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Modern traditional office update

An office refresh including a combination of antique and modern

I've made a lot of small changes in our home this year as I transition our decor from "modern farmhouse" to "modern traditional" design, most recently including our living room and dining room. But I think this may be favorite space yet! The office makeover isn't quite finished, but realistically, it won't be done until after the baby arrives later this winter, and I'm just too excited for this one little section that's complete to withhold it from you any longer!!

Antique drop leaf table with modern details in office

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Before

Apparently I forgot to take real before photos of this room. I'm blaming it on pregnancy brain. 😂

But I do have this image from an earlier update of this space which used things I already had from our previous home.

Old shutters used as bulletine board in farmhouse office

Although that gave it a quick spruce up, it really wasn't my style anymore.

Since this room connects our master bedroom and the future nursery, we decided to tackle it at the same time as the nursery.

The walls were a dark beige color and the floor was beige carpet. The room felt very dark, boring, and beige.

Office before

I painted the walls, and we removed the carpet. Those two simple changes made such a difference and made the room feel so much bigger right away!

Office before

Office update with modern + traditional design

Finding the right balance of modern and traditional has been incredibly challenging and such a learning process, but I think I finally got it to my liking in this space. 

This design is exactly how I envision the rest of our home, and now I'm excited to move forward trying to replicate this vibe in other rooms. 

The biggest changes in the room were simply paint and budget friendly flooring. The dark beige walls got a coat of Sherwin-Williams "Alabaster" which made the whole room feel so bright and welcoming.

We removed the carpet and installed the same vinyl plank flooring we have in the playroom. We bought the cheapest flooring we could find for the playroom with the assumption that the kids would destroy it, but it's held up wonderfully. 

We decided to use it here too for consistency because there are already way too many different floorings in this house. We wanted to use something affordable here because we know eventually we will remove it to put down salvaged wood floors. For the time being, it looks beautiful.

Antique dropleaf table with modern art in modern traditional office space

The antique drop leaf table is the star of the show here, but it still feels a touch modern because of the slim lined black picture frame and the minimal accessories.

I was convinced to buy this beautiful table in the spring when I bought an antique dining table to refinish for our patio space. The woman selling it was trying to empty her garage so she offered me a ton of other furniture for a total price so low, I simply couldn't refuse, and so I ended up with this table too.

I knew right away that it would end up in the office. It's perfect for this narrow space because the leaf can remain dropped the majority of the time and then pulled up when it's time to sit down to do some work.

I would like to find a stool or swivel chair that can easily tuck away underneath the table when not in use. I'm picturing something with aged brass casters. If I found the right stool, I could add antique casters- I found tons of great options here!

Vintage 1970s lamp on antique dropleaf table with modern art

When searching for a light for this room, I was stumped. There is no overhead lighting in this room. A task lamp would be the typical choice for a workspace, but I felt it wouldn't be enough light with no other lighting. I also contemplated a plug-in sconce but felt the same way.

In the end, I decided a large scale lamp was the best choice. It would offer more light than a task lamp and could still be a stylish piece. I found this vintage 1970s lamp at the Habitat Restore for $10!! It just needed a new shade. I think it makes the perfect statement.

That little vase is also from Restore, for just $2! It was sky blue, but I thought the shape was perfect, so I brought it home and gave it a coat of earthy green spray paint.

Antique stoneware jars used for writing utensil and paintbrush storage

The biggest issue in this small and narrow room is storage. I have a ton of art supplies and office supplies, which I have been slowly organizing and purging. But due to lack of storage space, I wanted the desk decor to be very functional.

I found these beautiful antique stoneware jars on Etsy (find similar ones here) and thought they would be perfect for writing utensils and paint brushes. I love them so much, I'm keeping an eye out for more that I can use on the bookshelf in this room for more storage/organization (which I'll show you when the rest of the room is done!)

Modern traditional design office with modern art and antique accessories

I had originally thought about painting one wall a dark and moody color, but once I started painting the other walls Alabaster, I was too in love. Instead, I chose a moody abstract painting as the artwork. It adds the perfect touch of color and still brings in that moody feeling I was looking for.

Overall, I love how this little corner of the office turned out, and it was so budget friendly! Almost everything was thrifted, and the floors were super cheap. You certainly don't have to spend a ton of money to create a space you love!

I can't wait to complete the rest of this room and share the details with you this spring after the baby arrives!

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Modern traditional office update


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