inches above the floor everyday while I work.
This is not ergonomic for the lower half of my body. Sometimes I get a slight knee ache.
Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts
Thursday, August 28, 2014
How to Make an Office Chair Duct Tape Foot Rest in Ten Minutes Flat!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Recycled Tire Rim Ottoman
In the little fantasy land of my imagination, I would spend endless summer days, lounging in the summer sun with my feet up on fantastic outdoor furniture.
This will probably never happen because whenever I get down time in the summer I use it to build something that is - you guessed it - not fantastic outdoor furniture.
Instead I'm going to live vicariously through The Charming Farmer and her comfy, ready for a glass of iced tea put your feet up upcycled outdoor ottoman. You will never believe what she used to make it - a tractor tire rim!
Upcycled tractor tire ottoman photo courtesy of The Charming Farmer
A little rustic, a little modern and a whole lot of genius! Learn how The Charming Farmer made her tractor tire rim ottomans here.
What do you think?
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8/03/2014 01:34:00 PM
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014
16 Easy DIY Projects for Beginners
I think the best gift you can give someone lacking self confidence is a hammer.
No. Not to make themselves feel better by hitting other people with it, but to use it to build or fix something.
Completing a project is a shot in the arm to the self esteem.
It might have taken me all afternoon, but I held my head a little higher for the rest of the day after completing my first DIY project. Who knew changing a deadbolt door lock can change your world? (Beyond the added security that no one can come in your house uninvited and take your stuff.)
No. Not to make themselves feel better by hitting other people with it, but to use it to build or fix something.
Completing a project is a shot in the arm to the self esteem.
It might have taken me all afternoon, but I held my head a little higher for the rest of the day after completing my first DIY project. Who knew changing a deadbolt door lock can change your world? (Beyond the added security that no one can come in your house uninvited and take your stuff.)
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5/06/2014 04:32:00 PM
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Friday, April 25, 2014
Retro Metal Chair Redo
When Husband’s grandmother gave us her spare retro card table chair, I bit my lip. We just got married and weren’t in much of a position to say no to free furniture. We needed a fourth chair for our table. although I hoped new acquisitions would move us in a different design direction from Early Early Marriage and Horribly Mismatched Freebies.
Eventually we bought matching chairs for Husband’s heirloom table. I painted and updated the old chairs with some staple gun upholstery. The three freebie doctor’s office chairs from Husband’s bachelor days now hang out on our front porch.
Grandma W’s retro card table chair made its way to the Room Where Old Furniture Goes to Die – the Guest Room/Craft Room. The minute I pulled it up to my material Grandmother’s enamel top kitchen table I knew I need to keep her. The two look like they were made for each other.
Eventually we bought matching chairs for Husband’s heirloom table. I painted and updated the old chairs with some staple gun upholstery. The three freebie doctor’s office chairs from Husband’s bachelor days now hang out on our front porch.
Grandma W’s retro card table chair made its way to the Room Where Old Furniture Goes to Die – the Guest Room/Craft Room. The minute I pulled it up to my material Grandmother’s enamel top kitchen table I knew I need to keep her. The two look like they were made for each other.
The table has two pull out leaves I use if I need more surface space. Cutting fabric on this table is like a dream!
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4/25/2014 08:00:00 AM
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Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Turquoise and Orange Eco Modern Patio
Despite the weird bit of snow we got yesterday - in April! I'm dreaming of fun outdoor designs for the patio. A recent diet of Yard Crashers marathons and spending an hour and a half in an MRI machine will do that to ya.
I mean, what else are you going to do, while holding as still as possible for so long in a tube while it scans every single angle of your leg and knee? Some people nap. I decorate my patio.
I mean, what else are you going to do, while holding as still as possible for so long in a tube while it scans every single angle of your leg and knee? Some people nap. I decorate my patio.
Turquoise and Orange Eco Modern Outdoor Patio Mood Board
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4/16/2014 10:58:00 AM
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Craft Supply Wall Storage and Room Tour
My craft room is starting to look like a real studio!
I painted the craft room/guest room last summer. Then I lost steam on this room and let DIY fear take over when it came to making over the current furniture. That fear stalled the project until I got a little help from a friend.
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4/09/2014 08:00:00 AM
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Thursday, April 3, 2014
11 Painted Desk Makeovers
I’m finally on a roll when it comes to decorating the craft room guest room. The general color scheme is falling into place. The decorating style is gelling into Whimsy Retro Fun.
