One Room Challenge Week 3: The Floor Plan (+ Something Pretty)

I blinked, and three whole weeks of the One Room Challenge were gone 😳 I knew getting this done on a timeline would be tight with two little ones and no childcare — during the busiest months of our lives, no less — but I was naively optimistic. And now… I’m starting to sweat. If you saw my Instagram reel yesterday, you know we’re at a momentary standstill while we wait on an electrician to come move some outlets we’d forgotten would need to be moved. Oops. But! I’m going to stay optimistic and declare that once that happens, it will be smooth sailing to the finish line… after we get back from a quick vacation. I TOLD YOU IT WAS A BUSY MONTH.

While we wait, I’m going to make sure all our ducks are in a row so that when we get the green light, we’re ready to roll. That means this week I want to be nailing down the decor, picking paint colors, choosing hardware, and making sure it all comes together well and on time. First things first though, I think it’s time to update you on the plan, share the first purchase that arrived last week, and show you the new floor plan for the space:

I am PUMPED about this floor plan. It just makes so much more sense! Projector wall space is out as a priority; function and flow are in.

In case you can’t tell, we are going to be flip-flopping the layout of the room: moving the seating space to be near the entry door, and my husband’s work space to the opposite end. This will create a cozy little seating area around the fireplace, which is going to be so inviting for people to enter into. To give my husband more tabletop space on his side of the room (which he desperately needs), we’re replacing the low Ikea cabinets with counter height ones across the entire back wall, which he’ll sit with his back to. You might remember a large delivery via forklift from my Instagram stories last week — it was the cabinets and countertops! They’re out there waiting patiently. “But wait! I don’t see a desk on the floor plan?” Here’s where that brilliant idea/trick-up-my-sleeve I mentioned comes in. His office will live a double life, drumroll please… as a kitchenette! Which effectively makes this whole basement area a ground-level in-law suite. His office will have a mini fridge/freezer tucked under the counter, with plenty of room for a microwave and other appliances, plus some shelving for dishes. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! One of the cabinets is a sink base cabinet, so while we aren’t going to be adding plumbing for a sink, that option will stay open for the future. And the counters share a wall with the garage, so access would theoretically be very easy.

I’ll pause a moment to let that all sink in and for the applause to die down. Ok, now let’s see the floor plan with his actual desk in there:

Still amazing, with tons of room for him to work and move around the space. Of course, this is how it will be set up for now, but when we’re getting ready to move I’m thinking I might stage it more as a kitchenette? Thoughts? Maybe for the big ORC reveal as well…

What do you think? Stage it for its current purpose or its future purpose?

Ok, one final bit of business, because I can’t leave you with only black and white floor plans and nothing fun and pretty — help me choose a rug! I’m trying to decide between a jute runner at the door and a fun pattern in the sitting area, or vice versa. Which would you choose??