Writing Oasis In the Middle of the Woods

Last summer, my husband gifted me with a great idea. As my children grew they each wanted their own room and eventually I lost my office in the house. No resentment there, but I found working in the living room to be too difficult. That was when my husband suggested a writing shed. We bought a basic shed, and after many hours of labor in constructing a platform for it, it was delivered.

I wanted to share some pictures of the process.

/*===== general options =========*/
a {
box-shadow: none !important;
}

.view *, .album_categories *, .album_back_button *, #album_disabled_layer {
font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, Sylfaen !important;
}

#album_disabled_layer {
display: none;
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
text-align: center;
background-color: transparent;
z-index: 10;
padding-top: 20px;
color: #fff;
}

#album_list_container {
position: relative;
}

/* ====================== album onhover styles ==========================*/

#album_list .view {
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
-o-box-sizing: border-box;
display: none;

}

.view .mask,
.view .content {
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
position: absolute;
overflow: hidden;
top: 0;
left: 0;
}

.view h2 {
text-transform: uppercase;
color: #fff;
text-align: center;
position: relative;
font-size: 17px;
font-family: Raleway, serif;
padding: 10px;
/*background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);*/
margin: 20px 0 0 0;

}

.album_back_button a, .view a {
text-decoration: none !important;
}

.view p {
font-family: Merriweather, serif;
font-style: italic;
font-size: 14px;
position: relative;
color: #fff;
padding: 0px 20px 0px;
text-align: center;

}

.view a.info {
display: inline-block;
text-decoration: none;
font-size: 13px;
padding: 2px 14px;
margin-bottom: 3px;
background: #000;
color: #fff;
font-family: Raleway, serif;
text-transform: uppercase;
box-shadow: 0 0 1px #000
}

.mask-text h2 {
font-size: 20px !important;
}

.view a.info:hover {
box-shadow: 0 0 5px #000
}

.view .mask-bg {
height: 100%;
}

.view .album_social {
color: #fff;
position: absolute;
bottom: 3px;
left: 3px;
border: 1px solid #ffffff;
-webkit-border-radius: 3px;
-moz-border-radius: 3px;
border-radius: 3px;
padding: 3px 5px;

}

.view .album_social:active, .view .album_social:focus, .view .album_social:hover {
color: #ffffff;
outline: none;
}

/*1*/

.view .info {
margin-top: 5px;
}

.view-first .mask {
opacity: 0;
background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out;

}

.view-first h2 {
transform: translateY(-100px);
opacity: 0;
font-family: Raleway, serif;
transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
}

.view-first p {
transform: translateY(100px);
opacity: 0;
transition: all 0.2s linear;
}

.view-first a.info {
opacity: 0;
transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
}

/* */

.view-first:hover img {
/*transform: scale(1.1);*/
}

.view-first:hover .mask {
opacity: 1;
}

.view-first:hover h2,
.view-first:hover p,
.view-first:hover a.info {
opacity: 1;
transform: translateY(0px);
}

.view-first:hover p {
transition-delay: 0.1s;
}

.view-first:hover a.info {
transition-delay: 0.2s;
}

/*2*/
.view-second img {
-webkit-filter: grayscale(0) blur(0);
filter: grayscale(0) blur(0);
-webkit-transition: .3s ease-in-out;
transition: .3s ease-in-out;
}

.view-second .mask {
background-color: rgba(226, 200, 127, 0.2);
transition: all 0.5s linear;
opacity: 0;
}

.view-second h2 {
background: transparent;
margin: 20px 40px 0px 40px;
transform: scale(0);
color: #333;
transition: all 0.5s linear;
opacity: 0;
}

.view-second p {
opacity: 0;
transform: scale(0);
transition: all 0.5s linear;
}

.view-second a.info {
opacity: 0;
transform: scale(0);
transition: all 0.5s linear;
}

.view-second:hover img {
-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%) blur(3px);
filter: grayscale(100%) blur(3px);
}

.view-second:hover .mask {
opacity: 1;
}

.view-second:hover h2,
.view-second:hover p,
.view-second:hover a.info {
transform: scale(1);
opacity: 1;
}

.view-second img {
-webkit-filter: grayscale(0) blur(0);
filter: grayscale(0) blur(0);
-webkit-transition: .3s ease-in-out;
transition: .3s ease-in-out;
}

.view-second:hover img {
-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%) blur(3px);
filter: grayscale(100%) blur(3px);
}

/*3*/

.view-third img {
transform: scaleY(1);
transition: all .7s ease-in-out;
}

.view-third a.info {
opacity: 0;
transform: scale(0);
transition: all 0.5s linear;
}

