Bring on the delightful home office reboot
Other than the bathroom, my 10by-10-foot home office is the smallest room in the house.
But its importance looms large; it’s where I spend my days and sometimes — depending on deadlines — parts of my nights.
Earlier this year, I surveyed with dismay the oversized desk, worn linoleum floor and the messy piles of books, files and office accessories stacked everywhere.
I decided that after almost two decades of working from home, I deserved an office makeover. As usual, I made a point of reusing items wherever possible, to save both money and the environment.
The redo started with a fresh coat of Sico Pure paint from Rona in a colour called Touch of Olive, a rich cream with just a whisper of green.
An elderly file cabinet was sprayed out in a matching colour at Paint It Like New, as was a ceiling fan/light fixture that, while extremely functional, had unattractive laminated blades inset with wicker panes that served only to attract dust and grime. It was reassembled with the blades flat side down, so that the wicker no longer shows.
The floor was covered in Flor carpet tiles in a bold grillwork pattern of indigo and ivory. These easyto-install, reusable tiles add a great graphic hit and make the floor more comfortable underfoot.
Downsizing to a smaller, prettier wooden desk in crisp black from Ikea has increased my efficiency — there’s no room to let things pile up. A black swivel chair, also from Ikea, was added.
Above the desk was placed a wooden shelf made from salvaged wood stained walnut, and decorative brackets from Lee Valley Tools.
A mid-century modern chair I found on the sidewalk had fantastic bones, but the upholstery was worn and the arms and legs were scratched. It went to ReCloth Mod- ern, a lovely upholstery studio that recently opened in the west end. The wood was refinished and restained, and the chair was covered in a textile from J Ennis fabrics that has the look of a well-patined cut velvet.
I can’t decide if my favourite piece in the room is the chair or the small stone-topped table from Artemano that sits beside it. I love the varied tones and organic texture of the stone top, and the way it contrasts with the industrial vibe of the steel base. Another salvaged wood shelf sits above it, holding books, art and flowers, while an old frame was converted into a magnetic chalkboard. An ancient melamine bookcase was replaced with a solid rosewood cabinet in a light olive finish, also from Artemano.
To save money, I made curtains out of cotton twill paint drop cloths (wash them first). Nine-by-12-foot sheets cost less than $50, so even with lining and hooks, materials come in at under $300. They were hung from a simple black metal rod, also from Rona.
I’ve heard designers and organizers suggest that too much wall decor is distracting in a work space. I feel just the opposite.
I love that I can turn my head one way and look out on to the seasonal changes in the backyard or turn the other way and be inspired by an art wall filled with family photos and documents, original art, children’s drawings and vintage prints.
I used a variety of affordable frames from Ikea. And no, I did not pre-plan it with a template. I started by placing a much-loved printer’s box in the middle of the wall, and simply added pieces one by one, working on a principle of symmetry, more or less.
It’s not distracting. It’s delightful, which is pretty much how I feel whenever I enter my office now. Vicky Sanderson is also the DIY editor for Reno and Décor magazine. Follow her on Twitter: vickysanderson or email her at vswriter@sympatico.ca.