My Home Office Reveal
I cannot stress enough the importance of having an office you love. In order to do our best work, we need a space that supports us.
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
For me, my office has to have a few key elements:
1. Inspiration
My space has to inspire me to be creative. I have to feel both calm and energized in order to do my best work. My office is definitely the “craziest” room in the house in a lot of respects, but when I’m in there, I’m happy. It feels like me. The space reflects who I am.
2. Light!
I try to keep my work hours between 9 am and 4 pm, but I can be a bit of a night owl and sometimes do my best creative work later at night. So having the right amount of lighting is important. I also want to ensure that, when I’m in my office, I still feel a part of the rest of the home and not closed away. I’ve solved this by swapping out the original door for a French door. I also have a big window letting in lots of natural light during the day which keeps me energized and focused.
3. Storage, storage and more storage
Most businesses require some form of storage. We need a spot to store our tax information (because paper copies for 6 years … ugh), likely some office supplies, some technology, etc. Personally, I also need a spot to store a lot of samples (my Hunter Douglas sample books alone take up a solid 6 linear feet of cabinetry). I also don’t want to look at that stuff all the time, as it impacts my flow - so for me it needs to be closed storage.
4. Multifunctional
My home office includes a desk / work space, a larger work surface for looking at large samples (and maybe one day sewing), and a spot to cozy up when I just need a moment. The room itself isn’t large, but I have creatively managed to fit it all in. It’s a combo of new and old, designer pieces and IKEA basics.
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
But it didn’t always look this way!
When we bought the house, this room was used as a sort of playroom / TV room. While there was no change to the overall structure of the room, it did get the same treatment as the rest of the house: a fresh coat of paint, refinished floors, new windows, door and trim.
Photo: realtor.ca
Can I also just add how a thoughtful and well-designed space can actually make a room look and feel bigger, I mean, look:
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
This was the last room of the house to be completed, and also the space I struggled the most with design-wise. It had to be a reflection of me and my business, and that wasn’t something I took lightly. Some of it came easy:
My desk is an antique (it was my great-grandfather’s) that I’d had as my desk growing up, and I knew I wanted it in my office.
I also knew that my Bertoia Diamond Chair would end up in the office because it didn’t really work anywhere else in the house.
I knew that my quirky artwork of the Queen blowing bubble gum would feature prominently. How could it not?
I stressed over whether to go dark and moody (I love black) or to keep it lighter. In the end I made the decision to go brighter in keeping with the other main rooms of the house, creating a sense of flow.
I spent hours trying to decide how to incorporate my required whiteboard into the space, until finally one day it hit me that it should be the closet door. More on that later!
I did so many mock-ups of the office just to be sure I was doing it right - more than I had for any other space in the house!
One of the first elements I bought for the office was the light fixture. I knew that a “normal” fixture was going to bore me and that it likely wouldn’t give me the sort of light I wanted when I worked in the evenings. While the fixture itself is quite simple in its design (definitely not in its presence) I also knew I couldn’t just do boring bulbs with it. Nope, I had to do 3 different types of bulbs, and the effect is kind of magical in the evening.
Side note, when it came to installation, placing each bulb was a bit of a process. A few were strategically placed for a purpose - like above my chair in the corner, or accenting either side of the artwork - but the rest were placed to achieve an effect that appears both random and balanced. Luckily I had help (thanks Mom!) so that I could stand back and go, “Okay slightly more towards the window, okay now like one more inch towards the cabinet wall…” 😂
Back to the selection process: wallpaper came next. As soon as I saw the Sycamore pattern from Hygge and West I was sold. I actually saw my first sycamore tree when I was on vacation in Spain, right after we had bought the house, and I loved the pattern of the bark. Mainly because it reminded me of camo - of which I’m also a fan. Deciding which colour was difficult (it was between Ebony and Cream), and also deciding if I was going to put it on the ceiling or not, which I did in the end.
Bridget, from Tops Wallcovering, did an amazing job of this space (and our Master bedroom - more on that at a later date!) as she always does. And I got to assist by holding the ends of the ceiling strips while she put them on!
I decided to use IKEA kitchen cabinetry for my storage. Because my sample books are quite large, I needed the full 24” depth in the shelving. I went with IKEA doors too as I liked the black stained wood finish and then did a little splurge on the herringbone walnut countertop (also from IKEA). You may notice that I made sure they didn’t look like kitchen cabinets because I didn’t do a toekick. Instead, I raised them up using a panel piece just high enough so the doors would open with the rug in place. It helps keep it looking more like a bespoke built-in unit than just kitchen cabinets stuck in the office.
To tie in my antique desk, I chose knobs from Anthropologie that had a similar vibe.
My dad and I made the floating shelves because I couldn’t find anything pre-made that was the right size. Mounting such a deep shelf also required some customization to ensure it could hold my books and objects without issue! They provide visual balance to the tall cabinet on the right and allow for some small pops of colour as well.
These shelves are where I add a lot of my own personality. From books I love to treasures that have been passed down over generations (fun fact: the oldest item shown here is actually from 1892!), along with some newer and more practical items too.
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
I love having all of my “stuff” hidden away. It adds a sense of calm (and organization) to the space, which I was really craving. Previously, I just used open shelving for all of my sample books, technology, supply bins, etc. It felt weighty and made it difficult for me to clear my mind and focus on my work. Seriously, having it all hidden away has been a game changer for me. And the hidden drawers within the cabinets are so handy for storing smaller items while keeping them easily accessible.
Remember earlier when I mentioned my whiteboard? This is actually one aspect I still want to fix. Unfortunately, the kit I used to make the door into a whiteboard was a bit off (it was nearing the end of it’s shelf life, which I discovered after inquiring later) and took on a yellow tone instead of the promised clear. I haven’t fixed it yet just because I haven’t had time. It still functions, so it’s one of those things I’ll deal with for now. And having the whiteboard is great. I usually use it to keep track of my projects and what’s upcoming / remaining.
So all this work and indecision led to what, you may ask?
Well now I have a home base for my business. A space that I LOVE to sit and work in. A space where I feel calm, creative, focused and let’s be honest, I feel like a boss in this space. It actually makes my business feel more legit. I feel productive in this space and you know what - my business has expanded since I moved into this space. And yeah, that means increased profits too.
Photo: Tracey Jazmin
All of this to say, I know first hand what it takes to create a workspace from scratch and how impactful it can be. I want to share that with you too - because we all deserve to have a workspace we love, that supports us in our business and leads to greater productivity (and profitability)!
So guess what??
I am launching an online program to guide you through the process of Creating a Workspace You Love. This program:
guides you through the planning and implementation process
includes live virtual guidance calls, Q&A sessions and a space to collaborate with others in the group
has various 1:1 time offerings with me to discuss your own workspace design
talks about the tech you need to know about
plus so much more!
Kierstin Smyth Design
Edmonton Interior Design Consultant