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Sitting comfortably?!

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Earlier on in the week I completed my well overdue home office revamp (see the before and after here)- phew! It's been a dream sitting there ever since (I'm not sure why it took me so long, isn't that always the case?!). Even so, there was still one piece of the jigsaw missing. As someone who loves design, I'm often tempted to go for form over function. And one thing I've been compromising on is my office chair. Apparently this is so easy to do when you work from home. And as someone who sits for long hours at a computer - the flea-market wooden chair was just no longer cutting it. The final straw came when I needed physio on my neck - apparently thanks to my beloved chair - gulp! It was time to bring an ergonomic desk chair into the mix!

I was thrown into a slight panic: we all like things to look good in our home, and well, ergonomic chairs are not always synonymous with 'design'.  After a little research I selected the Humanscale Diffrient World Chair, created by iconic industrial designer Niels Diffrient.


The chair has everything my physio listed. Made from an intelligent mesh, it's height adjustable (to find your optimum height, stand in front of your chair and adjust so your seat is just below your knee. In a sitting position, your feet should be flat on the ground and knees bent at a 90 degree angle), features depth, back tilt and arm support, has good lumbar support, and offers all the features needed to encourage posture changes throughout the day: it swivels, rolls on good quality castors and has a back rest that flexes with your body.

In other words it's unbelievably comfortable when I'm sitting around reading magazines all day working - and good for my general well being. Result!




Now, I thought it was just me who thought it looked pretty sleek, but then my Danish artist neighbour Daphne (not to be confused with my other neighbour's dog by the same name!) popped in for a fika (coffee and cake) earlier, spotted the chair and started hopping up and down saying this is exactly what her husband needed to replace his giant-sized monstrosity currently cluttering up a corner of their sitting room AKA the 'home office'! And let me tell you, she has very good taste!

So here I am, happy as Larry (anyone know who Larry actually is?!), tinkering away at my desk - no neck pain in sight.

Although I do need a new monitor.

And I once read in a guide somewhere that you should always keep your feet warm by wearing socks when working from home.

Is there no end to the list of 'office well-being' requirements? Oh well, at least I have the chair now. Baby steps my friends, baby steps!

If you're feeling inspired for your office (home or otherwise) - the Humanscale Diffrient World Chair is available in black, grey and white from Houseology (ships worldwide). You can also see other chairs in the collection here.

Stay comfy!

PS  For those of you who think my office is usually this immaculate - it's not - it's simply because I've just renovated the space (except for the floor which, thanks to the high res image, I can clearly see is also in need of a touch up - although it's quite charming, no?!). I'm certainly going to make the most of it while it lasts though!


This post is brought to you in collaboration with Houseology,  however all words are my own and I only ever work with brands I love and think you will too.

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Vintage inspired office spaces

Imagine these office spaces on a daily basis? (oooo that rhymes - I'm a poet and I just don't know it :). Swap flourescent strip lights and withering plants with vintage pendent lamps and beautiful things to look at all day.


Picture: Stylizimo.  
What a collection of wonderful vintage things! Source similar at flea markets in your area, or try online at The Old Cinema. You can find shabby chic garden chairs at Petersham Nursery, London or Green Square in Copenhagen. 

Picture: found on Lotta Agaton blog. Photographer: Bjarni B Jacobsen. 

The pic above and the following two are taken from Oliver Gustav's home shown on Lotta Agaton's lovely design blog. Oliver Gustav lives above his eponymous shop in Copenhagen. His apartment / home office is very rough and ready with a tremendous mix of old and new and certainly beats an open plan office or what?!


I have seen this fantastic large numbered calendar in the design shop at Lousiana, Denmark, does anyone know the name of it? I would love one in my home office, it would be hard to forget the date!



Buy vintage pendent lamps at Lauritz. Source a wired basket from Granit. Buy an orange Wesco bin like this one from Amazon.


And finally,  I love this light and airy office space shown on the Adore Vintage blog.

Roll on Monday morning!


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Before And After: A Dated Georgia House Gets The Scandi Treatment!

