Category: Home Office

Top 5 Consoles that can double as a desk

15/4/2020

We are totally aware of the massive revolution that is taking place these days in peoples homes with most of us having to work from home for the foreseeable. So you need that space to work from home but don't really want to fork out for a massive desk you might never use again... so here is a great idea that might save you some ££ and also give you the space you need to work without compromising on style.

desk behind the sofa instead of a console

Make way for the humble CONSOLE!

Yes you heard me! This simple table, if chosen correctly can sit in most places and function well as a desk without dominating the space or being a totally redundant piece of furniture once this is all over (yes it will!) So here are a few pointers to look out for when selecting your new console/desk space.

Depth - some consoles are purposefully narrow, and depending on the type of work you need to do might be an important factor. So get your measuring tape out and always double check it.
Seating space - if you are sat at your desk for any length of time you will know that its important to be able to put your legs somewhere. So consider consoles without bottom shelves before any others.
Storage - if you are going to be working in a space that you also live in, you need to be able to clear your desk and keep it tidy to prevent work from taking over your life. So get a table with some storage built in or assign a space on some nearby shelving to keep things neat and tidy.

Option 1: For a bit of glam --> Go for Gold

This incredibly stylish console can be a fabulous desk space and styled to perfection as a console.

styled brass console table with wood and industrial elements

Option 2: For a mid-century vibe with a super swish tambour door (i.e. sliding door) check out this beauty. It is available in two wood tones to perfectly suit your interior.

mid-century console table with tambour front

Option 3: Terrazzo fabulous
This stunning green lava stone top with black legs is a dramatic one but oh so fab! Terrazzo is strong and will survive most things so get cracking!

green terrazzo console with black metal legs

Option 4: Curved and Marble-iscous
Yes fine I might have made that word up! BUT LOOK AT THIS CONSOLE! Isn't it stunning? That marble top and the curved edges gives this a really high end look without the same price tag!

white marble and black metal legs on this modern console

Option 5: Old-school-cool
For a nod to them good old days, go for this vintage inspired metal console table with a curved edge, giving it a softer feel.

dark metal semicircular console table with drawer against a mural wallpaper

Shop the look:

These items may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link.

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Creating the ultimate work from home space

25/3/2020

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Hey everyone, hope you are all well. In these new times we need to adapt and if we are lucky enough to be able to work from home then its imperative that for us to be productive that our spaces have to have the right kind of energy too. So here are our top tips for creating the best working from home space.

I love how this small work space was created in a covered balcony with a bright colour pop and some fabulous shelf styling. Source: Berg Interiors

Tip 1:
Dedicate a space. Ideally not in sight of your bedroom/rest spaces. This has to be a specific space just for work. Most people work from a computer so all you need is a small table or even a console. Its too much hassle to stay setting up your laptop every morning or moving about every few hours, so ideally this space will be solely for work. If you have a dining room that you don't use very often or a spare bedroom that can take this role then put the table in there and get connected.

This incredible study space by Park and Oak Design shows how including a vintage table with a beautiful lamp creates the perfect space to sit and work.

Tip 2:
Light. It is super important that once we have a space that is well lit. Most people will be working during the day time, and thankfully the days are getting longer now and there is daylight well past 5 but always consider keeping a lamp nearby to add soft light for those gloomier days and if you are working late. Also, consider where the sources of light are to avoid glare.

This cosy desk space using a beautifully styled console and an upholstered armchair offers the perfect space to get to business. Source: Atlanta homes and Lifestyle

Tip 3:
Get comfortable. Unless you already have a comfy and stylish office chair at home, the choice of seating is important. Choose upholstered or cushioned dining chairs over stools or anything with less support like a sofa or a lounge chair

I love this vintage desk against the panelled wall with the oversized lamp! Source: Unknown

Tip 4:
Keep a loose routine. Try to remember that you are still at work, so don't get distracted by the laundry pile or other chores. If you can squeeze a load in while waiting for that meeting why not, but remember that multitasking leads to distracted minds and after your hard day you don't want to be faced with a chore done badly that needs re-doing.

This is the gorgeous desk at Jessica Brigham's house. I love the relaxed vibe here and the vintage desk obviously. Tap the photo for the house tour over on her blog.

Tip 5:
Be kind to yourself. After all, home is your nest and your sanctuary. Light a candle, order some fresh flowers from your local florist (and help to keep local businesses afloat). Do some stretching and remember that any change will take a few weeks to adjust to .. And this too shall pass.

Lots of love
Pete

P.S. Head to our next blog post to check out our favourite consoles that work great as desks

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How to make a no-sew Roman Blind

7/10/2019

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Hello Everyone! When I was working on a clients study space we were discussing window treatment for her guest bedroom/study. The layout that we came up with had a floating dropleaf desk that went out of the way when she had guests staying allowing it to also function as a headboard! Smart right? Well that meant that you cannot have any curtains unless they are short ones (this is a bit of a NoNo in my honest opinion). So I proposed a roman blind that still adds pattern and a focal point to the room but would help filter out the light. She loved this option and after hunting for the right fabric we landed on this gorgeous pattern from IKEA. Its called SKUGGBRÄCKA (try saying that while chewing fudge!). They had another stunning fabric with more of a structured pattern but considering the width of the blind this pattern worked better. Read all the way to the bottom for the things I would do differently in future.

