I want to note that this week is strange and confusing and I’m right there with you in feeling all of the feelings. I had this content teed up for today for a while and I’m sticking with it today because I think it’s light and fun to explore. I will be spending time today putting together some tips for working from home, some grounding techniques for anxiety, and more relevant content to help get you through the next few overwhelming weeks. Thank you for bearing with me as I navigate these unchartered waters. And just a PSA: Please stay home today. This week. As long as necessary until this passes.

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When we looked at our house for the first time, I walked in the front door and immediately fell in love with the sun-drenched room off the front entrance with glass French doors. I knew right away that if we moved in, it would be my home office. It was a perfect size and the light! Oh the light.

I loved my “cloffice” (closet/office) in our old house but it feels so sophisticated to have a room that is just dedicated to my work. I don’t have to share it with all my clothes now! It’s more grown-up.

This is the most “me” room of all time. It is bright and cheerful and truly makes me motivated to work hard every day. Before the space was done, I would find my self working from the kitchen counter or the living room couch quite often, but now I get excited to “go to work” with my mug of tea and spend all day in this beautiful office. The finishing touches pulled it together and made it mine.

I picked out this pretty blue rug and showstopping coral grasscloth wallpaper pretty quickly, but then I felt totally stuck. The room is long and very thin, so laying it out felt like a major challenge and I didn’t know how to fit my large filing large filing cabinet into it all.

We had worked with Modsy on our family room design a few months ago, and when I told them about my layout dilemma, they said they could help again! I shared some before photos (pictured below) with Modsy along with my design preferences and my designer came back with different layout options and two totally different designs using the furniture that I already had. Ultimately I chose the layout with my desk in the middle because this position makes me feel like such a boss!

I love that they added bookshelves so I can display photos and some of the pieces I inherited from my grandmother in the room that I spend most of my day in. The étagère is something really special. It feels like a work of art on its own. My friends at Jonathan Adler generously sent it to me, and I am absolutely in love. The brand is having their Spring Furniture Event right now! Shop all JA furniture for 25% off (and free shipping on orders over $5,000) including this stunning piece.

The objects from my grandmother are the small blue and white ginger jar, the blue balls (that’s what she said) on the bottom shelf, the beautiful multi-color teapot, and the colorful vase near the bottom. The balls and plate she bought on her travels but the teapot and the ginger jar belonged to her mother which makes them even more special. The vase even has a note taped to the inside that she must have written years ago about its origins. It was bought in 1820 by my great grandfather. After seeing it so low in these photos, I moved it to a higher shelf so it wouldn’t get knocked around by a seemingly innocent toddler.

I needed some extra storage for things like stationery, stamps, and checks, so my friend Jonesie suggested blue storage boxes to display along with my other knick-knacks. She also made the labels if you couldn’t tell… #mindonmymoney

I decided not to hang a lot of artwork in here. Instead, I’m treating the wallpaper like art and keep it really simple. I tend to go overboard on wall art and then regret it so, for now, it’s staying this way and it feels very calm and serene without too much going on. Emily, an amazing follower of mine made me a custom crest which is the only thing I hung on the wall. It’s so special and personal and I just adore it. She incorporated ginger jars and lemons and hydrangeas… all of my favorite things!

We ultimately agreed to skip the drapes on the back window because when I saw them in the renderings, it made the room feel too crowded (you can see one of the earlier renderings below!) and almost claustrophobic to me. I also want to shout out the curtain rod on the big window because people always ask about it. We have these same rods in Amalia’s room and had them in our old master. The acrylic and brass looks modern and understand and can be paired with lots of different styles. Great design find for anyone looking.

Enjoy scrolling through the photos below! All room details can be found at the bottom of this post.

Take 20% off any design package at Modsy with code JULIA20 through 4/15/20

Room Details
Design by Modsy (gifted)
Pottery Barn Teen Desk
Pottery Barn Teen Desk Chair
Annie Selke Grasscloth Wallpaper (gifted)
Caitlin Wilson Designs Rug
Jonathan Adler Étagère (gifted)
Copper Clothing Rack
West Elm Floor Mirror
Ballard Designs Curtain Ballard Designs Curtain Rod
Pottery Barn Kids Drapes (on sale)
Crate & Barrel Filing Cabinet
Pin Board
Acrylic Stapler
Acrylic Tape Dispenser
Acrylic Desk Organizer
Blue Storage Boxes
Monogram Crest (gifted) in West Elm Frame
Blue & White Picture Frame
Desk Calendar
To-Do List Notepad
Good Vibes Only Sign
Jonathan Adler Flushmount (gifted)
Bootsie’s Bed

Take 20% off any design package at Modsy with code JULIA20 through 4/15/20.

Thank you to Modsy for sponsoring this post. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.