Ok, so this is the biggest one room project I’ve ever done and it was a challenge. However, so satisfying and I’m very happy with how it turned out. Let me just say you can do it if we can! It all started with a vision and a mood board. I knew the look I wanted and once I was able to put some thoughts together we created a plan and the project just took off. I’ve decided to break it up into 2 posts because there are so many elements to the space. So, let’s start from the beginning with the custom office built -ins.

 

When creating spaces, I like to have a visual and general idea of the look I want to achieve.  After searching on Pinterest and Instagram I found several things I loved and a color scheme that would be perfect. I created this board to help me better design and for making selections of all the elements.

 

Set The Mood

 

First, let’s start with a little before. We have so many vintage items that are very meaningful in this room . It just always felt so crowded and cluttered for how small the room is. I really wanted to make the most of the space and decided that built-ins would create the wow factor needed in here. The storage would be perfect to conceal items and give a clean lined look.

 

Purge and Clear The Clutter

 

 

I began by cleaning and purging throwing out 30 years worth of paperwork and stuff we just held onto for no reason. That was so freeing and wow did it clean up the space .

 

 

 

The other thing I wanted to do was to gather all the photos and re frame or find new places for them. 

 

 

To make more space in the room we eliminated some of the furniture which made it feel so crowded. We sold the black desk and the antique secretary was placed in another room.

 

 

To begin building the built-ins and take some of the detail work out of it, we started with some pre made cabinets. The first plan was to use 2 large unfinished cabinets on each side. We brought home 2 different looks to see which we liked the best and decided to go with the set on the right. This way we didn’t need to build cabinets and drawers.

 

Design and Prioritize The Space

 

 

We anchored the the cabinets to the wall to be sure they were secure and make the unit more solid and stable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then decided to build a window seat under the window to create a balance in the look and incorporate the window into the entire wall built-in . I had several doubters on the window seat. many people felt it wouldn’t be the right proportion but I pushed through the nay sayers.

 

 

First we built brackets using 1′ x 2″ boards then placed a piece of plywood on top for the seat and in the front to close it up.

 

 

Using 2 “x 4” boards we crated a frame first to make the seat sturdy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

After we completed the built-ins we caulked and primed all the wood

 

Define The Spaces

 

 

We also added ship lap to the side wall for more texture and to balance out the wood on the back wall.

 

 

 

 

Next,  I added this beautiful paint color Greenblack by Sherwin Williams in a satin finish. This rich moody color really made this room come alive. Dark colors in a small room can create a cozy, sophisticated vibe

 

Add Your Design Details

 

 

I stained the desk a dark walnut to give the look a little more warmth. I love how it brings out the wood tones in the desk.

 

 

 

 

The vertical shiplap really gives the room another element of texture. It also makes the room feel taller and bigger.

 

 

The big stuff is now complete, but the little details are what give the wow factor. All the “things” together make this room amazing and I can’t wait for you to see it all completed you won’t believe it. So, stay tuned for the second phase of this makeover. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you won’t miss a post or update.

 

Happy Decorating

 

 

 

 

CUSTOM OFFICE BUILT-INS