Oh wow, you are in for such a treat today. We have Shelley from Calypso in the Country sharing her fabulous office and how she pulled it all together. I love this space and I am sure you will too.
Hello everyone! My name is Shelley and I blog at Calypso in the Country. I am so excited to be a part of Marty’s “Pulling It All Together” series! I have been a longtime reader of her lovely blog and am honored to be here today to show you one of the rooms I have “pulled together”.
Today I am going to give you a tour of my home office. This room is the place where I blog, coordinate school events and basically try to keep the family organized! Welcome!
As you might have noticed, I love to incorporate a little bit of island style into my home. I live in New Jersey but I have always been drawn to the Caribbean and the relaxed island lifestyle, which is ironic because I am not exactly a relaxed person! Maybe that’s what makes it so appealing to me!
This room used to be a playroom for my kids. The location right off the kitchen made it perfect for me to peek in on them when they were little. It allowed me to actually cook some dinners back in those crazy busy days.
After a few years, we finished part of our basement and moved the playroom down there. Then we had to make a space for our darling new puppy, Rosie. The room became the “dog room” for awhile because I didn’t want that big ol’ crate taking up space in the rest of the house.
Then one day…
That darling doggie ripped up the carpet.
And that marked the beginning of the room redo!
Once she graduated from the crate,
(and her ripping and chewing phase was over),
we got to work on transforming the room into an office for me.
We began by installing hardwood floors and crown molding.
Then we painted the walls Benjamin Moore – Bone White.
Already a big improvement!
I drew out a plan of the layout I thought would work.
I envisioned floating the desk in the middle
with a wall of bookcases behind it.
I designed a mood board using mostly Ballard Designs pieces.
I used the board as a guide and then tried to mix in some less expensive items
when I actually went shopping.
I ended up ordering creamy white bookcases from Howard Miller. Once they were in the room, I realized the color didn’t go well with the Bone White walls. They needed to be a whiter-white to match the molding.
Well, I wasn’t about to return them at that point,
so I had the bright idea to paint them Decorator’s White myself.
A few weeks later…
I finally had the color I wanted
(and a new respect for all you talented people who paint furniture!)
With the addition of a hanging lantern, desk, and chair,
the room was finally coming along.
The lantern is the “Carriage House Chandelier” from Ballard Designs
and one of my favorite things in the room.
The blue and white rug is from Dash and Albert. The desk is from Hooker Furniture. I saw it online and then found it at a better price in a local furniture store. Originally, I thought I wanted a white desk, but as the room evolved, I changed my mind on quite a few things. I think the dark wood and fluted legs give it an island feel.
And then I added some accessories…
A little blue and white.
And lots of shelf styling…always a fun project!
I knew I wanted a slip-covered chair but needed something small (and cheap!) I found this one at Ikea. The shelf is from Pier One and the seagrass baskets are from Pottery Barn. Those baskets have been a lifesaver with all the school papers we have floating around here!
The sunburst mirror is from Home Depot.
I have had this little trunk forever!
This cute ceramic shell is from Homegoods.
I filled it with $1.29 orbs from Christmas Tree Shoppe.
You can’t beat that price if you are trying to save money!
Instead of the fun blue and white custom chair in my original plan,
I went with this slip-covered chair from Ikea.
Adding the paisley pillow from Etsy helped give it the look I wanted
for much less money.
Of course all the bargain hunting helped
when I needed to splurge on the plantation shutters!
I love the way they diffuse the light and give the room that island feel!
And I must have an orchid!
Oh! And my favorite accessory in the room…
Rosie!
Luckily, she behaves herself in there now.
And that wraps up the home office tour.
I hope you like the way I “pulled it all together”!
Thank you so much to Marty for having me here today. I have enjoyed sharing my room with all of you and would love for you to stop by Calypso in the Country to say hello!
Aren’t you as impressed as I am. This is a space that I would kill love to have. Be sure to hop over to her blog and follow along. She has such fabulous taste and her entire home is something you will want to see and you definitely don’t want to miss any of her projects. Calypso in the Country Thanks so much Shelley for letting me feature you today..
I am joining the following parties:
Craftberry Bush for Inspiration Gallery Thursday The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
No Minimalist Here for Open House Party, Posed Perfection for All Things Thursday Hop
Katherines Corner for Favorite Things, The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things
A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden,
Love of Family & Home for Inspire Me Please
Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday The 36th Avenue for 36th Avenue Party
Imparting Grace for Grace at Home, My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Fri
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Fri, Common Ground for Be Inspired Fri
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home ,
Chic On A Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Fri
Finding Fabulous for Frugalicious Fri ,Rooted In Thyme Simple & Sweet Fri.
Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Linky Party
Redoux Interiors Friday Party,
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