• Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Tracey Mackenzie

Nature Inspired Products & Decor

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • BEAUTY
  • FOOD
  • LIFESTYLE
  • WELLNESS

Tropical Therapy in my Home Office

April 17, 2020 LIFESTYLE

Home office - After - Tracey Mackenzie
Home office – After – Tracey Mackenzie

As spring gently taunts me with its warmth, I find myself eyeing my home office. This is a room in which I spend a lot of time. However, I haven’t put much effort into decorating it. The black sofa and red pouffe were just plopped in there without much thought. And the rest of the office furniture, desk and storage, is all white. Not exactly a stunning canvas to base your career on. Given that I love the outdoors, and particularly the tropics, I decided to take the matter in hand and create some tropical therapy in my home office.

Before

I knew that the sofa and pouffe had to go but what was I going to do with that back wall? A long expanse of white with no furniture is definitely not appealing. I wanted ambience. I also wanted to add some natural elements to create a tropical vibe. One day, while sourcing floral wallpaper for a client, it dawned on me that some kind of floral motif would look great there. And not just small florals. Big florals. Large, make-a-statement-florals. Maybe even tropicals. A few days later Photowall contacted me and the idea for my office was born. Talk about divine timing!

Home office before - Tracey Mackenzie
Home office – Before – Tracey MacKenzie

After perusing the enormous selection of wallpaper online at Photowall  I decided on a tropical theme since I love palm trees. And instead of doing just the back wall, I decided to extend the paper to the window, which would allow me to enjoy tall palm fronds above both of the sitting areas I planned to create.  

  • Left side with window
  • Front view
  • Right side

Process

The wallpaper was easy to order. Quick tip: Europe uses the metric system while the US uses the imperial system. So, the paper is measured in centimeters rather than in inches. 

Once the wallpaper arrived, I put my plan into action. I wanted the tall palm leaves to flank the window, and to anchor the end of the wall. All panels are numbered so it was easy to plan.

Wallpapered wall - Tracey Mackenzie
Wallpapered wall – Tracey MacKenzie

The panels are not pre-pasted, so the next step was to mix the paste. It was a bit of a learning curve because I’d never used wallpaper paste. However, I soon learned that a hand mixer, (I used a Braun), is effective at mixing the paste as long as you didn’t add too much water at the beginning. You need just enough water to make a thick paste, as if you were making lump-free pancake batter. Then slowly add the rest of the water while continuously mixing.  

I recommend applying the paste to the wall using a paint roller rather than a paint brush, which is messy and slower. The roller allows you to control how much paste is applied so you won’t risk getting it all over your wallpaper. 

Hanging the paper was easy once I got the hang of it. It took about 6 hours including the planning, paste-mixing and trimming. I was also alone and had to climb up and down a ladder. If I’d had a helper it would have been quite a bit faster. 

Reading corner - After - Tracey Mackenzie
Reading corner – After – Tracey MacKenzie

Reading corner

Once the wallpaper was applied, I created the seating areas. For the reading corner I wanted to find a comfortable chair that wouldn’t take up too much room. I bought the Poang chair from IKEA with a black cushion. It has clean lines and doesn’t take up too much visual space (I didn’t want the furnishings eclipsing my beautiful wall). I wanted some texture for the floor treatment so I added an IKEA Lohals flatwoven rug in natural and an Ugilt flatwoven rug in black/beige. Two Alseda stools double as a foot rest or side table, depending on my need.  

Desk corner - After - Tracey Mackenzie
Desk corner – After – Tracey MacKenzie

Desk Corner

A simple white chair from Zone Maison and a cork box (a gift from a friend) finishes the desk area that used to be inaccessible. This space will now be used by my assistant who comes in twice weekly to help me.

My office is now a beautiful place that I love to spend time in. Sunlight pours through the window and highlights the tropical scene. All that is missing is the pina colada!  

Thank you Photowall for giving me the opportunity to use your beautiful wallpaper to redecorate my office. I am so happy with the results!

Home Office - After
Home office – After – Tracey MacKenzie

Photowall

Photowall not only sells wallpaper and murals, but also canvas prints, framed prints and posters. You can also upload your own image and create your own wallpaper, canvas print or poster.

So, if any of you would like to spruce up a room or simply add a cherished photo or two, I am happy to announce that Photowall is offering a 25% discount to all my readers! Just use the code traceymckenziepw2020 at checkout. This offer is valid until the end of May 2020. 

Happy decorating! 

xo Tracey

1 Comment

SHARE
« Easy No-Bake Matcha Cheesecake
IKEA – Five Ways to Add Nature to Your Dining room »

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Hand Sanitizer Recipe Using Essential Oils
  • 10 Must-Have Items for this Fall
  • Peonies are the new “It” flower for Weddings
  • Essential oils to promote love and peace

Comments

  1. Trudy Kerman says

    April 20, 2020 at 10:37 am

    Great idea; especially since so many people take beautiful photos with both cameras and phones!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello!
Welcome to my online home! I look forward to sharing some of my work and some of my favorite things with you!
xo Tracey

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

DAILY QUOTES

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

    -Pablo Picasso

JOIN THE LIST

Enter your Name and Email below to Get Exclusive Updates.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

CATEGORIES

  • BEAUTY
  • FOOD
  • LIFESTYLE
  • WELLNESS

ARCHIVES

POPULAR POSTS

Home Office - After

Tropical Therapy in my Home Office

Yummy Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Cookies

10 Must-Have Items for this Fall

Things that are unique often find their way into m Things that are unique often find their way into my heart and sometimes my home. They are often things that you wouldn't normally put together but when you do, somehow their differences don't stand out but instead enhance each other. 
.
I've found this to be true with people too. Sometimes you meet someone so opposite to you that you think it will never work. But then, upon further consideration, you realize that they complement you in ways you'd never have thought of. And they end up becoming your best friend or mate.
.
Glazing black clay is a bit like that for me. Scary at first, as I'm never sure how its going to turn out. But somehow I always end up loving the result.
.
The granular white glaze came out a speckled cream color on two pieces. The blue plate was coated in black terrasigilata prior to adding the granular white glaze and the finish turned out blue! So unusual but so cool! 
.
I love experimenting with glazes, I love the uncertainty of it all. How about you? Do you enjoy the surprise or do you prefer the tried and true?
.
#blackclay #handmadeplates #handbuildingceramics #handbuiltpottery #handbuildingwithclay #blackclaypottery #blackclaymakers #handbuiltplates #glazing #glazingpottery #creativeceramics #creativepottery #oneofakind #chefstable #chefstyle, #bluepottery #speckledpottery #experimentation #clayexpression #makersofinstagram #ceramicsofinstagram
These are some hand-built plates I made out of bla These are some hand-built plates I made out of black clay and then glazed in blue and white with an overlap (first two from top). The last plate/small bowl is glazed only in white with a portion of the black clay left unglazed. 
I find it interesting that the black clay is so black when raw but so brown once fired. Its like it turns into my favorite dark chocolate. Or maybe I'm subliminally sending the message that I want chocolate and my clay is responding? 😂 
.
.
.
#blackclay #pottery #brown #chocolate #clayplates #handmadeplates #handmadewithlove #claycreations #handbuiltpottery #handbuiltceramics #modernceramics #potterylove #glazes #glazing #blueandwhite #bluesapphire #potteryofinstagram #ceramicsofinstagram #homestudio #stayathome #buylocal #claylove #claylife
A hand built bowl I made in black clay and glazed A hand built bowl I made in black clay and glazed in black metallic. I made this with a jagged edge to reflect me - a little rough around the edges 😁
.
.
#handbuilding #handbuildingwithclay #handbuildingceramics #handbuildingpottery #blackclay #blackclaypottery #metallicglaze #roughedges #roughdiamond #handmadepottery #handmadebowl #creativepottery #notperfect #makersofinstagram #metallicblack #chefstyle #cheftable #chefselection
Here are a few more stoneware dishes I made @maiso Here are a few more stoneware dishes I made @maison.stoi. These are glazed in a translucent white. I can't tell you how much I have missed pottery during this pandemic. However, now I have finally found the time to photograph some of the pieces! 😃
.
.
#ceramic #potterylessons #pottery #handmadeplates #handmadedishes #handmadepottery #maison.stoi #making #wheelthrownpottery #wheelthrowing #earthytones #earthy #stoneware #stonewareceramics #clay #imstilllearning #lovelearning #isitabowloraplate #notperfectpottery #sushidishes #sushitime
Black lives matter #blackouttuesday Black lives matter  #blackouttuesday
There have been many changes in my life over the l There have been many changes in my life over the last 6 months. It was like I was living in the upside down for a while. 
Now I'm in the process of putting my life back together and so I decided to redo my office. Nothing like a fresh start!
.
I love the tropics. There is nothing that makes me feel better than a day at the beach. Or listening to the sound of palm leaves swaying in the wind. .
I also do a specialized type of interior design called Neuro Design, which focuses on bringing nature inside. So when @photowall_sweden contacted me, I jumped at the chance to use their beautiful wallpaper and this is the result!
.
A reading area (shown) and an office area were created (shown on blog). For the complete before and after of my office and to snag a 25% discount on any of their products, please go to the link in my bio! And don't forget to let me know what you think 😘
.
.
.
#nature #interiors #interior #neuro design #neurodesign #interiordesign #interior design #ikea #palms #tropical #tropics #redo #redecorate #beforeandafter #before and after #wallpaper #wallpapering #photowall #photowalluk #office #workspace #stayathome
I know I still haven't posted my bowl yet. I can't I know I still haven't posted my bowl yet. I can't seem to find the right plant to put in it (I am using it as a small hanging planter) so I decided to post this plate I made during one of my first few lessons. I went to the market today and saw some beautiful strawberries and thought they'd be perfect to show the plate off.
.
In reality this is a plate with a high side. Its 1.5 inches high so I guess it's actually a really low bowl? 🤔
. 
Either way it's perfect for serving small fruit like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries and that makes me happy! 😃
.
Happy Sunday!!
The bowls have finally arrived from the UK!! And I The bowls have finally arrived from the UK!! And I am so excited to show you what I made during my lesson with @karaleighceramics starting with this little guy. A ridged tasting bowl glazed in the deepest blue 😍 (is that blue not the deepest blue you’ve ever seen?? Thank you Kara for using your beautiful glaze for this 😘😘). I absolutely love the little ridges I was able to create on the inside (see second photo). Stay tuned for the crown jewel tomorrow 😁
.
.
#blueaesthetic #blue #deepblue #handmade #makersmovement #makersofinstagram #ceramics #potterylife #throwingclay #potterywheelthrowing #potterywheel #wheelthrownpottery #tastingbowl #bowls #handmadebowls #madeintheuk #ceramiclife
I made a spoon rest a few weeks before I went to t I made a spoon rest a few weeks before I went to the UK and I must say that it has proven to be quite handy 😀 .
Truth be told, it started out as a small bowl attempt which flopped but then morphed into this spoon rest which I thought might be practical. Turns out that I love it and use it a lot! .
Isn't it funny how sometimes a mistake can turn into something you ❤
.
#spoonrest #spoonrests #pottery #claylife #potterylife #potterystudio #potter #homeware #organic #organicform #slowliving #handmadehome #makersmovement  #modernceramics #handthrown #contemporaryrustic #flatlays #mistakes #happywiththeresult #cantwaittomakemore
Follow on Instagram

© 2018 ELLE

THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS