As promised, I cleaned up my work space enough to take pictures of our newly completed home office:
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To make the shelving pop, we painted the back of the bookcases a dark gray by Sherwin Williams called “Urbane Bronze.”
This is how I worked for months, shopping for furniture and thinking about how to make my vision of floor to ceiling bookcases come to life. I found the farmhouse table on Craigslist, the metal chairs at a Pottery Barn outlet, and my linen desk chair came from TJMaxx.
The real challenge came when it was time to fill the bookshelves. I didn’t have nearly as many books as I thought, but wanted it to be colorful and have a real “library” feel. Several friends and family members gave me extra books, and I lucked out at a recent Habitat Restore book sale where I bought them by the box-full for next to nothing.
What I like most about the space is that it should easily transition back to a dining room with the addition of some chairs, if we ever need the space. For now, though, I plan on doing a lot more blogging than hosting dinner parties. . . Hope you enjoyed :)
Emily!!!!
It looks sooo good.
Turning those dining rooms into home offices are the best things since double breasted suit!!!
Cant wait to catch up.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
It’s lovely! But Urbane Bronze looks like a gray shade? Puzzling name choice!
Emily. This is insanely gorgeous! Great job styling the bookcases, that’s always my weakness.
Bravo!
What a gorgeous room! Love the addition of the bookcases. I have always loved a dining room with a wall of books for some reason. I guess the thought of sharing a good meal and being able to pull a good book right off the shelf appeals to me. I remember when we had our library shelves built. I thought we had tons of books, but once I got to filling the shelves I realized we didn’t really have as many as originally thought!
Looks so much bigger with the shelf!!!
I think it’s stunning, Emily. Well done!
ooh it is beautiful! i am drooling over the table/desk and love the rug, too!
ooh it is beautiful! i am drooling over the table/desk and love the rug, too!
ooh it is beautiful! i am drooling over the table/desk and love the rug, too!
ooh it is beautiful! i am drooling over the table/desk and love the rug, too!
ooh it is beautiful! i am drooling over the table/desk and love the rug, too!
Everything is gorgeous. The rug, the dark backs of the bookcase, the metal chairs with the rustic table. Love it all! Perfectly done!
Absolutely amazing! I love the lantern that you went with and the books look amazing against that darker background–fantastic job!:)
This looks magazine worthy! I still can’t get over the light transformation and I love the bookcases. Your books look so colorful against the gray. Love the whole thing!
What an amazing transformation! I adore everything especially the built-in bookcase wall. Incredible! You never disappoint me — such a talent!!
You knocked it out of the ballpark, Emily. Totally looks like it came straight out of a magazine!
This is stunning! I love it. You did such a great job pulling everything together! I love everything about the space! And if you needed to turn it back into a dining room someday, it definitely doesn’t look like it would be a hard transition at all! Gorgeous!
Fabulous! Love the bookshelves!!
Fabulous Emily!- love where u put the over sized painting- looks great in the hall. Looking forward to more pics of your new house!!
It looks fabulous, Emily! All too often, offices are tucked in a dark, undesirable extra room. I love that you converted some prime real estate into your office!
~Cara
http://www.anurbancottageblog.blogspot.com
Looks awesome. Congrats.
Emily, this is absolutely incredible. I feel so inspired to finish up the process on my own home office. TIME is my major issue. Also, making a run TODAY over to my Hab Restore – cross your fingers for me that I’ll luck out like you did! :)
Beautiful! Love it!
It’s awesome! Love! And would love to know your carpenter’s name if you get a chance: thatmommyblog{at}gmail.com
what an amazing space. every detail is perfect. just beautiful.
what an amazing space. every detail is perfect. just beautiful.
what an amazing space. every detail is perfect. just beautiful.
what an amazing space. every detail is perfect. just beautiful.
what an amazing space. every detail is perfect. just beautiful.
Stunning!
Fabulous! I love that the room can move easily from being an office to a dining room. And the bookcases? gorgeous!
Cathy
this looks AMAZING!!!
I love this room! It is amazing. I am dying to know- how do you manage your lamp cords and laptop power cord? Also, do you have a printer? And where do you cleverly disguise it?
Gorgeous! Great job!
Gorgeous!!! So well done!
I’m always inspired by your designs. I know you’ll be very creative in this beautiful space, Emily.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Wow, Emily! This space is gorgeous and will grace the pages of magazines very soon! It’s too good not to show off everywhere. It came out gorgeous. I love the built ins and the extra detail of painting the back a dark color! Wow!
I love it! So beautifully detailed with all the different textures and colors! Stunning really..
It all came together beautifully. I liked that you transformed it into a working office for yourself yet can still use it as a dining room. You totally nailed it!
Its looks amazing!!! love the art work on the adjacent wall and how it ties in with the rug. Amazing job!
I love how it turned out! It looks just like what I envision for a space. So pretty! I think the bookcases with all the books are my favorite!
Meg
Beautiful, I love everything about it. I also was curious about the lamp cord.
I love it so much! You did an amazing job! Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous Room!!!
This looks gorgeous! I love the orange rug and all the fabulous books!
Beautiful!! I love all your choices!! I can’t believe you snatched up that farm table from Craig’s List, what a great find!
insanely fabulous!! So much room to fill with everything you’ll need to work, and in such great style! Janell
It looks incredible!! I love it!!!
Emily – Love this transformation. Great call on the wall of book cases. I used Urbane Bronze on all my doors and think it is the perfect mix of gray & brown. Please check out my blog I tagged you in a game of 11 questions.
Beautiful! If you ever had any doubt about your design talent, this should put doubts to rest. Permanently.
Amazing! It really does look like a magazine cover.
I was just wondering, like an earlier commenter, where you plug the lamp in?
This looks fab! Love how you styled your beautiful bookcase. Gives me some ideas- we just installed shelving in my own home office over the weekend and I’ve been scratching my head a bit with all the new display space. Well done Emily!
holtwoodhipster.blogspot.com
Absolutely Divine! I may have to get that referral from you. The rug looks great in the space.
Beautiful room, the bookcases “made it”! . Did you put electrical in the floor so you. CAn plug in the lamp or computer on the desk ? I always seem to notice stuff like that. Love , love, love the rug too!
Just fabulous, Emily! I’m drooling over your bookcases, you styled them perfectly.
Gorgeous!!! Your style and design is always amazing! The bookshelves are stunning. I love the colors you used. Enjoy your space and looking forward to all of the blog posts to come!! :)
It looks awesome! Thanks for being the swift kick in the butt I needed today! I have been stalling on so many projects and this motivated me to get on it!
Emily,
What a fabulous job! One question I always have when I see a floating desk like this, is how do you deal with the cord from your lamp? I see it follows down the leg of your table, but where does it plug in and how do you hide the cord? So few homes have floor plugs.
Great job as always,
Wendy
I love the baskets you added to the shelves for storage!
Gorgeous! Those book shelves are so lovely, and your desk, the pottery barn chairs, the rug – everything is styled so well! But, I wouldn’t expect anything less. What a perfect place to work!
Your home office looks fabulous! I love the way you styled the bookcases. Looking forward to see other finished rooms as well. :)
Well done, Emily!
P/S: Come by and enter my current giveaway for a chance to win an Amazon card, if you like!
http://www.mixandchic.com/2012/02/giveaway-amazon-gift-card-by-unique.html
Have a good day!
Jessie
This is a gorgeous space, Emily!! : )
Yay, I’m so excited to get a glimpse of what you are doing in your new home! Looks awesome! I had those same shelves with the same color in the background at my old house in our office. Miss them already. We may recreate them in the new house we are under contract on (moved from Phx to Austin). Love the rug, chairs, light…and how the whole room converts to a dining room should you need it. Great job!
Totally fabulous, Emily!! Love that you made it work for your needs!
