Spring 2021 One Room Challenge: Week 8

It’s finished! The office is all done.

This last week was a marathon. We worked late nights, ignored other parts of the house, and have a mountain of laundry to tackle. BUT we are done! Now, let’s get to the finished room. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and remember what the room looked liked when we first bought the house.

And now….

It looks and feels like a completely different room. Not a single part went untouched. Every wall and detail was modified. We started the one-room challenge by wallpapering the room with the Alma (gold & buff) wallpaper by Cole & Son. The paper has a metallic quality that creates a nice sheen on the walls. That made the room difficult to photograph at times, but it creates a nice experience in the room. We also painted the trim bright white and laid new white oak floors.

The new cabinetry added much-needed storage and beauty. These white inset cabinets from Cabinet Bar were economical but also high quality. They were “ready to assemble (RTA),” so it was a ton of work but so so so worth it. I never really appreciated how complex it is to assemble and install cabinets properly. I have a much deeper appreciation for the people who do this regularly! It’s tedious work that requires lots of patience.

The cabinets have soft-close doors/drawers and are solid. I added wood knobs to create a casual but warm look. For countertops, we installed birch butcher block. They are so solid and heavy.

I haven’t moved everything back into the office, so most of the cabinets are empty. I want to take my time and ensure that everything is well organized. I’ll definitely be writing a post about that in the future.

I styled the open shelving with a combination of boxes and pretty objects. I’m sure it will evolve as we start living in the room.

We have the original white chair, side table, and my DIY rope art on the opposite wall. I’m still waiting on the new chair. October can’t come soon enough. When it does, I’ll install the swing arm sconce above the table. Right now, it’s looking a little bare. I promise the sconce will wrap this corner up nicely!

Here’s a close-up of the snail rope art. It only took a couple of hours to create (you only need rope, a mat board, and a hot glue gun), but man, it creates a big impact. It’s 3-dimensional and textured, so the visual interest is intensified. I found this old frame at a thrift store for $25. My husband and I removed the original artwork and glass. We slide this guy into the frame and attached it, leaving the glass off. I’m really enjoying the look, and I have a bunch of ideas for future rope art projects.

And that wraps up the office reveal…for now.

What’s Next

While the office is technically “done,” there are still a few things I want to share later, including the full review/guide to the Cabinet Bar cabinets and how I organized the office. The office will continue to evolve, and I can’t wait to share all the updates here. I’m also planning on revealing our dining room, living room, and B’s (my son) room. It should be a fun summer! Lastly, I want to write a wrap-up post about participating in the One Room Challenge. I have learned so much and want to share my thoughts and tips. If you participated in the challenge, what did you learn?

Details & Sources

Wallpaper – Alma by Cole & Son – Buff & Gold

Trim Paint – Behr Ultra Pure White Semi Gloss Enamel

Cabinets – The Cabinet Bar – Inset White Cabinets (Snowbird Shaker Style)

Flooring – Bellawood 3.25 in White Oak Hardwood Flooring

Counter Top – Unfinished Birch Butcher Block

Knobs – Birch Round Cabinet Knobs

Chair (has not arrived yet!) – Braxton Culler Belmont Accent Chair

Table – Rattan Round Side Table

Basket Under Table – White Rope Leather Basket

Sconce (not hung yet) – Brass Swing Arm Sconce

Bamboo Shade – Cordless Bamboo Shades

Pillow Fabric – Stout Mignon 2 Lagoon

Magazine Files – Rattan Magazine Files

Desktop Organizer – Marie Kondo Rattan Desktop Organizer

Photo Box – Marie Kondo Rattan Box

Book Ends – Striped Marble Book Ends

Paper Organizer – Green Paper Drawer Organizer

Light – Whitewash Bead Light (sold out)

Chair – Upholstered Dining Chair – Stone

Small Painting – Sailboat Watercolor Painting

Large Painting – Lobo Overlook Print by Rogan Taylor

Print – “I don’t know what I’m doing” Print By Kat Schneider

Print – Bay Bush by Karin Olah

As always, check out the other guest participants and the featured designers to see updates on their projects!

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8