Sir Terence Conran, the great British designer and my personal design hero, had a special affection for light. He said “light, more than any other element of the interior, generates mood and atmosphere: it is a direct line to the emotion. Sight is our most highly developed sense, and it is not surprising that light, which renders the world visible should have a profound effect on the way we feel.”

I share this particular love with light and attest to how it affects my mood. My work in television and film also underscores the essential role of light especially in setting the mood of a scene. And this crosses over my living and work spaces.

During the lockdown in 2020, when the world was at a standstill, I finally had the time to invite more light into our home by painting the walls white. Good thing my husband was more than willing to participate in this project!  

..light, more than any other element of the interior, generates mood and atmosphere: it is a direct line to the emotion.

Sir Terence Conran, Easy Living

Meanwhile, I have been working in the same office space for 15 years. When I first moved in, it had blue green wall all around. The color might have been a popular interior designer choice over a decade ago, but it definitely made this this tiny 10  x 10 space feel cramped. Needless to say, it needed an update. Enter our boss who allowed us to design our own workspaces at the office and looked for funds for the renovation, a post-pandemic reward if you will.

Chapter 1: The Plan

I am in love with modern country interiors. The clean, cozy, and natural elements remind me so much of my home in Aklan, as well as the Spanish casitas I’ve seen in my travels. So obviously, this is my design of choice. I’m sure the late Sir Terence would approve!

Before we began the project, I have decided not to spend more than five thousand pesos (100 US dollars) on renovation. This meant I would only repaint the walls, restore the existing furniture, and put up a couple of shelves.

Opening up the Space

Nothing opens up a space more than light. And the office has plenty of that, what with windows that occupy most of one wall. Unfortunately, the dark paint muted all that light. So I had one wall painted white with the slightest tint of gray, and the rest, egg shell white. The result was a complete transformation in itself! The  white walls instantly bounced back all the light, transforming the atmosphere from bleak to bright!

Meanwhile, I have been facing the same wall for years so the layout needed to change, too! It was also important for me to make sure that I created independent areas for work, relaxation, and organization.

Chapter 2: The Transformation

Giving Old Furniture a Second Life

The furniture in this office are all hand-me-downs: from the desk and cabinets down to the chair! But as you probably know by now, I love old furniture so I don’t really mind. However, I wanted to update the main pieces to match my design. So with modern country in mind, I had the table painted egg shell white as well.

Meanwhile, I asked the carpenter to re-varnish and attach doors to the old book case.

I struggled a bit about what to do with the pantry shelf. It is a very old office piece so my initial thought was to just have it re-varnished as well. But then, I also wanted to have a pop of color in the room. In modern country design, a pop of color is essential as it serves several key purposes, contributing to the overall aesthetic and atmosphere of the space. It acts as a focal point, drawing the eye and adding visual interest to the room. It also breaks up the predictability of a predominantly neutral color palette, in this case, white.

Finally, after much thought, I decided to have it painted bright yellow to reflect my personality and style. It was a bold decision but it ultimately worked!

The Shelf of Curiosities

We all have objects that we love; things that we have bought or picked up somewhere that remind us of special moments in our lives. Nothing tells our story better than the curiosities found on our shelves and inside our cabinets.  This is exactly what this shelf is for- a special place for the things that I have collected during my years working here.

The Result: Something New from Something Old

I am quite pleased with how everything turned out. I did manage to stay within budget, only adding less than five thousand pesos (from my own pocket)  for the decors and accessories. The best part of this makeover is getting rid of all the clutter! I can now concentrate more on work because I’m not distracted by all the mess around me. I’m really thankful to our boss for pushing us to do this and supporting us all the way. So, what do you think?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Sight is our most highly developed sense, and it is not surprising that light, which renders the world visible should have a profound effect on the way we feel.

Sir Terence Conran, Easy Living