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Maxine Schnitzer Photography
Example of a classic freestanding desk dark wood floor craft room design in DC Metro with gray walls

Dorothy Hong, Photographer
Large elegant freestanding desk light wood floor and beige floor study room photo in New York with white walls

Dave Adams Photography
Mid-sized trendy built-in desk light wood floor and beige floor study room photo in Sacramento with white walls

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in Los Angeles with blue walls

Home office with two freestanding light wood desks and grey chairs, floating shelves above desks, light wood paneled walls, exposed beam ceiling with skylights, and concrete floors in mid-century-modern home renovation in the Berkeley Hills.- Photo by Bruce Damonte.

Inspiring and sexy, an office should be a space to create and produce. The velvet settee, Moroccan mirror, and layered patterns makes for a beautiful space. Krista Watterworth Design Studio. Photos by Troy Campbell. Krista Watterworth Design Studio, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

When it comes to finding inspiration for your house or apartment design, there are a variety of routes you can take. For some, it is important to dive into the latest trends in fashion and art, using only the most popular decor pieces and embracing the color palettes seen on runways or in home and garden magazines. But for others, it’s simply about discovering what feels most like “home.” Ashley Steele, the creator of A Styled Affair, was part of the latter group. “Since my husband and I were moving into a space that was previously owned, I needed a way to make it feel like it was truly ours, and unique to us,” she told our team. A Styled Affair sprang from Ashley’s passion for fashion, and need for a creative outlet. But it soon became more than that. She developed a following, and it quickly became a place where she could share her personal style, travel adventures, and lifestyle tips. “While the blogging industry has become overwhelmed with people sharing their favorite home decor or make-up tips, I think what sets A Styled Affair apart is my commitment to stay true to my unique taste. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum – and that carries through in the clothes I wear, the decor I select for our home, and the travels I plan.” Paintzen connected with Ashley as she was settling into her new home in Boston’s Seaport District. Although she and her husband have lived in Boston for almost 8 years, they were used to smaller, more traditional spaces. Their new home is much bigger, and more modern, than any place they lived before. “I wanted to select colors of comfort, simplicity, and sophistication so we could elevate the space and make it feel more like a home.” Ashley also accurately pointed out that new construction can sometimes feel a little cold and sterile, almost industrial. “I wanted our home to feel like a peaceful oasis after coming in from the bustling city.” Ashley chose soft white paint for her walls to bring a sense of comfort and zen. With lots of wall decor, art work and carefully selected furniture, the walls serve as a clean and comfortable palette, and allowed her more freedom when making her other design decisions throughout the space. Ashley kept the overall palette fairly neutral, and incorporated “modern bohemian” inspired decor throughout the home; the final product was clean and simple, and catered to her style. We asked Ashley what she was most excited for now. “I’m most excited to continue to find new decor pieces to compliment the paint colors and decor we’ve already found for the space. We have been really patient with decorating and selected each piece really careful to make sure it is cohesive and flows from room to room. I’m looking forward to enjoying the space with my husband and dog, and entertaining friends and family in the spring and summer!” A few final questions for Ashley on her experience with Paintzen: “I would highly recommend Paintzen to anyone, especially those that live in the city. There are so many different paint companies and contractors to choose from but going through Paintzen simplified the process and made me feel comfortable that we had the right team working on our space. Their platform for booking services and choosing paint colors made the process seamless and was a great way to keep track of what we booked and chose for colors. Most importantly, the customer service team was outstanding whenever we had a question or needed to make an adjustment.” And advice she would give someone repainting their home: “Patience. I would recommend taking your time and doing your research before selecting paint colors. Lighting changes every color so make sure to bring paint swatches and samples into the space and look at it throughout the day to see the different tones that the light will pick up. I would also recommend researching color trends and recommendations for colors in the family you are looking for. We found our living room color through a blog post listing top-used colors by interior designers and it looks amazing.”

Transitional freestanding desk light wood floor and brown floor study room photo in Dallas with gray walls

Ella Studios
Study room - small transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room idea in Minneapolis with gray walls

Mid-sized transitional freestanding desk beige floor and light wood floor study room photo in Miami with a standard fireplace and beige walls

Contractor: Legacy CDM Inc. | Interior Designer: Kim Woods & Trish Bass | Photographer: Jola Photography
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Chad Mellon Photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern freestanding desk light wood floor and beige floor study room remodel in Orange County with white walls

A home office space for the work from home man. The brown and beige palette create a masculine space. Photography by: Peter Rymwid
Example of a transitional built-in desk medium tone wood floor study room design in New York with beige walls

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Mid-sized transitional freestanding desk dark wood floor and brown floor study room photo in Dallas with white walls

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Shawn-Paul Luchin Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office design in San Francisco with white walls