Unveiling My Mid Century Modern Work Sanctuary

Welcome to the grand reveal of our brand-new Fit Foodie HQ home office! We’re absolutely thrilled to pull back the curtain on this multi-person workspace, a meticulously designed space that perfectly blends mid-century modern aesthetics with ultimate functionality. Get ready to explore every detail, from the stylish open shelving that proudly displays our photography props and an abundance of vibrant plants, to chic modern decor elements and a striking wall tapestry that ties the whole room together. This isn’t just an office; it’s a creative sanctuary built to inspire productivity and comfort for our entire team.

Home Office Room Reveal

The day is finally here – our highly anticipated home office reveal! For those of you following along on Instagram, you know I’m not the best at keeping exciting projects under wraps, so you’ve likely caught glimpses of this transformation journey already. While the space is largely complete and ready for its big debut, we do have a few finishing touches still in the pipeline, like new windows scheduled for installation in mid-December and the exciting second phase of our office evolution. However, the current progress is simply too stunning not to share immediately! We’ve poured our hearts into creating a space that is not only beautiful but also incredibly functional for the entire Fit Foodie team.

The Renovation Journey: From Vision to Reality

Embarking on any home renovation project can be a significant undertaking, and our journey to create the Fit Foodie HQ office was no exception. While we fortunately didn’t have to tackle major structural changes like knocking down walls, the process still involved a substantial list of tasks to bring our vision to life. It’s funny how a project can seem manageable at the outset, only to reveal its true scope as you delve deeper!

Here’s a detailed look at the construction and renovation work we undertook to create this dream workspace:

  • New Paint: We meticulously selected Pure White (SW 7005) by Sherwin-Williams. This foundational choice was crucial for achieving the “white and bright” aesthetic that defines our office, providing a clean, airy backdrop for all our design elements.
  • Remove and Replace Baseboards/Trim: Our home, built in 1939, possesses incredible character, but its original baseboards and trim needed an update. Mark and I enthusiastically removed these ourselves early on, a task that surprisingly took us a good three months to find reliable help to patch things up and install the new, modern-yet-classic versions.
  • Wall Patching: Essential after removing old trim and in preparation for a flawless paint finish, extensive wall patching was required to ensure smooth surfaces throughout the room.
  • New Lighting: Modern and efficient lighting was a key component to enhance both the aesthetic and functionality of the workspace. This included recessed lighting for general illumination and a stunning central fixture.
  • Room Styling: This was the creative heart of the project, involving the careful selection and placement of every piece of furniture, decor, and plant to create a cohesive and inspiring environment.
  • Windows and Window Trim*: Slated for installation in mid-December, new windows will significantly improve insulation, natural light, and the overall exterior aesthetic, complemented by fresh, clean trim.
  • Door Refinishing*: The existing door will be refinished to match the updated aesthetic of the room, ensuring every detail contributes to the cohesive design.
  • Light Switch Replacement*: Minor but impactful, replacing old light switches with modern, sleek options adds to the refined finish.
  • Heat Register Refinishing*: Even the heat registers are getting an aesthetic upgrade, refinished to blend seamlessly with the new wall color and trim.

Reflecting on this list, it’s clear we accomplished quite a bit! Our overarching goal for this 1939 home is to preserve its inherent character while infusing it with contemporary touches and finishes. This office perfectly embodies that philosophy, blending vintage charm with modern practicality.

The Design Philosophy: Mid-Century Modern + White and Bright

Every exceptional design project begins with a clear vision, and for the Fit Foodie home office, that vision coalesced into what we fondly call “Mid-Century + White and Bright.” Our initial step was to meticulously craft a mood board, a process that involved countless hours of research and inspiration gathering on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. We explored various styles, but kept returning to the timeless elegance and clean lines of mid-century modern design, specifically tailored with a fresh, airy feel.

The core tenets of this style for our office were creating an environment that felt inherently bright, open, and serene, with ample natural light and a profusion of lush greenery. It was paramount that this space not only be aesthetically pleasing but also a highly inspiring and comfortable sanctuary for our team to work, collaborate, and innovate. We believe a well-designed workspace significantly impacts creativity and well-being.

Following the general mood boarding, we transitioned into pinning specific products that resonated with our design objectives. We want to extend a tremendous thank you to Overstock for generously sponsoring the majority of the incredible products featured in this room. Their extensive selection and commitment to style made them the ideal partner for sourcing everything we needed. All opinions expressed in this post are, of course, entirely our own. Overstock truly proved to be the perfect online retailer for transforming this space, reinforcing my love for online shopping!

