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The Makerista

I'm Gwen, a modern traditionalist who isn't afraid of color. Kansas City.

A Surprise Office Refresh

This last fall I was contacted by a girl I went to high school with about helping her decorate her home.  I was a bit hesitant, as I’ve only decorated my own house before, but met with Abby and had a lot of fun going through her home: giving suggestions and thoughts on what she had done to this point and where we could take things from there.

It’s really been a wonderful partnership.  We take turns texting each other things we find and I love getting updates from her about where things are going.  Abby and her husband both work from home, and the room she uses as an office was definitely a priority, but we had yet to really make the space something she would enjoy working in.  Between work travel and the holidays, we had gotten out of touch for a while, but her husband contacted me at the beginning of the year wondering if I would be up for finishing off the space as a surprise for her: a completely sweet gesture that I was thrilled to be a part of.

This is what the space looked like when I first met with Abby.  She wanted it to feel brighter, but had recently painted the walls, so we thought painting the furniture would help a lot.

Abby bought a great chair and side table, along with a pillow, rug, and a few accessories, but the room had been at a standstill for a while.  I knew a handful of pieces, some plants, and styling of the things she already had would do a lot for the space.

Chair
Abby likes to read and has a good amount of books, but didn’t think they had the potential to look that great on the shelves.  The best way to make your collection of books look intentional is to group them by color.  I just made piles of greens, blues, purples, golds, etc. and then placed them on the shelves accordingly.  

A pretty box to store their dog, Clark’s, tennis balls.
Don’t forget to consider items in the rest of your house.  I pulled these ceramic pots from the dining room.  They give some weight, but the white keeps them from feeling too heavy.

Abby is a proud MU alum.  She had an MU snow globe on the bookcase when I came to meet with Erik, but I was trying to think of a nod to her alma mater without being so literal.  A big, brass tiger seemed appropriate.  A quick Etsy search, and I found the handsome guy in this shop (I ordered on a Tuesday afternoon and it arrived that Thursday!).

For work, Abby needs multiple monitors, and they were all you saw when you looked at her desk area.  Adding some standout, statement art helps draw your eye away from the screens and the size of the art makes the monitors seem smaller.

I was a little concerned about purchasing the art without Abby’s approval (art is just so personal) but her husband, Erik, was sure she would like whatever I picked out.  I was really pleased to hear she loved it.

Replacing the dated light fixture made a big difference.  I found this light at Home Depot for $49 and painted it using some gold enamel paint, complimenting the side table.  The result is pretty and simple.

Trays and little boxes are perfect for corralling desk clutter.

I’m always amazed at what just a few changes can do for a space.  I like how personal and inviting the room feels now.

And I’m glad Abby doesn’t have to look to the left for a great view anymore (those bay windows are pretty great), but she now has something to enjoy right in front of her.

What is your go-to item for refreshing a space?

 


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Comments

    • themakerista@gmail.com says

      Thanks, Jennifer! I've found it makes a huge difference. It can be the worst looking paperback ever, but grouped with similar colors, things seem much more cohesive and intentional.

  5. Autumn Beach says

    So pretty, Gwen! What a fun surprise for your friend. Being married to a Mizzou alum, I can totally appreciate that subtle nod to the Tigers. What a great idea! Yes, a brass tiger. Why didn't I think of that? Because I'm not The Makerista. 🙂

  11. lindsayheltne says

    great work! we are moving to a new place soon and i definitely want to use some of these ideas! if you ever feel like making a trip to chicago, let me know… i would happily let you give me some decorating tips! 🙂

  18. Laura Phillips says

    Love the styling. It's amazing how subtle changes can produce such a dramatic effect. And, I love Abby's library; it was fun seeing books that I've read in nearly every picture!