My Home Office | Before and After

Despite the quick snow flurry we had this morning, spring seems to have arrived early this year.  Daffodils have popped up, trees are in bloom, everything is feeling fresh and alive again. I have started to make my list of spring repairs and home updates - rotten pickets in our fence that need replacing, dinged up cabinets in our kitchen that need touching up, removing Christmas greenery from our window boxes (yes, still there and surprisingly looking very green-ish).  It got me thinking that I have yet to share my home office that was updated, ohhh, welllll, last summer!! Yikes.  I even took photos but then never got around to writing the blog post and when the holiday season rolled around I decided to wait and then forgot about it.  Even though I've actually added a few things since these pics were taken, I thought it was high time to blog about the space.   Thank you all for being so patient.  I'm amazed I still have readers at all with the time it takes me to get things up!!

BEFORE

A little background... My office is a room right off our master bedroom.  It is part of a two story addition that was added in the late 50s which included our master bath and the downstairs family room.  It is a small space, more of a sitting/dressing room since it includes three closets.  It was the last room in our home that remained completely untouched decorating wise.  The only room with wall to wall carpet, which was old and faded.  Jimmy had been using it as a home office and it was my original intention to redo the space for him.  However, once I got started it made more sense for me to use this room as my work space.  It's easier to store bolts of fabric, spread out my work and take advantage of the better light and more private setting.  So, Jimmy moved downstairs and I moved up.  (His office is on my to do list for this year and I promised him this time I was designing for him!:))

AFTER

I love this space and feel so fortunate to work in here several times a week.  My design plan was to create a space that felt like a summer cottage in New England.   I drew inspiration from all the wonderful places we have vacationed over the last 20 years.  For fabrics I choose my favorite English floral (Althea from Lee Jofa), a blue ticking stripe, and a small block print then I added a collection of art that includes early American portraits, seascapes, and an etching of Boston.   All the wood furniture are antiques from estate sales or local stores.  It is basically a room full of things that I love and flows so well with our green and blue bedroom next door...

photo by Helen Norman (with proper lighting! and accurate colors!)

Here are a few more pictures...

^^ Wall to wall seagrass carpet that I LOVE. I used Kalo by Design Materials seagrass. We did not add additional padding but if this was a main living space I would have.  This is the most comfortable seagrass we have in our home, but it's still seagrass and not plush.  Zero regrets on this decision and I would put this carpet in any room in our home without any hesitation.  I have since added added to the small gallery wall and moved everything around a bit.  I also added a small Bowood pillow to the wingback chair. I wish I could show you the pretty view outside of so many lovely trees.

Other Sources: Desk chair: IKEA, Desk: Pine, vintage, Baskets + Lamp: Ballard,  Roman Shade: Lee Jofa, Althea, Footstool Fabric: Robert Allen, Wingback: Craigslist find, slipped in washed denim ticking, Wing Chair Pillow: Les Indiennes, Fabiola, Paint on Walls, Trim, Ceiling and Windows: Farrow & Ball, French Gray^^

^^Standing lamp: Rejuvenation Hardware^^

^^Taken on a very sunny day, all colors read warmer in this picture than in real life.^^

I really should have charged up my camera to take some new shots and from a few more angles.  I didn't realize how hazy these shot were, but the thought of cleaning up my desk and all the projects laid out on my floor is more than I wanted to take on. :)  Sometimes you just got to go with good enough. Ha.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!  Always fun to share a little of my home with you.  Have a terrific weekend!