I have worked from home since long before it became a public health requirement, so while it’s nothing new for me, I know first hand how important it is to have a functional and aesthetically pleasing place to work. The couch or the bed just really don’t cut it when you’re doing 9-5 without leaving the house. I’ve had many a home-office iteration over my blogging years. You can see examples of those home offices here, here and here. With no end to our WFH life in sight, I am so excited to finally share my newly completed home office with you. I hope it offers some inspiration for your own workspace.

Thankfully, long before the pandemic took over our lives, I’d planned to create the ultimate work-from-home space as part of our backyard makeover, building a little free-standing structure in the yard’s back corner. Just don’t call it a She-Shed! The pandemic put the brakes on finishing up the design for a few months, but now all the pieces have finally come together and I couldn’t feel luckier to have this little escape.

I worked with California-based Modern Spaces and Sheds to create the pre-fab structure. Even though the building is only a 10’x10′ space,  I’m so happy to have all of the natural light flood in – it makes the office feel much larger than it is. A slightly upward-sloping ceiling also gives the illusion of more space.

But what really took the office design to the next level was working with California Closets. If you’ve followed my renovation journey you know California Closets has been my go-to to both optimize storage in This Old Victorian and also get the gorgeous design I crave (you can see my dream closet here and my pantry here).

Since I was finally moving out of the corner of our guest room, I knew I wanted to put an expansive built-in desk into this office in order to optimize the shed’s footprint, but also to help elevate the feel. I was going for elegant, cool sophistication and I couldn’t be happier with the final result.

Over the course of the summer, I worked with my California Closets designer remotely and was able to finalize all of our choices online. Thank goodness for Zoom. She understood my vision immediately and was able to bring it to life. I love the mix of light wood with dramatic black accents. The black glass desktop adds a bit of sexiness.

The upper shelf was also one of my must-haves and California Closets made it work. I knew a little display shelf would be my major decorating moment – allowing me to showcase pieces that inspire and add major personality to my work area. The shelf is also quite useful, as it features built-in LED lights, allowing me to skip the expense of wiring the shed for overhead lighting.

Let’s dig into some of the desing details. A physcial moodboard is always a requirement in my world – even if I’m not designing something. I just love having visual inspiration welcome me every day. I typically swap my tear-sheet mood boards out seasonally.

A simple, yet elegant leather tray from Bloomist’s new WFH Pro Gift Collection atop the desk corrals note pads, pens, and other office-y odds and ends.

On the shelf above, I get to display some of my treasured pieces including the Matin Lamp from Hay Design, ceramics from Simone Bodmer-Turner, Frama and CPH 101, and framed art prints. I’m always a sucker for leaning art.

One of my first design decisions for the office was the flooring. I knew from the get-go that I wanted herringbone tile floors – and this beautiful concrete tile from Clé makes me oh so happy. It also is extremely durable. Radiant heat makes sure the space is always toasty. Luna certainly approves!

My office space also serves multiple functions. I have enough room to roll out my yoga mat and do Zoom classes. I also created my own private corner for self-care work including meditation and all my woo-woo ceremonies. I find daily or weekly rituals help ground me during this extremely chaotic time. Having an inviting set-up helps keep me motivated to invest the time to just sit and be still. If you know, you know.

Anyone else still collect print magazines?? I just love having something physical to thumb through for inspiration. Having my collections – international titles like Ark Journal, Elle Decoration and Living Etc are favorites – right at my fingertips is also a great way to take a mental break during the day.

The two sets of floating drawers we added give me just enough closed storage to hide away less than pretty office supplies and organize files without accumulating too much crap. This year is all about minimizing the clutter.

A finishing touch for any workspace is something living! As we spend so much time at home now, houseplants are an amazing way to bring the outside in. They’re good for your mental health and also for your physical wellbeing too as they help cleanse the air. I worked with Leon and George, an awesome plant delivery service, to pick the ideal plant for my office – in this case, a Silver Evergreen. The Vayu planter from Light and Ladder is a truly stunning vessel. Love their designs!

I know I am incredibly lucky to have a dedicated space of my own to get through these tough times. If you can’t build a shed in your own backyard, there are tips and tricks for upgrading your own WFH space – even if it’s just tucked into the corner of the living room. Here are a few of my favorite tips:

  • Try to work where this is maximum natural light. As we head into the winter months, natural light is going to help boost your mood and your energy levels.
  • Surround yourself with beautiful things that you love, art, objét, or a stack of books and magazines. A little bit of inspiration can go a long way.
  • Add plants!
  • Invest in a few pretty pieces that help keep your workspace organized and pulled together. It’ll help you feel more pulled together too – even if you haven’t taken the time to shower (it me!).

