Renovations

Steal This Look: A Minimalist Home Office in Manhattan, Gilded Edition

For remote workers everywhere, here’s a dose of inspiration for creating a serene home office—and it comes in a shade of Manhattan glamour: unlacquered brass and clean white walls. The office is in an 1828 Federal-style townhouse designed for an artist, her husband, and their baby by architect Susan Yun and designer Penelope August. Here we dissect the look from paint color to brass hardware to re-create the look.

Designer Penelope August decorated the office minimally, with a row of cream-colored apothecary (or shaving) mugs along the topmost floating shelf. Photograph by Devon Banks from Layers of History—and Color—in an Artist Couple’s 1828 Manhattan Townhouse.

Above: Designer Penelope August decorated the office minimally, with a row of cream-colored apothecary (or shaving) mugs along the topmost floating shelf. Photograph by Devon Banks from Layers of History—and Color—in an Artist Couple’s 1828 Manhattan Townhouse.

Paint

The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore’sAtrium White.

Above: The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore’sAtrium White.
For something similar to the blue on the storage cabinets, see Benjamin Moore’s Palatial Skies.

Above: For something similar to the blue on the storage cabinets, see Benjamin Moore’s Palatial Skies.

Lighting

For a flush-mount light similar to the ceiling light in the office, see the WAC Lighting BLO LED Ceiling Light ($72 to $90 at YLighting) or the Oxygen Lighting Rhythm Ceiling Light ($122 to $139).

Above: For a flush-mount light similar to the ceiling light in the office, see the WAC Lighting BLO LED Ceiling Light ($72 to $90 at YLighting) or the Oxygen Lighting Rhythm Ceiling Light ($122 to $139).
The Penelope August Star Table Lamp is the designer’s own design and is made with vintage Czech glass and an unlacquered brass base for $975 direct from Penelope August.

Above: The Penelope August Star Table Lamp is the designer’s own design and is made with vintage Czech glass and an unlacquered brass base for $975 direct from Penelope August.

Furniture

For similar white floating shelves, the White Lacquer Shelf is available in eight- and 10-inch lengths starting at $39 (currently on sale) at Rejuvenation.

Above: For similar white floating shelves, the White Lacquer Shelf is available in eight- and 10-inch lengths starting at $39 (currently on sale) at Rejuvenation.
The Micke Desk in white, with its stripped-down look, is similar to the custom built-in desk by August and Yun; $99 at Ikea.

Above: The Micke Desk in white, with its stripped-down look, is similar to the custom built-in desk by August and Yun; $99 at Ikea.
For a new version of the vintage chair, the Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Armchair Wood for Fritz Hansen is $1,327 at Design Within Reach.

Above: For a new version of the vintage chair, the Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Armchair Wood for Fritz Hansen is $1,327 at Design Within Reach.

Hardware

The Rejuvenation Classic Brass Register measuring four by 12 inches is currently on sale for $120 at Rejuvenation.

Above: The Rejuvenation Classic Brass Register measuring four by 12 inches is currently on sale for $120 at Rejuvenation.
The cabinet’s knuckle hinges in unlacquered brass are Premium Olive Knuckle Cabinet Hinges; $45 for a pair at House of Antique Hardware.

Above: The cabinet’s knuckle hinges in unlacquered brass are Premium Olive Knuckle Cabinet Hinges; $45 for a pair at House of Antique Hardware.
The Rejuvenation Ball Cabinet Knob in unlacquered brass is currently on sale for $8 at Rejuvenation.

Above: The Rejuvenation Ball Cabinet Knob in unlacquered brass is currently on sale for $8 at Rejuvenation.

For more home office design ideas, see our posts: