Decorating Modern - Part 3 Office/Library

We continue on our auction challenge of 'decorating' (virtually) rooms in our imaginary modern house. The next room to tackle is the office/library. We all need work space, so your office may be the corner of a room, or it may be it's own space. For this room we'll combine office functionality with a library feel.

We will need a desk to start and there are lots of great modern options.

I bought this Danish modern desk at a Doyle + Design auction a few months ago. I like the simple lines and the wonderful almost zebra striped wood. The wood is such an important design element in a simple design. This desk had a few nicks and a spot where it looks like white out had been spilled. I used some butchers wax and a little brown shoe polish for the nicks and the stain and it looks perfect!  It now needs a much cooler chair!

These two desks from the same Doyle New York sale are both intriguing in their own way. The desk on the left is by Steven Spiro and is described as being in mixed woods. It went unsold, probably because the bidding didn't get to the reserve level, and had an estimate of $2,000 - $3,000. 

The desk on the right above is by R and Y Augousti circa 2000, and is made of parchment and snakeskin on wood. It has a sort of deco Hollywood vibe, and sold for $2,813, which was well above it's estimate.

These wonderful '50s lamps would look terrific on any of the desk above. They are coming up in the Wright Mass Modern auction July 10th. They are described as American circa 1955 and are brass with painted parchment shades.  They have a kind of whimsical look, and would make me smile every time I sat down at my desk to blog! They are Lot 116 have have an estimate of $100 - $200.

I think I may have found chairs that would work at my desk. There are two, but I'm sure there is a place for the second!

These Danish Modern chairs are coming up in the next New Orleans Auction July 17th and 18th. They are made of birch wood with accents of chrome. They are Lot 960 and have an estimate of $400 - $700.

We need shelving and some drawers for those pesky papers in our office and this French Modern fruitwood and ebonized secretaire would be desk, shelves and drawers all in one. It quite deco in style but is mid-20th century. This is in the upcoming Christie's Interiors (NY) sale on July 22 and 23. It's Lot 513 and has an estimate of $2,000 - $3,000.

For a more modern aesthetic these wall shelves would work well in a small office/library space. They are included in the upcoming Wright Mass Modern sale, and are by Alvar Aalto, Finnish circa 1938, and made of birch. They are Lot 100 and have an estimate of $600 - $800.

I would have some decorative objects in my office and this vase would be wonderfully graphic.

This sold at the Doyle + Design sale for $688. It is Murano and was designed by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana.

Depending on the size of your office space, you may or may not have room for additional seating. It's nice if you do, and since this is the office cum library I would be a bit bold in choice.

These two items are in the next Christie's (NY) Interiors sale. The chairs on the left are black and white vinyl and velour. They are wonderfully graphic and would work well if we decided on a color scheme of black, white and birch wood tones. These are Lot 750 and have an estimate of $2,000 - $3,000.

I would pair them with the side tables on the right above. These are very stylish, and Italian, of course! I love Italian modern design. They are ebonized and birch, late 20th century, and have an estimate of $1,500 - $2,000.

I think these choice would make a wonderful room in which to work, read and relax. There's a bit of whimsy, and lots of style.