One Room Challenge, Reveal Finale!

Hi guys! How’s it going? I’ve been a ball of nerves for the past week but it’s finally here: T H E R E V E A L! Ok no more teasing, here it is! My one room challenge office & dining room are complete!

This project was truly a labor of love. I love having an office space for many reasons, but now that I am my own boss, I truly NEEDED one that would hold up for all the work & business development I have to do. The worst thing to me is being in an office space I can’t focus in, one that is not functional and/or inspirational for me.

My objective here was to make an office space that was comfortable, didn’t scream OFFICE SPACE, inspired me and reflected my own personality (since I will be here 24/7 moving forward). I had to also include space for my husband, because we can not share a desk any longer…and he has his own ventures he’s working on! I’m so pleased with what I churned out!

1st and foremost, I chose Ikea desk tops & legs (since this is a rental & who knows if these desks will fit in my next space), used an existing file cabinet, bought another to match from CB2 (because we always need file cabinets), and added a pair of mid-century Project 62 target chairs, with Ikea shearlings. I CAN’T design a room without shearling guys! It’s one of my favorite textures to use…softens ANY space up!

Ok, moving on to my vintage cabinet that will be storing most of my office supplies & fabric/rug/stone samples. I needed something hearty but also unique. It’s hard for me to design a room without a vintage piece either, and this one brings so much character and charisma to my space. I love that the top portion is cane, and drops down. I intend to use this portion for supplies, and the rest of the drawers for fabrics. I added a shelf above for two pieces of art I hold dear to my heart. The left is a vintage mola from Panama, a handwoven artifact I like to have around to remind me where I came from & how creative my people are! It’s a joyful piece for sure. The right is a vintage photograph of a construction worker looking out at the NYC skyline from a local bridge (I think the GWB), given to me by a dear friend, which I held onto for YEARS before finally framing it for this project. This is now how I look at NYC these days! I like to see it in my rearview mirror for the most part! HA!

Now, if you know me, you know I am an organized individual and can’t start my week without writing a to-do list. I enjoy getting things done and crossing my tasks out. I also like having a physical calendar in my office! I often lose track of time/dates, etc., so it’s so useful for me to see things written on a calendar I can glance at on a daily basis. Because of all of these factors (and the need for constant inspiration) I created a wall with corkboard & whiteboards (hung with ‘removable’ 3M velcros) so I can both pin-up/magnet inspiration, floor plans, etc. AND write down my to-do lists/update calendar.

Finally…plants are always fulfilling, and I believe they bring good vibes, so I chose this tall Dracaena Janet Craig which grows upwards and will STAY OUT OF THE WAY. hehe I had a royal palm I originally intended for this room, but those plants tend to spread outwards and need a lost of space to grow, diameter wise. Let’s see how I do with caring for it! Doesn’t need too much water it seems and is easy to maintain, so wish me luck!

Ok, now for the dining room! Again, since this is a rental, I had to go with removable wallpaper & plug-in sconces here. There is no light in any of the 1st floor rooms except the kitchen, because of the beams (I’m not mad at that—I usually hate overhead lighting anyway…in bedrooms mostly but I’ll make an exception here), making this a sweet romantic spot most nights! I love the moodiness the sconces have introduced to the space.

In the past few years, we have moved around so much, between getting married, switching jobs, and having a kid, I’ve just been shclepping my old furniture to each apartment. But this apartment is soooo beautiful, my soul felt it had to do it justice. I enjoy hosting & have a very large family who I never have space for in my apartments…. I also take after my mother, and have been told I am a pretty good cook (I’m not gonna say I love it, because I don’t).

For entertaining purposes (and my LARGE 10ppl min. immediate family), I purchased an extendable table from West Elm, paired them with my old wishbone chairs, and added a black stained oak tripp trapp chair from Stokke for my son. The mix of woods had me nervous at first, but I like that the light oak picks up on the cane of the vintage cabinet, and doesn’t make the composition feel too heavy. I’m excited to plan my first dinner party in my adult home (in the way I envisioned it), and excited to invite my family over to fit around a table for once!

And I couldn’t finish the room without carving out space for our son…

If you’re a mom, you know that your kids always want to be where you are! He sometimes zones out here and starts drawing, and as an artist, I appreciate that, and will likely nurture it…whichever direction he goes :) I purchased these chalkboard decals online for no more than $15, painted his easel from Ikea for about $10, quick fix! It seems Ezekiel has been aware and more drawn to this color than the original natural wood color, and for that, I am proud.

He’s observant, and understands things have changed in these rooms. I keep wondering what he’s going to be when he grows up…because he IS so observant. I remember my parents telling me I was like that as a young child, so he may just get it from me. Interior Designer or football player? I guess we will just have to wait and see!

Thank you all so much for your support these past 8 weeks. I couldn’t have done it without you! I hope you enjoyed following my journey, the process, and understand a little more of what interior design entails.

More than anything else, through this process I learned how much community (and God), comes through for you when you least expect it. I’ve just started my own company, and I managed to find the resources to renovate a room—not on my own, but through the help of others.

With that I will say, so thankful for the oneroomchallenge! The pressure to complete this in 8 weeks was totally needed. If I didn’t have that pressure it probably would have been completed at a snail’s pace. Also, thanks for taking a week off to amplify black voices, it showed me that I was part of something that acknowledged and respected me as a black designer, which is rarely done, yet VERY important.

Much thanks to my friends & neighbors who helped me put things together when I needed, grateful for artists Roma Osowo & Christa David who provided me with the most joyful, inspiring art I could think of, and finally, many thanks to the local 100 Main Street & Honeychurch Home shops, who lended me accessories for the photoshoot. The accessories are soooo good and the photoshoot would have been drab without them!

I’m pleased with how everything came out, and I hope you are too! Much love and until the next #oneroomchallenge

If you want to continue to keep in touch with me (NOT ONCE A WEEK I CAN’T DO THAT AGAIN), once a month, sign up for my newsletter on casamarcelo.co. If you want to browse through more project photos, you can check out the newly added gallery on my website.

And please, don’t forget to check out other reveals on the oneroomchallenge blog!