Monochrome black and white bold pattern fabric from ikea

Our fabric final for the blind

Now I won't lie, I cannot sew! And despite watching numerous you-tube videos and hunting down my curtain makers, the numbers just didn't add up and we wanted this installed in a matter of days. So I decided to try a no-sew approach. I must say this hasn't been endorsed by IKEA but we did end up using everything from there. So if you are a no-sew kind of guy/gal and you want to create something similar, this is what you need.

Materials:

Fabric - Make sure your fabric is an extra 10cm wider and longer than the full blind (this allows you 5cm on either side to fold over)
Blind - We used the clever magnetic blind from IKEA called RINGBLOMMA.
Iron on hemming strip - SY (you could use a glue gun if you prefer
Iron (obviously)

This took me around an hour from start to finish. So a super quick and easy project. (After you navigated the isles of IKEA)

Step 1:
Iron the fabric to make sure all the creases are out. Its easier to do this at the start.

Step 2:
Lay the blind down on a large area and centre the fabric above it. If you have any pattern or repeats make sure that they are perpendicular to the blind (which is why I chose an abstract pattern as these repeats are concealed)

Step 3:
I started at the bottom of the blind but you can do it the other way around if you so wish. Roll back the fabric, lay down the SY strip, and carfeully replace the fabric over it. Double check that the SY iron-on hemming strip is positioned properly and sandwiched between the fabric and the blind before moving onto the next.

Step 4:
Iron on the strip. Make sure the temperature is hot enough to melt the glue but wont burn the fabric (Keep it moving) and check that the SY tape is melting and adhering.

making a no sew roman blind using ikea products

TOP TIP: Working you way up or down the blind. Keep the remaining fabric rolled so it doesn't crease or get in the way.

how to get the fabric to stick to the blind using SY iron on hemming strip

Align the SY tape to where you definitely want the fabric to be (as close to the edge in my case) and hold it in place while you sandwich it between the blind and the fabric. Proceed to iron it to activate the glue.

Step 5:
Work your way down the blind. I would suggest keeping the fabric (yet to be adhered), rolled up as it prevents it from getting creased or in your way. I applied a SY strip at every baton on the blind, This made sure that the fabric was definitely attached at these points. You could also consider using upholstery spray glue on the rest of the blind, but I was concerned regarding staining, and keeping the fabric supple so I avoided this. Make sure that your fabric is flat the way through before ironing on.

Step 6:
At the top of the blind there are little metal loops that the blind hangs from. To get the fabric over and around these, make little cuts in the fabric at the point where it would fold over and slide the head of the loop through. Make the cut as little as possible as you do not want the fabric to start fraying.

top of the no sew roman bind hoop before

Keeping your fabric taught, make a small cut at the place where the base of the loop will be on the fabric.

top of the blind no sew roman blind hoop after

Pop the loop through. Remember to make a small hole as the base is narrower and you don't want the fabric to start fraying.

Step 7:
Once you are done on the front of the blind, flip it over so the fabric is face down and the blind back is facing up. Now its time to hem the edges. I started with the sides as the fabric had a neat edge here and it was an easy win. Next move to the top and bottom. Fold the cut edge of the fabric so that the end was tucked in, then apply the SY strip and while holding the fabric in place iron it down. You will need to work on smaller sections at a time ensuring that the fabric is flat, neat and taught before ironing.

how to make a neat hem on a no sew roman blind before

Folding the cut edge of fabric in and applying the SY strip you can work along to create a neat hem.

The finished edge at the top should look neat like this.

Step 8:
Finally at the corners, by folding in the corners of the fabric and using the same way we did at the top and bottom, make a neat hem.

making neat corner details on a no sew roman blind

TOP TIP: Creating a neat back of the blind is super important as any flaws will be highlighted when light shines through the blind, revealing all!

Step 9:
Making sure that all the SY has set, you are ready to hang you blind!

Some things I learned while on this no-sew roman blind project;

SY tape is basically dry glue so if you have a glue gun that could work just as well.
Choose a light weight fabric as the magnets of the ringblomma that hold it up are not the strongest and any added weight in the fabric will compromise their strength.
We used the widest blind as wanted it to sit in front of the window. The ringblomma blinds cannot be cut down to size if you wanted them to fit inside the window.

So if you are also a no-sew kind of person, and want to create a beautiful, affordable blind for your space try this method out. Let me know how you get on by commenting below. Also if you want to keep up to date with any of my how-to's then subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page and follow me on Instagram

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Top 5 Consoles that can double as a desk

Shop the look:

Creating the ultimate work from home space

How to make a no-sew Roman Blind

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