If you followed along last week, you might have read my post on this living room and dining room makeover. Initially those two rooms were the only ones on the radar, but as the spaces started feeling good my client decided to rework her office and basement too. Especially since she’s working and spending so much time at home!
Here is the office when I first saw it. Typical office of a minimalist. :)
And here it is now!
Again, the key to a room with few items is picking impactful pieces. A striking overhead light, a gorgeous vintage desk, an interesting console, an energetic plant, and thoughtful accessories. Put together they create a calming and creative space. We also added a fresh coat of white paint which always helps brighten a room.
Now for the basement befores.
My client rarely spent time down here because the TV was upstairs and the sofa wasn’t very comfortable. And let’s just say the room wasn’t very inviting. But with a new configuration and the TV moved down here it’s become a great room for watching PBS Masterpiece Theatre with a glass of wine after a long day in the office.
Let’s take a look. I wish I could have taken photos without the lights on but it was just too dark down here. :)
By moving the couch ninety degrees we were able to engage the entire room and add an occasional chair and table. Then we added a low TV stand and some lights and the space started to feel complete. My client isn’t big on knick knacks so we considered eliminating the shelf area but it would have taken more work than she wanted to invest. So we filled it with books and a few treasures. The art consists of pieces she already had which was a nice money saver.
Originally, we used the couch she had but like I said before it was very uncomfortable. So my client kept her eye out for a replacement couch. When this leather one popped up on Facebook Marketplace (the exact one she was dreaming of) she IMMEDIATELY snagged it and couldn’t be happier. It adds such beautiful patina and warmth to the space.
My client had her eye on these particular ottomans from Citizenry, but they are no longer in stock so some day we will find the right thing for this space.
Well there you have it. More design tales from the home of a minimalist. What’s fun is she has now challenged herself (and me) to decorate the three upstairs bedrooms using only second hand items. While the process of decorating her main living space was fun and rewarding she did have a hard time with all the packaging and waste. Not to mention the impact on the environment in making new items. Point made. This is definitely a negative aspect of the industry.
So I’ve accepted the challenge and we are on our way to getting the three bedrooms ready for guests…someday.