Wow! What an amazing job. :)
Emily–Seriously? Holy crap it looks amazing. Seriously stunning!
this is goooorgeous! What an amazing transformation. I adore the combination of the more clean lines (bookshelves) with the rustic (farmhouse table) with the elegant (accessories). Beautiful.
It looks incredible, you did such an amazing job. You really had a great vision for this space!
It is GORGEOUS! I seriously love it. This could be in a magazine. It probably will be one day :) Speaking of, do you know when your magazine photo shoot comes out from your last house? Great work Emily!
You’ve done an incredible job!! Loved the posts leading up to the reveal, too. Have fun blogging in your gorgeous new space!
Emily,
Your dining room transformed into your office is so smart especially given your point about it being able to return to a dining room easily and beautifully with the built-in shelves.
Also wanted to thank you for the tip you posted a few days back on modernizing bookshelves with “horizontal stacks” of books. My fuddy-duddy bookshelf now looks fresher and modern.
Robin @ happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com
Looks great! I’d die for a bookcase like that :)
Your after photo belongs right on the cover of a magazine! It’s truly beautiful and such a functional space. Here’s my million $$$ question…how did you hide the lamp and computer cords?
Congratulations – it looks AWESOME!! I would love to work in that room every day!!
Functionality question: since there are no doors, how do you work with kiddos running around?
Absolutely stunning! I am so in love! What a wonderful transition from dining space to home office. And…you did it without breaking the bank! Fabulous!
Just stunning. Don’t go into retirement!
The change in that room is simply amazing! You now have me wanting a bookshelf wall, and I still can’t get over how great that lantern is! Congratulations on a job well done. :)
What an amazing transformation! The shelves are gorgeous and I love the light fixture too!
Love it Emily! Looks so great!
You did a fabulous job. This is a great example of what you can do to make a small space both functional and good looking.
Wow! The office looks REALLY great! I love that you painted the back of the bookcases.
http://leeanderin.blogspot.com/
That looks great- the light is perfect in there!
Not to be rude, but I do have one question– why is the art in the hallway hung so low? I would love to see the top of the canvas hit the middle of the transom over that door!
Whitney @ http://www.whitneybrock.blogspot.com
Wow, what an amazing makeover this room has undergone. I think it’s perfection!
stunning….
Gorgeous room! Unbelievable transformation. I absolutely adore the shelves…and everything else in the room. :)
Friggin beauutiful! I’ve been trying to convince my boyfriend to get some Tolix chairs to go with his farmhouse dining table…definitely using these images to convince him :)
You are amazing Emily! Looks like it should be in a magazine.
Yes! A gorgeous, double duty office/dining room. It is absolutely perfect. She strikes again!
Camille
Looks gorgeous! I bet you feel even MORE creative now, working in such a wonderful place!
This is so beautiful. I absolutely love it. The styling of the bookcases is so spot-on!
I would so enjoy working from that desk, and looking out the window.
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/my-hallway-is-officially-zhushed.html
Stunning!!
Jaw dropping! Love it all. Totally a magazine cover!
I just realized I commented under my husband’s profile {aka Dirt Merchant!} too funny. Drat, that is a problem when there are more people in the house who blog!!!
Sorry :)
Oh my gosh! Look SO GOOD! I love the bookshelves – absolutely LOVE them.
How are you plugging in your desk lamp and computer?
STUNNING! the built in book cases are just gorgeous! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
The office looks great. Love the table lamp – where did you get that?
Stunning!! It turned out so well, what a fun space to work in :)
Your office is absolutely LOVELY. How talented you are to be able to shop Craigslist etc. and have your office look so high-end and magazine worthy! And how luxurious to have that space!
Goodness! Such a gorgeous transformation!! Nice work!
Emily – it looks amazing! Love the floor to ceiling bookcases!
Looks GORGEOUS!!! Love it!
What an amazing transformation! We have done the same thing in our house (convert dining room to study) and are living in the transformation stage right now as we figure out what we want to do with the room. Thanks for some great inspiration!