Crafting the Ideal Workspace for Collaboration and Creativity

The heart of any office is its workspace, and for Fit Foodie HQ, we needed a dynamic setup that fostered collaboration without sacrificing individual comfort. Our choices reflect a deep understanding of team dynamics and aesthetic integration.

The Multi-Person Office Table: A Hub of Collaboration

When envisioning our ideal multi-person office table, a round design was initially far from my thoughts. However, I am now incredibly glad we embraced this choice! We sought a table that was distinctly white and mid-century in its essence, striking the perfect balance – neither too dominant nor too diminutive for the room. This particular table comfortably accommodates three team members, with ample space for a fourth to join in a truly comfortable manner. Its thoughtful design, featuring warm wood legs and sophisticated black accents, perfectly complements the overall aesthetic of the room, adding a touch of natural warmth and modern contrast. The circular shape also promotes a more inclusive and natural flow of conversation and idea-sharing, making it an ideal central hub for our creative endeavors.

Product: Mod Made Paris Tower White Round Dining Table

Fit Foodie HQ

Mid Century Modern Office Chairs: Blending Style and Ergonomics

In selecting our office chairs, we maintained a steadfast commitment to the mid-century modern style, with a specific goal of perfectly matching the wood tones of the chair legs to those of our elegant roundtable. The chairs we ultimately chose have truly captured our hearts. They feature a sophisticated, simple light grey upholstery, beautifully contrasted with sturdy oak legs that echo the warmth of the table. Practicality also played a role; these chairs are conveniently sold in a set of two, making it easy to furnish our multi-person workspace with cohesive style. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these chairs offer a comfortable seating experience, essential for long periods of creative work and collaboration, embodying form and function seamlessly.

Product: Sasha Oak Barrel Back Dining Chairs

Mid-Century grey chair with aztec pillow

The Bohemian Rug: Grounding the Space with Texture

The rug in our office has quickly become one of my favorite elements, adding both visual interest and a cozy foundation to our workspace. We deliberately opted for a rectangular rug, creating a beautiful geometric contrast with the circular shape of our dining table. This handmade, bohemian-style rug measures a generous 5′ x 8′, providing ample coverage. Its subdued white and grey tones ensure it doesn’t overwhelm the “white and bright” theme, while its incredibly soft texture invites comfort and warmth. A crucial design tip when placing a rug under a table: always ensure the rug extends approximately a foot beyond all edges of the table sitting atop it. This ensures that chairs remain on the rug even when pulled out, creating a cohesive and well-proportioned seating area.

Product: Safavieh Natura Bohemian Wool Rug

Bohemian Rug

Illuminating Inspiration: The Art of Office Lighting

Lighting is more than just illumination; it’s a critical design element that can define the mood and functionality of a space. For our Fit Foodie HQ, we aimed for a fixture that was both practical and a statement piece, truly embodying the mid-century modern aesthetic.

Sputnik Gold Fixture: A Celestial Centerpiece

From the early stages of planning, I knew a sputnik-style light fixture was a non-negotiable for our office. There’s an undeniable charm and dynamic energy that this iconic design adds to any room, creating incredible visual dimension and a focal point. While I briefly considered a flush-mount fixture for its simplicity, my heart was ultimately stolen by a stunning sputnik design I discovered on Overstock. This particular 17.5-inch gold fixture, adorned with classic Edison bulbs, offered an extra layer of versatility with two different hanging lengths from the ceiling. Given that our office possesses a cozy, quaint charm without exceptionally high ceilings, we ingeniously adapted the fixture by removing half of the piping that connected it to the ceiling. This clever modification ensured it hung at the perfect height, integrating seamlessly into our space and becoming a radiant centerpiece that commands attention without overpowering the room.

Product: Safavieh Lighting 17.5 Inch (Gold)

Sputnik fixture

Smart Office Storage: Combining Aesthetics with Practicality

Effective storage is paramount in any functional office, especially for a creative business like Fit Foodie HQ, which involves numerous props and administrative essentials. Our storage solutions are designed to be both highly practical and beautifully integrated into the mid-century aesthetic.

The Elegant Buffet: A Storage Workhorse

Incorporating a buffet into the office design proved to be an invaluable decision, offering an incredible amount of additional storage for all the varied items that accumulate in an active workspace. This elegant piece serves as a discreet yet highly efficient home for countless administrative supplies, ensuring a clutter-free environment crucial for focus and productivity. Furthermore, it perfectly houses our extensive collection of styling fabrics – essential tools for our food photography – and even neatly conceals our printer, keeping technology out of sight while remaining easily accessible. The buffet not only meets our practical storage needs but also contributes to the sophisticated, uncluttered look of the room, truly embodying form meeting function.

