Talking all about home decor today on the blog. I’m sharing a space just for her. One of my clients retired a few years ago and decided that she wanted a space just for her. Her husband likes being outside so he has his space so it was her turn. The question was what’s the best way to design a space that satisfied her wants and needs. After discussing her desires, we decide that it needed to be a multi-purpose space.
Wants & Needs for the Space:
- A place to pay her bills and keep important documents organized
- A surface that was large enough to pull out her sewing machine and work on projects
- A place to display her treasures
- A comfy place to read
- A small space to store blankets, etc
- A spot for guests to sleep
After talking through all of her wants and needs and her style, it was time to brainstorm. I headed to the drawing board to come up with a plan.
The room we were working with was on the smaller side so space planning was crucial. The question was…how can I give her everything she wants in this space?
The Design:
After brainstorming and space planning, I decided that we needed these items for her space:
- Desk – Home Elegance. Check out this desk from Amazon – love the casters. If you are looking for one with shelves, this is a good one. Check out this one from World Market. Depending on your needs for a workspace, this adjustable desk could be the perfect solution.
- Shelves – Home Elegance. Here’s a fun option from Amazon that comes in 4 colors. I love this one as well because it has a variety of size options so you can find which one works best for your space. This bookshelf really gives off an industrial vibe.
- Sleeper sofa – Klaussner Ramona sleeper sofa (queen-size)
- End tables – At Home. Love the faux concrete look of this one.
- Storage Ottoman – Overstock. This serves as a place to prop up your feet but it also gives you one more place to store those bulky blankets and pillows. Here’s a great one in navy.
Seating/Sleeping
Prior to this room becoming a space just for her it was a guest room. This was a topic that we discussed in detail because she wanted it to be multi-purpose but wasn’t sure she wanted to totally give up the guest room aspect. We decided that a sleeper sofa was the way to go. It would provide a comfy place for reading but she’d also have the pull-out sofa for guests if it was needed.
As an interior designer in the model home merchandising business, I’ve had the chance to view and test a ton of furniture. In the past, I’ve also attended different furniture markets. So I really get the opportunity to see a variety of options at different price points. I was lucky enough to go to High Point Furniture Market before completing the space so I got to test drive a few sofas for her. We decided on the Ramona from Klaussner in the fabric of her choice.
My client, Beth, loves to read so I knew these Kate Spade book pillows would be the perfect finishing touch to the sofa. I was able to find them at Homegoods. But I did get them a few months back so you may not be able to find them at your local store. (I knew we were going to be putting this space together and knew these would be perfect for a book lover’s lair so in the basket they went.)
The Great Gatsby pillow is available on eBay here.
The Desk
Beth wanted a desk that she could pay bills at, etc but that she could also pull out her sewing machine and sew. It was important that I find a desk that satisfied not only her style but also her needs. I felt that this desk was the perfect blend of practicality and style. She’s also a fan of an elevated farmhouse look and this desk offered all the elements she was looking for.
She loves interesting chairs so she actually picked this one up at a local antique store.
The shelves over the desk were actually a fun find while we were out shopping at a fun boutique. Here’s a fun option from Amazon. A fun set of two. I love this set. Another fun set of shelves that would look great over a desk.
Finishing Touches
When creating a space for an individual, I think it’s important that the space be a reflection of him or her. As I mentioned before, Beth loves to read so getting the Kate Spade book pillows were perfect for her space. The bookshelves are not only filled with books but also of treasures that she’s collected over the years and a few of her favorite things. Some are from Homegoods or At Home or local shops and some are from her travels. She also likes vintage pieces so you’ll see a few of those throughout the space.
No matter what your style is it’s important for the space to be a reflection of you. And that’s exactly what this space is…
The bow ties, the birds’ nests, the books…these are all pieces that reflect my client and her many loves. A lot of these items are ones that she’s had for years we just had the chance to bring everything together in one space and create these great groupings of her treasures. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a lover of layering and textures. You can see how all of her treasures come together in great layers and a mix of texture.
The shelf in the picture above was actually made from two corbels found at Homegoods that were brown and I painted them in white and then sanded some of the paint off to give it the vintage look and then had a board cut to make it into a shelf.
I love finding treasures like that and re-purposing them and creating whatever it is that you need. I have a tendency to pick up things like that with the hope to one day find a home for them. That’s what happened here. I’ve had these corbels for years and finally found the perfect home for them in this space.
More Details…
- Curtains: World Market – Gray Striped Jute Sahaj tab top panels (comes in 5 colors). Beth lives in an older house so this room has a very small window in it. We wanted to create the illusion of a wall to place the sofa in front of and draw your attention away from the fact that this room only has one small window in it. The wall of drapery panels creates the illusion of a wall and lets this become a focal point in the room.
- End tables: Local finds from At Home.
- Lamps: At Home – Since we were limited on the size of end tables that we could use in this space, I wanted the lamps to be chunky and be the main item on the end tables. (For some things, bigger is better.) Check out your local store because they have a great selection of lamps. They have really stepped up their game with their home decor and offer an excellent variety.
- Accessories: Wood bead garlands are always a great item to accessorize with. Crate & Barrel is another great place for home decor. Hobby Lobby and CB2 are others that I like to visit. Here’s an antique pedestal similar to the one in the picture. Here’s a set of corbels that are already distressed that you could turn into a shelf. Add a little color with this set of 4 vases. Distressed corbel bookends. This bust would look great on a shelf or on top of a stack of books. I am currently obsessed with llamas so I had to include this cutie. (She may find a spot in my house.) Here’s a great neutral vase.
Final Thoughts
On Shopping…
At Home and Homegoods are great places to find goodies for the home. Also, don’t forget to check local boutiques and antique stores. There are a ton of great places right in your backyard and it gives you the chance to support local businesses. Some close to me that I love are…Gatherings in Georgetown and Vintage Fresh in North Austin.
On A Space Just for Her…
Whether she wants to read, pay bills or sew Beth has a space just of her own to escape to. And when that extra house-guest shows up and needs a place to sleep she can help with that too.
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you are searching for something particular. I’d love to help you find it!
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