We are on a roll here with spring projects. First was Chloe's grown up tween bedroom which went from cute to coastal. And if you caught my Instagram stories, you would have seen that last weekend we started another small project, rewallpapering our basement. 

I'm not sure about you, but my focus these days has been on smaller, manageable projects. This home office makeover was easy to execute, relatively stress free, and fun. Just what I needed! Let's take a look at what's been done to this room:

Picking just the right paint can be tricky and during the course of this project, I came upon the most ingenious product: peel and stick paint samples.  Before you embark on any paint project, I highly suggest that you invest in peel and stick paint samples. These really are a revolutionary and useful product!

Samplize (US company, carries Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball, Sherwin Williams, and PPG brands) and Hello Paint (Canadian company, carries Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams) are two sites that sell large format peel and stick paint samples. These samples are reusable, repositionable, and can be saved for your next project. See HERE for a quick video on how I used them in my office.

On the fourth wall, we kept the existing Blythe Blue Toile wallpaper. The traditional, all over pattern is one that I love. It provides the perfect backdrop to these open shelves.

One change I have consciously made is to edit the items I have on display on these shelves. Previously, I treated the shelves as a rotating display of seasonal decor, Chloe's handmade artwork, and odds and ends. Now, I'm showcasing just a few beloved pieces, like the set of small leather-bound books I inherited from my mother in law and the printable art in a vintage frame.

The beautiful landscape artwork adds a peaceful quality and sense of balance to this wall. The pinboard I had here previously was larger and filled up more of the wall but it just added to the visual clutter. Sometimes bigger is not always better!

A mix of classic accessories such as the marble box and linen file organizer add texture and muted colour. I am to keep these shelves and countertop looking this neat and tidy year round

Home Office Lighting

The Nyack Pendant is a more modern fixture than I typically use, but I am so glad I used it in this space. I love how the clean brass backplate looks against the ceiling medallion. It's a small detail that really adds character to this space. The opal glass shade diffuses the light beautifully and is like a glowing orb against the perforated metal.

Wondering how I've hidden the lamp cords? Here's a quick look at my cable management set up but I'll talk more about it in depth in my next post ;)

When I first finished this room, the first thing my daughter asked was "Can I move my bed in here?". It feels like a calm and serene bedroom space, mostly owing to the luxurious window coverings.

I used Jolie Paint for this desk makeover and couldn't be more thrilled with the finished product. The body of the desk was a custom mix of Gesso White and Swedish Grey which picks up on the beige and grey tones in the Teagan rug from Loloi. I topped the body with a coat of Clear Jolie Finishing Wax that provides a matte, hard wearing finish. The handles were the original ones that I updated with a few coats of satin black spray paint.

Good thing my attempt at whitewashing the top was a fail, because the natural wood looks stunning. The top is a wood veneer and I had to be very careful not to sand too far down and expose the particleboard underneath. I used Low Luster Jolie Varnish which enhanced the grain and provided just the slightest sheen. My application wasn't as even as I would have liked it to be, but I wouldn't hesitate to use this varnish again on natural wood. It has just the right amount of shine and feels like it will stand up to daily use.