Room of the Day: Easing Into a Home Office Update

When it comes to coaxing her husband, Adam, into accepting change, decorator Cathy Zaeske knows what she’s doing. In the case of his home office, she was “so over” the red walls and dark traditional wood furniture, but he still loved the room’s cozy old-school feeling. While redecorating other rooms in the house, she decided it was the right time to start nudging him toward freshening and lightening it up. Because it has glass doors, she wanted the room to flow with the rest of the first floor.

The process was all about taking things a step at a time and giving Adam time to get used to new ideas. First, Cathy successfully redesigned their dining room and a study-music room for their kids, which got him used to new colors and textures and collected style. Next she gave him the coffered ceiling she knew he’d love. Then they foraged together for new furniture they both liked. The couple reached unexpected design compromises that made them both extremely happy with the results. He got an office that still has some traditional gravitas, and she no longer winces when she glimpses it from another room. In fact, far from it: She and her sons now enjoy spending time in here too.

Room at a Glance
What happens here: Telecommuting, reading, organizing household paperwork, relaxing, catching up on YouTube videos and conversing
Location: Near Chicago
Size: 144 square feet (13½ square meters)

BEFORE: The room had become dated, and the French doors didn’t keep it hidden from the rest of the newly redecorated first floor. The main element Cathy wanted to preserve for her husband was the coziness he loved. She just wanted to do it in a new way that made the space flow with the rest of her newly redesigned rooms.

They began to work on the office about six months after completing the other rooms. “It was much easier to sell my light-and-fresh office vision once Adam was onboard with the gray-and-grass-cloth approach in the other rooms,” she says. “He really liked how they turned out — it gave me ‘street cred!’”


“After” photos by Scott Lawrence

AFTER: The main aspect the couple agreed on was adding a coffered ceiling. Cathy knew getting that done early in the process would get Adam revved up about the redo. She had known all along that the leftover grass cloth from her recent dining room–study room makeover would look fantastic on the ceiling, providing warm color, subtle texture and a pleasing contrast to the light painted wood. It also helps create a connection between the office and the other rooms on the first floor.

Still in disagreement over the red walls early on, the couple went shopping together in search of some common ground. “He found the red leather nailhead chair almost immediately, and it was love at first sight. I immediately saw that this was the answer to our problem,” she says. She knew the chair he adored would serve as a focal point, and she could calm down the room with neutral colors around it.

Tip: If you’ve decided to float your desk in the middle of the room instead of placing it against the wall, electrical outlets in the floor will help prevent cords from being unsightly and potentially causing trips. Just be sure you figure your furniture placement out before committing to the spot, and have a professional install the outlets. Cathy used a round wood floor box from Raco.

Side chairs: Eaton Corner, Arhaus; executive desk: Hooker Furniture; leather desk chair: Editorial Swivel-Tilt, Toms-Price; floor outlet: Raco, The Home Depot


Their next compromise revolved around the desk. He wanted a solid desk that extended all the way down to the floor; she thought such a clunky piece would hide too much of the patterned rug and chop up the room. They agreed on this desk — he likes the rich color and storage, she likes the clean lines and open legs, and they both love the warmth of the wood.

While Adam dreamed of new built-ins, they were squeezed out by budget constraints. Instead, Cathy repurposed their four existing bookcases.

Tip: Make your old bookshelves new to you by giving them a little lift. Cathy added new trim that gave the bookshelves a more substantial custom look, painted them black and finished them off with stylish bone drawer pulls.

Antler Melody Knob: Anthropologie; mirror: West Elm


Cathy added a comfortable area for reading and for her and her sons to keep Adam company in this bay. She painted the window niche black, dramatically framing the view. Cozy tufted corner chairs provide inviting spots for reading.

Because she’s constantly switching up her home, Cathy likes to choose pieces that aren’t necessarily specific to just one room. “I love the versatility of these pieces; I can easily push them together to create a love seat, or they would be nice on either side of a fireplace in the future,” she says. A brushed gold side table and polished chrome sconces mix metals and add to the coziness.

Wall paint: Revere Pewter; niche paint, Black PM-9, both by Benjamin Moore; side table: Overstock; window treatment fabric: Celestial Sun, Waverly; wall sconce: Aberdeen, Hudson Valley






Across the room two more of the existing bookshelves also sport new black paint. They corral Adam’s favorite things, including books, objects and family photos. The use of bone on the frames ties these shelves to the mirror and drawer pulls across the room. “Using the same color for the frames provides cohesion, avoiding a hodgepodge look,” Cathy says. She painted the oil painting of their favorite place in Door County, Wisconsin. She also peppered a few red accents throughout the room to bring in more of his beloved color.

Knowing her “client” so well really helped the process. “He likes traditional but enjoys when I push those boundaries,” she says. Now the office is Adam’s favorite room in the house.

More:
Key Measurements to Help You Design the Perfect Home Office
Decorate With Intention: Get Your Home Office Right

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