We are in the midst of a fun project to rehab a home office into a chic, elegant workspace for our client.
The office is a stunning room with windows on three sides, 10’ ceilings, pocket French doors, a built in hutch, and abundant beautiful millwork. Originally the office for her husband, it is currently dark and masculine, and getting a little worn out. He never actually used it, preferring to go into the office, so she took it over for her own. Now she is ready to redecorate it to match her needs and aesthetic.
Drawing inspiration from our client’s favorites; classic feminine fashion, vintage English design, and fresh floral colors featuring pink combinations, we began selecting elements for the design.
The Design Brief
Create a feminine, elegant office that is bright and welcoming and incorporates pink and white
Provide ample storage (with freestanding furnishings) for the many reference books stored elsewhere and for the large collection of binders she uses every day
Maintain a desktop computer with a large screen for work and zoom meetings
Provide comfortable seating for a family of avid readers
Design Considerations
We wanted to be sure to balance a fresh, more modern vibe with the very traditional classic architecture of the space and to incorporate colors that will eventually reappear throughout the main floor in one form or another in the other rooms as we tackle the redesign of the main floor room by room.
The current state of affairs is loads of creamy millwork and muted earth tones in this grand Georgian colonial style home built in 2001. The fresh new color palette for the house is being established in this first main floor room to be redecorated.
The Plan
We start, as always, with space planning to create a furniture layout. For this office, we wanted to move the work center to the back wall. This accomplishes several things:
It moves the computer so that the back of the computer and tangle of cables is not the first thing you see from the door
It means the windows offer nice light on our client’ face for zoom meetings rather than being behind her and casting her in shadow
She faces the pretty view of the yard whilst working on the computer
A console/desk with storage flanked by bookcases frames the large window and puts everything she needs in easy reach
Floating a writing desk offers ample work space to spread out papers and some shallow storage for office necessities, but is light in scale and not visually or physically hulking like the current desk.
A new, comfortable swivel desk chair in a tufted design is both functional and elegant
A pair of comfy reading chairs dressed in a Chanel suit inspired tweed and a pair of velvet flower shaped ottomans offer ample comfortable seating
A soft rug in shades of white and pink keep the room light and bright.
The windows will be dressed in our starting point fabric - an embroidered linen in white with a floral design in shades of pink from sherbet to fuchsia and chartreuse and loden green leaves. The panels frame the views of the gardens and lucite and brass hardware keeps the look fresh and light.
Lighting overhead will switch from recessed floods to the softer light of a Paris flea market style chandelier. Supplemental lamps light the credenza work surface and provide reading light for the chairs.
We are planning a surprise for the ceiling - either a fuchsia gloss finish, or a hand painted sky - we’ll see which option she selects!
A rendered view of the new home office colors with a fuchsia pink gloss ceiling option #wfh
A rendered view of the new home office with a sky painted ceiling option #wfh
Of course small touches will finish out the space - contrast painted bookcase backs, coordinated binder holders, chinoiserie ginger jars atop the bookcases to give them height, drinks tables to serve the chairs, throw pillows, meaningful artwork, and plants and flowers all contribute to a chicly elegant, feminine home office that will be a pleasure to work in!