 

 

photography by aubrie pick, florals by marigold SF

Do you ever have problems finishing things? Taking a project over that last 10 percent to consider it complete? Yeah, me too. Hence, why instead of finishing off my master bedroom and bath design (that still continue to languish more than a year after renovations), I’m distracted by other little problem spots in the house that have been bugging me. Like wanting to redo my home office. Again. Since I’m usually chained to it ought to be pretty dang good, don’t you think??

My current inspiration – the wrap around desk.

There are three reasons I really love this look. First, it’s beautifully minimal and when done right (yes, there are plenty of really wrong examples), a well-made wrap around desk can serve as a beautiful focal point of space – rather than just a utilitarian, functional thing taking up space in the corner.

Secondly, I strongly believe that not having drawers makes you keep less stuff. Easier said, than actually put into practice of course, but that lack of storage certainly gives you the incentive.

Finally, the corner desk gives you much more surface area. I realize that kinda subverts the less stuff goal, but if you’re constantly editing images on a massive desktop, or are constantly surrounded by books, magazines and other sourcing material as I typically am, then a place to spread out can be rather helpful. I’ve also come to realize I no longer need a fancy acrylic stapler or that cute little bowl of paperclips. And if you float your corner desk you can actually give the appearance of taking up less space.

There are few other key components necessary to complete this look. A stellar desk chair (I will be prepared for the comments about the lack of ergonomics, I’m ok with that), a scatter of your favorite ceramics, a really good task light and some framed art for that must-have visual inspiration.

I’m lucky that I have the perfect little corner for this type of set up in my office. Now let’s see if I actually see this idea to the finish line.

Would you like to see that??

for the Idea to Steal archive, CLICK HERE.

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It’s been a bit since I’ve tackled a mom topic, but this go round the mamas are discussing kids and technology and I couldn’t miss my chance to chime in. Being in this blogging business obviously connects me to technology damn near 24/7. And after a decade of surfing those interwebs, seeing the tech shrink from my desk to the thing that I practically sleep with under my pillow, I definitely have a lot of conflicting emotions about what tech has brought to our lives.

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So I’m going to be the square here and state right up front: I am firmly against introducing technology to young kids.

Harsh, yes, I know. Now, I don’t consider myself a hippie mom or a protect-my-kid-from-any-and- all-evils mom, but the evidence is just in your face that technology screws with our brains – but particularly the brains of children. It stunts their ability to form empathy. It rewires their ability to focus. Technology been shown to increase depression, insomnia and narcissism. It’s addictive. There is article after article after terrifying article about tech’s detrimental effects. I’m sure you’ve read most of them. If not, click on ones like this. Then there’s the anecdotal fact that I just quit social media cold turkey while on vacation last week and could literally pinpoint the dip in my mood when I started scrolling through Instagram again and saw what I’ve “missed.” But that’s likely a blog post for another time.

While I’ve got my own problems to deal with, I’ve done my best to limit technology from invading my son’s world. Granted he’s only 2.5 and still lives in our little bubble. But we’ve yet to introduce TV, there have been no iPad games, and while I have succumbed to using FaceTime and flipping through photos on the phone, I never feel great about it (and in fact, I’ve noticed my son only wants the phone more if we look at pictures too much. Time to actually print those photo books I’ve been meaning to make!). And I’ve survived! In fact, it hasn’t really been that hard. I thought for sure I’d need tech to rescue you me from some parental disaster or another, but I’ve yet to feel the need. Of course, I’m excited for the days when he can watch Sesame Street, and I wonder what his first movie will be (mine was Sleeping Beauty in the theater btw), but that’s mostly about reliving my own childhood than enriching his. He’d rather just play basketball, or trucks or sing a song. And I’m probably just lusting after the 20-minute break.

Does this mean we’ve had to leave a nice dinner when there was a meltdown? Yes. Does this mean that my six hour flights to and from a Hawaii were a bit more torturous? Yes. Do I miss watching sports on the weekends because we always keep the TV off? Sure. But limiting my son’s exposure to technology has also dramatically increased my awareness of technology’s invasion into my day. I recognize my own weaknesses and think about how lucky I was to not have to fight against them as a kid. I grew up with six TV channels and didn’t get a video game until I was 13. And yet I always wanted to sneak in more than my 30 minutes of allotted TV time.

