Building work for our home study will commence at the end of the month (fingers crossed), and it couldn’t come at a better time.
We’ve been eating, relaxing, working and living all in the same room for a few months now. It has been fine and totally manageable but this year I made a conscious decision to work from home more to reclaim my work/life balance. I miss having a ‘work’ room, which I can separate from ‘me’ time.
The room we’re going to use is what I currently call the ‘dungeon’. A warren behind the stairs with a dim corridor leading to a galley kitchen and a shoddy ‘lean-to’ with uneven flooring. We’re hoping to knock down the lean-to (as it’s already leaking and causing problems), and reclaim the outside space. Whilst allowing more light into the room with a large window at the back (the only light is currently a small window into the alleyway).
At the moment it’s still all just a thought process but there are a few things we have contemplated as our criteria:
Desk space that allows for 2 people
Enough plugs for computers/lamps etc without using extension cords
Extensive storage space for our work equipment
Plugs with USB sockets
Natural light for photos
Keep existing features where possible – picture rail, skirting boards etc
Instagrammable (!)
Coffee table and chairs for an ‘ideas’ area
The ideas area is something I’ve wanted for a while, to make it a more creative space rather than just a desk. The digital world is one that moves that so fast. if you don’t take time to stop and reflect occasionally, it can get on top of you. Plus I like the idea that I can get up and move around, not chained to a desk.
The colour palette will be the usual – neutral with a hint of dark. I love the idea of wood panelling too with cupboards across one wall. The boiler has been installed in this room (it needed to be on an external wall) so this will be incorporated into the cupboards somehow.
Parquet Flooring
And I think we’re going to go with parquet flooring – obviously none of our rooms are as big as these, so we’ll have to manage expectations somewhat, as well!
Also bearing in mind that this will be potentially our ‘forever’ home, so we don’t want to scrimp too much – but still save where we can!
I’ll keep you up to date on Instagram Stories, of course, but meanwhile here is what we’re looking at for the room:
Omg this sounds so amazing already and all your pins are giving me so much inspiration! I am waiting till I have my own study!
Love your inspiration images. The angelpoise lamp in one of those pics is one of my must haves – works well as a bedside lamp too.
I have the French Connection Brass lamps and the La Redoute marble tables in one of my bedrooms. They both look great but the tables are much smaller than I expected before they arrived (they’re full with the lamp and a book on them). It’s also anonyingly hard to angle the lamps because the only bend at one point. Just small things that I wish I’d known before I’d bought them, but they do look fantastic!
Oh good to know – the table will probably just got next to a chair for occasional use so think it’ll be alright x
I love these images! It reflects to your style that you have at home and I love it a lot! After seeing your bathroom I was like..omg I need to do something similar to mine 🙂
Jovita from Black Vanilla
http://www.b-vanilla.com
Thank you…..sometimes I think I need to do something different to grey but then i think ‘but I like it’!
I have just converted a leaky lean-to into part of our kitchen. I can highly recommend a roof lantern bring light into your ideas area. It’s an apex/prism shaped window in the roof. Our kitchen is now a warm and sociable space to be enjoyed. Not a dingy galley just for cooking!
Great idea, think we will definitely do this in our kitchen!!
Will you be choosing an ergonomic office chair, Alex? I’ve been finding it hard to get one that looks nice, as well as functioning to support the back and suiting two people of different heights. Apart from the Herman Miller Aeron of course – ahem.. £1,000 .. ahem.
So I’ve had an Aeron chair for about 6 years….and love it. If I ever have a bad back I actually just sit on it in my living room and it sorts it out! As some who sits on a laptop/computer all day my back is not something I mess with. That said, we definitely can’t afford 2 (!) – so have been looking at this for the husband (still pricey though!) http://www.westelm.co.uk/slope-leather-office-chair-h2113
Wow, thanks for that info – we were thinking we might spring for one as the step-daughter has some back issues, and – as you say – we don’t wanna mess with the spine!