As a self-proclaimed style obsessive you would think I’d have every aspect of my aesthetic life down cold. I can style an outfit with my eyes closed. But when it comes to decorating my house, well, let me tell you a little story.

Two years ago my husband and I completed a massive home renovation. Throughout the process I chose not to hire an interior designer, so each and every detail fell to me. Tile, paint, fixtures, wood flooring, cabinetry, you name it, I chose it. By the time the process was complete, I was totally over having to make even One. More. Decision. Things like artwork, furniture and drapery became enormously daunting tasks.

In the two years since, I’ve managed to cobble together our living room and master bedroom (we needed a couch and a bed after all), but there is one area in our home still facing major neglect – the loft. Originally intended to be our home office, the space has nothing more than an area rug, green screen and a few light boxes. It needs help. It could be so much more than just a makeshift photo studio. As someone who works from home, it’s time for me to move my computer off the kitchen table and create a proper office. It’s been two years!

There comes a point in adulthood when you’re ready for things to stop looking and feeling like college. I no longer want to haphazardly acquire things and cross my fingers that they fit.

I need help.

I first learned about Homepolish from their amazing work with Rumi Neely and Leandra Medine. After viewing the stunning imagery of their home and office revamps I knew the Homepolish designers were my kind of people.

I promptly investigated to figure out how it all worked. First, you do a free in-home consultation with a designer. If you aren’t located in one of their 20 cities with brick and mortar offices, the consultation is done over video conference. After discussing your goals and mapping out a plan, you choose whether or not to hire the designer. If so, you pay an hourly rate.

In order to get our loft in beautiful, working order, I started to browse through the Homepolish archives for inspiration. Organized by room or style, I gravitated towards a contemporary glam aesthetic infused with eclectic elements.

Design by Elisa Shankle, Photos by Claire Esparros for Homepolish
The Man Repeller office revamp that introduced me to Homepolish

If you’re a long time reader, you know that my personal style follows this same path. I lean towards contemporary pieces with a flair for the dramatic – voluminous silhouettes, exaggerated draping and mixed media. The copper chairs are the statement piece in the room but their neutral tone and structured shape give the space a cohesive and inviting flow.  Eclectic, yet functional.

First image: Design by Stefani Stein, Photos by Amy Bartlam for Homepolish
Second image: Design by Jennifer Hallock, photos by Claire Esparros for Homepolish

Key Elements
While going through their archives I found several articles about what to consider when decorating a home office.  The key point that stood out was to create a space that inspires productivity and creativity.  A clean color palette seems like the best starting point; I don’t want to be distracted by a busy room.  I love the neutral, airy vibe of the above rooms.  Both are anchored with pop colors – hello sassy pink and striped coffee table (look familiar) – and use mirrors, plant life and interesting art to open up the space and inspire creativity.

Design by Annochkah Engel, photos by Julia Robbs for Homepolish

Cohesive Style
Since our home is craftsman style I want to incorporate elements that will lend well to its cozy feel. This sitting nook is the perfect blend of traditional and modern with its built-in bookcases and crown molding on the light fixture. And how amazing are those powder blue velvet chairs?  They look incredibly lush and give the room that touch of feminine glam I’m going for.

First image: Design by Tali Roth, Photos by Julia Robbs
Second image: Design by Bree Callahan, Photos by Amy Bartlam for Homepolish

Function
I’ve always wanted a vision board right above a huge work desk, so when I saw these images from fashion designer Rebecca Taylor’s office I was smitten.  I love the idea of refreshing the board every month with my latest whims, brainstorms and reflections.

Since our loft is on the small side, efficiently utilizing the space will be critical.  Floating shelves get things off the floor and out of drawers without taking up too large a footprint.  I love how they used floral wallpaper behind the shelves in Rebecca Taylor’s office and textured wallpaper in the second photo.

Now that I have my inspiration and vision in place, I’m excited to start working with a Homepolish designer. I think all style obsessives can relate to one common theme: we know what we like and we know what we don’t like.  The problem is having to sift through the myriad of choices on offer.  By working with a designer, I won’t have to stress about spending hours on furniture websites, returning things that don’t work and generally just spinning my wheels when I get stuck in a rut.  I’ll have someone to manage all of that for me while sticking to my budget and timeline.

Stay tuned in the months ahead for my office reveal. I can’t tell you how good it’s going to feel to finally have our office in working order!

If you’re in the midst of a remodel or considering a revamp, check out Homepolish for some major design inspo. And please share your journeys and questions with me! I’d love to hear what design choices you’re considering and how the process goes for you.

This post was created in partnership with Homepolish. All opinions are my own.