If you saw my tiny home office in San Francisco, you can understand why this is fun for me to have some elbow room in Florida! Let me tell you about the things that make me so happy about my neutral home office.
Basically, I repurposed things with the exception of a new daybed, floor lamp, and small drinks table. The rest we already had!
As it turns out, Cindy and Annie also have their new home offices to share with the links at the end of the post.
Daybed in Performance Fabric Creates A Guest Room
This daybed pulls out into a queen for when we have a full house. It’s in performance oatmeal everyday linen fabric. We will buy a memory foam topper for it to make it softer for guests. But for now, it’s nice to sit here with my laptop and take a break from the desk.
The neutral pillows were already in my stash. I love just using the black, tan, and gray ones here. A neutral background is good when working with color for clients.
This is “Chief’s daybed.” Comes in all sizes.
Serene Gallery Wall
This is the art that we combined from different rooms and I love the clean, calm feel. The white frames are from Art.com with our travel photos. The black abstract art was from Minted.com and the other was a gift from a sweet client.
Paint: The walls are painted Benjamin Moore Simply White and the trim is China White.
Convenient Drinks Table
The sturdy little marble table from Crate and Barrel is perfect to hold my water glass while working or relaxing on the day bed. This was a good purchase.
Notice below that we made the shelves more uniform… and used my already owned neutral accessories.
Good Lighting
There are three light sources: recessed lighting over the desk, a Serena and Lily task lamp and a floor tripod lamp from Target on sale for $80. I paid full price. I think it looks good…what do you think?
Large Table For My Desk
This farm table has lived with us in Paris, France (where we bought it at the Porte de Vanves flea market), Fort Lauderdale, Newport Beach and San Diego (while on loan to my sister). And now its back with us in Atlantic Beach, FL!
The caramel leather chair swivel desk from Pottery Barn coordinates well. The pin board we had but hung it vertically this time.
I’m planning to get natural woven wood shades from Smith and Noble for the windows and store the plantation shutters. Can you see some samples on my pin board?
Floor Space
Ah, what a luxury to have a place to sit on the floor to wrap presents, do yoga (Ok…I AM planning on it) or play with Chief. The Restoration Hardware rug was in our SF foyer.
And those are the things I love about my neutral home office. What’s your favorite about this space??Chief would appreciate your vote.
Let check out these home offices…can’t wait to see what they have done!
Annie from Most Lovely Things
Cindy from Cindy Hattersley Design
Shop My Home Office:
Your office is lovely! I especially love the daybed. I’ve been searching for a sofa bed that will fit through the small door openings in my 1935 bungalow. I totally missed seeing this one on the PB website. Thanks!
Absolutely perfect! Love the farm table! colors are peaceful! I recently changed my LR window treatment from plantation style blinds to fabric cordless Roman Shades. No light between the slats and seems cooler as the sun/shade changes throughout the day. Love the progress and your new home!
So serene and functional! Where do you store your printer and all the unavoidable cords/supplies?
Thank you for sharing all the views of your new home. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Everything like the printer is on shelves in the closet. As soon as we get the filing cabinet in there I can do it too. Although I can’t say it’s pretty.
I LOVE the look in your new office! The “before” pictures must have been the previous homeowner, nice stuff but a too “brown” and heavy for my taste.
What a beautiful space! And bonus, a daybed too. Inspired by all the little details!
Thanks, Barb!
Deceased is the only word to describe my current situation after reading this post. Oh my gosh, your office is amazing. For working, lounging, thinking about doing yoga … all the things. And the martini table … is it 5 o’clock yet? Not sure which I like better … your daybed or Chief’s. Mary Ann, your new house is the best ever … I love everything I’ve seen so far and will hold my breath waiting for more. So hurry. This is just fabulous. xo
You are so funny to me, Juliet! Thinking about yoga is all the yoga I’ve done in here so far 🙂
Mary Ann, your office is wonderful and I love everything. You worked wonders in your small space office in SF, so it must be so nice to have space to stretch out and do yoga or just play with Chief. And please tell that handsome boy Chief, he’s my favorite accessory in the room!
He’s my fave accessory too, Gail! He wants to eat at 5 pm sharp…a good quitting time!
