For ten years, our client worked at the dining table in a space that rarely functioned as a proper dining room. The daily ritual of stowing away papers and traces of work finally prompted a commitment: it was time to transform the room into a true office. Deep teal was a favorite, but in the previous scheme it felt visually top-heavy. The new space also needed to double as a reading room for two, with the soul of an English library.

First, we applied a historic Morris & Co. wallpaper to introduce pattern and movement. The paint scheme was reversed to appear dramatically on the wainscoting and ceiling. Tall leather “Paris flea market” wing chairs in whiskey-colored leather added warmth. A charcoal-stained executive desk and matching bookcases provided contrast, while a large, framed photograph of the client’s native South Dakota lent a personal anchor. Antique accessories layered in character and story, and new lighting in weathered brass and black completed the warm, intimate mood.