I’ve never been one for a traditional work space in the home. Even before I had a studio to work out of, a designated desk never felt like a priority for me in my small apartment. But in this new work-from-home environment, having an area that you can count on using every day is essential! At least for now.
So if you’re limited on space, why not get creative in putting together a little work from home area that you can settle into during the day, and quickly put away for evenings or weekends? We partnered with Crate and Barrel to show you how a transitional space like this allows you to separate your work hours from personal time and not have to invest in a bunch of office furniture that you may not be needing down the road.
Welcome to my new ‘desk’! This corner of our living room, which is constantly changing, is now a sunny corner where I, my husband, or even my step-daughter, can sit down and focus for a few hours undisturbed.
This charcoal console – part of the gorgeous Leanne Ford for Crate and Barrel collection, was the catalyst for this update, and let me tell you, she’s gorgeous. The sculptural shape is fun yet sophisticated, and I’m loving it in this room. Every piece that I selected here works not only for an ‘office’ set up but could easily go elsewhere in the home too!
For example: The gorgeous director’s style chair. It’s comfortable enough to sit in while working, but at the end of the day (or on the weekend) it moves back to the dining table just a few feet away.
I love the way the wood tones complement our existing furniture, and the lines add interest! Also, it tucks under the console so perfectly that it’s completely out of the way when not in use.
When styling, I like to bring in pieces that may be meant for other areas of the home. Take the marble tray for example: created to corral items on your kitchen counter or bathroom vanity, it’s the perfect setting for a glass carafe. The tray protects the wood from any water stains, while also offering a spot for a cozy candle, pens, or anything else that you may want to place on it!
I also opted to bring in a file drawer which is a piece we’d been needing for our home anyway. This roll-away element provides some additional storage and surface area for the desk, which is really nice. In fact, it’s large enough that my laptop and cord and be placed in the top drawer when not in use!
Because the desk is also a part of a larger room, it’s important to style the console as a part of the whole. In this case, a beautiful clay vase bridges the space between our media cabinet and the console with freshly snipped branches.
The stone bookends are another Crate and Barrel element, and I love how they bring an organic texture to the vignette while also housing any books that I’m currently reading. They’re actually a combination of limestone and lava stone, connected by a black resin, and really gorgeous. Work journals and notebooks can also live here at the end of the day!
So how do we take this space from work to weekend? Easy.
The chair moves to the dining room, the file cabinet gets rolled to our utility closet, and the console gets a little rearranging with all the same elements.
Ready to do a little shopping? Here’s how to get the look with a breakdown of each element, exclusively from Crate and Barrel!
1. ‘mast’ leather director’s chair | 2. sculptural candle | 3. lava stone bookends | 4. ‘van’ charcoal oak console | 5. marble tray | 6. pink vase | 7. carafe and water glass | 8. file drawer
A side note on the console and the director’s chair that’s important to note: both are made from sustainably sourced solid European white oak, which makes it more of a feel-good purchase! Another nod to sustainability: the sculptural vessel housing the candle becomes a cool vase or container when the candle burns down! I could see myself using it for beauty product and brushes for sure, making it a must-purchase.
Sadly, the exact vase I used in styling this post is now sold out, but the pretty little pink one is a close second, and I actually like the smaller mouth – it makes styling branches way easier!
So what do you think – will you be making a console your temporary work from home space? Don’t forget that if you need help in selecting just the right pieces, Crate and Barrel also offers a virtual design service! Whether you’re selecting items for a home office or crossing any other design projects off your list at the moment! I always recommend working with a designer when selecting furniture online to make sure you’re considering scale, measurements, and how the pieces will look in your home.
Have fun designing!
