WOW. I can't believe we actually pulled it off. We transformed a closet in our house into a beautiful office in just 8 weeks! It's been a pleasure being a Guest Participant in the One Room Challenge. This amazing online community inspires and motivates in ways I've never experienced.
I've learned a lot of lessons while taking on this project that I'd like to share:
Think outside the box! Every nook of your house can be as functional as you want it to be with a little imagination. I can't believe I spent a year wishing for a home office and thinking I could only have one by buying a bigger house.
Don't be afraid to ask for help! For my husband's sanity and mine, we decided to outsource the desk and shelves, and I know that my vision would not have been fully realized if we hadn't made that decision.
Old houses are WONKY! We ran into so many issues where the walls weren't straight, they bulged in places, the ceiling line curved, etc. This made the shiplap a beast to tackle, but with some ingenuity, we made it work.
Community over competition! I want to reiterate how great it was to be a part of a community of people that lifted each other up. Comments from fellow participants telling me it was OK when I didn't make as much progress as I would have liked made me feel at ease. It made such a difference during this stressful project.
THE BEFORE
A quick reminder of where we started. We had a large storage closet that housed anything and everything including holiday decor, party supplies, baby gear, and anything else that just needed to be tucked away.
THE VISION
Since the closet had no windows, I wanted a concept that felt light and airy. I landed on a coastal vibe since my happy place is the beach. My mood board was my guiding force, and I'm proud to say the end result stayed true to the original vision.
The goals were:
- Paneling on the long walls painted a green-gray
- A wallpaper accent wall
- A DIY desk with cabinets and a maple desktop
- Matching DIY maple floating shelves above the desk
- Wiring for new electrical outlets and a light fixture
- New baseboards
With the exception of the desk and shelves not being DIY, we crossed everything off the list!
THE REVEAL
Without further ado, scroll down for pictures of my new coastal office! I want to thank my husband for not leaving me in the process and for fulfilling all of dreams. He is a ROCKSTAR!
SOURCES:
Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Silver Strand Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: Amazon Plants, Decor, Lamp and Stool: HomeGoods Blue Accent Cabinet: HomeGoods
Lucite Drawer Pulls and Knobs: Amazon
Sconces: Circa Lighting
"I am Busy" Art Print: Gray Malin Mirror: Ballard Designs
Chair: Overstock
Shelves and Desk: Custom Build
Shelf Lighting: Amazon
ABOUT ONE ROOM CHALLENGE
One Room Challenge, is a biannual design event where 20 influencers are chosen as Featured Designers tasked with making over a space in eight weeks. Guests participants can join by linking their own room transformations. This spring, the Official Media Partner is Better Homes & Gardens! Be sure to visit the One Room Challenge page to see the amazing work of the Featured Designers and Guest Participants!