This looks fantastic!!! I’m so inspired to do something with my office now!!
where is that lamp plugged in? do you have plugs in the floor? i covet those.
Love it! The lantern looks amazing!!
Absolutely love it!!
Emily – Your office looks amazing! I think you are so brave getting rid of the formal dining room. I have been wanting to get rid of this unused room for years. Just can’t seem to make the plunge. You have inspired me!
Missi at havoc-to-heaven.com
What a fantastic place to work. Love the floating desk and the lamp as well. All so pretty, Emily. Great photography as well.
Really lovely! Much more useful than a formal dining room for a young family
I dream of an office like this one day, it looks amazing well done!
Looks amazing! The built ins are stunning :)
http://www.idesignlove.com
AMAZING!
That is the first word that popped on my mind when I saw these pix!
Looking great!
Thank you for sharing;)
Lovely greetings…
http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/
Gorgeous! Love the colors and patterns… it’s a very different look than your other home office, but every bit as lovely.
Hope you’re enjoying. :)
xo Heidi
Gorgeous! Love the colors and patterns… it’s a very different look than your other home office, but every bit as lovely.
Hope you’re enjoying. :)
xo Heidi
Gorgeous! Love the colors and patterns… it’s a very different look than your other home office, but every bit as lovely.
Hope you’re enjoying. :)
xo Heidi
Gorgeous! Love the colors and patterns… it’s a very different look than your other home office, but every bit as lovely.
Hope you’re enjoying. :)
xo Heidi
Gorgeous! Love the colors and patterns… it’s a very different look than your other home office, but every bit as lovely.
Hope you’re enjoying. :)
xo Heidi
It is gorgeous….seriously, straight out of a magazine! I love every bit of it! the orange of the rug is gorgeous, and I love the oversized art on the hallway door and how it ties in with the rug. And I love that you hung it low! I just love it all! I hope that space is a spot for peace and creativity for you!!
Ah! I was so excited when I saw the title of this post. The office looks awesome. I love it! I think the shelves add the most impact, and I love the way that the bottom two rows are divided from the rest as more “workable” shelves. Really beautiful job!
Jenna
What a makeover, I love your big table desk, the incredible bookcases (all that storage)and the salvaged light. Impressive!
Add me to the list of people wondering about your cords. I had to install floor outlets to “float” my sofa, because even though you see furniture arranged in the center of a room, all the outlets are in the walls!
I did not think I could love your new office more than your old office.
I was wrong.
It looks amazing!!!! I love that rug in there.
The office looks amazing, I love it!
That looks so great Emily! I love the look of the harvest table against the more refined furnishings.
Holy goodness, that looks amazing!! Seriously, like from a magazine. Well done!
Emily it looks so sharp!! Love love the bookcases, those are going to come in handy for storage in the near future. Very handsome room, great job! Kathysue
Absolutely beautiful! It is magazine worthy!
this is why we love you :) it’s perfect
Bravo Emily! It’s beautiful. The bookcases really make the room and I’m in love with your desk/table.
Beautiful. Love the rug in there. How did you plug in the lamp that’s on the desk? I’d love to do something similar in my sewing room but I can’t figure out how to hide the cord. :o)
Love this library feel! While I can totally appreciate all the “blonde” books used in design today … I love that these are real and add color. And so much easier than trying to cover every book we own!! It is gorgeous … my office is in the basement. I need to get a move on!!
Emily –
It’s GORGEOUS! Did you see I just painted the backs of my bookshelves in my great room Urbane Bronze??? Love it!
xo~Jill
It turned out gorgeous! I’m seriously in love!
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Bravo
Love that rug, the bookshelves turned out beautifully. Brava!!
WOWZA girl!! I sort of forgot about the built-ins that were getting made, but then when I saw that first photograph, WOW! You must be thrilled – enjoy that space. It’s really beautiful!
Gorgeous Emily! And so true about the space- our dining room is in the exact same spot in our house and I’ve been working on decorating it, but truth is, we barely use it! I’m just making it look pretty because it’s right by the front door and for the (very) occasional times we use it!