.view-third:hover img {
-webkit-transform: scale(10);
transform: scale(10);
opacity: 0;
}

.view-third:hover .mask {
opacity: 1;
}

.view-third:hover h2,
.view-third:hover p,
.view-third:hover a.info {
transform: scale(1);
opacity: 1;
}

/* ==== view 4 ===*/

.view-forth-wrapper {
overflow: hidden;
position: relative !important;
height: 100%;
/* cursor: pointer;*/
}

.view-forth img {
max-width: 100%;
position: relative;
top: 0;
-webkit-transition: all 600ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);
transition: all 600ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);
}

.view-forth .mask {
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
/* height: 70px;*/
/* bottom: -70px;*/
height: 50%;
bottom: -50%;
-webkit-transition: all 300ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);
transition: all 300ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);
top: inherit;
}

.view-forth:hover .mask {
bottom: 0;
}

.view-forth:hover img {
top: -30px;
}

/*== view 5 ==*/

.view-fifth .view-fifth-wrapper,
.view-fifth .view-fifth-wrapper img {
display: block;
position: relative;
}

.view-fifth .view-fifth-wrapper {
overflow: hidden;
height: 100%;
}

.view-fifth .view-fifth-wrapper .mask {
display: none;
position: absolute;
background: #333;
background: rgba(75, 75, 75, 0.7);
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}

/* ====================== album category styles ==========================*/

#filters {
margin: 1% 0;
padding: 0;
list-style: none;
list-style-type: none !important;

}

#filters li {
float: left;
list-style-type: none !important;
}

#filters li:first-child span {
margin-left: 0px;
}

#filters li span {
display: block;
text-decoration: none;
cursor: pointer;
}

.album_categories {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
overflow: hidden;
padding-top: 5px;
}

/*========= sharing buttons ============*/

.album_socials {
position: relative;
top: 3px;
width: 100px;
height: 28px;
margin: 0 auto;
}

.album_socials .rwd-share-buttons {
top: 0px !important;
width: 100% !important;
margin: 0px !important;
}

.album_socials a {
text-decoration: underline !important;
}

.gallery_images, .album_image_place {
margin-top: 15px;
margin-top: 15px;
}

#rwd-share-facebook:hover {
background-position: 0 -31px !important;
}

#rwd-share-twitter:hover {
background-position: -31px 32px !important;
}

#rwd-share-googleplus:hover {
background-position: -66px -31px !important;
}

.rwd-share-buttons li, .rwd-share-buttons li a {
width: 26px !important;
border: 0px !important;
}

.rwd-share-buttons {
top: 0 !important;
}

.img_link_btn {
position: absolute;
z-index: 99999;
bottom: 0;
left: 0;
right: 0;
width: 100%;
padding: 8px;
}

.rwd-title {
padding: 10px 0px !important;
}

@media only screen and (max-width: 475px) {
.rwd-share-buttons {
top: -25px !important;
}

.rwd-title-text {
line-height: 15px;
}
}

/*========= hover style ===========*/

#hover {
color: rgba(188, 175, 204, 0.9);
}

h2#testimonials {
color: #fffae3;
}

div#all {
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}

.view img {
height: auto;
}

.view {
color: #fff;
margin: 0 10px 10px 0;
overflow: hidden;
position: relative;
text-align: center;
float: left;
cursor: default;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}

.view-wrapper {
height: 100%;
}

.view img {
display: block;
position: relative;
transition: all 0.2s linear;
height: 100%;
width: auto;
max-width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
}

.mask-text h2 {
font-size: 20px !important;
margin-top: 20px !important;
}

/* view 1 */

.view-first .text-category, .view-first .mask-text h2, .view-first .mask-text p {
color: #fff;
}

/* view 2 */
.view-second .text-category, .view-second .mask-text h2, .view-second p {
color: #333;
}

.view-second .mask-text h2 {
border-bottom: 1px solid #333;
}

/* view 3*/
.view-third .mask {
background-color: #ccc;
transition: all 0.5s linear;
opacity: 0;
color: #333;
}

.view-third h2 {
border-bottom: 1px solid #333;
background: transparent;
margin: 20px 40px 0px 40px;
transform: scale(0);
color: #333;
transition: all 0.5s linear;
opacity: 0;
}

.view-third p {
color: #333;
opacity: 0;
transform: scale(0);
transition: all 0.5s linear;
}

.view-third .text-category {
color: #333;
}

/* view 4 */

.view-forth .mask-bg {
background: #333;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
}

.view-forth .mask-text {
color: #fff;
position: relative;
z-index: 500;
padding: 5px 8px;
}

