Home Office Inspiration

My office is currently set up in a small room in my house, the room was previously a bedroom until I converted my larger office/studio into a guest bedroom. I am sitting at my desk, surrounded by masses of clutter and disarray, piles of books, boxes, two rolled up Persian rugs, a cabinet filled with 100's of redundant music CD's and a huge earthenware pot. When I look around I feel quite sad and it's no wonder I haven't the inspiration to paint. I need to re-decorate and create a peaceful office/studio. A cluttered atmosphere to me means a cluttered mind and it will be a huge release when I am able to give this crowded space a new life and purpose. A while ago I was looking at putting a studio in my garden but realising that it would not have been the right solution I have decided to make the best I can of this small room. 

Any renovation or makeover has to begin with some inspiration and searching Pinterest I have found a number of home office images that speak to me. I don't really have anything I want to keep from the existing room, if I can afford it I will replace my current white metal desk as I feel it is a little too clinical in appearance. I have an idea of the look I want for my office and drawing elements of inspiration from the following images...

 The chair, the desk, the wall colour, I love it all!

Powder blue with touches of grey - See the before and after of this lovely home office at Pink Little Notebook

Wooden trestle table

A light filled room is so important, I also appreciate the 'pops' of colour. I may use a pop of yellow with the blue in my office

Baskets on shelves

Maybe a statement rug

Framed whiteboard

Images Above: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7

The room itself is South facing which in the Southern hemisphere gets the least light, I am still tossing up whether to install a skylight, the only problem being if I do sell the house later it may only be classed as an office and for resale, a third bedroom is important. My theme is 'Hamptons' style. On the walls I want to paint a soft, pastel, barely there, blue. 

My Mood board...

All items except file boxes, are from Freedom Furniture

I will be re-decorating my office in stages as I have many projects on the go and not enough budget to finish the office at once. This weekend I am off to purchase my bookshelves which will at least help me get some of the books off the floor and onto the shelves. I will also purchase some storage boxes to keep things tidy. For this project I plan to take progress shots as I go along. I don't want to scare you away with the before, until I can at least show some of my progress.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Lee oxo

I will be sharing this post with the following blogs:
Monday

I should be Mopping the Floor
The Dedicated House
Alderberry Hill
DIY Showoff

Wednesday
The Blissful Bee
Show & share at Southern Lovely

Savvy Southern Style
Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here
The Real Housewives of Riverton

Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage

Friday

My Romantic Home

The Look - French/Mediterranean Dining Room and Table setting

Some people look at an interior Design photo such as the one below and then think, gosh I wish I had that look but don't know where to start.  If you start with the basics and then build up with accessories its really quite simple.  You don't need to have the "exact" table or accessories, you can create this style easily using similar items.  The most important thing is to keep with the overall patina of the larger peices such as the table and armoire. You will not achieve this look with a similar or exact piece of furniture in mahogany for instance. I have purposely selected pieces that are a little bit different, although they are still within the same theme. For example the table, a weathered bleached cross leg table that is designed more for bench seating.  I have taken a similar weathered table, still having that farm house look but without the cross legs.  I have also chosen chairs in preference to bench seating for added comfort.  The chairs still have the French influence so overall the style is in keeping with the reference photo.    

My first board I have collected items that can be purchased anywhere in the world without indicating shops or prices.  My second board items are from Freedom NZ/AUS and I have indicated prices to give an idea of how much it may cost to put together a similar look through a high street store. I would recommend if you wish to approach this style that you shop around for items and not purchase all in one place like Freedom or Pottery Barn, it was just easier for me to source them quickly for you and they are the cheaper end of the market.  Below this post are some retail shops that will be sure to have similar items.  Part of putting together a look like this is the fun of "shopping" itself.  What is important is that you can achieve any look by either spending a lot of money and buying authentic or by buying good reproductions and achieving the look without spending thousands of dollars.

 Image, Delta Magazine, Photography by Don Beard

All items above except sisal flooring available from Freedom  (Please note the prices are from Freedom NZ branch and some are their current sale prices.)
 Dover Sisal from Artisan

Further shops for  "French Style" in Auckland:

French Antiques.co.nz - lovely selection of furnishings, accessories, some beautiful chandeliers.

Romantique - Importers of French furniture and accessories from France with 2 retail shops in Auckland, one in Newmarket and their other one in Grey Lynn.  Details can be seen on their website link I have added.

Yvonne Saunders Antiques - This is where I discovered my French shutters for my bedroom makeover. Yvonne's shop is a collectors paradise, you really need to spend some time looking around as it is stocked from top to bottom with French and English antique furniture.

USA stores:

The Painted Cottage - An etsy store featured previously

European Antique Market - Importers of French Furniture and accessories in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hope you had a wonderful day.