Oh, how I love to see before and after shots. I find it so inspiring to get an idea of the complete transformation - and the feeling that anything is possible with a little imagination and hard graft (and depending on the scale, some cash, of course!) - how about you? When my amazingly talented friend Valentina Fussell acquired her home in Georgia, Atlanta it was dated and a sea of beige, beige and more beige. But the moment she and her husband Jack and their three children stepped through the door they were in love. Looking at the bones, I can totally see why! Valentina had the vision to turn the house into a striking, contemporary, light-filled home inspired by their years abroad, including a stint in Copenhagen. You might recall a previous feature of the house here (and a tour of their Danish home here) but I couldn't resist revisiting the space today to share a little more about the transformation and show some of the before pictures. Drumroll, please! 

KITCHEN (BEFORE)

AFTER 
Valentina and Jack completely gutted the kitchen and decided on dark grey cabinets (from Bell Cabinetry & Design) to add energy and a sense of drama to the space. Dark colours also help to mask appliances. 

VALENTINA'S OFFICE (BEFORE)

AFTER
Perhaps the most dramatic room in the house, Valentina's office has been painted entirely in dark grey. the large windows help to bathe the space in light. It reminds me a little of the lovely home of Lotta Agaton - what do you think? 

LIVING ROOM (BEFORE)

AFTER
Valentina stuck to her monochromatic scheme and added warmth with details such as books, figurines, photos and plants as well as cushions and blankets. The wood floor is from Authentic Reclaimed Hardwoods and selected due to the imperfect 'alive' nature of the grain which adds texture and a relaxed feel to the monochrome space. I have to say; this room is BEYOND...!!! 

JACK'S OFFICE (BEFORE)

AFTER
This bedroom was transformed into Jack's office. A work in progress (although I struggle to see how it can be improved!), the office has been decorated with a black and white scheme with added texture and interest from a large, patterned rugs, art other personal possessions. 



MASTER BATHROOM (BEFORE)

AFTER
The master bathroom was the first room in the house to be renovated. The pair opted for a more classic look so it would stand the test of time. 

VALENTINA'S DAUGHTER'S ROOM
Valentina's daughter was given free rein to decorate her bedroom. And judging by the results, it seems an eye for design runs in the family! My eldest daughter also loves to personalise her room with pictures - usually ripped out without scissors and haphazardly stuck to the wall using copious amounts of Sellotape! I am feeling particularly inspired by the way the pictures have been displayed in this teenage bedroom! Great inspiration! Thank you! 


What an incredible transformation, don't you think?! Valentina is just so clever!! 

If you're curious to hear more about the renovations and see more of the home (including 'the catwalk' and amazing conservatory, take a peek at her films here and here

Valentina recently relaunched House of Valentina stateside and helps others buy, sell, renovate and decorate. One day she dreams of opening a shop loaded with all the items used to stage and decorate homes. If she does, I'll be the first in line, how about you?! 

See more fabulous 'before and afters'! 

Have a lovely day! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Valentina Fussell with thanks. 

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Could you imagine working in this studio?!

This week I officially went back after the summer (cue the daily posts!). As many of you know, before I decided to focus on my own projects I worked for a multinational corporation in a large open plan office over looking a car park on one side and a motorway on the other (guuuuh!). These days my work environment looks a little different. But I've learned that wherever you work there are always small updates you can do to shake things up a little and make it your own. Take Holly Marder's lovely studio in Delft, Holland. I featured it a while ago here, and now she's made some wonderful updates....both small and large. Let's take a peek.....












Photography / styling - Holly Marder / Avenue Lifestyle.

Could you imagine working here?!

A few items I know and love: Cove and Leaf lines posters. Anne Black hanging planters. Wicker chair from Tine K Home. Leaning rack from Walden. The fab side-cabinet doors are from Superfront.

Holly's bedroom is pretty lovely too (in case you missed it previously). 

See the full feature which includes 'six steps to a fun, fresh and functional home office' over on Holly's blog

For more office inspiration today you might also want to check out the creative studio of Katrin Bååth, a beautiful Italian design studio and the fabulous studio of an interior designer. Soooo fab! It wouldn't feel like work in any of these would it?!

Love these work links too:

The 9 best TED talks to help you kick ass at work. 

This picture of Ulrike Theusner in her studio.

My 'work' Pinterest board features over 600 lovely office, studio and atelier spaces - can you believe that?!

