Thinking of Designing a Sophisticated Office?

Let Me Show You How.

Good things come to those who wait and boy did we have to wait on this one LOL. My husband's office has been a year in the making, but when you are designing on a budget, I believe leveraging time is key. What do I mean? Take the time to: 

• Save for the things you need or want to splurge on; 

• Source second-hand items or antiques that are of great quality; 

• Do some of the work yourself if you are handy to save on cost.

Before

In our case, and for this office, we did all three and on the latter point (being handy), we have the scars to prove it.

Before

After

The room turned out better than I imagined, I learned several things along the way, and as usual besides sharing the fabulous pictures, l will take you behind the curtain and show you how to design an office that you will enjoy working in and taking those Zoom calls.

Let's get started….

1. Function First & Floor Plan Next: This is a non-negotiable for me and should be for you when you start designing. Regardless of all the goodies you want to bring into the room (and there will be many - trust me), never compromise on function, because that will ensure that you will always use and enjoy the space. So ask yourself these questions, what's the purpose of this room? What do I need to make it work for my daily needs? Is it a room I’d use every day and if yes in what way? When doing this assessment, be true to yourself. If you know clutter might follow you around, make sure you have ample storage to hide it; if you entertain a lot, make sure you have enough seating and flattering lighting. Once you are set on the function, develop a space plan that pinpoints your furniture placement and allows for adequate clearances. For this space, my husband needed a large desk (he uses multiple screens), curtains to block our excess sunlight (the room has a ton of windows), a spot to lounge and have a cocktail when he isn't working, and room for the kiddos to hang out with him. He also has a lot of techy stuff, so we needed storage for that.

   

   

2. Get the Bones and Architecture Just Right: Starting with a good foundation is critical, so if there are structural things in the home that need fixing, get them done. Don't slap lipstick on a pig. So if you want hardwood floors, get them installed before moving in furniture, add wall paneling or molding to add depth, make room for more electrical switches if needed ( or swap out existing ones). Fair warning, this is usually the priciest part of design, but well worth it since these details are permanent fixtures in your home.

   

   

   

   

3. Create the Mood You Desire: Now this is the fun part! Think of colors and textures that will make you feel how you would want to feel in the room. Do you want to feel calm, relaxed, happy, productive, etc., then pick colors and fabrics that will exude those feelings. Layer your lighting, add art (whatever tickles your fancy) and mix old and new. Don't be afraid to add something jarring - trust me - it adds character. Fun fact, this can be the cheapest part of design if you are willing to be patient, and exploit time to save you money. For instance, the sofa in my husband's office is an antique piece I got for pennies on the dollar and didn’t even have to change the fabric, but it took me months to stumble on this beauty. I'd also say practicing patience in design is key (i.e., not doing everything at once) because it makes your room feel collected over time, and one-of-a-kind.

   

I hope I have given you some ODD tips to help you create a sophisticated space whether it be your office, living room, or speakeasy! 

Until next time…Cheers.