Nora's Interior Design in Goochland Virginia

 Come find me! I’ll be there as one of the vendors! 

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The challenge for this space was to turn it from an unstylish cluttered office to a space that would work as both a functional office with 2 desks and a comfortable guest room for 2! All within its 150 square feet!  Impossible? Not with the right plan. 

First things first.  It had to start with the right floor plan.   PHASE 1  

Proposed Floor Plan to Scale

A trundle daybed, a built-in desk, wall sconces and corner wall-shelves that took the place of night stands made it all possible!   

Presentation of proposed functional items.

Computer rendering displaying trundle open.

Computer rendering of proposed floor plan.

The new floor plan would still allow enough space for when the trundle bed is in use.  With the right measurements, everything was done to scale.  All this was done before anything was purchased and brought to the room.

With the large desk removed from this corner, we were able to build a floating rounded desk-top which made it easy to move around in, take less space and allow for easier traffic.

The wall-mounted sconces plug into regular wall outlets so there was no need for an electrician.  That and the corner shelves allowed us to go without night stands.

Above you see work in progress. At this point we have a functional office but still lacking style.  It was time for the fun part. Color, window treatments and accessories! PHASE 2   – Yay!    

I was inspired by the nature of the room, its use and the client’s personal style on how to go about finding the right fabrics and colors. Once I found the fabrics with the right patterns and color for the space,  I used the fabrics to come up with the colors for the walls (including the ceiling!)    

Presentation of proposed decorative items.

Every little detail had a purpose and a reason to make everything work right in the design and give proper function.  See the 3-tier side table?  When placed next to the trundle bed with the trundle open, it will  give the person on the trundle a spot (bottom shelf) to place their belongings without having to reach up.    

This mirror and shelf with hooks give guests a perfect area for grooming and place belongings.

The results? A stunningly beautiful space where the homeowner feels relaxed working in and guests can feel welcome and well-cared for.  See for yourself:  

This nook was painted with Benjamin Moore color #703 Catalina Blue in Matte. The bungee chair, although comfortable, was not very attractive so we had a slipcover custom-made just for it.	We used a combination of custom-made items with "off the shelf" items. The roman shades, pillows and shams were custom-made. The wall color here is Benjamin Moore #1522 Inner Balance in matte. We used the same color for the ceiling.
Photos taken without flash.
	As I was putting the Scentsy warmer in place, my installer could not help but to wonder and coment about the sweet smell coming from the Sugar Cookie scented wax cube still solid!

This new space not only looked good, it smelled Scentsational! ; )

Here’s a tip on how to use window coverings to help reduce the heat and cut down on that electric bill!

Applications: Conventional drapes or curtains reduce heat from a room by 10%. Restrict the air flow at the top or bottom by enclosing the drapery bars or by ensuring the drapes go all the way to the floor and you will significantly increase the efficiency of your drapes. Or even better, add a cornice board or a board mounted valence!

Fabric & Linings: Medium colored drapes with a white plastic backing or lining are best for keeping out the heat in summer. The white backing reflects sunlight back outside before it gets turned into heat, while the medium color allows enough natural light into the room to make the room usable without a light, without the room getting hot from the sun light.

A double layer of drapes is more efficient than a single layer as more separate air spaces are created and convection is reduced.

The benefits are as practical in the winter when the same applications help keep the heat in!

Sun from the West in.

My windows face West and I love my view but I appreciate my roller shades when the glare and heat overwhelm this space!

Sun from the West out!

 The roller shades keep the glare and heat out without sacrificing the light.

Be Green, Be Safe, Stay Cool!