Product: Modern Buffet

Modern buffet with circle mirror

Mid Century Modern Shelves: A Prop Photographer’s Dream

A dedicated shelving unit for all our photography props was not merely a desirable feature; it was an absolute necessity for Fit Foodie HQ. For nearly eight long years, our precious collection of photography props was relegated to hidden storage, a system that was utterly disorganized, made it impossible to keep track of what we owned, and frequently led to frustrating searches for specific items. The introduction of this exposed mid-century modern shelving unit has been a game-changer. Now, every prop is not only easily visible and accessible, but its very display inspires new creative ideas and stylistic pairings. This beautiful and functional piece has transformed a source of chaos into a well-organized, inspiring visual library, streamlining our photography workflow and igniting fresh artistic perspectives.

Product: Mid-Century Book Shelf

Mid Century Shelving Unit

The Plant Paradise: Bringing Biophilic Design to Life

No “white and bright” office is complete without the invigorating touch of nature, and our extensive use of plants has truly brought the Fit Foodie HQ to life. We wholeheartedly embraced biophilic design, integrating greenery not just as decoration, but as a vital component for well-being and aesthetic enhancement.

The Floating Shelf Plant Wall: A Statement of Greenery

Creating a floating shelf plant wall might just be the single best design decision we made for this office. Our team shares a profound love for plants, and this dedicated wall has far exceeded our expectations. It doesn’t just add an incredible amount of dimension and vibrant greenery to the room; it also visually expands the space, making it feel significantly larger and more open. We invested in three high-quality, 36-inch white shelves, and I cannot recommend them enough for anyone looking to incorporate floating shelves into their design. Their ease of installation, remarkable sturdiness, and premium quality make them an outstanding choice for creating your own verdant display, transforming any wall into a living work of art.

Product: 36-Inch White Floating Shelf

Plant Wall

A Collection of Favorite Small Pots: Curating Green Details

The beauty of our plant wall lies in its diverse collection of small pots, each contributing its own unique texture and character. We sourced these delightful planters from both Overstock and our beloved local plant store in Minneapolis, Tonkadale. This mix of online finds and local treasures creates a truly curated and personal feel. You can explore our specific selections, organized from top left to bottom right on the plant wall, through these links: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3, Pot 4 (from Tonkadale), Pot 5, Pot 6 (from Tonkadale), Pot 7, Pot 8, Pot 9, Pot 10, Pot 11, Pot 12 (from Tonkadale), Pot 13, Pot 14.

Beyond the impressive plant wall, we’ve strategically placed a variety of other small pots throughout the room, ensuring bursts of greenery enhance every corner. My absolute favorite is THIS elegant marble flour pot, which makes a sophisticated statement on our buffet. Another standout is THIS captivating white and grey planter, cherished for its fantastic texture and its usual place of prominence on our main table. These smaller touches collectively elevate the biophilic design, adding life and freshness everywhere you look.

Large Planters and Hanging Greenery: Completing the Botanical Ensemble

While the plant wall undeniably makes a significant impact, we knew our botanical scheme wouldn’t be complete without a few larger statement pieces and the delightful charm of hanging plants. The philosophy here is simple: the more plants, the merrier – and that’s a fact we embrace wholeheartedly! We made sure to include at least one substantial indoor plant to anchor the room and add a lush, vibrant presence, enhancing the natural flow and organic feel. Additionally, one or two carefully placed hanging plants near the window introduce a captivating vertical element, drawing the eye upwards and maximizing the feeling of expansive greenery. This layered approach to plant integration creates a truly immersive and refreshing environment, contributing significantly to the office’s “white and bright” and inspiring atmosphere.

Product: Macrame Plant Hanger, Nabila Mid-Century Planters (set of 2), and Black and White Hanging Planters

Hanging Planters

Thoughtful Decor: The Finishing Touches that Define Our Style

Decor is where personality truly shines through, and in our Fit Foodie HQ office, every piece has been carefully selected to enhance the mid-century modern aesthetic, contribute to the “white and bright” theme, and add both beauty and function.

The Striking Gold Circle Mirror: Reflecting Elegance

Placing a chic circle mirror above our buffet storage unit was an effortless decision – an absolute no-brainer for adding both style and perceived spaciousness to the office. We are utterly delighted with the one we selected from Overstock. Its sophisticated blend of gold and black accents expertly ties into other metallic and dark elements present throughout the room, creating a cohesive and polished look. With a perfect 30-inch diameter, it commands attention without overwhelming the space, and its reflective surface beautifully amplifies the natural light, making the room feel even more open and inviting. It’s more than just a mirror; it’s a piece of art that enhances the overall ambiance.

