A Plain White Office Bursts Into Bloom
Floral wallpaper and plush furniture make working at home fun for a Canadian real estate pro
Paperwork at the kitchen table wasn’t cutting it anymore for this real estate professional. She wanted — and needed — a spot in her home that could be a permanent office. She turned to designer Lisa Batson Goldberg to make her home office a reality and get her work out of the kitchen.
Photo by Imaginahome
Batson Goldberg decided to cover the walls to the left and right of the door with the wallpaper to add depth and symmetry to the room. She didn’t want to make the wall with the window a focal point. “The window isn’t centered,” she says. “It wouldn’t have been pleasing to the eye, so I knew I couldn’t do that wall.”
After the wallpaper decisions were made, she laid out the furnishings in her mind. Because the space is small, the layout options were limited. The desk naturally fit on the wall to the left, Batson Goldberg says, followed by a cozy sitting area in the corner near the window.
Batson Goldberg decided to cover the walls to the left and right of the door with the wallpaper to add depth and symmetry to the room. She didn’t want to make the wall with the window a focal point. “The window isn’t centered,” she says. “It wouldn’t have been pleasing to the eye, so I knew I couldn’t do that wall.”
After the wallpaper decisions were made, she laid out the furnishings in her mind. Because the space is small, the layout options were limited. The desk naturally fit on the wall to the left, Batson Goldberg says, followed by a cozy sitting area in the corner near the window.
Photo by Imaginahome
The shelves of the closet, which sits to the left of the desk, were installed by a carpenter. Hadden relies on baskets, bins and trays to keep her office supplies and papers organized. She also uses a large crystal as a paperweight for one stack of papers.
“Everything has a place now and can actually be put away and out of sight,” Batson Goldberg says.
If Hadden decides to sell the home or needs the closet again for clothes, the shelves can be removed easily.
The shelves of the closet, which sits to the left of the desk, were installed by a carpenter. Hadden relies on baskets, bins and trays to keep her office supplies and papers organized. She also uses a large crystal as a paperweight for one stack of papers.
“Everything has a place now and can actually be put away and out of sight,” Batson Goldberg says.
If Hadden decides to sell the home or needs the closet again for clothes, the shelves can be removed easily.
Photo by Imaginahome
Hadden wanted a chair where she could curl up and take a break from work. Batson Goldberg loved the jewel tone and soft fabric of this velvet piece. The long pillows on the inside provide extra cushioning, she says.
Hadden didn’t want to rip up the carpet, so Batson Goldberg added a fuzzy rug to soften the look and feel of the floor. “The second you walk on it, it’s instantaneously relaxing,” she says. “I also love how it cascades around the chair.”
Chair: Article; lamp: CB2; mirror: Chatelet Home; stool: West Elm
Hadden wanted a chair where she could curl up and take a break from work. Batson Goldberg loved the jewel tone and soft fabric of this velvet piece. The long pillows on the inside provide extra cushioning, she says.
Hadden didn’t want to rip up the carpet, so Batson Goldberg added a fuzzy rug to soften the look and feel of the floor. “The second you walk on it, it’s instantaneously relaxing,” she says. “I also love how it cascades around the chair.”
Chair: Article; lamp: CB2; mirror: Chatelet Home; stool: West Elm
The purple stool can serve as a footrest or a side table when the glimmering tray is added.
Crystal: The Rock Store; tray: CB2
Crystal: The Rock Store; tray: CB2
The windowsill holds some of Hadden’s plants, treasures and spiritual belongings. “These small items really amplify the energy we were looking for in this space,” Batson Goldberg says.
Potted cactus: Black Rooster Decor; basket: CB2
Potted cactus: Black Rooster Decor; basket: CB2
Batson Goldberg chose a crystal chandelier for overhead. “It creates a whimsical feel and adds to the relaxing and lush vibe of the space,” she says.
Chandelier: Chatelet Home
Chandelier: Chatelet Home
The room refresh, from first chat to final reveal, took about four months. The longest part of the process was ordering and installing the wallpaper, then waiting for the furniture. The wait was worth it, Hadden says. She loves her new home office and actually gets excited about going to work in it.
Wallpaper installer: John Alexander Arnold Wall Coverings
More
Great Home Project: How to Add Wallpaper to a Room
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Browse floral wallpaper
Wallpaper installer: John Alexander Arnold Wall Coverings
More
Great Home Project: How to Add Wallpaper to a Room
Read more Rooms of the Day
Browse floral wallpaper
Home Office at a Glance
Who works here: Heather Hadden, a real estate professional with Brott Hadden Group
Location: Upper Village, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Size: 95 square feet (8.8 square meters)
Designer: Lisa Batson Goldberg, interior designer at LBG Interiors
Homeowner Heather Hadden showed Batson Goldberg a small, all-white bedroom that could be transformed into a luxe home office. She needed a desk and a cozy chair, but left the rest of the decisions up to the designer. “She just wanted me to take control,” Batson Goldberg says.
This allowed the designer to do one of her favorite things: source a unique wallpaper. As soon as she saw this dark, floral paper, she knew it fit her client’s personality and would make a statement in the small room.
“The dark colors and floral instantly make it feel cozy and warm,” she says. “I showed it to her and she fell in love with it.”
Wallpaper: Summer Squall in Midnight Blue, Ellie Cashman Design