I don’t know if Whimsy Retro Fun is a real world legitimate design style but it is in LisaLand and that’s what counts.
A friend gave me her childhood student desk when she moved. I took it to use as a sewing table until I was ready to buy a real sewing machine cabinet. One of the surprising of being pint size, is I later realized that the student desk fits me better than a big girl sewing table. Instead of replacing the desk, I put that money towards bigger and better and not sewing machine table things.
Years later the desk doesn’t need replacing but it could use a redo. I poked around for furniture makeover inspiration and found a bunch. Do you want to take a look? Of course you do!
I don’t know if Whimsy Retro Fun is a real world legitimate design style but it is in LisaLand and that’s what counts.
A friend gave me her childhood student desk when she moved. I took it to use as a sewing table until I was ready to buy a real sewing machine cabinet. One of the surprising of being pint size, is I later realized that the student desk fits me better than a big girl sewing table. Instead of replacing the desk, I put that money towards bigger and better and not sewing machine table things.
Years later the desk doesn’t need replacing but it could use a redo. I poked around for furniture makeover inspiration and found a bunch. Do you want to take a look? Of course you do!
Posted by
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4/03/2014 08:00:00 AM
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Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wraparound Recycled Fence Wall Shelves
I don’t have the floor space in the craft room/guest room to add storage shelves for my mountain of craft, art, and DIY supplies. What is a girl to do?
If you can’t build out build up.
Instead of adding artwork to the wall above my craft and sewing tables, I put that wall to work with a set of shelves that wrap around the walls.
If you can’t build out build up.
Instead of adding artwork to the wall above my craft and sewing tables, I put that wall to work with a set of shelves that wrap around the walls.
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4/01/2014 08:00:00 AM
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Sunday, March 9, 2014
Decoupage Bed Makeover
I’m decorating and making over the Room Where Old Furniture Goes to Die. Some people call it the guest/craft room but not many.
The guest bed frame was a freebie from my old boss. It needed a little DIY love. Scratch that. The bed needed A LOT of DIY love. I knew the stain was chipped and scratched but I didn’t realize there were small cracks in the head and foot boards. The side rails were pretty beat up too.
I made over an old bed frame with Mod Page and paint!
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3/09/2014 11:00:00 AM
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Sunday, March 2, 2014
Guest Bed Progress
I took advantage of the tiny break in weather to scurry into the garage and make over the guest bed.
Once I gave it a up close and personal looksee, I realized the bed frame was a bit more beat up and damaged than I originally thought. But hey, it was a freebie from an old boss, so I’m not complaining.
Once I gave it a up close and personal looksee, I realized the bed frame was a bit more beat up and damaged than I originally thought. But hey, it was a freebie from an old boss, so I’m not complaining.
It is difficult to tell from the photo, but this bed is pretty beat up.
After repairing some unexpected cracks and dings with wood filler, it was time to sand the finish off the bed to prep it for painting. This is when my Mouse detail sander earns its kibble because the point allows me to sand the curves, nooks, and crannies I'd have to do by hand if I used an orbital or finish sander to sand the finish off this bed.
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3/02/2014 11:30:00 AM
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Thursday, February 13, 2014
How to Hang a Floating Shelf
In a small house, you have to be creative when it comes to storage and display space. This goes double for my craft room/guest room. I built a wall of wrap around shelves to go with the new decor and had to use every bit of it to hold my craft and sewing supplies. I don't have room on them to display some of the creations that inspire my DIY madness.
The wall space over doors is often forgotten although you can make it work for you with a simple shelf or by hanging artwork. Making an over the door fence board shelf works well in the guest bathroom, why not hang a floating shelf over the door in the guest bedroom and use it to display my doodads?
This is project sounds harder than it really is, I promise.
The wall space over doors is often forgotten although you can make it work for you with a simple shelf or by hanging artwork. Making an over the door fence board shelf works well in the guest bathroom, why not hang a floating shelf over the door in the guest bedroom and use it to display my doodads?
This is project sounds harder than it really is, I promise.
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2/13/2014 08:30:00 AM
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Sunday, November 3, 2013
Drop Cloth Patio Chair Covers
It only took me 8 years to realize I should do something to protect the chairs on my front porch from rain and winter snow unless I want to keep making my chairs over every two years or so.
That is not a difficult thing to do. But I’d rather spend that time working on a new project, like helping our girl Lacey become a balanced and confident dog. That project gives kisses!
