A Chinoiserie Office Makeover in Connecticut

Spring arrives and all of a sudden we're ready to redecorate. Does anyone else get that fever too? Well, designer and photographer Erin Kestenbaum found herself doing just that and decided it was time to overhaul her home office! Looking to mix a touch of chinoiserie with a few modern touches, Erin turned to a few of her favorite vintage sources to blend old with new. The office was yet another DIY makeover Erin embarked on in the colonial Connecticut home she shares with her husband. We chatted with Erin about her design philosophies and the vision behind her home workspace.

Tell us a little about yourself and your business?

Two and a half years ago, my husband and I bought our first house: a 1940's Colonial in Coastal Connecticut that needed quite a bit of love. We have been spending our nights and weekends bringing character to the home, with the goal of using our DIY skills to create spaces that are elevated and look professionally executed. Additionally, I shoot interiors photography for designers local to NYC and Connecticut, capturing their own projects alongside my own, and also work in Marketing for a NYC-based retail start-up.

What’s a typical work day for you like?

While I don't work from my home office on daily basis, I'm typically working in my office during nights and weekends on editing photos, creating design schemes, and blogging about the progress we're making on our home projects.

How do you blend your love of interiors with photography?

Every time I'm designing a space, my first consideration is how the room will photograph: what are the key angles of the room, where is there opportunity to craft a shot, and how will people interact and experience the space. Once a project enters an execution phase, I'm shooting photos in the middle to identify what the space might be missing or identifying visually the opportunities to push the space further. And then finally, once a space is completed, I'm capturing the photos of the space. By working with local designers, I'm also able to assist with styling to capturing other incredible spaces, and sharing that love of both interiors and photography with my clients and the homeowners.

Take us through your office, what was your vision when designing the space? Is it in line with the decor of your home or is this room a little different?

When designing the office, my first focus was on the function of the space and laying out the room to allow for more organization and better flow. By moving the desk to the wall most visible from the hallway it created a natural opportunity for a focal point. I had been obsessing for months over this theme of modern chinoiserie: combining a traditional chinoiserie wallpaper mural with more modern furniture and accessories. In every room I design, I'm looking to infuse modern and traditional design together, and I wanted this space to continue that theme. Once I found this epic Tempaper Chinoiserie Wallpaper, it became an anchor for the room, and all the other pieces fell into place. I like to think of the rooms in my home as siblings and not twins: they all share traditional moulding details (like crown moulding and ceiling medallions), immersive wall treatments, modern lighting and vintage casegoods, and the office fits in perfectly without being overly matching to the other rooms.

What are your must haves for a home office - especially for those that spend most of the time working from home?

My essentials for working in an at home office are a comfortable desk chair (this CB2 one was a huge upgrade from my previous very uncomfortable vintage chair), ample task lighting, window treatments to control glare, and a large monitor for editing photos.

What is your favorite thing about the space? (an item, section of the room, etc.)

This is a toss up between the wallpaper mural - the detailing in the printing is so incredible and the metallic sheen is gorgeous, and the vintage Chinese Elmwood desk that I won at auction - it's from the late 1800's and was constructed using only dowels with no nails or screws. It's an amazing example of craftsmanship that you rarely encounter in new furniture.

Did you go totally DIY on this project or did you have a little help?

We DIY-ed this entire project, from hanging the crown moulding, refinishing the floors, hanging the wallpaper, building the window bench and painting the entire space, we did it all.

For someone looking to revamp their office, where should one start?

Start with your functional needs, because without storage, it will quickly look cluttered and be somewhere that you don't feel inspired to work.

What are your favorite places to shop for pieces?

I love vintage furniture and spend lots of time scouring Facebook Marketplaces, Craigslist and estate sales for one of a kind treasures that are both unique and also very budget friendly. I also love working with vintage rug vendors that I've discovered on Instagram, like Zartiques, for rugs that bring instant patina, warmth, and character to any room. For non-vintage finds, I love CB2 for modern, clean lined furniture and affordable accessories.

What’s on your home ‘wish list’ right now?

Right now, I'm on the hunt for statement-making outdoor dining chairs, lots of planters for our patio, and a great outdoor rug.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone embarking on their own DIY home project?

Document everything! There are so many process photos that I wish I had taken in order to properly share exactly how others in my shoes can accomplish the same project.

Photography: Erin Kestenbaum | Interior Design: Erin Kestenbaum