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| Renovation Journal |  | | Associate editor Jessica Thuston shares her journal of how a surprise discovery started a renovation of a side porch into a home office. |  Read Jessica's Journal |
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| Home Office Makeover |
| A graphic painted floor and clever wall calendar transformed
editor Jessica Thuston’s once-dull workspace into an inspiring retreat. |
| By Jessica Thuston |
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| photography: Robbie Caponetto |
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photography: Robbie Caponetto
Before the renovation, the printer sat on the floor, the chair was uncomfortable, and the room was completely devoid of personality. |
Inspiration After falling in love with a bold geometric floor in a house featured in Cottage Living (September 2006, page 87), I was determined to paint my own. Previously, the floors were stained a dark, almost burgundy, color. I knew painting them white would brighten the room and the tiny space could handle a funky pattern. (It would be too much in a large room.) The only tough part was convincing my husband, Dixon, to spend a weekend helping me!
What’s New A basic wooden bookcase brings organization to the space. I painted it the same blue as the trim and wallpapered the inside with scraps left over from the walls to give it a built-in look. While installing new crown molding, Dixon accidentally knocked a hole through the ceiling, and that proved to be a happy mistake: We uncovered and restored a beaded-board ceiling original to our 1920 cottage. Then we replaced an ordinary circa-1980 ceiling fan with a pretty and more appropriate lantern from an antiques shop.
photography: Robbie Caponetto
A freestanding wooden bookcase looks built in because it’s painted the same color as the trim and lined with the raffia wallpaper used throughout the room. |
photography: Robbie Caponetto
The floor was lightly sanded before it received two coats of white paint. Tracing 12-inch tiles created the pattern. |
How it Works Textured raffia wallpaper gives the room instant style and disguises unsightly walls that had once been wallpapered and then painted over. Decorating editor Fran Keenan suggested moving the desk under two windows to frame a better view while I’m at work. In another corner she created a cozy space with an upholstered chair and ottoman—great for late-night reading. “Rule No. 1: Leave ‘office furniture’ to the corporate world,” says Fran. “Furnish your home office like the rest of your house, with comfy seating and stylish lamps and accessories.”
Find it Fast Wallcovering
Madagascar in Portofino, $78/yard (suggested retail), from Phillip Jeffries; 800/576-5455
or phillipjeffries.com |
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