The Evolution Of A Farmhouse Style Home Office – Before And After
When we first looked at our house, about two and half years ago, I knew what I would do with the front room that the former owner was using as a formal living room. as soon as I walked in the front door. Located right off of the foyer, it was the perfect spot to become our home office! But, first I had to remove the pink carpet (yes, pink), lavender walls and outdated window treatments that were left behind when the seller moved out.
We painted the walls, (Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige), removed the window treatments and replaced the carpeting with new hardwood floors (stained with Minwax Special Walnut). I placed much of the office furniture from our previous home in here until I could get to the makeover of this room. BUT – the total transformation of the space would have to wait. Given that we gave this house a total remodel (from top to bottom),the completion of this room was not at the top of our priority list. We lived with it like this for about a year or so.
THEN, I made my first decorating mistake in this room. We had so many irons in the fire….so many rooms to complete…that I let my impatience get the best of me. I purchased two chairs just because they were a really great price. I loved the chairs (and still do!), but they’re currently living in another room that’s waiting for its makeover. I’ll either use them in there or pass them along to my step-daughter when she’s ready for more furniture.
After the purchase of the chairs, I realized that I was going about things all wrong! I needed to come to a decision about the direction I wanted to go with the whole house. Annnd…this is a big one…I needed to focus on one.room.at.a.time.
The direction/vision was an easy one for me. I was in love with farmhouse style and knew that I wanted to emulate that look in my home, except with my own stamp on it. So, in comparison to all of the floundering around I had been doing, once I made the decision to complete one room before moving on to another, the makeover of the my family room, breakfast area and dining room was completed!
Then – it was time to get started in the office! I began by replacing the two mistake-purchase chairs with two tufted back gray ones. The starburst mirror was replaced with vintage printer’s trays and drapery panels (from HomeGoods) were added to each window. The drapery panels help to frame out the whole wall.
I loved what I had done to my dining room table so much, that I copied the same idea on the legs on the desk by painting them, but leaving the top in its original state.
Not too long after that, I completed what is hands-down my favorite project in the whole room – the total transformation of our cheapo, traditional, cherry bookcases into a farmhouse thing of beauty! You can see the before and read about how this transformation was made HERE.
I continued the planking from the wall in the dining room onto the wall behind the desk, except that we only took it a little more than halfway up the wall and topped it with a small piece of trim. You can read about how we added the planking to wall HERE. 
On the opposite end of the room, I came up with a farmhouse style office storage solution and some rustic/industrial wall decor. This corner of the room was truly a hot mess before!
The last big decision to be made was what in the world to do on the big blank wall behind the desk. I had a idea that I was mulling over, but couldn’t make myself fall in love with it and then…THEN – I stumbled across an antique mail sorter at a barn sale! Be still my heart. It’s heavy and huge and just what this wall needed. My pictures just don’t do it justice.
I have it filled with all sorts of little goodies, but I left a lot of the cubbies empty. I love that you can still see what I assume are street names. I wish that I had asked where the sorter came from. My brother and sis-in-law became all choked up when I explained to them that those airmail letters were written by him when he was in Vietnam. And yes, that’s the real deal grunge. I cleaned it up, but the grunge stayed and I wasn’t about the scrub it off and destroy that patina!
The last component that I felt the space needed was a chandelier. I had been saving the original light fixture that came out of my breakfast area for just such a spot! All it needed was a few coats of black spray paint and to have the cage thingy on the bottom replaced with a wooden ball, that I attached with hot glue. The cage piece simply unscrewed from the bottom of the light fixture. Here’s what it looked like before – forgive the blurry photo.
Once my electrician installed it, the office makeover was complete and we couldn’t be more pleased with how the room turned out!
Next on the makeover list – the foyer!
The room is lovely! Thank you for the advice to do one room at a time. I just moved into a new build home. It’s nice to have a clean slate to work with as well as design elements I chose but I’m overwhelmed with all that it needs. So thanks I’ll concentrate on one room at a time. I’ll take it slow and I’m sure the right things will come along. Just like your mail sorter did!
It’s gorgeous Suzy. Love that piece behind the desk.
What a transformation! Love your style!
How beautiful ~
Can’t believe the transformation – the Living Room we never used – I had one too.
Before we moved into our condo we made our living room into my husbands office, much needed space for him since he worked from home.
Your space is just wonderful – I would love working from a spot like that.
Have a great day.
Much love,
Rose
Lovely! Your rooms always look so cozy and inviting! I’m going to have to get to hobby lobby for one of the chalkboards! Where do you get that handsome horse? He’s amazing!
Hi Sharon. I ran across the horse at HomeGoods right before Christmas. Isn’t he a cutey? 😀
Oh…this bring back such memories! when I was a child my Dad (a professor) had an old post office mail sorter that he kept his research notes in-it was filled with hundreds of his handwritten index cards. Wish so much I had that old wooden post office box now.
i so love what you did with that room! the mail sorter made me gasp and i had instant lust for that thing…were you ever blessed to find that. i love how you also did the printer’s racks, with the wreath over the part of one. this is a spectacular room. it’s perfect.
Your transformation of that room is amazing! I love the mail sorter, it’s chippy old look is one of my favorites.
You really have made a HUGE difference in your home!
Great job! Still a little modern for my taste but love the blue slate gray colors and great job on bookcase!
I love it! You did such a great job. I especially love the way that you transformed your bookcase with your homemade sliding barn door.
It is beautiful. I love your style!
Love the transformation and all of the great decorating ideas that you incorporated!! I really love the mail sorter….what great find!! Thanks for sharing…. Blessin!
Love how your office turned out. My favorite part of the room….the mail antique mail sorter. I would not have passed it up either!!
I love your office! I have a desk (that belonged to my FIL) that I want to paint – if I can just talk my husband into it!
Thanks for the inspiration, Suzy! Your office looks wonderful… and I LOVE the mail sorter, too!
This really is a lovely room! And your attention to detail really pays off! Love that treatment on the desk…you updated it, but left the top alone. So tasteful! 😉
Awesome makeover! Love the rich colors and rustic decor.
I love the gray on the desk with the natural wood on the top. I’m a big believer in leaving natural wood grain visible IF you have a really nice piece made from solid hardwood. But, I do like the gray on the sides and the legs for contrast. Love the gray chairs, too! The whole room looks great!
Love the mail sorter!
Love, love, love your office! I especially love the cubbies on the wall behind the desk. Looks quite relaxing! Thank you for sharing, it all looks so lovely!