Of course, I don’t miss the irony that I’m delivering this opinion via technology nor the fact that you’re probably reading it on your phone right now. But I also don’t miss the fact that my son notices every single time I pick up my phone. So now when he gets up from his nap, I keep my phone in a different room. I’ve turned off all notifications. I keep my laptop in my office rather than on my couch. If he doesn’t see my world revolving around tech, it won’t occur to him for his world to do the same.

 

So I’m going to keep trucking with this zero technology thing for as long as I can. I know as my son gets bigger and makes friends he’ll probably get exposed to TV. I know that there are some benefits to digital learning games and maybe at some point we’ll try them. I know kids will have to be fully fluent in technology to survive in today’s world, but developing that fluency is inevitable. I know I’m probably getting ahead of myself, but I read about this pledge: wait until 8th. It’s the idea that kids should not spend any significant time on smart phones until they are 14 years old. I’m into it.

Of course, I realize parents have to make their own choices about all of this and I certainly don’t judge. You’ve got to do what feels right for you. But the last decade has changed our own use of technology so dramatically, we’ve barely even had time to realize what it’s done to our relationships, our communications skills – our own health – let alone the long term effects it might have on tiny brains.

But I’m curious? What boundaries do you use with technology? How do you mamas with older kids deal? I would love to hear your thoughts. And be sure to check out the other posts from these mamas!

Ave Styles || The Life Styled || Design for Mankind || Natalie Borton || The Effortless Chic

 

For the entire Real Talk, Real Moms archive, CLICK HERE

image via my domaine

When Mondays come barreling in all frantic and intense, wouldn’t it be nice to retreat to a brilliant all-white office? There’s something about a clean slate – both figuratively and quite literally – that can help organize your thoughts. This bright white workspace is the physical manifestation of a fresh start.

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Like in your closet, a little minimalism in your workspace can go a long way. A pared-down desk, bright white – well everything – and pale floors combine to create a calming, distraction-free environment. While I typically love my shelfies, this office exemplifies how closed storage can help keep the clutter at bay – both in the room and in your mind.

The pops of warm camel brown (all the way down to the camera strap) keep the room from feeling clinical. Hits of black scattered here and there (from the chair legs, to the tea pot and desk lamp) feel modern and cool. And the Serge Mouille wall sconce is perfect. No matter where you put one, they always are. The greenery softens everything with a few organic lines. But this feels like a space where you can breathe. And think. It’s certainly everything I need to clear my mind and get down to business.

And what’s more, this super cool look can in fact be obtained. That chic white desk, the conference table, those sleek storage cabinets on adorable white wheels – you can get it all at the Finnish Design Shop. Yes – this is a Scandi space. Of course that’s why it’s so picture perfect.

For more home office inspiration, CLICK HERE.

 

Styling and Photography by Riikka Kantinkoski

Oh Mondays. As much we dread you, you do present the chance for a fresh start. Every Monday is the opportunity to grab a new week by the horns and make the most of it. But how? There are some strategies that can help you be productive and get the most out of your workday.

apt34_5 ways to be productiveStart your day with something creative. It can be very easy to feel like you need to dive into your to-do list first thing. Or open your inbox. But that can dictate your entire day. Suddenly, you’re no longer proactively attacking projects but instead reacting to the demands of others. Instead, carve out an hour at the start of your day to work on a creative idea, make progress on a larger project or work towards a deadline.

Have a to-do list, but with no more than 3 MUST-do’s. It’s always a good idea to have your priorities written down, but then you can cut that list down even more. A massive t0-do list can actually be a bit paralyzing. Instead, write down the 2-3 things you must accomplish today. Even better – write them down the night before – that way they’re off your mind, helping you sleep better. You’d be amazed at the sense of accomplish you feel once you’ve checked those 2-3 critical things off your list. Everything else after that is an added bonus.

Don’t let email take over. Your inbox can quickly turn into a death spiral. If you’re obsessed with getting it to zero or feel like every message requires an immediate response it’s nearly impossible to get into a flow. Instead of jumping at every ping, instead carve out certain times of day to check and respond to email. It could be 15 minutes every hour or maybe once in the morning, once after lunch, once before you end your day. Whatever your plan – have one. Otherwise your inbox ends up running your life.