My chair projects do not give me kisses.
Sad Lisa
That is not a difficult thing to do. But I’d rather spend that time working on a new project, like helping our girl Lacey become a balanced and confident dog. That project gives kisses!
My chair projects do not give me kisses.
Sad Lisa
Posted by
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11/03/2013 12:54:00 PM
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Thursday, October 24, 2013
Topsy Turvey Bookcases
I was beyond happy when we bought our house and replaced our mish mosh of overflowing bookshelves with one wall of matching bookshelves in our computer room. Seeing all of our books in one place made me giddy.
Then we bought more books.
And a few more.
And a few more.
We could use more shelves.
I started poking around for arty book shelves because it is way more fun than sorting through and donating our old and outdated books. Yes, yes. I’ll get to it. It is on the punch list for our computer room revamp project.
In the meantime, let’s have some fun and check out some crazy fun bookshelves. For what they don’t hold in the amount of stuff, they make up for in the amount of whimsy they add to a room.
I can’t help but look at the Woodcurve Curved Bookshelf and smile. This piece was inspired by the Dr. Seuss books as are several of the pieces in Woodcurve’s Etsy shop.
Then we bought more books.
And a few more.
And a few more.
We could use more shelves.
I started poking around for arty book shelves because it is way more fun than sorting through and donating our old and outdated books. Yes, yes. I’ll get to it. It is on the punch list for our computer room revamp project.
In the meantime, let’s have some fun and check out some crazy fun bookshelves. For what they don’t hold in the amount of stuff, they make up for in the amount of whimsy they add to a room.
I can’t help but look at the Woodcurve Curved Bookshelf and smile. This piece was inspired by the Dr. Seuss books as are several of the pieces in Woodcurve’s Etsy shop.
Warning: Curves Ahead!
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10/24/2013 08:30:00 AM
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Thursday, March 28, 2013
19 DIY Dog Beds
Lacey has a dog bed in almost every major room in our house. That way, she has a safe spot to go to if she gets anxious.
Most of Lacey's beds are the pillow type like the Molly Mutt bed (you can learn more about it here) Her Molly Mutt bed is a DIY bed for nonDIYers. It comes with a interior mesh zippered bag you stuff with whatever you have on hand to make the mattress (we used an old king size mattress pad and my husband's old race t shirts) zipped into a cute cotton cover.
The cover zips off for easy cleaning. Love that! (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience)
The cover zips off for easy cleaning. Love that! (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience)
The floor pillow we use as a dog bed in the living room has seen better days. I think Miss Lacey can use a new bed with a little more style. Do I see a fancy DIY dog bed in her future?
Probably.
Let's look for some inspiration!
Probably.
Let's look for some inspiration!
Pamper Your Pup with a DIY Dog Bed
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Retro Mod Craft Room
One of the projects on my DIY list is do something with my craft room/guest room/furniture graveyard room. I want the room to function better as my sewing and craft room and be inviting or at least not horrendous for my guests who sleep there. I have friends coming to visit from Germany and would like to have the room done before they come.
My current design process for this room isn't working. I walk into the craft room, look at the jumble, think about rearranging the current furniture and take measurements. Then I get upset because everything can't move where I think I want it. Finally I run out of the room screaming and stuff my face with chocolate.
Rinse, and repeat several days a week.
My problem is I'm to married to the furniture that is in the room and most of it isn't working. I decided to take a different approach to decide how I want this room to function and look like. I did a virtual shopping spree for the entire room. What would I choose for my craft room if I didn't have to worry about budget or size or hefting furniture up a flight of stairs?
Since I use this room mostly for crafting and sewing, I focused on that function for my mood board. I'll make a guest room mood board later. Then I'll see if there are elements I can marry from the two boards to come up with a workable plan.
My current design process for this room isn't working. I walk into the craft room, look at the jumble, think about rearranging the current furniture and take measurements. Then I get upset because everything can't move where I think I want it. Finally I run out of the room screaming and stuff my face with chocolate.
Rinse, and repeat several days a week.
My problem is I'm to married to the furniture that is in the room and most of it isn't working. I decided to take a different approach to decide how I want this room to function and look like. I did a virtual shopping spree for the entire room. What would I choose for my craft room if I didn't have to worry about budget or size or hefting furniture up a flight of stairs?
