Wednesday, December 28, 2011

home office - guest room combination

Back in May of this year, I completed my client's home office; her home office, that is. I've been working with this couple for a number of years and we are finishing up the last few projects. I've just completed his office last month.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

There were a number of requirements to this small room. It had to serve as a very functional office space, but also had to accommodate 2 guests for a guest bedroom. We certainly didn't want the office to look anything like a bedroom, but they wanted their overnight guests to be very comfortable.

The room is only about 11 feet by 10 feet, so every inch mattered. First up was to replace the large swing, double doors on the closet and make them each bi-fold. This gave us more room for the pull out sofa.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

My client wanted a Coastal New England feel to the space. I used variations of blue for the pallet and crisp white for the painted trim and built ins. Brass was added in the lamps (by Restoration Hardware) and the pulls on the cabinets. The sofa became one of my all time favorite sofas. It's from Room and Board, and is the Carlin 83 inch Queen Plus sleeper. There are several amazing things about this sofa, but the best is the pull out length. When open, the entire sofa bed is only 83 inches from the back of the sofa to the foot of the pull out mattress. We had a remaining 18 inches of space before the bookcase, for their guests to maneuver around the room. Room and Board got it right! It allowed us to have a full size sofa with a queen pull out in a very small space. Oh, and their stock fabrics provided for amazing selections, the sofa is one of the most comfortable I've ever sat on, and the quality of any Room and Board piece is outstanding. And, one more thing.. it was made here in the USA, Texas to be specific.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The room had an odd nook which we utilized for the desk area of the built in wall. All the custom wood work was done by Fred Hean. I can't say enough about Fred and his attention to detail. His work is just outstanding.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

As you can see, every inch was taken. The door to the room swings just before the built in. The curve allows a better flow into the room, without an abrupt corner to move around.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The desk chair is from the Thom. Moser company. They handcraft their furniture out of Maine, and have showrooms in 7 major cities. It's worth the stop if you happen by a showroom. Their pieces are works of art. This chair was such a perfect fit with its low profile and natural cherry finish. The back cushion was added to the desk chair.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I originally had thought of nesting tables to go on either side of the sofa. It would allow them to pull an extra table around the front of the sofa, since a coffee table was too much furniture for the space. But, after much thought about how my clients would use the space, we opted for larger, custom fit, single tables. I had the Thos. Moser company do the tables according to my specs. Yes, they will do custom request too! The left side table had to be more narrow, to accommodate the bi-fold closet door and not have to move the table. The right side table needed to be larger, holding books, writing materials, and coffee. Thom. Moser used the same beautiful finishing technique as in the desk chair, and with these pieces being the only natural wood in the room (besides the art frames), it became the perfect solution.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The art work above the sofa was commissioned by a local artist in Boothbay Harbor, Maine by my clients. Great fit for the space.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

It was a wonderful project! Many thanks to my clients ~ who are always a joy to work with.

Wire Baskets

They have charm and utility. Form and function: the perfect design formula...

behold, the vintage wire basket!

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

This vintage, locker basket is just the fit. Hang it up or place it on a shelf. Wire baskets store onions and potatoes in the pantry and organize crafts and office supplies. Metal baskets go every where from bathrooms to laundry rooms. Buy it here at my Etsy Vintage Shop and start your own organizing project.

Love this office: wire baskets look great hung on the walls with the mix of empty frames. Not sure why the fire extinguisher needs to be so close to the work area??

(photo credit: Country Living)

(photo credit: Decorology)

I used this green, vintage basket to hold extra toilet paper in my daughter's bathroom. Found at Old Luckettes Store.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

Nice spa feel from Apartment Therapy.

(photo credit: Apartment Therapy)

Sideboard made into double vanity. Love the vintage wire baskets underneath.

(photo credit: Decorpad)

(photo credit: I heart organizing blog)

(photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

(photo credit: Decorpad)

(photo credit: tumblr )

(photo credit: Design Sponge)

Basket upcycled to coffee table.

(photo credit: Country Living)

Learn how to make this amazing pendant lamp here.

(photo credit: Ashley Ann Photography)

More wire / metal baskets from Muraca Design Shop.

Vintage metal wire wall shelf:

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

Vintage industrial metal tray:

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

Home office

The completed home office!

My clients have two upstairs rooms that we re-purposed as her office and his office. (His office is in progress and I hope to post it in a few months.) This is her office. The room had odd tucks and is not very large. To the left is a door out to a small balcony. Before these projects began, we decided to have hardwood floors installed in the entire upstairs.

Anyone who works with me knows I'm a big believer in the built-in. It allows for ultimate function and form in a room and can be customized to fit whatever the activity, storage, or display. It also helps small rooms seem bigger.

We were able to take the large wall and have custom built-ins (by Fred Hean) installed. I designed the space so that the window would become a seat with a lift top under the cushion for added storage.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The desk was also custom made by a company in DC that matched a cabinet (under the window) already owned by my clients.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I designed the L shaped desk to allow for a view out the window and ample writing space. I gave the piece that fits up along the wall a bit of a "headboard" in order to balance out the weight of the large white bookcase on the opposite wall. My client, who is originally from Iran, already owned this beautiful original art work, done by an Iranian friend. We re-matted and re-framed the piece to fit above her desk.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The spectacular Persian rug was a find by my client, purchased in Florida.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

Lighting was planned before any thing was off paper and in production. I find it a must have to be able to place a small lamp within a bookcase. I also added the sconce to the window seat.