Memorabilia Adds a Vintage Vibe to a Dark, Sophisticated Office
Colors and textures create a rich den-like experience in a New Jersey home office
Before. This room sits at the end of the upstairs hallway, and the stairs near the French doors lead down to the family’s living room. The previous owners used the space as a home gym. The room is open and encourages the family to come and go as they please, which is why this seemed the perfect place to put in a home office.
Kantrowitz strives to design unique spaces for her clients, but most importantly she wants the spaces to reflect the people who use them. She considers their personalities, hobbies and lifestyles. Finally, she selects tones that project the mood she is trying to achieve.
Kantrowitz strives to design unique spaces for her clients, but most importantly she wants the spaces to reflect the people who use them. She considers their personalities, hobbies and lifestyles. Finally, she selects tones that project the mood she is trying to achieve.
After. After discussing it, the designer and homeowner decided on a concept that features dark tones, rich textures and touches of vintage beverage memorabilia. This combination created a space unique to the client. “If the space does not reflect the homeowner, it is a missed opportunity and has the potential to feel generic.”
Kantrowitz wanted this home office to feel like a sophisticated den, so she selected colors, furniture and finishes that created that experience. “There is something about the moodier, darker tones that really affect the feelings people have when they walk into a room,” she says. “Color has a direct impact on these emotions, and darker tones are more suitable for a den-like space such as this.”
Function. The first function of this room is to provide a comfortable place to conduct business. An area containing a desk and built-in shelves allows the homeowner to work efficiently. However, a bar cart and television allow him to quickly transition into relaxation or hosting mode.
Armchairs and a small stump accent table in front of the desk provide a welcoming place for friends to sit when they visit. A built-in bench on the opposite wall gives the homeowner’s sons a place to read or watch television while he works at his desk.
The custom-made bar railing affixed to the top of the half-wall adds to the ambiance of the room because it feels vintage. It also provides an additional layer of safety for the homeowner’s rambunctious boys.
Rug. Although beautiful hardwood floors cover the floor of this home office, Kantrowitz replaced the area rug in her new design. Textures and tones covering the floors make a room cozier, more comfortable and more inviting, she says. Kantrowitz selected this navy and taupe handmade wool rug because she felt it fit well with the rest of the room.
Kantrowitz wanted this home office to feel like a sophisticated den, so she selected colors, furniture and finishes that created that experience. “There is something about the moodier, darker tones that really affect the feelings people have when they walk into a room,” she says. “Color has a direct impact on these emotions, and darker tones are more suitable for a den-like space such as this.”
Function. The first function of this room is to provide a comfortable place to conduct business. An area containing a desk and built-in shelves allows the homeowner to work efficiently. However, a bar cart and television allow him to quickly transition into relaxation or hosting mode.
Armchairs and a small stump accent table in front of the desk provide a welcoming place for friends to sit when they visit. A built-in bench on the opposite wall gives the homeowner’s sons a place to read or watch television while he works at his desk.
The custom-made bar railing affixed to the top of the half-wall adds to the ambiance of the room because it feels vintage. It also provides an additional layer of safety for the homeowner’s rambunctious boys.
Rug. Although beautiful hardwood floors cover the floor of this home office, Kantrowitz replaced the area rug in her new design. Textures and tones covering the floors make a room cozier, more comfortable and more inviting, she says. Kantrowitz selected this navy and taupe handmade wool rug because she felt it fit well with the rest of the room.
Wallpapered ceiling. The designer wanted to continue the rich textures and tones on the ceiling, but she had to consider how the color of the ceiling fit with the rest of the room. Using a light paint color would be too stark a contrast to the walls, and dark paint would look like an accident near the navy color. So wallpaper quickly became the focus of her solution. She settled on this taupe faux animal fur Zoffany wallpaper because it juxtaposed the navy walls while still adding to the rich, den-like style of the room.
Desk. For the desk, Kantrowitz searched for a more contemporary piece. She wanted something with an interesting texture and weight, and she settled on this mosaic writing desk.
Many homeowners must choose between a rolling desk chair or an armchair, but the designer opted for one that had the benefits of both. This desk chair looks like a regular armchair, but it has wheels to allow the homeowner to be mobile. She says this allows the chair to blend in with the rest of the furniture.
Chandelier. The chandelier Kantrowitz chose for the office has an industrial feel, which is why she liked it. She wanted to avoid making the room feel too gimmicky, and she wanted unique pieces like this chandelier to feel cohesive. “I feel it’s important to be mindful of the selections in a space that match versus the selections that coordinate,” says Kantrowitz. “Mixing metals and finishes is a process I use often.”
