This Office is a Craft Room Too. See How She Set It Up
A clever use of space, interesting storage and fun colors ensure that this designer’s workroom is practical and creative
Interior designer Victoria Hopkins wanted more than just a home office — the room also needed to work as a creative studio for her business. This could have been a challenge in the space available. However, with some practical planning, she managed to subtly create two zones and fashion a lively space with functionality and plenty of room to make soft furnishings and upcycled pieces for her clients.
The wall opposite the desk area is filled up with a double closet and an adjacent radiator, so Hopkins really had only one side of the room to work with.
She maximized the space by installing two white desks, one of which curves around the corner.
Hopkins sought to make the space work both aesthetically and practically. “I wanted to have lots of bright colors in the room,” she says, “but I also wanted to maximize the light.” The white tabletops and walls provide a clear backdrop for bright accents of color. There’s an array of hues in the room, but, to create a harmonious feel, the designer considered the palette carefully.
“I used the same jungle-print fabric throughout to tie in the scheme,” she says. But rather than cover a whole wall with bold pattern, Hopkins opted to introduce it in smaller doses. The fabric appears on the curtain, upholstery, pillows and lampshade. “I love the bold excitement of the fabric,” she says, “but it’s a workspace, so I didn’t want it to overpower the room.”
Leaf-print fabric: fabric4all; desks: Ikea
Hopkins sought to make the space work both aesthetically and practically. “I wanted to have lots of bright colors in the room,” she says, “but I also wanted to maximize the light.” The white tabletops and walls provide a clear backdrop for bright accents of color. There’s an array of hues in the room, but, to create a harmonious feel, the designer considered the palette carefully.
“I used the same jungle-print fabric throughout to tie in the scheme,” she says. But rather than cover a whole wall with bold pattern, Hopkins opted to introduce it in smaller doses. The fabric appears on the curtain, upholstery, pillows and lampshade. “I love the bold excitement of the fabric,” she says, “but it’s a workspace, so I didn’t want it to overpower the room.”
Leaf-print fabric: fabric4all; desks: Ikea
Bright pink is the other dominant color in the room, adding a vivid counterpoint to the green print. Hopkins used it on the pillow backs, curtain lining, curtain tieback and lampshade.
To give the jungle print a more edgy feel, Hopkins introduced black-and-white chevron prints on the wall and the rug.
For storage above the work surface, the designer positioned cube shelves in a staggered layout. “We’ve stacked them at the top, next to the ceiling, which leaves lots of space above the desk,” she says. They’re practical because they ensure that the fabrics are seen and accessible.
Cube shelves: Ikea
To give the jungle print a more edgy feel, Hopkins introduced black-and-white chevron prints on the wall and the rug.
For storage above the work surface, the designer positioned cube shelves in a staggered layout. “We’ve stacked them at the top, next to the ceiling, which leaves lots of space above the desk,” she says. They’re practical because they ensure that the fabrics are seen and accessible.
Cube shelves: Ikea
Rather than introducing extra storage in the form of a standard cabinet, Hopkins hunted around for something more interesting. She found this shelving unit, which has drawers for labels and stationery, as well as shelves to display books and plants.
“The pale gray ties in with the woodwork and ceiling,” the designer says. Hopkins chose to reverse the usual option of painting the ceiling white and went for a pale gray instead. “It gives a soft light to the room,” she says.
A bright yellow chair is comfortable and practical, and it adds an extra layer of color to the room. “I was originally going to go for pink,” the designer says, “but the bright yellow breaks up the scheme and gives an interesting look.”
Chic Shadow woodwork and ceiling paint: Dulux; yellow chair and shelving unit: Maisons du Monde
“The pale gray ties in with the woodwork and ceiling,” the designer says. Hopkins chose to reverse the usual option of painting the ceiling white and went for a pale gray instead. “It gives a soft light to the room,” she says.
A bright yellow chair is comfortable and practical, and it adds an extra layer of color to the room. “I was originally going to go for pink,” the designer says, “but the bright yellow breaks up the scheme and gives an interesting look.”
Chic Shadow woodwork and ceiling paint: Dulux; yellow chair and shelving unit: Maisons du Monde
Hopkins made the curtain from the jungle print and teamed it with a blush-pink lining and a hot-pink tieback.
She found the chair in an antiques shop in Wales, but it was in bad condition. “The seat pad was rotten, so I had to re-web, re-pad and re-cover it,” she says.
She then painted the chair in a matte Rust-Oleum furniture paint. “I did the bottom layer light gray and added white on top. Then I sanded it slightly to reveal the gray below and give it a distressed finish. I then varnished it with a matte lacquer.”
The vintage apothecary unit, which she found on eBay, is useful for storing the tools Hopkins needs for her sewing and upcycling projects.
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She found the chair in an antiques shop in Wales, but it was in bad condition. “The seat pad was rotten, so I had to re-web, re-pad and re-cover it,” she says.
She then painted the chair in a matte Rust-Oleum furniture paint. “I did the bottom layer light gray and added white on top. Then I sanded it slightly to reveal the gray below and give it a distressed finish. I then varnished it with a matte lacquer.”
The vintage apothecary unit, which she found on eBay, is useful for storing the tools Hopkins needs for her sewing and upcycling projects.
More
Key Measurements to Help You Design the Perfect Home Office
11 Tips to Get the Creative Space You Crave
Office-Studio at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Victoria Hopkins with her husband and two cats
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Size: About 8 by 10 feet (2.5 by 3 meters)
Designer: Victoria Hopkins of Victoria Hopkins Interiors
When it came to designing her home office, Hopkins needed a place to tackle paperwork and a craft studio to accommodate her growing interiors business. “I make soft furnishings and upcycle furniture, and I do a lot of the making in here,” she says.
The workspace, therefore, is divided into two zones: one for running the business and the other for creating products for her clients. “On the right is the office, but on the left is a surface where I can cut fabric and use the sewing machine,” Hopkins says. “Most of the time, there’s more than enough room. It’s definitely the best use of the space I could have achieved.”
Rug: Homebase; find similar rugs