When we first toured this house about two and a half years ago, I immediately saw the potential in the front room off the foyer. The previous owner used it as a formal living room, but its location and light made it the perfect spot for a home office. The room, however, arrived with pink carpet, lavender walls and dated window treatments — all of which had to go before the makeover could begin.
We painted the walls Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige, removed the old window treatments, and replaced the carpet with hardwood floors stained in Minwax Special Walnut. For a while I used furniture from our previous home while I planned the full transformation. Because we were remodeling the entire house from top to bottom, finishing this office wasn’t an immediate priority and we lived with the interim setup for about a year.
Early on I made a decorating misstep: I bought two chairs simply because they were a great deal. They were lovely, but they weren’t right for this room, so they’re now waiting in another room that still needs a makeover or may be passed along to my step-daughter. That purchase taught me an important lesson: decide on the overall direction for the house and then work one room at a time.
Choosing a consistent style changed everything. I fell in love with the farmhouse look and wanted to bring that aesthetic into our home while adding my own touches. Once I committed to finishing rooms sequentially, we completed the family room, breakfast area and dining room — and then turned our attention back to the office.
To start the office makeover, I replaced the temporary chairs with two tufted-back gray armchairs that better fit the farmhouse vibe. The starburst mirror was swapped for vintage printer’s trays, and drapery panels from HomeGoods were added to frame the windows and anchor the wall.
I liked the finish I used on my dining table so much that I applied the same idea to the desk legs—painting them while leaving the top in its original wood finish. That small detail ties the office into the rest of the home and keeps the design cohesive.
One of my favorite projects in the room was transforming inexpensive cherry bookcases into farmhouse-style pieces. The makeover gave them a weathered, custom look and completely changed the feel of the space. You can see the before-and-after and read about the steps taken for this bookcase makeover on the blog.
To bring continuity from room to room, we extended planking from the dining room onto the wall behind the desk, stopping a little more than halfway up and finishing it with a narrow trim piece. The planked wall adds texture and a handcrafted farmhouse charm without overwhelming the room.
On the opposite side of the room I created a low-cost storage solution and added rustic-industrial wall decor, which transformed a previously cluttered corner into tidy, attractive office storage. Simple, affordable solutions can make a big difference in function and style.
The biggest design decision was the blank wall behind the desk. I considered several ideas until I found an antique mail sorter at a barn sale — heavy, large and full of character. It became a focal point and functions like oversized wall art. I left many of the cubbies empty so the stenciled street names and original wear remain visible, preserving the piece’s history and patina.
I filled some cubbies with small vintage finds and kept others empty for balance. Family members were moved when they noticed airmail letters that linked to personal history — a reminder that salvaged pieces often carry stories that enrich a room’s character.
The final touch was lighting. I repurposed the original fixture from the breakfast area, spray-painted it black and replaced the metal cage at the bottom with a wooden ball for a more rustic look. After a quick install by our electrician, the office makeover was complete.
We couldn’t be happier with the result. The farmhouse-style home office now feels warm, organized and personal—exactly what a productive workspace should be.
Next up on our list: the foyer makeover.