Pretty office inspiration from BHG
Hello! A little while ago I mentioned we were doing construction downstairs, so I wanted to share an update. This post focuses on the before and progress photos — after shots are still coming, but the change already feels exciting. Since many readers enjoy seeing the process, I’m sharing the latest here.
My daughter Courtney, who has worked with me full time for over two years, and I work from my house most weekdays. Meeting here each day helps us keep a regular schedule and stay focused. Between errands, hands-on projects and a lot of computer work, we needed a quiet room with a door so we wouldn’t be distracted by the dogs, the boys, or general household noise.
We had a small office in our old house, but as our business has grown — with more books and projects — we needed more storage and workspace. The original upstairs office was too small for the two of us and our supplies, so we decided to convert that room into a guest room and move the office downstairs.
Before we bought this house we loved how much natural light the lower level had. It’s a walk-out basement, partially underground, and felt very different from many Seattle basements that tend to be small, dark, or have low ceilings. The white brick fireplace was another nice bonus.
We also appreciated the flexibility of the open space. While we loved the wide, airy feel, we knew we would eventually want to section it off to make the area more functional and purposeful.
It took some time to decide how and where to divide the space, but we settled on a plan that works for now and allows future flexibility. When the painter came to refresh the interior walls, he brought a contractor, and although we hadn’t planned to build the wall immediately, the timing and price made sense. We decided to have it done while painting was in progress.
Progress is so satisfying to see. In the photo above you can spot a change to the staircase: we discovered wood under the carpet. We removed the carpet and painted the steps in Kendall Charcoal to match our previous kitchen cabinet color. I’ll share a separate stairway makeover later, but you can see some early glimpses here.
Forgive the dark and grainy cell phone photos — I often took progress shots at the end of the day when the painters left and didn’t want to pull out my camera.
The new wall starts near the bottom of the steps, creating an office that is a comfortable, practical size. It has two zones: a desk area and an adjoining space — formerly the workout room — that we’ll use as a studio and project area. We’d hoped the workout room would inspire daily exercise, but with limited space we couldn’t justify dedicating an entire room to equipment. Luckily the laundry room down the tiled hall is roomy enough for a small treadmill or similar equipment.
We love having an exterior door into the office. It lets in fresh air and provides easy access. In the future this room could function as a mudroom if we relocate the office or use only the studio side.
I’ll share more about the family room side soon. That area still feels light and open — you can still see through to the fireplace from the stairs — so the overall openness remains. The space now ends with a usable wall, which makes arranging furniture much easier and eliminates the awkwardness of the previous layout.
Despite the evening photos, the rooms are still flooded with natural light and we’re pleased with the direction of the remodel. The drywall is finished and painted, so the next steps are installing new flooring and window blinds. New flooring will make a dramatic difference and help complete the space. I’ll post more updates as we decide on flooring and continue making progress.
Remodels bring chaos, and living in a house mid-project can feel unsettling. There’s more to do, and that can be stressful, but it will be worth it. Most of our changes are relatively minor compared to big renovations, yet the challenge of living through them is real. Considering everything, we’re grateful to have reached this point so soon after moving in.
Have a great day!
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Inspired By: Pretty Office Inspiration Boards
Our white brick fireplace (the other side of this downstairs space)