Since I use this room mostly for crafting and sewing, I focused on that function for my mood board. I'll make a guest room mood board later. Then I'll see if there are elements I can marry from the two boards to come up with a workable plan.
Posted by
Lisa Nelsen-Woods
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2/13/2013 08:00:00 AM
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013
How to Make Kitchen Sink Cabinet Storage Shelves
I don’t have a lot of storage room under my kitchen sink. A
slide out trash can (love, BTW) fills the right side of the sink cabinet. The
garbage disposal fills the upper air space on the left side of the sink
cabinet. Soaps and cleaners, and extras on deck hang out on the left side of
the cabinet and are in the line of fire when the garage disposal violently decides
it doesn’t want to connect to the waste water pipe and floods the cabinet with
water and food goo.
Keep reading! I'll teach you how to make my wood crate shelf.
I couldn’t find what I wanted in a store. Then I remembered I have mad DIY skillz and a bunch of wood. DIY to the rescue! I designed and built a under sink shelf from an old hot sauce caddy.
After trying to dry out a cardboard box box full of dish washing powder three times in two days, I figured it was time to install
shelves under the sink to keep my extras high and dry.
I couldn’t find what I wanted in a store. Then I remembered I have mad DIY skillz and a bunch of wood. DIY to the rescue! I designed and built a under sink shelf from an old hot sauce caddy.
Husband likes hot
sauce so much we got a Dave’s Insanity sauce gift pack like this as a
wedding present. True story.
Posted by
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1/09/2013 08:00:00 AM
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
32 Gifts for Crafters and DIYers
I asked a bunch of my favorite craft and DIY bloggers what cool gifts for women they received or are on their gift list. While we all agreed gift cards to our favorite home
improvement and craft stores are always winners, sometimes the people in our lives are looking for new and unique gift ideas because they have gone to the gift card well a little too often.
Ironically, most of the gift ideas we talked about I've gotten or given as gifts myself. True story.
Gift Ideas for a Quilter
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11/08/2012 02:53:00 PM
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Friday, October 12, 2012
Mid Century Industrial Mood Board
Most days, I like my living room, especially after I painted
an accent wall Hootenanny Green.
I’m not making that up. Hootenanny Green is the name of
the paint color I used.
That’s not to say when I’m watching almost unhealthy amounts of HGTV on the weekend that I don’t wish one of their designers would swoop in, redesign my living room, and punch up the personality and seating options for guests. Can you hear me Room Crashers? I’m talking to you and any other show that will listen.
Dancing in the living room! (because it could use more seating for guests)
That’s not to say when I’m watching almost unhealthy amounts of HGTV on the weekend that I don’t wish one of their designers would swoop in, redesign my living room, and punch up the personality and seating options for guests. Can you hear me Room Crashers? I’m talking to you and any other show that will listen.
Posted by
Lisa Nelsen-Woods
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10/12/2012 08:30:00 AM
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
How to Paint a Color Block School Desk
Friends, I have a massive treat for you today! Carmen De La Paz host of HGTV’s Hammer Heads and one of my favorite DIY gals, is guest posting today on Condo Blues!
*Lisa falls over and faints in excitement*
Easily transform an old school desk with vibrant colors using a color blocking technique to create a classic diamond pattern with two tones of color. This back-to-school desk refresh could even be a fun project for parents and kids to work on together!
For high traffic furniture I always recommend a fresh coat of Satin Enamel paint – It has high durability, will accept the next layer of paint well and is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
*Lisa falls over and faints in excitement*
Easily transform an old school desk with vibrant colors using a color blocking technique to create a classic diamond pattern with two tones of color. This back-to-school desk refresh could even be a fun project for parents and kids to work on together!
For high traffic furniture I always recommend a fresh coat of Satin Enamel paint – It has high durability, will accept the next layer of paint well and is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
Back to School Desk
Posted by
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8/07/2012 09:00:00 AM
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Friday, June 1, 2012
How to Remove Furniture Marks from Carpet
Fortunately, Blitzkrieg is now back to his fine and fluffy self. My carpeting is another story. I spent an entire afternoon steam cleaning pet stains on the carpeting by the front door. I couldn’t move on to the rest of the living room or house like I normally do. We lived with the living room in the kitchen for several days. And then our bedroom in the computer room. And then the computer room in our bedroom. And then the guest/sewing room in our bedroom.
This is about the time I was considering maid service. Or a box of matches.
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6/01/2012 05:45:00 AM
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