I feel like I’m started every single one these blog posts with an exasperated “Oh my goodness, so much is happening!” And it’s true! This is my third season participating in the One Room Challenge and I’m realizing the interior, exterior, and deck area of my shed could take 3 cycles of ORC (24 weeks). And here I am trying to do it in eight!
But I’m glad for it. Having the accountability of the (somewhat) weekly check-ins and a deadline to at least share something have pushed this shed along further than it’s been in about two years. And although there’s been great progress since my last blog update, we’ve had guests in town two weekends back to back, making it just that much more challenging! Let’s recap. P.S. I definitely saved my favorite part for last in the update…
What a newbie! I had the tank on upside down in my Insta story!
Oh my goodness, as I’m writing this, there’s dried up paint on my fingertips and my feet are sore from all of the commitment of week 5 of the One Room Challenge. Particularly this weekend! If you’re anything like me, and spending a little money makes you commit deeper into a project, I’m definitely feeling that! It’s actually all happening. And it won’t be JUST the exterior, as I was worrying last week.
Welcome back to my One Room Challenge (ORC) journey! If you’re new here, the ORC is a biannual event where interior designers, bloggers, and DIY enthusiasts transform one room in their home in just eight weeks. In weeks 1 and 2, I shared my plans for my she shed, which you can catch up on here and here. In this update, I’ll be sharing the combined progress I’ve made in weeks 3 and 4 (because life!) The theme of the last two weeks has been “add it to the cart/truck!”
Week 2 of the One Room Challenge on my she-shed has passed, and I’m teetering between feeling overwhelmed and excited for the bits of progress. There’s a LOT more to come. But in today’s update, I figure it’s high time to share some before pictures GULP and more of my plans. Renan definitely came to the rescue this week!
I’m excited to be participating in the One Room Challenge again, this time with my shed! The One Room Challenge (ORC) is a biannual event where interior designers and DIYers come together to transform a room in their homes in just eight weeks. The goal of the ORC is to inspire and motivate others to take on their own home projects, and to show what can be accomplished in a short amount of time. I’m excited to be participating in the ORC again this season for my third year, and I can’t wait to see what everyone else creates!
The plan
This time around on my shed, I’ll be focusing on deep cleaning, decluttering, painting, and new construction materials. I’ll also be repurposing lots of previous furniture/decor (some you may recognize!) with a few new things incorporated here and there. If you’ve just moved, or shuffled your spaces, this might be a fun one to follow for next 8 weeks.
Have you ever wanted to know what designers talk to each other about? Wania Forsman, from Sweden’s Living Stories Design Studio, and I love to connect and compare notes from across the pond! And in this week’s episode, we discussed the home upgrades that feel the most magical to experience personally.
And because we referenced what seems like a record number of videos and products, I wanted to create a coordinating blog post so you can easily check them out! (You might even get some holiday gift ideas!) Our video is linked below. Grab a coffee or your beverage of choice, and come hang out with us!
Whether you’re on the fence about joining my challenge that starts at 5:30PM TODAY or you’re already signed up and need some inspiration – I’ve got some REALLY aspirational office designs to share with you today! As a designer who swears by my strategy-first approach, I’m constantly asking my clients to dream big right from the start. I love beginning concepts for a room with 1-2 inspiration images and having a conversation about WHY they’re gravitating towards it.
HINT: It’s usually your intuition guiding you!
So today, my intern Alyssa and I have selected 10 absolutely amazing aspirational office designs to get your wheels turning! A lot of these have been selected not just for their drop-dead-gorgeousness, but also because we’re vibing with the layout AND proportions of storage and workspace. Be sure to let me know in the comments which ones you feel pulled towards.
By rounding up this list of some of the absolute BEST offices found on the internet, I hope we can inspire you to up-level yours! A further disclaimer that there are FAR more offices out there that we admire, but we’ve selected these to demonstrate different styles and give ideas about how to utilize your space.
So without further ado, in no particular order, here are our picks!
Why we love it: Your desk can 100% feel like your throne! We love that design takes no backseat in this executive office that screams “girl boss, coming through!” The concealed storage behind the desk offers a practical amount of space for office items that are not-so glam.
Because this office is so organized and decluttered, it leaves room for the decor elements and accent wall to shine brightly! Just imagine the types of ideas and projects launched that could be from that very seat!