7 daily habits of highly productive people (strange, it doesn't include slow coffee and long breakfasts - not sure about this list?!).

This beautiful studio has been created by IKEA! The Alex drawers are a favourite of mine.

How lovely is this mid-century desk? Hurry though, it's a one off!

Now I feel like I need to update my office - again! How about you? I'd love to hear about your work space!

Have a lovely day!

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An Inspiring, Light-Filled Workspace / Studio in Hannover

What does your work (creative / bill paying / studying) space look like? Since my career started in the early 00's the 'workspace' has changed an incredible amount. My first ever job fresh out of uni, was in Dubai. We had a nice office above the tennis stadium but it still makes me shudder to recall the receptionist diligently recording our arrival time in an excel sheet - waiting to admonish us by the end of the week ( a regular occurrence for a night owl!). I've also worked in corporate offices in London, Lund and Copenhagen - as well as from home. But these days I finally feel like I've 'landed' in the shape and form of a wonderful, light-filled studio in the centre of Malmö. Best of all - every morning a freshly brewed coffee awaits - no excel timesheet in sight. 

This year, those who can, have worked from home - and I have a sneaking suspicion, this is set to continue. For those of you who need social interaction, a local studio is a great alternative. Thankfully, there are some wonderful, relaxed, friendly, and practical ones popping up in every city. 

If you live in Hannover, Germany you're in luck! My talented friend and businesswoman extraordinaire Holly Becker of Decor8 blog has just opened Decor8 Studio

Divided into two rooms, the studio is located bang in the city centre and perfect to rent for offsite team meetings, photoshoots, podcast production, workshops, events and just about anything else your work might involve. It's also decorated in true Holly Becker style: minimalist, with pops of pastel and some beautiful furniture and accessories. So, even if you don't live in the north German city, there are plenty of ideas to steal for your own home and workspace! 

Ready for the tour?

The Shoot Space

The light-filled 'shoot space' room has been painted in fresh white with a beautiful pale yellow / wheat ('Organic No. 317') accent wall. FYI This colour was everywhere at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen a few weeks back - and set to be a strong trend for 2021!). 

A simple round table from IKEA serves as a perfect place for meetings and a Vertigo pendant lights up the room after dark. 

The Punctual shelves in blue are from Ferm Living and a vintage Alky lounge chair by Castelli Brown provides as a perfect spot for a quite read between shoots! 

Simple white sculptural pieces such as the Shell vase* and Ridge vase can be seen on the shelves alongside interior magazines. 

Holly made the desk herself using plywood and trellis legs.

The Gathering Space

The bright and airy room next door is a dedicated 'Gathering Space' and features a kitchen and dining area as well as a balcony with lovely views over Bödekerstr - a picturesque quarter of Hannover. In this room, Holly has opted for an earthy accent wall in 'Linen' - a textured clay-based paint by Nen.do) which gives the room a wonderful, calm feel. 

A HAY loop table takes centre stage under a large rattan pendant light from Market Set (one of my latest favourites from the lighting world!). 

An HK Living knotted cushion and white sheepskin throw* help guests to feel comfy! 

The gallery wall has been made up of a blend of mirrors, photography, samples and prints (The Poster Club* is a great source for similar prints and ships worldwide - just saying!).

Skagerak natural wood and white bookshelf has been placed near the window beside a Menu afteroom chair* and a linen pin board from Ferm Living

I'd be quite happy spending a day or two (actually scrap that - working FULL TIME) in this studio, how about you? Sadly, Hannover is a little far from Malmö, so instead I'll be stealing some ideas for my own studio instead, how about you?!

You can see more pictures of the studio in the latest edition of 'Holly magazin' (in German)- alongside a piece about our Autumn #30dayhomelove instagram challenge which is currently running on instagram. If you haven't already, why not come and join the final 14 days?

Visit Decor8 Studio / @decor8studiospace to book this space. 

I hope this tour has given you plenty of inspiration today! If it's got you in the mood for a revamp, there's a load more inspiration here: 

Home office

Studios / Co-working / Atelier spaces

From my own home:

What does your workspace look like? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! 

Niki

Photographs courtesy of Holly Becker / Decor8 Studio

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