I love how your office turned out!
This looks absolutely AMAZING!!! I was thrilled to read that your work space area also works as a dining area when needed. I have done the exact same thing in my home. Our house is quite small and I decided to use the dining area as a work space that easily can be transformed when we have friends coming over. So much more usefull- before it was a total waste of space.
Emily, once again you never cease to amaze!! It looks fantastic!! Great job!
It looks so GOOD! fantastic job!! I have been dying to see the final outcome.. and it looks great! you must LOVE the new space, and being finished ;) Love it! ~Bre
Love, love, love… absolutely stunning. The bookshelves are amazing. I’m in the midst of doing my library/den/office space as well. Unfortunately, I have to wait for my husband to build the shelves. I hope it turns out as beautiful as yours. Curious to see what you did with your window… drapery? Thanks for the inspiration!
Girl!!!!! I am in LOVE!!! Great job:)
How do you turn on the desk lamp? Is there a plug in the floor? I’m having that problem in my living room. I don’t want to trip over a long unsightly cord that goes from the middle of the room to the wall. Thanks for the hint. :)
Wow, Emily – you are beyond talented. Looks like a completely different house/room. You are great at envisioning a room’s potential and I sure hope to be able to utilize your ideas and advice when we get a new house someday. (Or, at least a rental that will let us paint the walls!) I just love the bookshelf and the grey paired with the orange/rust in the rug is stunning! BEAUTIFUL!
Wow, Emily – you are beyond talented. Looks like a completely different house/room. You are great at envisioning a room’s potential and I sure hope to be able to utilize your ideas and advice when we get a new house someday. (Or, at least a rental that will let us paint the walls!) I just love the bookshelf and the grey paired with the orange/rust in the rug is stunning! BEAUTIFUL!
OK. I am bookmarking your blog! There is a very clear reason that you are a designer – what a gorgeous vision, so well executed, and I love your sourcing!!
Glad I came across your site. :)
LOVE it! It can work as a dining room or an office. I am in love with the bookcases. They are perfection!
This house is coming along beautifully!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Emily, it is AMAZING! I love it! I can only imagine how much you must look forward to going in there to work. Such a pleasant work space. :)
135 comments! oh my goodness!
Emily, this room is so amazing. I can guarantee this will be published! You’re so talented and with such an effortless touch. ;-)
xo,
Abby
Emily,
this turned out beautifully!
Your photo gave me the visual I needed to convince my husband that this is what I need as well!
Thanks for that. =)
I posted about your transformation today. Hope you’ll take a look.
http://casastephensinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/02/thanks-emily-clark.html
[email protected] CasaStephensInteriors.blogspot.com
Smashing! What are beautiful space to work in. Imagine an intimate dinner party, surrounded by your books and collections, illuminated by candles… can I come ;-)
XOXO
Elizabeth at covetdujour.blogspot.com
This looks spectacular. One of the best transformations I’ve seen!
Holy cow… it’s absolutely stunning! I can’t believe the transformation. It looks like a magazine. Great job!
emily! It really looks AMAZING!!! I love every inch! So glad you have it finished… I just know it will be a great backdrop for inspiration!!!
love your bookshelf styling, the shelf back paint color, and the pop of orange on the floors. Not to mention all of the natural light!!
I feel a ditto coming on………..
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Best of luck with your new space.
Kris @ reddoordesigncompany.com
Wow! What an after – the office is gorgeous Emily! Well done on filling up the shelves and styling them – they look great.
I love your new space!! I think being in the middle of all the action is actually great….wonderful job Emily!!
This looks amazing! You’ve inspired me to do built-in bookcases in my home.
This looks amazing! You’ve inspired me to do built-in bookcases in my home. Love it
gorgeous, Emily! You have such a knack for putting things together. I love the built-ins, great job on everything!
Omgosh this room is so beautiful. And the before and after is amazing. You added so much depth and architectural detail with those bookshelves. Love it!
