And, after many months of slooow progress, my home office makeover is finally complete. To gain a full appreciation of how it ended up, here’s what it looked like when I started:
It had inevitably become “that room” after we moved in where we threw all of the stuff we weren’t using elsewhere. When I decided to get serious about my design business last fall, I knew this was no place to get inspired. So, I went to work creating a home office–on a budget, of course. The result:
I started by painting the walls Trout Gray by Benjamin Moore. I offset the dark color by using modern, white furniture. The one exception (and my favorite piece) was a campaign-style dresser that I found at a second-hand furniture warehouse and painted kelly green.
I (somewhat) patiently waited until it became available again and ordered the white desk from Overstock (a knock-off of the popular West Elm version at a fraction of the cost) and the bookshelves are from IKEA’s Expedit series.
To give the bookshelves some height, I bought this old frame for $5 and sprayed it white:
Both chairs were also a steal. The gold one in the corner was part of a pair I found on Craigslist (pillow is from Ross). My desk chair was a $10 yard sale find. After everything else was in place, I decided to brighten things up with my window treatments. My aunt made the panels for me; the fabric is Covington “Wilmington.”
I had originally planned to paint this chair but decided I liked the “distressed” finish afterall. I think a good mix of old with new and sleek with curvy makes for a more interesting overall look.
You may remember my $10 lamp project (base was found at Goodwill):
To make the space feel more personal, I created a gallery wall with some of my favorite photos (and a mirror from HomeGoods):
And, there you have it. Home office complete!
Looks fantastic!! Great job!
Emily, fantastic!!! It’s stunning…really!! The gallery wall is such a huge statement and I love the curtains!! Congrats!!!
Emily it looks amazing! I love the bookshelves, green dresser and $10 gold chair! I need you to find me some deals on craigslist! I have no luck there! It is a gorgeous office, that Im sure inspires you!
Emily, it really does look fantastic. I love the grey wall and how it makes the white shelving unit ‘pop’. The green chest is a good accent choice and the vignette of frames propped up against the wall looks stylish and relaxed. What a lovely space to work from!
It looks just fantastic…you did such a wonderful job. Love the white shelves against the gray, everything justs flows!!!
Rondell
Emily, I love how you transformed this room, the grey paint is really welcoming & afabulous backdrop to your accessories.
Cheers!!!
I think you made the right choice leaving your chair distressed. It’s a great mix with the glossy white desk and other white finishes and brings lots of life into the space. Beautiful!
Oh, Emily, it looks fab! You’ve done an amazing job!!
well done! i lovvvee it!
Soooo pretty! I love that it feels fresh without feeling too modern–you really do have the right mix in there! And LOVE the green!
Congratulations! Looks amazing. Where’s the rug from? LOVE it!
Deb
Living Livelier
your office looks great! i love that you did it on a budget. the curtains are beautiful!
Your office is lovely! I love campaign dressers and after seeing yours I was so inspired. I found one this week and am painting it this weekend. Any tips? The gallery wall looks amazing!
It’s gorgeous Emily! Can I have one? You did such a beautiful job on this room. I love all the little details.
Rachel
xoxo
I don’t usually leave comments but I have to say this is FANTASTIC! You are so incredibly talented, I am beyond impressed. Wow!
Your office looks so great! I really love how the white furniture pops and I love the color you brought in with the window panels!
PS. I’m a Jodi Piccoult fan too. ;)
I’m in awe! I want everything–the perfect gray walls, the green dresser, all the pops of bright white! Way to go!
AMAZING!!! Mine is slowly coming together too. It actually looks pretty similar :) White Parsons desk, Ikea bookshelf, floral drapes. Great minds think alike!
It looks fantastic Emily! What an inspiring place to work. Nice job on the curtains as well.
It looks beautiful! I especially like the gallery wall against the green dresser – it’s stunning!
Emily it looks amazing. I love your choices — the green dresser, the floral fabric, the gallery wall, the lamps. Everything!!!
Incredibly wonderful!!!
