If there is any positive side (and there are many!) Of the last year and a half, it is the greatest connection between us and our spaces. It’s safe to say that our abodes have taken on a whole new meaning and many of us still navigate the blurred lines between work and home. As remote working, flexible hours, and hybrid hours gain momentum, the question of whether we will ever return to a full-time office remains at stake. Like many of you reading this, I’ve been working from my dining room table all this time and recently invested in a rolling cart to store my little workspace decor so it’s clear at dinner time.
While Athena has a dedicated home office on the second floor of her Brooklyn home, she often works from the corner of her kitchen; you might recognize it on the cover of a best-selling book: wink-wink! However, with limited square footage, the key is to find a small workspace décor that does double duty: functional and visually appealing. As a creative community, the latter is key. So we’ve put together a few pieces so you can recreate your own inspiring home office space, no matter the size.
But first, let’s talk about the design of this space.
“It is true that many seemingly” simple “decorative elements
decisions must be taken into account in the construction phase; this is especially true of minimal design. “
- Athena Calderone
This corner of the kitchen / work area is a popular sight in Athena’s house and unsurprisingly received a ton of traction on Instagram after her Live Beautiful cover debut (apparently a unanimous decision). So what does this image have? Let’s hear Athena break it down.
A floor-to-ceiling window is not only rare, it also adds the most attractive light as the shadows dance throughout the day. While it may seem counterintuitive to have darkened it by installing a floating “desk” in front of the expansive window, it actually marks the end of my kitchen. In doing so, I am highlighting the window and its view of the backyard.
The desk surface is another feature that people seem to like. The material is soapstone and was a remnant left over from the stone patio. This is great advice, as many stone patios have leftover pieces that they are willing to sell for a fraction of the price.
I also love how the horizontal surface dissects the overall vertical composition. Since the overall aesthetic is minimal, I think the decorative accessories should do the same, keeping the look light and airy. The introduction of wood was intended to add a touch of warmth.
In terms of how the heavy stone holds up, there are plywood stiffeners embedded in the drywall and a custom rectangular frame the exact size of the desk was created. The metal frame was mounted on the side walls and drilled into the plywood reinforcement. The stone rests on the metal frame and the face of the stone desk protrudes beyond the frame very slightly, hiding the metal frame.
It is true that many seemingly “simple” decorative decisions must be considered in the construction phase; this is especially true in minimalist design.
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