Are you ready for a new mom office makeover? Back to school time not only means getting organized for kids and teachers but for busy moms too.  Tackling bus schedules, ballet rehearsals, play dates, swim classes, family functions, and work meeting require some serious organization and time management!  What a better time to get an active working mom a new home office makeover?

Chic and functional Back to School Mom Office Makeover

For the past year, this front room off the entry had been a playroom for my client Andrea’s two daughters. After her husband Bob completed finishing the basement for the girls it was time to get Andrea that chic functional mom office she needed. This whirlwind office makeover took just three days!

Quatrefoil Walls

Back when the house was built Andrea and I chose the base wall color of Sherwin Williams SW 7642 Pavestone. The rest of the house was painted in a lighter gray color and this light filled front room could handle a rich darker color.   She wanted an accent wall with a strong graphic elements. We settled on a Moroccan quatrefoil pattern.  First order operation was  to download my shape from an internet printable. After I  printed it at 350% to get the large scale that I needed. A smaller pattern would have been too busy.

Picking Paint Colors

I went one shade up on the paint strip and chose Sherwin Williams SW 7641 Colonnade Gray for the quatrefoil.Chic and functional back to school mom home office makeover 2 poster boards were folded together and cut like you would cut a paper heart assuring that both side were symmetrically even. The plan was to start with the corner of the two accents walls and work out. I found the middle height of the wall and centered my first pattern there, then spaced 8 inched in between the painted quatrefoils. Chic and functional back to school mom home office makeoverAs I moved out I taped a lightweight level to the center of the pattern to assure that the pattern was perfectly even and staggered the neighboring line of quatrefoils halfway down. There was 24″ from center to center.  I outlined the pattern in pencil and then used a smaller brush to cut in sharply and filled them in with a 4″ roller. I then touched up any uneven lines with the base paint. The walls were done. This took me one day to paint.Chic and functional back to school mom home office makeover

Time To Decorate

Now it was time to decorate. There was no formal dining room in the new house so her beautiful server buffet had no real space. We used it in the office to house all her books, work files, and office supplies. I found two tall silver and dark wood contemporary two light lamps from HomeGoods. I added framed artwork and tacked photos of the girls to the heart. She can change them out at anytime.  A clean tray with decorative accessories also from HomeGoods round out the wall.

Chic and functional back to school mom home office makeover

Using What You’ve Got

Andrea had the writing desk. It was meant to be placed against a wall but my intentions were to have it floating and while working be able to see the door and the pretty view out her front window. Plus it was better feng shui to see the door while you work. The back side of the desk was unfinished  so It was an opportunity for me to do a simple DIY project adding color, pattern and interest. Chic and functional back to school mom home office makeover I measured the inside panel and cut a piece of foam core to its width and height. I simply wrapped the foam core with a fun patterned fabric form JoAnne’s. I attached the panel with double sided stick squares. It was that simple. I spent the day shopping for accessories for the long gallery wall behind Andre’s desk.  Earlier in the month she found this fabulous concrete and brushed steel open bookcase at HomeGoods. I told her to buy it!  I purchased, patterned organic storage boxes and files to hide all her papers and supplies. A large graphic blue egg vase with silver painted tip sticks, mercury glass votives and a frames picture of Andrea and Bob’s second date sits on the the top shelf.

Cic and functional Back to School Mom Office Makeove Organizing The Gallery Wall

A collection of wooden and metal office cork boards, clipboards, and bulletins are scatter in with initial letters, mirrors, shadow boxes, and family black and white photos. My arrangement  was tested out on the floor before putting any nails in the walls. I measured the height and width of the gallery grouping. I started with the middle piece and hung that first and worked out. Taking a photo of the arrangement is helpful before you start hanging.

Chic and function DIY back to school mom office makeover

Turquoise desk accessories, lucite initial letter A and supplies sit onto top of Andrea’s desk. A white and turquoise mini locker houses all her cords, modems, and phone caddies and keep the floor clean and uncluttered in this chic mom office.

Chic and function DIY back to school mom office makeoverNow A quatrefoil patterned organic linen sitting chair and wood and tin punched side table are front and center for clients and girl time talk.

Now An HGTV Reveal

I felt like this three day mom office makeover was a HGTV show reveal. Andrea almost cried when she saw her finished office. Now she can start to absorb the idea that her girls are going to school and her work space will be both pretty and functional.  She later texted me “I just sit in there and stare. I can’t believe it’s mine!” After giving Andrea her dream mom office I treated myself to an overdue home office with all new white furniture and ombre painted walls

Enjoy Andrea! xoxo Amie

 

7 Comments

  1. Reply

    Andrea Childs

    September 13, 2015

    Amie- how many different ways can I say THANK YOU!?!? I not only love what you have done to transform this space (and most of the spaces in my house), but I love you as a person!! You are just so fun to work with, and I have 100% trust in you with every project that you tackle. I really do just sit in this space and stare. Love that it is the first room you see when you walk into my house. And it smells good too:-)

    • Reply

      memehillstudio

      September 14, 2015

      Aww your pretty amazing too. I love you house and all the love in it! Thank you for letting me work some magic! xoxo

  2. Reply

    Kim

    September 13, 2015

    Unbelievable job Amie!!!! You should have your own HGTV show!!! Would love to stumble upon the little side table made out of wood and tin. Do you remember where it’s from? 🙂

    • Reply

      memehillstudio

      September 14, 2015

      Hi Kim! Thank you so much. The wood and tin side table was bought from HomeGoods last week for only $39.! Its so fun isn’t it?

      • Reply

        Kim

        September 15, 2015

        I ran over to the victor one and nothing even similar. 🙁

        • Reply

          memehillstudio

          September 15, 2015

          You might want to call Canandaigua. Or check TjMaxx or Marshalls. Its hit and miss.

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Amie Freling

"Life's too short for white walls .." Amie Freling-Brown, a Rochester, NY-based designer and artist who transforms ho-hum spaces into works of art. Her creative designs can be found in many fine homes, restaurants and businesses. Her work has been featured in national magazines, on HGTV and has been sold through retailers nationwide from True Value Hardware to Nordstroms. She proudly offers such professional services as design, staging, color consultations and fine art.

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