Fabulous! I’m not sure what I love more, the green chest or the drapes! Could you share the source of the fabric, or the name of the pattern?
Really, wonderful job!
Fabulous! I’m not sure what I love more, the green chest or the drapes! Could you share the source of the fabric, or the name of the pattern?
Really, wonderful job!
Fabulous! I’m not sure what I love more, the green chest or the drapes! Could you share the source of the fabric, or the name of the pattern?
Really, wonderful job!
Fabulous! I’m not sure what I love more, the green chest or the drapes! Could you share the source of the fabric, or the name of the pattern?
Really, wonderful job!
Fabulous! I’m not sure what I love more, the green chest or the drapes! Could you share the source of the fabric, or the name of the pattern?
Really, wonderful job!
I am dying for that Expedit storage case, I have seen it in so many different rooms and it looks just perfect in your office. The makeover is great!
Oh my! I absolutely ADORE everything about this room. What a fabulous space and transformation.
Karla
Your office turned out fantastic. What a great place to work. I love your green dresser and the drape fabric is stunning too. Beautifully done. Hugs, Marty
Totally worth the wait here, I am in love! What a fantastic space to get creative in, you really outdid yourself here for sure!!
Amazing job!!
Beautiful! Love how you added color+pattern with the curtains.
As others have said, this looks simply beautiful! I love how the lamp on your desk ties back to the green dresser. Love the colors brought in from the drapes, how pretty they are! And the photos on your gallery wall are so precious. Congratulations. Now, just sit back … and work! :)
Love,
Michiganhome
The dresser has to be my favorite part of the room, along with the drapes that look gorgeous with it! Wonderful job, and wow, it looks like a really sizable room! Enjoy working here and all the best with your design business, you deserve all the success you desire! Janell
This is gorgeous! Great job!
This is fab!!! So exciting to look at! Would you ever consider doing a guest blog on craiglisting and that gorg kelly green chest, cuz I am the biggest kelly green fan!
Absolutely gorgeous!The whole room is really fabulous….I really like the drapes and the whole wall with the dresser, oh and the dress form as well :) what an inspiration!
I really love the white lamps!
What a fantastic office space! I wish I could have a space equally as lovely.
gorgeous! I have missed your blog, don’t know why it wasn’t showing up on my list! Great office!!!
It looks awesome!!! I love all of it! The green dresser is the best!
Wow! I can only dream about an office like that. What a job!
Gorgeous {As expected!}. Particularly love the campaign dresser and the gallery wall above. You are so good at gallery walls!
Have a fantastic day!
Karla
I have hopes of converting my catch all room into the “office”. I came across your psoting and what a surprise! I too have the IKEA Expedidt bookcase – who doesnt right? I too wanted to use bamboo shades and a blue gray color similiar to the one you used. AND to top it off you have the room in the same set up as I have (minus the clutter)! Thank you for visually giving me an idea of what my room is going to look like, gives me the motivation to get started! Great job :)
Wow, it seriously looks great!!
Super cute, Emily! I love it — and the frame on top of the Expedit was genius!
I always love a good gray/bold color scheme. My own home office is gray and yellow. Thanks for sharing your pictures and good luck with your business!
B @ Very Fine House
Fantastic job! The reveal was definitely worth the wait!
It looks fantastic. Love the drapes. Love the whole thing :-)
What a pretty office, I’ve admired the fabric on your drapes for quite sometime! so pretty. Everything looks so amazing… love your gallery wall
It looks really great! I love the crisp white furniture and accents against the grey walls. Great mix of finds too!
Shannon
http://www.akadesign.ca
Emily, it looks FANTASTIC! Love the choice of wall color — it really makes all the white (and that fabulous green dresser!) pop. Brava!!!
WOW that looks so amazing!! Found you from a tweet on twitter lol
I have that SAME ampersand thingy lol-mine’s smaller..got it at Kohl’s on clearance..I’ll come back another day and look around more..You are very talented!
