The Office.

Many lessons were learned in the year-long process of tearing out water-damaged pieces, insulating and re-envisioning this small space to become the most used room during daytime. A few messages for future selves to remember when designing other room projects:

1. Be confident in your decisions. The moment Carmella discovered Artichoke wallpaper, she could not move past the bold, unique design. After sorting through samples, no alternatives did the room justice quite like the Artichoke motif. They centered every decision on this eggplant wallpaper designed by a revolutionary artist and social activist in 1877. Despite initial doubts about painting a small room dark and a clear lack of wallpapering experience, the result turned out to be cohesive. In the end, William Morris was worth every penny spent, and every lesson learned.
2. Flexibility and determination are key! Because of holding remote jobs, the office was a critical project and multiple urgent issues interrupted completion. Leaks, plumbing replacements, and radiator repair are also crucial but delayed progress significantly. After learning the office held no insulation, work could not move forward with temperatures below 40F. It was not for a lack of effort the room took one year to complete. And that is part of the process.
3. Celebrate small victories. Reaching goals feels tremendously rewarding. Slow and meticulous cleaning, demolition, and repair tasks also require positive feedback. A positive feedback loop teaches our brain to feel proud of diligence and enables more consistent momentum. Painting and priming trim were tedious tasks. Yet, after a splash of “Dark Walnut” by Benjamin Moore met the walls, the momentum to finish exceeded the risk of wallpapering! Envisioning how it feels to sit at the desk chair in a complete space drove the projects across the finish line!
4. Start slowly to execute steadily. Successful project execution requires research and familiarity with products, installation techniques, and tools involved. Because of a proclivity to source secondhand materials and tools, a proficient understanding of the process is required alongside a steep learning curve. Project adaptations can add up through mistakes if old materials aren’t compatible.
5. Wallpapering and complex crown molding… Need more be said? The response from anyone when the wallpaper intent was shared included every form of negative, astonishment, and questioning of sanity and relationships. Why is wallpaper so frowned upon? This is not peel and stick, it was not easy, nor cheap and it is not perfect. Professionals deserve a lot of credit but the end result is something to be proud of!

Material list and project estimate not including owned tools nor computer setups:

1. After removing the drop ceiling to discover old, hidden water damage, lack of insulation, and weak inconsistent ceiling beams, the cost to repair: $339
   • Insulation $239
   • Drywall Pieces $80
   • Joint Compound $20
2. Supplies for achieving the color and cohesive design space: $436
   • Flooring $40 (Sourced secondhand local)
   • Paint $95 (Primary Color: Benjamin Moore – Dark Walnut, Trim Color: Benjamin Moore – Crisp Linen)
   • Wallpaper $301 (2 rolls of William Morris Artichoke from “Wallpaper from the 70s”)
3. Details to make this place really shine (aka cover the gap in the ceiling): $384
   • Crown Molding $285 (Outwater Plastics – Bogota, NJ)
   • Window Treatments $45 (curtain rods from Facebook Marketplace, drapes free secondhand)
   • 2 Desks & 2 Lamps $23 (local auctions)
   • Outlet Covers $31 (Kyle Switch Plates)
4. Total repair and renovation costs: $1,159

Based on the 3D rendering design concept above, the final result turned out even better than expected!