Friday, February 04, 2011

Home Office: Essential Qualities

Although they don't all typify my usual airy traditional style preference, there's something I like about each of these home offices from my archives. I think these rooms possess essential qualities of any good home office (just perhaps not all in one room). I'm thinking about these qualities as I redesign my home office. I just wish I had 12 foot ceilings.

The Essential Home Office shall possess:

1. A good sofa (for naps and reading)
2. Lots of white
3. Art you like (to heck with anyone else)
4. Tranquility and quiet
5. A sensible desk
6. Good light
7. A spot to spread your stuff out
8. A place for books
9. Beautiful things
10. An extra chair for the cat
11. A good reading table
12. A chair for a friend
13. Some books
All photos Elle Decor: 1. Miles Redd (Simon Upton photo) 2. Hugh Newell Jacobson design 3. Gil Shafer design 4. Matthew Patrick Smyth (Simon Upton photo) 5. Laura Sartori Rimini & Roberto Peregalli

18 comments:

  1. Inspirational photos. My office needs a major overhaul. I'm living vicariously through you.

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  2. I love idea of a home office needs a good sofa for napping. It's realistic. I love the metallic walls in that room. Also really love the attic office space that has the half round window. I can easily insert myself into that space. And a chair for the cat is a pipe dream. Cats make their own special places....the worst place possible.

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  3. great office inspiration images, Terri, and I agree - books and art make the space. It's so interesting how I can be drawn to so many different styles...I like the cozy traditional in the first but also the more colonial style in the second...

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  4. Beautiful images, Terri--especailly the libraries (in these days of book endangerment).
    And thank you so much for tracking down that kitchen image at Elle Decor for me. It is exactly what I was looking for!

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  5. Anonymous11:54 am

    I LOVE the first photo, but I save "tranquil & quiet" for my bedroom - if I did that in my office, I'd have to take a nap.

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  6. Still love the cat before friend chair... made me laugh and smile one more time. I can not tell you how much I enjoyed our coffee get together this afternoon. I am so glad we finally took the time, you are so wonderfully interesting to talk with...yes to doing it again in the near future.
    After meeting you I too wish you were coming to Vancouver with us... but you have an Aunt and friend to visit and you will have a great time in Victoria, say hi to The Empress and that beautiful city for me.
    We will talk when we both get back from our adventures in bc... we will lots more stuff to talk about.
    Carol Ann x

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  7. Sounds perfect. Unfortunately, my office is pretty tiny, too tiny for a sofa. I have a lot of white in my office- I want to paint the walls white. One thing I might add to this list is a giant tack-board to stick inspiration on. It's funny you said to heck with anyone else, have art you like because the art in my office is actually Star Wars related. Because I have so much white in my office and it's pretty modern, I thought it was the perfect home for my husband's Star Wars collectibles. I actually think it's pretty cool. Hey- even Ralph Lauren has a life-size storm trooper in his Manhattan apartment! Beautiful (and helpful) post!

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  8. Hello :)

    I just came across your blog and I must say it's lovely! So much inspiration over here :)

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  9. I just found you! I was doing some research on epergnes and saw your post from 2009! I am following you now and plan to link to your post!
    www.interiordesignmusings.blogspot.com

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  10. Hi!

    can you please send me your home adress. I would like to send you something I have made, as a gift.

    Love
    Katarina

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  11. Hi Terri - I love that your first choice is a sofa for napping. That's my kind of home office too. These are great images you've shown. Thanks for the inspiration. I have an unfinshed room that would make a great office, but am holding off because the house could use a second bathroom. Of course, it would be much cheaper to put in an office than a bathroom, so here I am with another unfinished project! I hope you'll show us your redesigned office soon.
    Deborah

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  12. Hi Terri,

    Thank you for sharing these divinely inspiring photos. It's amazing how they can be so varied in style, and yet project a similar, timeless mood of quiet elegance and quality. Nicely done!

    Warmest regards,
    Bill

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  13. Anonymous8:41 pm

    Fabulous collection. I love the floor to ceiling bookshelves. And you're right about the art. And the sofa!

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  14. Terri- A place to nap - love that!

    I am working on my workspace/studio and I have a little loveseat that I want to eventually move into there.

    And I wish I had high ceilings, too!

    Loretta

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  15. Terri,
    So much in the way of good inspiration here and don't forget a footstool and pretty trash can!

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  16. They are great. Although I just finished mine, these may lead me to tweak it a bit.

    Mr. Goodwill Hunting

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  17. They are great. Although I just finished mine, these may lead me to tweak it a bit.

    Mr. Goodwill Hunting

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  18. This is a really informative knowledge, Thanks for posting this informative Information. White linen curtains

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