It looks absolutely beautiful! You have great style. Those panels look really similar to some that pottery barn used to do a roman shade in…that is until they discontinued due to safety :(
Bravo! I think it’s perfect. Love the green, oh and the curtains, and the photo wall – all of it. Is there a story to the dress?
Yesss this looks so awesome and I am so thrilled because the color (dark gray wall, white furniture, green accents) is exactly the plan we have for our game room… and if our room looks half as good as yours, I will be happy!
What a fun space to do your work in :)
Big difference….;)))))
Of course I like the bold green & the white lamps WOW!
Nice desk ha! ;))))
Gorgeous!
Emily two thumbs way up. Your office is horrendous and inspirational. The pop of kelly green on that incredible dresser is the best. Great job!
Congratulation! It looks great and it’s fantastic that it was done on a budget – makes you use your imagination! I love the gallery wall!
Hey, Holly Lemly just told me about your blog and after this post I’m already loving it! I am totally going to keep an eye out for a campaign style dresser now. That thing looks awesome.
Natalie
http://www.rockyriverfarmhouse.blogspot.com
Love love love it all ! Esp the shelving, desk and window panels. Those pops of green make me swoon. Just gorgeous, all of it ! What a place to create.
Wow, love it all! The gallery wall is wonderful and love the wall color with the white furniture. I don’t think there is one thing I’d change. I spent all yesterday afternoon organizing my office. No point in re-decorating as we are moving but just being organized has made me feel instantly more productive. I am sure good things will come from this space!
It looks GREAT. It was well worth the wait! Love the color scheme.
Amazing — so elegant and chic and fun…I’d hire you in a second based solely on this room!
congrats!
xoxo, cassie
Fabulous — esp love the gallery wall and campaign chest!
It’s gorgeous and I love how you’ve mixed different elements. I love the cubed look of the bookshelves, too.
Oh, Emily, I just love it all! You’ve really pulled it together so nicely & on a budget. Bravo, girl! Those drapes really add some punch and I love the wall color against all that white. Very nice! The green dresser just adds that bit of punch & interest also.
It looks wonderful Emily! Aren’t those IKEA units fantastic, I used the same one in the striped room! ;-) I am sure you are going to enjoy working in your new office and I hope it now brings you plenty of inspiration. Lovely job!
I LOVE IT, Emily! You did a terrific job! thos curtains are my favorite part of the room. Hmmm…they would look great in a nursery!
Whew, are’nt you glad its done?!?! Now, you can do more;-)
Wow! This looks great. I love so many things, especially all the pops of color throughout!
Emily! I love gray so much & that kelley green cabinet is to die for. You have lots of storage & so much style to boot!
Ummm. I loves it!
It’s fantastic – very inspiring. I especially love the fabric you used in the drapes and the Expedit bookcases against the gray wall. Love it!
Fabulous! You did such a great job. Love everything about it!
I’m dying over your office-it’s seriously fantastic! I love the color combination and all the cute little finds that don’t feel cluttered at all. I would never have thought to paint that dresser green but it really works. I bet you love spending time in there:)
Wow! I love it all, it looks amazing!
Love the dresser and your inspiration board — the fabric is perfection! Bravo :)
Looks great!
I’m quite in love with your green dresser!
Emily, your office looks amazing. The drapes are the icing on the cake. There are so many perfect details in that room—you are one talented little lady!!
Julie Wigal
You did an absolutely awesome job. I love every element. You are really talented.
Emily…you rocked it girl! Right out of the ball park! It is so pulled together, I am just wowed by it.
Sherry
It’s beautiful!! I LOVE the wall color.
How does the desk seem to be holding up, I’ve been eyeing it, but I’m not do sure of the quality…
Great job!
Emily, I LOVE love LOVE how you transformed this room.
Thank you for sharing!
*I wish you were here :)
LOVE,
Sima
Its so fresh and beautiful. I’m totally inspired to do a room that color now! The dresser is perfect in green…it’s unexpected and fun! You definitely know how to find good deals!! i love it (:
beautiful! Emily Im absolutely speechless!