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Hi Emily,
I’ve been enjoying your blog. I think everyone can relate to your post today about real life. Where did you get that awesome orange rug?
Thanks,
Shelley
This is absolutely amazing!!! Than you for sharing, I love love love the bookshelves and the table!
Your office is absolutely incredible! Love the oversized lantern! Great place to get work done! I don’t think I’d want to leave!
Just gorgeous Emily! I love the colors, bookcase styling…everything! Congrats on finishing the room!
I like your story, ok, i’ll bookmark this site and return here in next few days.
busana muslim
Would it be possible to get a plan or dimensions for the book shelves? I’d love to have something similar in our home library/school room.
Well, it’s fabulous. REALLY fabulous. I’ve gotta get to working in mine…love having the space, but it’s upstairs and I find I don’t spend much time in there. Seeing your space inspires me to get myself in there!
:-)
shaunna
I’m totally late to the game here, but OMG I am in LOVE!! What a beautiful space you get to work in everyday- its so functional and beautiful!!
Its really great and lovely office decoration and interior. i feel glad to see it.
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Black Card | Red card Trainee
Your home office is wonderful, Emily. The personalize touch of the room will definitely help you feel motivated when working. Plus, the added bookcase is a good one; you can choose a book to read after your work is done. Nice!
Blake Mitchell
Wow! This was unique and luxurious home office space. I am so impressed and amazed with your post; wishing someday I had this also. I adore and I love your home office space. Thanks for sharing and keep on posting.
Emily! Such a lovely space! I got to your site from Censational Girl’s Pinterest page. Just wanted to say I especially love your rug in the space. It seems to warm up the room, but everything still feels fresh and bright. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sandra from http://www.simpleispretty.com
The room looks amazing. What is your solution for laptop/printer/router/wire clutter that might run across the hall.
I have been looking at this gorgeous room everyday for a week. It is seriously making me want to throw out every item in my formal living room and replicate it. Trying to calm myself down. :)
Gorgeous!! And now I’m inspired to use my dining area for my office too! I wasn’t sure at first, but I love yours and it so easy to change back if you do need it for later! Wonderful job!!
Just stumbled across this, and WOW! It’ looks absolutely beautiful
Please let me know who your carpenter was, we are building in Charlotte and would love the recommendation!
[email protected]
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Love love love this office and the fact that what I thought was an ultra expensive linen chair. is actually from TJMaxx!!! The item I am lusting over is the oversized art on the opposite wall. Where do you find pieces that are unique like that? I am struggling with my walls.
Kari–The art was just a really lucky Craigslist find!
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Hi Emily, I love what you have done, but I just have to ask how you handle power cords with a desk that’s in the middle of the room.
I see you have a light there, and I’m sure you’re laptop needs to be on “life support” sometimes. Any tips for dealing with that elegantly?
I would love a similar setup but until now the power cord issue has always held me back.
Until I decide if I want a floor outlet, I don’t :) See this post:
http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2012/02/real-life-vs-styled-life.html
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Hey Emily! I absolutely LOVE this room! I’m getting ready to redo my dining room and yours is definitely a huge inspiration. I was just wondering what color white was used for the bookcase and what the light grey color is on the walls?
Hi Katie–I believe the white is Alabaster (SW?) and here’s the rest of the house paint info:
http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2013/04/creating-flow-and-our-paint-colors.html
Thanks so much!!
very nice job. i like it a lot. I love books and bookcases.
Hi Emily! I LOVE this whole room- truly gorgeous. Just wondering if you know what color that pink on the wall is? Thinking of redoing my living room in this shade.
Thanks so much for sharing!
(Also) Emily
I just love the way the room came out. Especially the bookcases. I actually have tons of books between my husband and my collections. I’d love the name of the carpenter. I live in Bergen county New Jersey and ridiculously didn’t check where you are. So , if you could recommend the carpenter it would be appreciated.
I’m in Charlotte :)
Hi Emily! Do you have a post detailing the shelves? I want to do something like this and would love the plans or even a general description and dimensions. Thank you!!!