Just say no to social media. Similarly, social media is a black hole that will drain your energy and steal your time. So just don’t do it. There’s no need to be on Facebook during the day. Instagram, while great is really just a distraction. And don’t even get me started on Snapchat. But people’s stories last for 24 hours so you can wait until the evening to indulge. If you really want to get work done, staying off social networks is your best bet.

Give yourself space to explore (but not procrastinate.) Structure your day to allow for a little discovery. Perhaps after you’ve worked on your big project, done your first round of email checking and have completed one (or even two!) of the key items on your to-do list, give yourself a little time for inspiration. The key word here is a little. Set a timer for 15, maybe 20 minutes, and use that time to check out Pinterest, look through a magazine, peruse other blogs. Whatever it is that helps you feel inspired. But when that time goes off, it’s time to get back to the task at hand. No rabbit holes.

Practice these techniques for a few days and you’ll be amazed at what you get done!

For more work related tips & tricks and behind the scenes of the business of blogging, CLICK HERE.

image via domino

In case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago I shared the inspiration behind my guest room. Well today – you finally get the full guest room tour!

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The online decorating service Decorist, and their head of design Ashley Redmond, helped me pull my wishlist together and create my dream room – a light and airy space that serves as a respite for our  guests and provides me with an inspirational place to work. I think the room accomplishes both beautifully!

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The Wyatt upholstered bed from Room & Board is the prefect place for friends and family to rest their heads. We dressed it up in classic linen bedding and used hmong pillows and a throw by The Citizenry to add texture. The large scale art print by Brian Merriam from Tappan Collective helps accomplish one of my primary goals for the space – a gender neutral color palette.

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bedside table via ATG, light fixture by West Elm

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I like providing guests with a little bedside reading and some yummy candles to help them feel at home.

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This walnut dresser from ATG helps anchor the otherwise bright white space and offers some much needed extra storage. I leaned and layered art for now – I’m still not ready to commit to hanging a lot on the walls! It also gives the space a more casual vibe.

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This room had to do double duty since I had to give up the Apt34 studios space (tear). But it was easy to tuck a a chic work area into a corner of this room. I’m obsessed with my Lostine desk, with its metal base and ash wood top. It has a refined industrial look. The Lostine wire chair adds a rustic, vintage vibe that we softened with a luxe sheepskin. It’s the perfect minimal space to focus and get things checked off my to-do list.

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I love having extra seating in bedrooms. Whether it’s a spot to sit and put your shoes on, read or simply lay out some clothes – it’s just so nice to have somewhere to sit other than the bed.

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The entire room seems to glow – its the perfect combination of light streaming in from my bay windows, the lovely white walls (Benjamin Moore’s White Whisp is my go-to color) and cool California vibe that Ashley helped me pull together. I love that the room feels relaxed but also very pulled together and cohesive. It’s currently my favorite room in the house – and not just because it’s the only one that’s actually complete at the moment. Here’s how you can incorporate this look into your space.

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SHOP THE LOOK: satsuki shibuya art print / pendant light / occasional chair / black cashmere throw / wall sconce / throw pillows / log side table / wool rug / bedside table / desk lamp / desk / chair / leather catch all / icelandic sheepskin / nate berkus tray

And I thought I’d share a few more of my renovation resources. As mentioned above, the paint is Benjamin Moore in White Whisp in matte on the walls and high gloss on the trim and windows. Our door hardware is by Emtek. Our hearth is Dekton from Cosentino. We installed 5″ wide plank oak floors and stained them a light gray. The window’s roman shades are custom made by The Shade Store.

To see all my Before pics and the entire design process for this room RIGHT HERE.

To catch up on our entire renovation process, CLICK HERE.

 

photography by carol varizi

I have another fun reveal of our new house for you today! I’ve been working with the online interior design service Decorist to complete our guest room. I’m so excited to finally get to share the entire process with you.

I wanted to design our guest room to be both a respite for visiting family and friends, as well as a space I love to be in on the daily because the room also doubles as my home office. I worked with Decorist designer Ashley Redmond to achieve both of these goals. She helped me hone in the final vision for the space and pull together a look that makes me smile everyday. Here are the moodboards I initially created to get our process started.

