ORC Spring 2021 - Week 8 | The Final Reveal!

This is the week we have all been waiting for...can you feel the anticipation!? I certainly can and I am so excited to show you my 'treetop' office/studio I have been transforming over the course of 8 weeks. But just in case you jumped ahead to catch all the reveal photos in this week's blog, you can always peruse previous weeks here to quickly catch up:

(Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7)

 Thanks again to Linda Weinstein for inventing the "One Room Challenge" sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens. It has been an incredible journey!!

What started out as an unfinished space when the house was built was soon enough retrofitted into a 285 ft² bonus space above the garage. With a trim budget and a little sweat equity, it was created as a blank space that would function for children's craft parties, mom's aromatherapy discoveries, and a budding on-line shop of collectibles and such! The walls were painted and stenciled, floors tiled with Congoleum^®, lighting installed and away we went...

Today, there's a different focus in the bonus space happening. While I always believed that when given a dedicated place in the home to create, one could conjure all sorts of endeavors in one's mind. I never in my wildest dreams would conjure up an Interior e/Designer lifestyle could take place under the eaves! But that is what exactly has happened. And while today's eDesigners can operate their businesses from almost any where with a laptop, my space serves the lifestyle of a "hybrid" mix of sorts. So over the course of the pandemic year, my bonus space once again needed a quick transformation to better serve the work I do. Of course, with the occasional R&R and a much needed cup of chai!

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Earth-friendly Design

How could I re purpose product and use it to the best of it's ability was a major concern in coming up with a concept for my space. I also like to furnish my rooms with lots of natural materials. Connecting to the senses is very important in creating a feeling of longing, and isn't that what it's all about when wanting to BE in your home?...longing to be there!

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Zones of an Office/Studio

Working under the eaves has its challenges, but it also has some bonuses! While I don't expect to bring clients upstairs, (not handicap accessible), and entry is in the interior of the house, my 'loft' affords me plenty of space to create professional, beautiful, functional designs for the clients I serve locally and virtually. I also enjoy taking a break from work, so a comfy relaxing spot was in order as well.

Take a look at my room and experience my work-place and what I was eager to create!

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Entry -

Upon entering my room I've transformed the little corridor into a space that is welcoming to an office environment with a tea cart that says its time to grab a cup and stay a while!

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Corner Office -

One of my favorite spots in the room where I actually enjoy facing a wall. I am always reminded to stop and view some pretty décor for mini inspiration. Everything tech related is right within reach for the best efficiency too.

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Work Station -

I repurposed an older kitchen island into a work island that houses fabric samples, paint chips, and other related supplies that are purposeful in creating flat-lays for my projects and providing much adored tactile functions for me to create concept boards.

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Boutique -

Once an owner of a 1200 ft² brick & mortar store (on the beautiful coast of California) and after a very harsh recession, I packed up my bags so to speak, headed back east and joined the early online retail crusade. I have shipped product all over the world and really learned lots about the digital world and its economies. Living close to High Point, North Carolina certainly has had its advantages by being able to attend market shows and source amazing product for my clients and the shop. These neat canvas lined closets are turned into protective shelving for inventory (no dusting needed!) View some of the décor at DebSoChic

A  "LazyGirl" Chair

One of the perks of working in the Furnishing Industry is acquiring essentials and this white slipcovered chair & 1/2 is certainly an example! Upholstered in a cotton denim, it is so durable and I can change the look every so often with an assortment of pillows. Perfect place to relax, with a magazine and some tea!

…a few of my favorite things

• Natural seagrass textured peel-n-stick wallpaper by Scott Living
• Sherwin Williams Ovation Flat "spatial white" paint
• Slipcovered Chair & 1/2 by La-Z-Boy, Inc.
• Josephine Desk from World Market
• Office Desk Chair by La-Z-Boy, Inc.
• Wall Shelving by Ikea
• Cotton Throw from Nadeau, Raleigh, N.C.
• Modern Classic Rug, Candice Olson for Surya
• Steel Project Boards, Aidan Gray Home
• Ultra Wide 29" Monitor, LG
• Workforce Portable Scanner, Epson 

:: Successes ::

• Extending the 5 ft. side walls upward with wall paint color to the ceiling and adding molding,
• Installing Congoleum^® for an allergy-free, cooler room,
• Installing a sky-light for natural day light,
• Minimal functional furnishings,
• Creating separate "work zones" for activities.

Final Thoughts 

As I close on another One Room Challenge event, I want to express my gratitude to all the folks that have either inspired me, motivated me, and supported me in my unrelenting journey to be the best Interior eDesigner I can be. It is always so rewarding to be a part of something bigger than oneself and be the best version of yourself, so that I can make a difference in peoples lives through design. I hope you enjoyed!!

“ The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ”                                                                                    Marcel Proust  For a shopping trip this final week I have put together a collage of products that have traveled the world, and if they find their way back to your home for pure enjoyment I will only earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you!

* Happy Shopping *

…from the Light of My Home to Yours,

*Deb*