Creating a Personal Workspace: "Every Detail Matters and Each One Should Spark Joy"

When one finally makes the decision to create a space for their creative work that speaks to them deeply, it’s as if all manner of inspiration practically floats down from above. In the case of the home office of our company’s owner Robin DeCapua, that space was located in her Glendale, CA home, and — as you can see from the photo below — was in serious need of a top-to-toe makeover.

BEFORE - A lackluster space with no style, limited functionality and a depressing vibe, to say the least! Enter an inspiration photo (below), possessing all the qualities desired — light, drama, blue grasscloth, red accents and a mix of styles simultaneously serious and playful. Also, quite different from your average office. Image source: Heather Scott Home & Design.

So, armed with this truly inspiring image (and already possessing a red vintage Asian armoire), Robin set out to apply her personal stamp on this design.

First Step: Denim blue grasscloth from Astek wall coverings. Covering the walls in something sensual and textural makes any time spent working feel more cozy and, well, less like work!

Second Step: Install a dramatic light fixture similar to the inspiration photo, but still affordable. Modway’s Serge Mouille-inspired fixture was the perfect solution.

Then it’s simply a matter of bringing in elements that speak to both the vintage and modern aspects of the overall design: A Mid Century modern chair “stolen” from the living room, West Elm’s yummy red and blue medallion rug, curtain panels from IKEA that complement the textural blue walls without competing and a personal favorite framed image — San Francisco’s iconic Sutro Baths.

The antique Asian armoire holds all the less attractive office-y papers, while offering ample opportunity to style its top with design books and favorite objects. Our philosophy when designing for our own homes is to include only those things that literally make you smile when you look at them.

The burlwood veneer desk is from Wisteria, the gray desk chair was found on Amazon, the foo dog is a now-discontinued Pier One find and the lamp is from Target. A faux fiddle leaf fig fills a corner.

The vintage Italian brass fly is a gift from a dear friend. We love how the chippy, old texture and hand-painted finish of the Asian armoire looks against the grasscloth.

In a personal workspace, every detail matters — And each one should spark joy.