In the second makeover of our three-part Get Organized series with CBS' The Early Show, we set out to tackle Kristen's dreary home office. The spare room in the otherwise-orderly home of this busy working mother of two had become the catch-all for hand-me-down furniture and piles upon piles of paperwork, not to mention messy cords galore. The real trouble: she actually used this room as her office, working from home 30 to 40 hours a week while raising two young children, and keeping the household in order to boot. And as if that weren't enough, the room needs to function as their guest room and the family's library of books and photo/media storage. Talk about double duty!

I couldn't believe Kristen spent 8 hours a day, 4 days a week, sitting in such an uncomfortable wooden chair, crammed up against the old-fashioned desk, with not one but two computers jammed on top of it (the laptop is for her work, the desktop is their family computer). The tiny loveseat folded out into a guest bed that most visitors chose to forsake in favor of an air mattress on the floor (hint: that's when you know it's time for a new guest bed situation). The lighting was dismal, the filing drawers were bursting at the seams, and the bookshelves were crammed to maximum capacity, with no apparent order.

If you're looking to execute a home office re-do of your own, specific tips and product information can be found in our corresponding web feature.

Below is a gallery of some Behind the Scene's photos, and a list of resources I could not have done without in executing this transformation.

Enjoy!

Before: A Sad State of Affairs

The Desk Cries Out for Help

Every cabinet was jammed, and I've never seen this many cords and electronic gadgets

Books, photo albums, and kids art toppled over

Piles rose from the floor under the printer

The Plan: Out With the Old, In With the (affordably) New

The starting point - a garage full of boxes - yes, I opened every single one

The organization begins - we empty the office, make piles of all the books by category, and urge Kristen to purge

The insides of the built-in were painted a poppy yellow, to brighten up the room with minimal effort

I'm a big fan of to-do lists - every one was asigned a task - divide and conquer!

Corralling the cords was no easy feat - everything had to be disconnected and then reconnected in a new configuration - (I promise you, if your wires reseble this, it's worth the effort to tackle on a rainy afternoon)

Things start to come together - it's easy to get stuck at this point, not sure where everything should go - but you must forge ahead

The Result: A Home Office Haven (where it's close to impossible to dread a Monday morning!)

A daybed replaced the old pull-out - true comfort and style in one peice. Throw pillows abound, beckoning Kristen to take a load off for a well-deserved break from the grind. 

Every nook was maximized, without feeling crammed. The final room had more furniture in it than before, but it still felt more spacious, because the placement of items was well-planned.

The bookshelves are now a display Kristen can enjoy showing off. Lighting was strategically placed in opposite corners of the room, to shed a soft (but well lit) glow.

Smart storage - the legs of the desk provide a resting place for project boxes, a tote is at the ready for a busy mom on the go, and a combination mail holder/key hook means she'll never be searching.

I love this desk! So sleek and simple, and the nook beneath the glass top for stashing smaller items means a clear workspace. Pretty desktop items, like my favorite decorative trays and feminine office accessories, set a more inviting tone than items otherwise purchased at your typical office supply store.

Beauty and function - an iPod dock, charging station, shredder, all-in-one printer, and pretty supply boxes are all stored within reach in one functional unit, which closes up to keep items out of sight when guests enter (see photo above). A delicate and feminine framed vintage wallpaper sample, by one of my favorite young interior designers, hangs above the unit to off-set the utilitarian feel of all those electronics. A bright pink egg lamp by JSchatz adds a pop of color to the desktop and serves as a task light.

Sneaky storage - the unit that serves as the night table to the guest bed is actually a filing cabinet, though you'd never realize it. A durable canvas bin in a bright print allows Kristen to stash dipers so they're at the ready when duty calls. Once the kids grow out of diaper phase, she can use it for toy storage to keep little hands busy while mommy works.

Even more sneaky storage - I love these storage cubes from West Elm - appearing to be upholstered coffee tables, you can stash guest belongings or extra linens in them.

The big picture:

The bookshelves house photos, extra project files, magazine clippings, extra cords and electronic manuals, and extra office supplies - but you'd never know it based on the attractive micro-organizers - boxes and bins and files in a range of complimentary colors. The family computer (which is used less frequently) now lives here too, with a stool stashed nearby - freeing up Kristen's desk for her work laptop to rest.

I think these cord and gadget organizers are genius!

Hide Away - the messy tangle of cords was streamlined and fed through the cabinet base, keeping unslightly wires out of view.

A little admirer explores the new room!

And a special thanks to the following resources for making this makeover possible - I highly recommend you check out their wares if you're looking to re-do a room in your home with style, functionality, and affordability:

Kolo, Kangaroom Storage, JSchatz, The Container Store, Umbra, See Jane Work, Superdeluxe, Elizabeth Bauer Design, Hable Construction, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Ikea, Staples, Kodak, Restoration Hardware, mStation, CB2, Seabags, Three by Three Seattle, momAgenda

Love to hear your thoughts. Let me know if you've got questions about this room or the products used in it. Or tell me, what's your biggest home office woe?