Home Office Makeover: 3 Designers Step Up to the Challenge
He was also drawn to the creamy McGee & Co. Elton chair because it doesn’t predictably expose four legs without being a “fussy” chair. “I loved that it was playing off a vintage moment, the chair wraps you up in itself,” he continues. The cloudlike chair also works with the lighter linen fabric of the Pottery Barn curtains that bestow just the right amount of texture without going “glammy.” The Persian-inspired rug, also by McGee & Co., ties the walnut-colored canned desk to the rest of the interiors. “I wanted you to have depth in the space,” he says. “I don’t want it to be matchy-matchy, but all the pieces need to be cousins of the same family, they need to have a similar aesthetic.”
By tuning into the natural world without being overly obvious about it, Welch stepped it up in the accessories department. In addition to the snake lamp, he brought in elements like the reptilian Stalk gold platter from CB2 (the ideal solution for my mail). Jewel-toned Agate bookends from West Elm serve as the perfect eye-candy for the built-in book shelf. The Visual Comfort & Co. bubble chandelier, with ripples in the baubles, mitigates the bold blue on the walls.
“Accessories are always key when you are designing the space,” Welch adds. “You want things that are unexpected, whether neutral or colorful, these items should be thought provoking. You can design a beautiful home, but without accessories it will fall flat.”
My home office makeover takeaway
Armed with inspiration galore, the room of my own is finally taking shape. McClain, Jane, and Welch all tapped into my aspirational design narrative: Bold, yet grounded, hues to convey a serious, professional tone which is then subdued with playful details like animal-themed accessories. Here is how I plan to recreate a version of this professional zootopia that is my home office.
Go bold on the walls
While drawn to rich colors, I was nervous to paint the entire office, but seeing how both McClain and Welch leaned into the dusty blue gives me confidence. I am particularly drawn to Farrow & Ball Hague Blue No. 30 as it has a lighter undertone and works as a neutral, not something I had considered before.
Play with a whimsical rug
I loved how McClain put up the exotic animal menagerie wallpaper on the ceiling, but with a coved ceiling, I am a bit nervous for the DIY. Instead, the perfect compromise: an insect menagerie rug from the new Iris Apfel collection for Ruggable that will take me three minutes to roll out and cover my less-than-stellar floor. The border works splendidly with the Hauge Blue paint, the neutral background bring in light, and I love how the butterflies and the dragonflies add pops of coral to liven up the room.
Embrace texture
Thanks to Jane’s insight, I realize that bringing in a small lounge chair for guests can make the home office more comfortable. I am opting for a curvy three-legged Everse chair with textured velvet upholstery to add visual interest and intertwine the browns in the rug with the walnut desk.
Have fun with accessories
Adding in metallic elements (with conversation-worthy design) enhances the office with just the right amount of glam and interest. The crocodilian platter works as the ideal spot to store my phone and mail, and the snake table lamp makes me think that its a design choice Cleopatra would make, should she need to decorate her desk.
Sprinkle in art
I fell in love with the navy Rifle Paper Co., Citrus Grove peel-and-stick wallpaper and wanted to paste it into the wall panels. But on second though, it might be too much when paired with the Iris Apfel Flutterby rug. As an alternative, I am opting for a smaller dose of the pattern with this framed art print to remind me of my days in Florida.