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I focused on three key things for this room: A warm, welcoming color palette with a mix of neutrals, natural wood and touches cool tones that would create serene space. Secondly, I wanted to make sure the room had a comfortable and inviting guest bed and thirdly, I wanted the space to feature both a relaxing seating area as well as accommodate a small office area I could escape to during the day (working on our dining room table has just not been cutting it!). I threw a few more things onto the wishlist at the last minute: a bit of storage (because even with my dream closet, there’s always overflow) as well as wanting to be sure the room felt like it was decorated with a minimal hand. I didn’t want the space to feel overwrought.

Ashley immediately got my vibe. I loved the room concepts Ashley provided. Decorist uses this cool 3-D imaging that really helps you visual what the final space could look like. Here’s how the plan for the guest room looked.

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With the moodboards and initial room concept in hand, I was able to turn Ashley free to hone a sourcing list of pieces certain to make my vision come to life. That was amazing help for someone with a completely overpacked schedule such as myself. Ashely and I were able to bounce ideas back and forth until we found what we both loved.

Here’s how the room’s final shopping list turned out.

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SHOP THE LOOK: satsuki shibuya art print / pendant light / occasional chair / st. frank throw / west elm wall sconce / throw pillows / log side table / wool rug / side table / desk lamp / desk / chair / leather catch all / icelandic sheepskin / nate berkus tray

And here is the before pic of what the guest room looked prior to any renovations (eek!).

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To see the after, head over to Architectural Digest – they’re featuring our guest room reveal today (cue happy dance).

To catch up on our entire renovation process and all the reveals to date CLICK HERE.

Mondays are never easy to face, but it’s always better when you have a inspiring space to work. Now that we’re getting settled, I’m turning my sights on my home office. I guess I should call it my home office to-be since the space is completely empty currently. I’m typing this sentence from my couch on my teeny tiny laptop. And this just cannot go on any longer!

I’m definitely suffering from home office envy.

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There are a few key things I’m coveting for my new work space. I’ve got a major crush on trestle desks at the moment. Inspired by architects drafting tables, they’re utilitarian but chic at the same time. Keeping a desk drawer free also forces you to keep clutter to minimum. Because no one really needs staplers or paperclips anymore!

I’m also loving the look of warm woods mixed with monochromatic accents. It feels timeless. There’s been a bit of an acrylic, gold and white glut in home offices of late – bouquet of peonies included of course. I’m in the mood to take more understated approach with classic pieces that I’ll love right now, five years from now and even twenty years from now.

I’ve long been a fan of picture rail shelves. They offer a unique way to create a moodboard of sorts. You can mix art, magazine tears and your favorite objet. I’d just have to keep myself from rearranging on a daily basis. I’m not sure that’d be great for my productivity.

Finally, you can add a shot of individual personality to your work space with your office chair selection. I prefer a-typical office chairs. Vintage pieces, old dining chairs, a funky side chair. This is where I really want to spend time treasure hunting. You just want to ensure that you select a chair that is high enough to give you proper posture and comfortable enough for you to sit for long periods at a time. Trust me, I made the mistake of prioritizing aesthetics over proper alignment in the past and paid the price.

Now that I’ve got a vision for my new office, I’m off to pull this space together! If you have any favorite sources for great office pieces please send them my way. Of course I’ll be sharing what I find in my search.

Find reams and reams of home office inspiration right here.

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With holiday season steamrolling its way into town, it can all get a little overwhelming. The decorating, the gift buying, the entertaining – all the stuff involved can really start to pile up. That’s why I’m making a point to create a calm, quiet respite somewhere in our house this season! In this case – it’s my desk. I revealed my mini office back when Carter was born. While I still miss the Apartment 34 studio, this little corner has continued to be my {tiny} happy place.

To help maintain my holiday sanity, I decided a few early gifts for myself were in order. I love the ultra modern pieces that the Moma Store carries. Their HAY Collection has such cool, minimal accessories. A sleek tray and a couple beautiful new notebooks are all I need to keep my seasonal to-do’s straight. And I let out a blissful sigh of minimalist relief every time I plop down at my desk. I’m all for making the festive season merry and bright, but sometimes this mama just needs a break. And you thought babies were the only ones who can get overstimulated!

If I had a touch more space, I would gladly add any one of these beautiful elements to my home office.

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GET YOUR SHOP ON

1. Hourglass Colorplay
2. Cube Clock
3. Muji Pencils
4. Pencil Holder
5. Stendig Calendar 
6. Hand
7. Tivoli Radio
8. Lamp
9. Porcelain Mug

Thankfully, I now have my shopping list for the new house is ready to go!

This post is in partnership with MOMA. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

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