Home :: Our Cozy Home Office Reveal

A very exciting day today because I’m finally sharing the reveal of our cozy home office!

It’s been a few months in the making, but the wait was well worth it as I couldn’t be more thrilled about the outcome. In my inspiration post published a few weeks ago, I had shared that the primary reason behind our home office remodelling project was space (or the lack of). The room is relatively small and it also had a couple of awkward ‘nooks’. But to me, nooks (for example, space under bulk heads or space with strange angles) are the perfect opportunity for custom millwork or storage solutions. And folks, that’s exactly what we did. With the help of Structube and Space Solutions, we now have a beautiful, cozy home office / guest room!

Keep reading to get the full scoop!

Before

As you can see, at its peak, the office was a disaster. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of this DIY shelving/desk unit that Kyle and I built when we first moved it. Trust me, you should have seen it before we did any work to it because the room was LITERALLY covered in mirrors. Yes, the WHOLE room. After Kyle spent hours peeling and breaking the mirrors off the wall, we built these shelves and desk to maximize the space of this wall. This project only cost us less than $200.

The challenge with exposed shelving is that it gets messy, quick. I had a hard time keeping up with tidying up, well, you can see for yourself in the image! In addition, the quality of our thrifty DIY was starting to show its age. The wood wasn’t properly treated and there were loads of stains. It was definitely time for an upgrade.

After

The vision for the new office was to make use of every inch of the space while creating an inviting atmosphere for either Kyle or I to comfortably work in and plenty of storage solutions. I had jokingly suggested that we should install a Murphy bed. I’ve always wanted one as a kid, I thought there were SO cool. Guess what, they still are, and we were able to make that come to life, beautifully. The once set in space is now fitted with a custom built-in Murphy bed with extra storage space and the best part is, our home office doubles as an extra guest room that our friends and family can enjoy when they visit.

To create the best work environment, finding suitable office furniture was top priority. Kyle hated the old chair we had in the office. It was basically a simple chair with a hard plastic backing. He was SO uncomfortable sitting on that thing (poor guy LOL). I, on the other hand, wanted a desk that had plenty of surface area as I like to work with two screens but we were also faced with a challenge, the desk had to be tucked away in a corner for easy guest room transformation, which meant that dimensions were a considerable factor.

Wait, did I also mention the furniture should be pretty! (And preferably not break the bank!).

Luckily, Structube offers a wide range of office furniture solutions. I originally had my eyes set on the ADEL desk ($399). But after making a few measurements, it was evident that it was slightly a little too big for our space. We landed with the SERGIO desk ($299) and I couldn’t be happier! I love the slightly angled legs, it gives off that mid-century modern feel. I love how much working surface there is, yet compact enough so that we can easily transport it aside to pull the bed down. This desk is a major winner!

Let’s spend a little time talking about this rug. I probably debated for weeks before I made up my mind. I originally wanted to go for a neutral shade. Neutral was safe since I know that Kyle isn’t generally too keen on too bold. The NAVI and MERIDIAN rugs were fabulous options. But when I saw this rug come online as a new arrival, it took my breath away, and I knew this was the one. When the rug arrived, I left it wrapped up because I was afraid that it was too busy and that it was too large for the room. I have to admit, when it was first unrolled in the empty room, it seemed HUGE, it covered the room wall to wall, but as soon as the bed was installed and the furniture was brought it, everything seemed to fall into place. I LOVE it! What this little experience has taught me is not to be afraid to go bold and trust your design instincts. Had I settled for a neutral option, I think the entire space would have offered a different vibe!  (Unfortunately, this particularly rug is no longer online, but many other rug options at Structube).

Here is a glimpse of the working surface on the desk. I totally appreciate a desk that gives me enough space to work with multiple devices!

Kyle approves of this ADENA chair! I was so pleased to find this chair because it is a great example that you don’t need to give up fashion for function! This chair, not only under $300, but it is super comfortable and SEXY! If like me, you share a home office with your significant other, I highly recommend that both of you go try the chair before making the final call. Kyle and I are nearly a foot a part, that height difference can make it or break it when it comes to comfort and ergonomics. We purposely went into the store and tried a few options before ordering our items online.

As mentioned, storage was an important element. You might be able to tell in the photo that this small nook is extremely awkward. Its very narrow top half and a window is also in the way. Space Solutions installed a custom built-in unit that fit the space perfectly. I can now store all my beauty goods on the top half, while the second half is a wider filing cabinet for all our important papers and documents.

I thoroughly enjoyed decorating the office with pretty little details, and let’s just say, I might have a few more coming!

Product List: Desk: Structube | Chair: Structube | Stool/Ottoman: Structube (under $100) | Magazine Rack: Structube | Rug: Structube (sold out but lots of options here) | Fringed Wall Hanging: Indigo (sold out online but 40% off similar option here) | Succulent Planter: GTAirplants | Plant Mister: Indigo | Fur Liner: IKEA | Murphy Bed and Built-in Storage: Space Solutions

For those of you who are interested to learn more about the Murphy bed, how it looks unfolded, and the installation process, I’ll be doing a second post on the details, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I hope you like the results of our office makeover. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment or DM me on Instagram!

Interior Design: Natalie Ho | Photo Credits: Love Over Lenses | Partners: Structube and Space Solutions