Desk: Bernhardt; desk chair: Alex leather, Arhaus; armchairs: Pottery Barn; chandelier: Ralph Lauren
Desk. For the desk, Kantrowitz searched for a more contemporary piece. She wanted something with an interesting texture and weight, and she settled on this mosaic writing desk.
Many homeowners must choose between a rolling desk chair or an armchair, but the designer opted for one that had the benefits of both. This desk chair looks like a regular armchair, but it has wheels to allow the homeowner to be mobile. She says this allows the chair to blend in with the rest of the furniture.
Chandelier. The chandelier Kantrowitz chose for the office has an industrial feel, which is why she liked it. She wanted to avoid making the room feel too gimmicky, and she wanted unique pieces like this chandelier to feel cohesive. “I feel it’s important to be mindful of the selections in a space that match versus the selections that coordinate,” says Kantrowitz. “Mixing metals and finishes is a process I use often.”
Desk: Bernhardt; desk chair: Alex leather, Arhaus; armchairs: Pottery Barn; chandelier: Ralph Lauren
Custom built-in shelves. The Zoffany wallpaper also appears as the backdrop of the built-in shelves. These shelves were in the room before Kantrowitz began the project, but she painted them navy to match the walls. Wallpaper on the back of the shelves allows the items on them to stand out, and Kantrowitz says the wallpaper also ties the whole room together.
Wallpaper: Zoffany, Anthology; lamp and installed mirror: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Wallpaper: Zoffany, Anthology; lamp and installed mirror: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Artwork. Kantrowitz and the client discussed the artwork for the room, trying to decide between more generic pieces or more specific artwork related to the beverage industry. In the end, they decided on the latter. The designer found a variety of signs, advertisements and memorabilia at some of her favorite dealers.
The sign that catches your attention first is the oversized metal Coca-Cola sign. The wear and aging give it character, which is why Kantrowitz fell in love with it. She then found ways to add variety to the artwork theme.
“I thought it would be a unique idea to pair that installation with some vintage soft beverage advertisements from original Life magazines dating from the 1940s,” she says. She found ads that complemented the Coca-Cola sign, then had them framed by a local boutique.
Other vintage items found throughout the room include soft beverage-branded matchboxes and a soda jerk hat, seen below.
Frames: The Right Angle
The sign that catches your attention first is the oversized metal Coca-Cola sign. The wear and aging give it character, which is why Kantrowitz fell in love with it. She then found ways to add variety to the artwork theme.
“I thought it would be a unique idea to pair that installation with some vintage soft beverage advertisements from original Life magazines dating from the 1940s,” she says. She found ads that complemented the Coca-Cola sign, then had them framed by a local boutique.
Other vintage items found throughout the room include soft beverage-branded matchboxes and a soda jerk hat, seen below.
Frames: The Right Angle
Bar cart. When he entertains guests or watches a football game in the office, the homeowner enjoys the convenience of his bar cart.
If you look above the bar cart you will see a framed photograph. Kantrowitz had an original color photograph of the client’s father’s Coca-Cola truck converted to black and white, enlarged, matted and framed. This photo reminds the client of when he woke up at 5:30 a.m. to work with his father while his friends slept in and relaxed during the summer. The photo and memorabilia seen around the room also remind him of how far the beverage industry has come and cause him to ponder how the industry will evolve in the future.
Bar cart: Regina Andrew
Electrician: Power Supply Electrical Contractors
Contractor: Chestnut Hill Development
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If you look above the bar cart you will see a framed photograph. Kantrowitz had an original color photograph of the client’s father’s Coca-Cola truck converted to black and white, enlarged, matted and framed. This photo reminds the client of when he woke up at 5:30 a.m. to work with his father while his friends slept in and relaxed during the summer. The photo and memorabilia seen around the room also remind him of how far the beverage industry has come and cause him to ponder how the industry will evolve in the future.
Bar cart: Regina Andrew
Electrician: Power Supply Electrical Contractors
Contractor: Chestnut Hill Development
More
13 Decorating Tricks for a More Pleasurable Home Office
Create a Home Office That Works for You
Find home office products
Home Office at a Glance
Who uses it: A busy father of two and owner of a beverage distribution company
Location: Ridgewood, New Jersey
Size: 289 square feet (27 square meters)
Designer: Julie Kantrowitz, owner of JK Interior Living
After working at his father’s beverage distribution company every free day he had during college and quickly making an impact on the business, this homeowner became the owner of the family business. He has an office at the warehouse, but he says having a corner office at home was his dream. Although having an office in the house involves working a bit on nights and weekends, it also means being able to step away and spend more time with the family whenever he wants.
Scope of the project. The homeowners hired interior designer Julie Kantrowitz to redecorate the room for the needs of this client and his family. The size and location of the space were just right, so Kantrowitz was tasked with making it stylish and functional.
Throw pillows: Williams-Sonoma Home