.view-forth .mask-text h2 {
margin: 0px;
font-size: 13px;
padding: 2px;
color: #fff;
}

.view-forth .mask-text h2:hover {
cursor: pointer;
}

.view-forth .text-category {
display: block;
font-size: 15px;
color: #fff;
}

.view-forth p {
color: #fff;
}

/* view 5 */
.view-fifth .text-category, .view-fifth .text-category *, .view-fifth .mask-text h2, .view-fifth .mask-text p {
color: #fff;
}










After lots of consideration, we decided a dying fir tree that needed to be removed, was the best location for The Oasis








Hired some tree guys, who climbed the massive tree and did their thing








After the trunk came down, we had lots of wood for burning, and a stump for my boys to play on. Due to snow, work stopped for a while, but eventually the stump and root system were also removed.








We ran an underground conduit from the house to the site so I could have electricity for lights, heat and of course the computer.








Bricks and more bricks were used to build the retaining wall. Due to town regulations, my original idea of a concrete slab, did not pan out.








Slow and steady work, and the wall started taking form.








Stone and dirt deliveries rolled in. We had to wait several weeks due to rain. Even then, the trucks ripped my side yard to shreds.








The shed at the lot. It was built faster than expected and because of all the rain, the construction site wasn't ready yet. The shed sat at the lot for two weeks before I was ready for it.








Six levels of bricks later, we were almost there.








The wall is complete, and the arduous task of filling it in with the stone and dirt began. This is a picture of the final space before the shed was delivered.








It was wicked cool watching the delivery. It took some manuvering, but in the end, the delivery was successful.




Bare Bones








Framing the extra windows, with a little help from my friends



Thankfully they knew what they were doing, because I sure didn't.




Insulation complete








Dry wall complete








Wiring complete








Painting begins








Blue like the ocean



I love the ocean. It is my calm place, so what better than the color of the water where I grew up.




Beginning the building of the shelves



After lots of research I designed these shleves to fit paperbacks and hardcovers perectly, and maximized teh space in the office.








Since the space was limited, I designed shelves that were the exact width of paperbacks, tradebacks and hardcovers. Now my book collection was coming out of boxes. Yipee!




My Desk



I built my desk from leftover bamboo flooring that my friends used in their basement.




DIY light fixtures



I wanted to bring my culture into my workspace. I made the light fixtures using hundreds of beautiful beads, giving the room a Mediterranean feel.













Where the magic happens








Starting to fill up my shelves. Lots of boxes still to go through.








Some of my favorite characters








A place to enjoy a good book








The Final Product



There's nothing like a beach shack in the middle of the snow.




.tview9_container .noBorder {
border: 0;
}

.view9_container:nth-last-child(3) {
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
padding-bottom: 0 !important;
border: none !important;
}

.view9_container {
width: 100%;
float: none;
margin:-27px auto;;
margin-bottom: 0px !important;
padding-bottom: 44px !important;
border-bottom: 0 px dotted #010457;
}

.iframe_cont {
position: relative;
width: 100%;
height: 0;
padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

.view9_img {
display: block;
margin: 0 auto;
width: 100%
}

.new_view_title {
font-size: 18px !important;
color: #FFFFFF !important;
;
text-align:left;;
padding-left: 5px;
background: rgba(0,0,0,0.7) !important;
}

.new_view_desc ul {
list-style-type: none;
}

.new_view_desc {
margin-top: 15px;
font-size: 14px !important;
color: #000000 !important;
;
text-align:justify;;
background: rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;
}

.video_blog_view {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
}

.paginate {
font-size: 22px !important;
color: #1046B3 !important;
text-align: center;
}

.paginate a {
border-bottom: none !important;
}

.icon-style {
font-size: 18px !important;
color: #1046B3 !important;;
}

.load_more {
margin: 10px 0;
position: relative;
text-align: center;
width: 100%;
}

.load_more_button {
border-radius: 10px;
display: inline-block;
padding: 5px 15px;
font-size: 19px !important;
color: #Load More !important;
background: #5CADFF !important;
cursor: pointer;
}

.load_more_button:hover {
color: #D9D9D9 !important;
background: #8F827C !important;
}

.loading {
display: none;
}

.clear {
clear: both;
}

.blog_img_wrapper {
position: relative;
}

This is my Oasis.  In the middle of the lush woods of Upstate New York, I have created something that reminds me of my childhood home. When I step into my office, it is with a smile on my face. Now I have the best of both worlds, my loving kids and husband in New York, and my  young life in Dubai.

Rasha

The post Writing Oasis In the Middle of the Woods appeared first on .