Product: Holly and Martin Wais Round Wall Mirrorand Umbra Hub 24 Inch Round Modern Wall Mount Mirror (not pictured)

Gold Circle Mirror

The Versatile Letterboard: A Touch of Personalization

I wholeheartedly believe that a letterboard is an essential addition to any truly inspiring office space, offering a charming and adaptable way to convey messages. The one we proudly sourced from Overstock is the ideal size at 16 x 20 inches, providing a prominent yet balanced presence on our wall. Crucially, it comes complete with a comprehensive set of letters and numbers, allowing for immediate customization. We love using it to display motivational quotes, announce team milestones, or simply inject a bit of playful brand messaging into our daily environment. It’s a simple, interactive piece that adds a unique personal touch and encourages positivity within the Fit Foodie HQ.

Product: 16-in x 20-in Oak Frame Letterboard

Black Letterboard with wood frame

The Stylish Storage Basket Planter: Organic Texture and Function

Woven storage baskets are incredibly versatile additions to an office, serving as both practical storage solutions and beautiful decorative elements, like a chic planter! The one we chose is not only super affordable but also boasts a natural, two-toned color that injects a wonderful sense of warmth and organic texture into the room. Whether it’s tidily containing extra supplies, holding a throw blanket, or elevating a vibrant plant, this basket contributes significantly to the overall relaxed yet sophisticated look and feel of our Fit Foodie HQ. It’s a prime example of how functional items can also be pivotal design pieces, enhancing the room’s aesthetic appeal.

Product: Two-Toned Decorative Storage Basket

Planter

The Captivating Wall Tapestry: An Artistic Statement

As an avid admirer of macrame artistry, integrating some form of macrame wall hanging into our office was an absolute certainty from the very beginning. Instead of opting for a smaller piece, I wanted to leverage the power of scale to visually enhance the space. Therefore, a large, impactful piece to the left of our vibrant plant wall became the perfect choice, creating a sense of grandeur and softening the room’s acoustics. This is precisely where this stunning monotone wall tapestry came into play. I am utterly smitten with its intricate design and the way its subtle colors seamlessly harmonize with the overarching “white and bright” and mid-century theme of our Fit Foodie HQ. It serves as a beautiful artistic anchor, adding texture, depth, and a touch of bohemian elegance.

Product: Safavieh Hand Woven Wall Tapestry

Aztec Wool-Blend Pillows: Comfort with a Cultured Twist

The final layer of comfort and stylistic detail comes in the form of our exquisite Aztec wool-blend pillows, strategically placed on our chairs and occasionally on the table for styling purposes. With the room predominantly featuring crisp whites and bright tones, these natural-colored pillows introduce a welcome warmth and depth. The subtle Aztec patterns provide a delightful, cultured twist, adding visual interest and a hint of global influence without deviating from the overall serene aesthetic. They invite a sense of coziness, making the workspace not just functional but truly inviting and comfortable for long hours of creative work.

Product: Southwest Patterened Black and White 18-Inch Pillow and Southwest Patterned Wool and Cotton 18-Inch Decorative Pillow

Aztec Pillow

Anticipated Wall Decor: The Final Flourishes Awaiting

Even with so much of our vision realized, the Fit Foodie HQ office is still awaiting a few exciting final touches that promise to elevate its charm even further. Once our new windows are perfectly installed and the character-filled barn door makes its grand arrival, we’ll finally be able to complete the hanging of our remaining wall decor. This will include a curated selection of art that will infuse more personality and visual narrative into the space. Stay tuned for these upcoming additions, as they will truly complete the aesthetic we’ve painstakingly crafted. For now, allow us to offer a delightful sneak peek at some of the adorable cactus paintings we’re eagerly anticipating hanging, promising a playful yet refined touch of desert inspiration to our “white and bright” oasis.

Product: Leaf Study Framed Painting Print and Prickly Cacti Framed Panting Print and Zebra Cactus Framed Painting Print

Our Fit Foodie HQ home office reveal has been a labor of love, blending mid-century modern style with a “white and bright” philosophy to create a truly inspiring multi-person workspace. From the foundational construction elements to the thoughtful selection of every piece of furniture, plant, and decor, our aim was to craft a space that is not only visually stunning but also incredibly conducive to creativity, collaboration, and comfort. We are incredibly proud of this transformation and look forward to countless hours of inspired work here. Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey!

Disclaimer: Overstock generously provided us with products for this feature. Please note that I received no monetary compensation for this post, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own, reflecting our genuine experience and appreciation for the items featured.