2 minute read
LIKE A BOSS
from JEIPwmcoct,
How designer Margie Doyle White eschewed trends when decorating her home office, sticking to one major tenet: to make the room a true reflection of herself.
TEXT SARA CATION | PHOTOGRAPHY DONNA GRIFFITH
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DESIGN, Doyle Design Group, margiedoyledesign. com; CONTRACTING, Heritage Building Restoration Group; Lulworth Blue 89 WALL PAINT, Farrow & Ball; DESK, Pottery Barn; CHAIR FABRIC, Thibaut at Kravet Canada; CHAIR UPHOLSTERY, Flair Custom Upholstery; RUG, Allan Rug Co.; STORAGE BOXES, IKEA.
FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK
▶ Nickel-plated steel Barometer TASK LAMP in Silver, $40, IKEA, ikea.ca.
▶ Trade Routes linen blend Medallion Paisley FABRIC in Blue and Green, $227 per yard, through designers, Thibaut at Kravet Canada, thibautdesign.com.
PERSONALIZE THE PALETTE “I don’t want to be calm and serene when I’m designing. I want to be charged and excited, and these hues scream, ‘Let’s get happy!’” says designer Margie Doyle White, referring to one of her favourite colour combos in her most favourite fabric, which covers the desk chair (actually an old dining chair she had reupholstered).
FOLLOW THE LIGHT Natural light has a way of making a room. This space suffered from small windows and was way too dark, so Margie replaced them with larger ones that allow her to appreciate the view. “Now, the sun pours in, and I look forward to starting my mornings here,” she says.
PRACTICE SMART STORAGE Of course, the secret to a stylish office is ample storage. Whether you source them from big-box stores or find unique antiques, lots of shelves, folders, cabinets and cases are a must for avoiding a mess. For corralling smaller supplies, the designer likes to get creative: “I repurpose pretty objects from around the house, such as small vases, coffee cups, bowls and juice jugs.”
CONSIDER THE VIEW Overlooking the leafy backyard, the window brings a lot of green into the room, which is another reason Margie chose it as an accent colour. “If you have large windows, it’s important to consider what they look out on. Make sure your design looks good with your vista and that they flow naturally together.”
MAKE YOURSELF SMILE Margie opted for minimal decor, keeping just a few beloved beauties in her line of vision while she works: artwork she adores (a collage by her daughter and a favourite print pulled from a Kate Spade New York coffee-table book) and photos of her daughter. There’s also one of Margie’s mother “back when she was trying to be a rebel,” says the designer. “I can always look up and see things that make me smile or giggle!”
▲ Oak and engineered wood Eliane DINING CHAIR in Natural with rayon blend seat fabric in Natural, $380, Pier 1 Imports, pier1.ca.
get the look bright & cheerful
▶ Winsome wood-plastic composite Delta DESK in White, $287, Walmart, walmart.ca.
◀ Behr Glacial Stream S490-2 PAINT, The Home Depot, homedepot.ca.
Lanart Rug sisal RUG bound in Blue, 6' x 4', $129, The Home Depot, homedepot.ca.
