Back to the office

After a fabulous long weekend in San Antonio celebrating my cousin Tan Tan's wedding, it was time to get back to the grind. Monday morning rolled around, and I re-entered the real world by putting on my spandex and sweats, and heading to the bar barre. The ballet barre, that is. Per my usual routine, I finished a full day of rehearsal and headed to the office. 

Oh! What a convenient time to talk to you about my home office!   

I spend A LOT of time in my office, so I wanted it to make it a place I wanted to be. I wanted it to feel comfortable, creative, and neat (as in organized and clean, not rad; although I think it is also pretty rad).

We painted the walls white and bought a white lacquer desk and credenza from Crate & Barrel. I did a lot of research on white desks, and I loved this one for its simplicity and the matching credenza that allows us to hide all of our files. West Elm also has a good one (Parson's desk). 

I've always wanted a chalkboard wall, and the office was the perfect place for it. I love the contrast between the white walls and the black chalkboard paint, and it provides the perfect backdrop for pops of color. 

The chaise lounge was from Restoration Hardware, and it is Patrick's favorite chair in the house. It is amazingly comfortable. The larger rug is patchwork cowhide, which gives the room a little texture, layered with a sheepskin rug that adds a layer of comfort to the room. I got both from Overstock.com.

Louise adding a pop of black to the white sheepskin rug.

The two prints of ducks and coy are by a local St. Louis artist that we found at a local art fare. As a local artist myself, I like to support other local artists, and ducks and coy are both significant memories in Patrick's and my relationship. I love them for that alone, but also because they add a little whimsy to the house, like we don't take ourselves too seriously... 

Then we have our "Wall of Accomplishments," like we take ourselves a little seriously...

An orchid is always a good idea, and instantly changes the tone of the entire room. I can't have enough of them in my house. This one is fake. GOOD fake florals can be ridiculously expensive, but I found this one on Wayfair.com for a fairly good price (compared to how expensive these can get), and it is amazing. Here is a link to a pink one. We have a hard time keeping plants alive, so I am willing to spend a little more on faux flowers.

I love spending time in the office, and having a nice space helps make the moments more enjoyable before it's finally time to hit the barre bar.