Lee x

                   

Get the Look - French inspired room

One of my readers left a comment the other day about this room being her favourite, so I have decided to use the room for another post on "Get the Look".  My readers are scattered throughout the world so I have sourced  products from UK/USA/NZ/AUS  for you to recreate this look in your own home.


Chandeliers can of course be very expensive, however, you can discover great finds on Ebay if your in USA or UK or Trademe if your in NZ.

This is "The Look", French Inspired & romantic.

 Candelabra Chandelier from Pottery Barn on special NZ$216.80 plus shipping.

This lovely armoire is from an Etsy shop called The Rustic Village - US$795 plus US$200 shipping throughout USA.

Antique style birdcage US$45.00 from Southbury Treasures an etsy shop. Southbury Treasures have many designs, colours and sizes of ornamental bird cages.

1. Large antique chandelier from Yvonne Saunders Antiques,  Auckland, NZ - Contact Yvonne via website.            

2. Argenta Candle Stick from Freedom Furniture -  NZ$34.95

3. 2 Door Romance Wardrobe from French Touch NZ - NZ$2,226

4. Ornamental Bird Cages from Bali Mystique, Australia - Large AU$89.95 medium AU$59.95

1.  I fell in love with this dresser, (shame I'm not living in the UK as its gorgeous). Available from Lucy Willow. It is on sale at 1,100.00 (British Pounds). Free Delivery within the UK.

2.  I also love this dining chair from Lucy Willow the Sedgemoor dining chair 145.00 (British Pounds).

3.  Antique white birdcage 35.00 (British Pounds) from Oriental Birdcages, UK supplier.

4.  This simple chandelier is  from Chandeliers a UK company who have a great range in all sizes and prices. This example is Angel and costs 330.00 (British Pounds).

 All above items were available at the time of posting, it is possible that items have sold since.

Hope your weekend was wonderful 

and your week began with Sunshine and Inspiration!

Lee x

Get the Look! - Coastal Inspired Interior - I have sourced and compared similar products to achieve this look.

I love the decor in this room setting, simple but with interesting accessories, I can easily picture it in a bach/beach house.  Its Spring here in NZ and Summer won't be far away, so if your  thinking of updating your beach house, here are a few ideas for you. 

I have searched out similar items in IKEA, Pottery Barn and Freedom Furniture, the cushions are from a small Etsy store called Happily at Home.  Pottery Barn now ship a lot of their items internationally and they have a big sale on at the moment so I am personally looking at their bed linen obviously larger items cannot be shipped Internationally. 

I have to apologise for not finding the original source of this photo, please if it is yours let me know and I will credit it correctly.  I usually copy and paste links onto my desk top but this one has gone astray :(

Get the Look:

Pottery Barn, PB comfort Grand slip-covered sofa NZ$1,946.60 – NZ$3,368.10
(Please note there are far cheaper sofas in PB's range and at the moment they have a sale on)

IKEA, Ektorp two seat sofa AUS$399.00
(yes you did read correctly, don't we wish there was IKEA in NZ)

Freedom Furniture, Sommerfield 4 seat sofa NZ$1,999 on sale

IKEA, Byholma Chest, brown, AUS$99.00

Cottage Trunk, Pottery Barn on-line catalogue NZ$251.20

Freedom Furniture, Bronte Trunk NZ$169.00

Pottery Barn, park Hill window pane lantern NZ$61.90 - 226.00
(These are my favourite lamps, a really "beachy" feel).

IKEA, Lanstalle  lantern AUS$19.99

Freedom Furniture, mayer Square lantern NZ$59.95 on sale

Pottery Barn, Adelle Mirror  NZ$289.10

Freedom Furniture, Cancun Mirror NZ$299.00

Happily At Home cushions - striped US$17.50 plus postage

Happily At Home  cushion blue and cream floral US$17.50 plus postage

Pottery Barn, glass Apothecary jars NZ$49.20 - NZ$87.10



IKEA, Burken storage jar AUS$10.99
(filled with shells and driftwood, will give the look you need)



Pottery Barn, sea life tile NZ$42.90

This is a kit set available from Mosaic and Garden Art (an etsy shop) it costs US$25 you would need to find out if they will ship to NZ as international shipping is not given on this product. 



Pottery Barn, Beach shell vase, NZ$13.90 - NZ$20.80

If you click on the shop name under the item you will go direct to the item page. Please use your back browser to return to my home page.  Also similar items can be sourced through Early Settler who are both in New Zealand and Australia.  They are very reasonably priced and I have bought a few items for my own home, including my mantle mirror and outdoor furniture.

Please excuse the "double line spacing" blogger is playing up today!

Links to all the products are above.

Be inspired!
Lee x