I love this room and would feel inspired to work there. Beautiful, you are good!
Emily I love your office, it is inspiring. You did it so well on a budget that takes talent and you my dear are very talented, Great Job Kudos to YOU!! Kathysue
So many great ideas for us to steal! It’s the sum of the parts that makes your room so beautiful-that’s the hard part, putting together a plan.
Love, love, love the transformation! I love the colors and the whole feel. Fantastic!
Just gorgeous, Emily – I cannot get over the transformation. You are extremely talented!
Looks great! I love it!
It looks great!! I love the curtains – they really pull it all together.
We’re working on our office right now, and it’s a huge job. You’ve made it look easy!
WOW Emily! It looks fantastic!!! I love it all! It came together very nicely! :)
Dying to know if the desk you used is this one on Overstock and how you’ve found the quality.
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Student-Desk-White/2542757/product.html
Hi Emily. I just found you through Southern Hospitality and I am so glad I did. Love your office! And your portfolio — I had to view it a couple of times it was so lovely. I’m signing off here and going back to my own blog to add you to my Favorites list! I’ll be back again and again….:)
Hi Emily,
Found you from SH… Love your room, the wall color and green piece look so elegant together.. Going back to read more!
Hi Emily,
I came over from Southern Hospitality and I was really wowed with your talents!
Hi Emily,
I keep finding links to your blog everywhere! You have great style and I adore your office makeover. Can’t wait to read more….
loves,
edie
where is the rug from…sorry if you answered it in the comments..way too many to read through :)
Amazing room. That dresser is my favorite piece. Makes me want to go paint something kelly green…
What a beautiful space, Emily! You’ve done a wonderful job…and it’s so REAL. Thanks for sharing with us.
I think I just drooled all over my computer. I will be lucky if this posts.
LOVE IT!!!
Cheers~
e
What an inspiring place to well, Be Inspired! Wishing you good luck with your new venture! And I love all the aspects of your room, the new, the old, the handcrafted! I really love the window fabric. It just might be the fabric I’ve been looking for to make some throw pillows for our living room.
Thanks for sharing it all!
~♥~
Kristal
I used that same drapery fabric in my dining room. I also saw it on the intro to the HGTV Design Star winner’s show. Love it!
Hi Emily! What you did with your office is really awesome. You and I have similar stories…I moved into my new home a year ago and my soon-to-be-designed office has been our storage facility since. I plan to reveal my big before & after soon.
LOVE the green dresser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so nice!!! we have a big blank wall in our living room and that wall inspires me to no end!! Where is the mirror from and where did you find the letter C please?!
Shunta–The mirror was a HomeGoods purchase. I can’t remember where I bought the “C”; maybe Hobby Lobby. . .
So lovely! I love the design. My husband and I are planning to build our home office after the Holidays. And for starters, we contacted some New York janitorial services for cleaning the space where we’re going to build the office. This commercial cleaning services (NYC-based) company is also doing residential, so we though we try it. Anyway, the gold chair looks fantastic! I must say, this really added up the excitement of another DIY project of me and my hubby.
Hi Emily,
I used the Covington Wilmington in my kitchen last year. I did a post on all the other blogs I have seen use the fabric, too, so yours is featured. Hope that is ok!
This looks great! Was looking for home office inspiratons this week and ended up here. Thank goodness I did!
Great post.
I will follow!
Where did you find the ampersand? :)
Greetings! I love the vibrant color you used to repaint this dresser—and it matches perfectly with the decor and accessories you have on/around it. I featured your dresser in a series called Get Your Color On—it’s about how to use color in decor and this post was about using green to welcome spring. Feel free to grab my button!
http://creativeblossoming.com/2013/02/25/get-your-decor-on-jumpstart-spring-by-decorating-with-green/
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Wow, what a huge difference! I especially love the bookshelves because I think that is a piece of furniture that gives just so much storage space to play around with. You can display your favorite collections, a vase, picture frames and many others. I simply adore the concept and your wall color simply makes the entire setup look more homely and cozy. Great job!