A formerly outdated sunroom/home office is updated with all new finishes and decor to create a welcoming home workspace with a comfortable seating area to be enjoyed by all family members

Reservoir Hill Residence

MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

Summary of Scope: gut renovation/reconfiguration of kitchen, coffee bar, mudroom, powder room, 2 kids baths, guest bath, master bath and dressing room, kids study and playroom, study/office, laundry room, restoration of windows, adding wallpapers and window treatments Background/description: The house was built in 1908, my clients are only the 3rd owners of the house. The prior owner lived there from 1940s until she died at age of 98! The old home had loads of character and charm but was in pretty bad condition and desperately needed updates. The clients purchased the home a few years ago and did some work before they moved in (roof, HVAC, electrical) but decided to live in the house for a 6 months or so before embarking on the next renovation phase. I had worked with the clients previously on the wife's office space and a few projects in a previous home including the nursery design for their first child so they reached out when they were ready to start thinking about the interior renovations. The goal was to respect and enhance the historic architecture of the home but make the spaces more functional for this couple with two small kids. Clients were open to color and some more bold/unexpected design choices. The design style is updated traditional with some eclectic elements. An early design decision was to incorporate a dark colored french range which would be the focal point of the kitchen and to do dark high gloss lacquered cabinets in the adjacent coffee bar, and we ultimately went with dark green.

Reservoir Hill Renovation

Sam Kachmar Architects

Photo of a traditional study room in Boston with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding desk, brown floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Richard Harp Homes Personal Home

Richard Harp Homes, Inc.

Interiors Designed by Tobi Fairley
Small traditional study room in Little Rock with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in desk and brown floor.

Colby's Run

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Photo: Tom Crane Photography
Design ideas for a traditional study room in Philadelphia with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

Vibrant Classic Bungalow

User

A traditional desk accented with gold hardware stands in one corner of this serene master bedroom. A charcoal grey glass lamp illuminates the desk and is joined by a silverleaf Chippendale chair covered in navy crushed velvet. On the wall hangs a large gold-framed abstract artwork in shades of aqua, navy, gold and ivory. A wall shelf with pagoda top hangs on an adjacent wall, displaying Asian accessories in aqua and turquoise. Light gray walls with white trim contrast with the depth of the walnut stained hardwood floor. Carter Tippins Photography

Woodforest

Studio G Interior Design

This is an example of a traditional study room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a freestanding desk and brown floor.

French Farmhouse

Stephanie McKenna Interior Design

Design ideas for a traditional study room in Minneapolis with blue walls and a built-in desk.

INTEGRITY WINDOWS AND DOORS

Marvin

This is an example of a traditional study room in Other with blue walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

New Classic

Whitlock Builders

Mid-sized traditional study room in Charlotte with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a freestanding desk, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Cellular Shades

Hunter Douglas

This is an example of a large traditional study room in New York with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown walls and a freestanding desk.

Traditional Home Office

Traditional study room in Jacksonville with blue walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Custom Storage Solutions

California Closets Studio City, California

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional study room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in desk.

Rumson, NJ

Master Design Cabinetry

Inspiration for a traditional study room in Other with green walls and a built-in desk.

Built-Ins & Entertainment Units

Xavier's Collection Fine Cabinetry

This is an example of a large traditional study room in Miami with beige walls, carpet, no fireplace, a built-in desk and beige floor.

Tranquil Remodel

Jerome H. Davis Interiors, LLC

Aaron Bailey Photography and Video
Photo of a mid-sized traditional study room in Miami with medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Norway Project

Carpenter + Lueckemeyer Custom Homes

Mid-sized traditional study room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors and a freestanding desk.

Elizabeth Kitchen

Paragon Kitchens

Inspiration for a traditional study room in Toronto with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Family Farmhouse

Alexandra Rae Design

The library of the Family Farmhouse Estate. Art Deco inspired brass light fixtures and hand painted tiles. Ceiling coffers are covered in #LeeJofa grass cloth. Bird floral is also by Lee Jofa.

Exeter Village Renovation

Timothy M. Giguere, AIA - TMS Architects

Architecture by TMS Architects Photo Credit: Rob Karosis
Design ideas for a traditional study room in Boston with beige walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in desk.

Traditional Study Room Design Ideas

A home office has many uses and isn’t a mere luxury anymore. You might work from home, or bring work home, or you might just need a place to go through bills, mail or store important paperwork. Kids can use a home office to do their homework, or quietly play a game online. Browse the photos on Houzz for traditional home office ideas and inspiration, and strike up a conversation with the architect or designer or your favourite picks. For more home office ideas, check out the Stories section.

How much office storage do I need?

To ensure your traditional home office or study room isn’t buried under a deluge of paperwork, books and supplies, incorporate plenty of shelves, cabinets and drawers. Floating or built-in shelves with cubbies can stock books and magazine holders; or for a more traditional look, make room for a large bookcase that fits in with the decor of your home. Invest in a filing cabinet to store paperwork, and opt for a lockable filing cabinet if you have sensitive documents. A tray organiser can store incoming mail and will help prioritise bills. The type of desk you choose is also key to keeping things organised. Look for desks with deep drawers and plenty of surface space, and add tray organisers to the drawers to keep track of staples like pens, pencils, highlighters and sticky tape. If you want a streamlined look, find a way to conceal any computer cables or wires, too. One solution is to install a false back on your desk, if it doesn’t already have one.

How do I choose an office desk and chair?

If you spend long hours hunched over your work desk at home, invest in ergonomic office chairs with wheels for better back health and comfort. Consider optimal lumbar support with flexibility in adjusting handles and back angle. Most rolling office chairs come upholstered, typically in leather, but that’s no reason why you can’t have one custom-made to suit your traditional home decor. When picking out your work desk, be sure to consider its overall function. If you work from home and hold meetings, pick an oversized, sturdy desk that is double-sided (can be accessed from both sides). You’ll want it to look professional, so opt for dark timbers over high-shine finishes. It’s also a good idea to create a separate study desk for the kids, so homework doesn’t go missing among your files. If your home office is for the whole family a two-person desk or built-in long work bench are more suitable. Where space is tight, look for a retractable computer desk, or utilise an awkward corner with a corner desk.

What traditional home office decor will encourage productivity?

Use your walls for to-do lists: hang a pegboard and paint it in your favourite colour or be adventurous with chalkboard paint and whiteboard panels. Bulletin boards that keep the whole family in order are an extra feature that always come in handy. Use your stationery and office accessories – think pencil cups, paper trays and magazine holders – to add colour and pattern, and desk lamps, clocks, maps and calendars to personalise the space. Above all else, aim for ease of use.