I love your new home office, the floor space in the center featuring that beautiful oushak rug is such a luxury. Plantation shutters can be a blessing and a curse, we had them in our precious home on every single room. The previous owner may have gotten a PlantAtion shutter deal somewhere and they went to town throughout the entire house. The looks can be sort of restricting and for me they scream early 2000s besides taking wall space when opened, limiting the use of the window’s surrounding space. We ended up removing ours and storing them away( those are originally expensive) on some windows you may need to redo the entire molding after removing the shutters. That alone turns onto an entire new project. You may want to discuss about that with Howard. My husband wasn’t happy about the extra expense after removing the shutters
See the fab pillows that you made, Liana? I think there is room to put the shades in front of the shutter frames. Then I will just have to remove the bottom center magnates. I was going to do the measuring and hire an installation person myself (I’ve done that before). But since this is more complicated, I think I will see what the Smith and Noble rep. thinks!
I love the furniture, the art, and desk area. But the number one thing in the room is the sweet Chief in his cute bed.
You always make the rooms you design very welcoming.
Karen B.
He’s just a quiet little presence, Karen. until its dinner time.
Hi Mary Ann, you have been working very hard. Everything is lovely. I must say chief is my favorite. Love his new bed. He looks so debonair.❤️
Thanks, Kathy!
Wow! Your office came together quickly. I love your daybed. Is it comfy? I remember sleeping on the old ones, as a guest. They had a bar across that dug into you. Hated it!
Will you do a review on yours?
The little table is adorable and the floor lamp is perfect plus such a great price.
I’m not a big fan of plantation shutters so I second your desire to replace them with something with texture.
I will do a review and show how it pulls out soon.
Of course, Chief is Number 1 in my book. But, really love the farm table!! Perfect desk. Hard to pick just one element since everything looks so refreshing together. The Target floor lamp brings that whole wall together with the daybed, pictures, pillows etc. The height and pieces together really create a lovely flow.
Thanks so much, Deanna!
Your office/guest bedroom came out great and so quickly. You must have had furnishings ordered way in advance. I also like the plantation shutters for several reasons. It lends itself to a coastal vibe but mostly because they’re a better insulation against the heat and you can angle the sunlight upward which doesn’t bleach out your floor and furnishings. They also provide privacy but at the same time you can allow light into the room. I like woven shades but they have to be down (giving a closed in darker appearance) or somewhere in between which is letting light directly in, thus heating up the room and directing sunlight onto your surroundings.
You are right that it keeps it cooler! I just don’t like the prominence of all the pattern. Well, I will think about this some more as it’s not cheap! And we want to have a oool built. Thanks so much for commenting.
I’m throwing my vote to Chief for showcasing 1 dog..2 ways. He presented the typical focused look at first, but then gave the unexpected partial profile at the end. Bravo to Chief
Hahaha. Chief’s a natural in front of the camera!
Mary Ann, love love love the farm table desk. The look and the fact that it has so much history! Chief, of course! I wonder if he misses those red steps in SF!! And your gallery wall! The little table, I love it all!
xx
He was like a tornado on those stairs!
It looks fabulous! Don’t you love the area? I’ve lived in Jacksonville, St. Augustine (hubby’s home town) and now PVB (just South of you) most of my life now.
Looks like you’re settling in nicely here on The First Coast.
Happy Sprucing!
~Scarlett (@SpruceStudioShoppe)
Yes…we love it here! Following you on Instagram now.
You created such a wonderful office and the daybed is so smart. The colors all look so peaceful. Of course, Chief Rocks. The lamp from Target looks good.
1. LOVE the farm table.
2. Need the daybed at my house.
3. Like the plantation shutters. I have several.
4. Always love to see pics of Chief!
5. Glad you are loving Florida.
Thanks so much, Jamie!!
I love everything about your new office! I’m looking for a smaller version of your desk. Something similar that is sturdy and has nice character. I will place it between two twin beds at our beach house so we have a second WFH option for our sons and girlfriends. It’s out there somewhere! Love the Target lamp and the price. I also purchased a nice floor lamp from Target for my son’s apartment. Love the floor space for yoga!
That guest room sounds lovely!!
Hi Mary Ann
You must be in heaven! I love your new office! I don’t mind the plantation shutters either. I love that lamp from Target and love the coastal vibe it gives your office! I love the task lamp on your desk. I might have to order that. The rug looks fabulous in there, and of course Chief is the best decor!
Well, I wish you were here, Cindy to give me your opinion in person!
Love what you did with this space!❤️ & I like the plantation shutters. Would you think about keeping them?
I put them in previous homes, Nancy. I prefer shades now. But I will store these.
Chief definitely gets my vote, although the room looks fresh and inviting!
Chief appreciates that, Carole!!
So pretty and looks great! Besides the lovely decor, seeing Chief is my favorite!
He’s a good assistant!