home office – design plan changes and thoughts

My home office is on the hit list this year.  Being that it’s the very first room you see upon entering our home it’s a high priority project.

Change of Design Plans

My original design plan changed just a bit due to a little snafu with the desk I ordered.

office design plan

The company shipped the desk with the wrong legs, and then in the process of trying to get that corrected the desk became a discontinued item.  Insert sad face.  What I loved most about this campaign-style desk was the red and gold combination.  While I could have probably found something similar in style and just painted it, I decided to go in a different direction all together.

Rather than sourcing another desk, I’ve decided to bring in a dining table to use as a desk.  The room is large enough to handle the size.  And I like the idea of us being able to use this room as an entertaining space as well as an office.   I stumbled across a dining table I loved at a local furniture store, GDC Home.  It’s a Hooker Furniture burl wood dining table.  The sleek, parsons style looks great in the room.

Design Thoughts

office plans

  • The walls will still be going a light, pale pink.  I toyed around with the idea of painting the moulding grey, but ultimately I don’t want the room to feel too heavy.  I’m going for bright and happy.
  • Right now, I’m considering painting the sideboard white, so that it sort of disappears into the moulding, or possibly for a bolder look a bright shade of red.  Though I think what’s leading me in the direction of painting that piece is the overabundance of wood tones currently in the room.

office progress

(chairs)

  •  I plan to decide on a rug before doing anything with the sideboard.  It’s very possible that an area rug will completely steer me away from wanting to paint the sideboard at all.

One design decision typically determines another, so it’s important to figure out where to begin.  In my opinion, an area rug is always a great place to start.  The rug I originally planned to use unfortunately only comes in a square size that just isn’t right for the space now considering the size of the table I’m using as a desk.  This one I’m contemplating has a similar look, though it’s a little bolder…….

Changes Rug from CB2

I may just go with a natural fiber rug, like this one.  While it’s more of a safe choice, I’m thinking if it ain’t broke why fix it?  Thoughts?

  • A gallery wall will be going up above the sideboard.  I’ve already been collecting pieces!

office - gallery wall plan

Art Pictured above by Raven Roxanne  – Sam SidneyTeil Duncan – Retta Dotterer – Clare Elsaesser

  • Curtain panels will be made with the palm leaf fabric pictured above.  I think this fabric is going to look so great against pale pink walls.
  • My old office chair is standing in for now while I hunt for a wingback I can have recovered in a leopard print.  I feel like the size of the table warrants a chair with much more presence.

office progress

Ready to do some Painting!

I’m so ready to finish this space as I’ve been staring at paint samples in here for what feels like forever.  Sometimes it just takes time to make up your mind.   I’d rather be patient, enjoy the process and be pleased with the results, than rush through to the finish line only to regret some of the decisions made.

home office design progress

(entry foyer)

Hoping to be sharing more progress very soon!  For now I have painting to do……..

Reader Poll

I think it’s nice to share behind the scenes photos as you rarely see anything but finished, styled spaces on blogs anymore.  It takes days, months, even years to get a room to look the way you want.  And I think there is so much to be gained in sharing the process rather than just the before and after.  What are your thoughts on this?  Would you rather I wait until rooms are finished to share them?

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  • I love seeing in progress photos! No update plans for my house this year but we are adding a kitchenette in my husband’s office, so I’ve been planning that 😉

    Do you do a lot of desk work? I cannot sit at a table in a “real” chair and work on a computer. When I work from home, I either need a real desk with a computer chair and a properly (ergonomically) arranged computer, or I sit in my reading chair with a laptop on a lapdesk.

  • I really like seeing the steps you take to arrive at a finished room…the design decisions you make, and why you made them, the things you try that work and that don’t work…All of it! It’s fun to see it all and it makes designing my own home seem less intimidating and more attainable knowing that you go through the same things I do – paint samples all over the walls, furniture indecision, all of the trials and errors. You end up with a gorgeous finished product.

  • I too appreciate progress posts. I also appreciate honesty in that design plans and ideas can change. Something you thought would work or you liked didn’t and it’s okay! It happens to professional designers as well.

  • I love to see the progress…how you get from point A to point B. It helps me in my amateur attempts to tackle design projects around my house. I appreciate that you are willing to share your thoughts and steps along the way…even if they are a step forward or a step back in the process. You have amazing style and a great eye for what will work and what won’t. I can’t wait to see how it will all come together!

  • Progress!! Your final reveals are always awesome so progress posts definitely don’t take away from that. I’m curious, maybe I missed it, but will your husband have an office in this home? I loved your previous office in your 5th house but I do believe it was more for him?

  • I really enjoy your work-in-progress posts. It’s really helpful to learn how you make decisions, what the choices were, the inspiration pieces, etc. Before an afters are great, but we really don’t learn much from this type of presentation. With your approach we learn! I say yes to any and all education 🙂 Thanks for asking!

  • Love seeing, before, during and after. I vote that the side table be painted in the same red as your bench in the entry! Swoon!

  • Love seeing before, during and after. I vote that the sideboard be painted in the same red as your bench in the entry! Swoon!

  • No, no, no! Please don’t wait on the reveal. As an amateur just trying to pretty up my own house I need to see the process you use to arrive at the pretty.

  • So fun! I love the striped rug and I think you should go for it! Also what about painting the sideboard a sort of tomato red and then painting the door fronts of the sideboard in that pretty green that is pictured throughout the artwork.

  • Keep the progress pics coming! I love to see that people are still “human” in their designing and decorating. Great post! Of course I can’t wait to see the outcome! 🙂

  • I love the small updates. Makes it feel normal and natural to do the same in your own home, rather than seeing everyone just have a space that magically came together overnight. It’s fun to be along for the ride with you, and I would much rather see a lot of your posts, than only get a few updates!

    PS. Love how this home has taken on a beachy, Charleston vibe, yet still feels very you! And the idea for your husband’s office space at the top of the stairs–genius!

  • Thank you so much! Before and After posts are great but I’ve always enjoyed sharing the process along the way. Glad y’all like these posts as well!

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