New Selections for Nancy

This post is in response to the previous post- for Nancy's office, in which the selections were centered around a fabric that Nancy didn't want for a chair that doesn't fit.  ;-)  I selected a different chair- this one from Overstock.  I know it is nothing like the papsan.  I'm not big on the papsan chair anyway- too much like a college apartment for me.  This one is only 33 inches deep- which means that it will fit.  Even cocked on an angle it should be alright. 

Now- I love gray and gold together.  A bold gold rug like this one from homedecorator.com would be great.

Repeat the gold in some art work.  The piece above is from Z Gallerie- and comes with a second coordinating piece.

These drapes are West Elm- accent them with a gold tie back.

Solidify the overall feel a little more with a couple of throw pillows on your chairs- the pillow above is from Crate and Barrel.

I still hear kids talking so I'd better leave the computer and get back to work. 

XOXO

Christine

The Home Office

Dear Christine,

I am a huge fan of your blog. I think you need to have your own TV show… you’re too good and funny not to!

I need your help! I have family coming in for Turkey Day and I have a study that has been empty since we moved in LAST YEAR because I don’t know how to design it- and FEAR of regretting how I do it has frozen me. I’ll be mortified if it’s empty still when they come over- they know we moved in a year ago!

I wanted to incorporate bookshelves somehow- maybe put accent lighting at the top of them so it’s pretty at night :) (I like the storage and I like the cozy feel they give a room). We have 9' ceilings which helps the space look larger. I need a desk in the room for our laptop and a place to put a printer. Obviously I’d have to attach the printer via USB port to the computer, so they have to be near each other. I like the look of a floating desk in the study (as opposed to up against the wall) but this poses the dilemma- where to put the printer? Trying to hide the laptop power supply and lamp cord is already a challenge- but a bulky printer on the desk would just look hideous and all of those cords… tough to hide. How do you make a study look good- and FUNCTIONAL at the same time? I’d like to have a place in the room for a cozy chair to sit in (so that if my hubby’s at the desk, I can sit in the chair and hang out while he works). The struggle is making this space functional for its purpose as an office, but also making it pleasing to the eye since it sits right off of our foyer and is one of the first rooms you see when you come in. Generally speaking, I like transitional spaces- classic charm and clean modern lines, cozy. I pretty much love everything you post ;).

Here’s the BIG challenge! Enter: digital piano. It doesn’t have to go in the study- I just don’t know where else on the first floor to put it and I play it semi-often. The study isn’t big, so if it doesn’t fit there, oh well I guess. Here are its dimensions: (W x D x H) 52.05" x 11.26" x 5.31"

And, as a final note- we haven’t done our formal dining room yet either- which sits directly across from the study. So, should I have the paint colors in those rooms match? I have a lot of tans through the home- mostly warm tone tans. I have a bronze/olivey green tone as an accent wall in a sun room off of the kitchen… other than that- no other colors. I’m having trouble finding colors that would go well with that bronzey green.

THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Emily

Well- let me first say that it takes me months to get to all of the e-mail requests I get. With Thanksgiving being tomorrow- you might have this all taken care of- but I will give you a few pointers anyway.

1. Your floorplan showed optional openings and optional bay windows. Without actual photos- I don't know if you have those or not- so I can't give you specific locations. However- what I would do- is do a wall of book storage- that would be behind your floating desk- with deeper storage as it nears the floor to help house your printer and other larger items.
2. Look for a desk with an open knee hole- and yet still having banks of drawers on the sides for storage. These styles of desks are my favorite- as you can still get great style- and functionality. So many of the nicest looking desks have absolutely no redeeming value as far as function goes. All fluff with no stuff. The desks at the top of the post are from Decorize and The Hugh's Collection.
3. As far as cord hiding goes- go to Lowes- there are tons of options that will hep you discreetly hide your cords. Area rugs can also be helpful.
4. Without photos I cannot begin to give you paint advice. :) But I will say to consider wallpaper. In rooms like offices there tends to be little pattern- and the walls can be the perfect place to add some.
5. If you didn't get the room finished prior to your company coming- I wouldn't worry so much about it- have an air of confidence that says, " My room is going to be perfect- I will not be rushed by arbitrary dates on a calendar."

Photos from Elle Decor and Metropolitan Home

Cool New Source

Today I wanted to show you a super cool- and surprisingly affordable source called "Design Public." They have a contemporary/ modern style- that is transitional enough to fit into many interiors. They have everything from large wall art...

to nursery bedding...

cool lateral files (I have a hard time finding cool office furnishings)...

and fabulous lighting... you know how I like my butterflies :) Anyway- check it out! It has a little something for everyone!