Why we love it: New 🔥 trend! Dining rooms turned executive office.
We especially love how this space by @adornedhomes CAN be oriented back to a dining space for the few days a year that you need formal dining. In this case, design and organization means you can have two beautifully designed spaces in one!
Why we love it: A shared office doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice all style. When everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – has a place and a system, organized becomes the default.
With two people working from one room, there’s bound to be more items in the space, but creating color-coordinated zones makes organizing actually fun!
Two more tips to distill from this image: play with symmetry and use vertical storage to the ceiling!
4. Shavonda Gardner’s High Contrast Office Retreat
Why we love it: It’s actually really hard to accomplish this balance of bright, and dark tones without one taking over. Moody style might be an interior trend right now, but I find most of my clients want a space that feels HAPPY to work in. And Shavonda’s office design deliciously walks all the fine lines and packs a ton of style.
We are majorly in love with the wallpapered ceiling, the light fixture and all of the unique furnishings. I feel like I’d need to upgrade my wardrobe to properly fit into the space!
5. Three Times a Home’s Elegant White & Gold Office
Why we love it: From the layout, the balance of color, storage, and styling, this office must feel like working from a cloud of good design. Plus, with the gorgeous French doors added, stop it! 😍
@threetimesahome created this absolutely top-to-bottom STUNNING white and gold themed office that calls my name in so many ways.
Who else is obsessed?
6. A Futuristic but Soft Workspace by Dupla + Arquitetura
Why we love it: The calm color scheme and use of lighting under the cabinets and throughout. Even though it is a compact space it flows nicely and is also flexible as a media room.
The storage and display areas are well balanced and can be customized to reflect the personality of the person who uses the space most. This Brazilian design duo is serving major chic Zenon Girl of the 21st Century vibes with this gorgeous space!
Why we love it: This space is internet-famous for a good reason! You might even recognize it from one of your Pinterest boards. An organized office with shiny textures like glass and key pops of color feels glamorous and easy to work in!
Are you picking up on the trend that I’m really vibing with dramatic light fixtures in the office?
Why we love it: Since many of us work from laptops nowadays, we really love the idea of having an inviting but stylish reading chair to hop over to mid-day. We also love the warm but color-blocked midcentury vibe that likely connects back to the style of the rest of the home. If you’re going to work from home, why NOT make it feel cozy?
Why we love it: Nikki Boyd is an organizing LEGEND who arguably is one of the greatest influences I’ve personally had for organizing. Where many organizers before may have let design be an afterthought, At Home with Nikki is a brand that both represents aspirational organization and beautiful design. And this monochromatic office from her recent book, is no exception! We are crazy about this organization wall!
Why we love it: Seafoam and gold is a combination that I find absolutely magical! This shared office space is another that’s walking all the fine lines in such a stylish way. It shines with pastel colors with sophistication and a really beautiful balance of glam and mid-century furniture. The architectural detail and balance of dark tones with the light helps accomplish this artful but practical vibe.
When I read that they designed the large format prints themselves, my jaw completely dropped! This is the kind of design that makes me love my job!
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So that wraps our 10 picks for office designs we deem aspirational. Leave in the comments which is your favorite!
Are YOU ready to clear the clutter & design your new office?
The Decluttering by Design Challenge is BACK and ready to take on your dump-room of an office!
Do you feel like the clutter in your office is preventing you from advancing in your career?
Does your office lack style, function, and comfort?
Let’s change that! Tap here to register now for the Decluttering by Design 30-Day Office challenge – starting October 20!
Kaitlyn Loos [loh-s] is a virtual e-designer for interiors and organizing. She helps busy women and families create dreamy spaces that function for their unique needs. She notably developed the Decluttering Personality Type quiz which has helped hundreds of people break down mental barriers about clutter. Kaitlyn loves to collaborate with clients to bring modern, fresh, and color-savvy design into their homes. Kaitlyn Loos Design delivers style for nearly any investment level. She also enjoys sharing her ideas and projects through her blog and discussing hot design topics on Instagram live.
Kaitlyn is located in the west-central Florida area (Tampa, Ocala, Gainesville, and everywhere in between) with availability for select in-person projects for 2021.
