Makeover By Monday | Mid-Century Modern Style Office with DIY Chevron Ceiling

As Seen In, Before & After, Makeover by Monday, Room Makeovers, SHOP

This weekend’s episode of Makeover by Monday was one of my favorites! I designed and made over two rooms—an office and a playroom—in just 3 days, for my good friends. (Read about the playroom makeover here) I got to try a new bold color and dabble in the Mid-Century modern style, which is new to me. I’ve had my eye on these two rooms at Anna and Justin’s house for a while, and I couldn’t be more pumped that we get to share the makeover process on the show!

I knew what I wanted to do for the playroom, but I’ve got to admit, the office made me a tad nervous. Anna loves mid-century modern furniture and a ’70s color palette: yellows, oranges, and other warm tones. That’s quite a bit outside of my usual design comfort zone. Plus, when you’re working for friends, there’s that added pressure to get it right!

Their office needed to be a jack-of-all-trades kind of place. Anna and Justin are both entrepreneurs; Anna is an amazing interior photographer (that’s how we met!), and Justin is a natural wine distributor in Wisconsin. The problem was they had just one spot at their desk for work, leaving the other person sitting on the floor. Not ideal. This room also had to double as a guest room. Until now, guests were crashing on a blow-up mattress in the playroom, and we wanted to give them a comfier spot to sleep without turning the room into a full-blown bedroom.

The Chevron Ceiling

How did we do?! First things first, let’s talk about THE CEILING. Trust me, this was one of the highlights of the season for me. When we were working through the process, I was sweating it, wondering how and IF we could pull this off in the timeframe. Mr. Yolo and I had our share of back-and-forths on the design, but we landed on this chevron pattern with “beams” which would cover up the seams. We got pine boards, specifically the select pine boards to avoid knots. Then the tricky part was finding the perfect stain for that mid-century modern vibe—something mid-tone but not too orange, that’d work nicely with the wood floors. After some stain-testing adventures, we found a gel stain that nailed it…but I can’t remember which one, ha! It’s either Varathane Golden Oak or Cherrywood (I am going to blame that one on pregnancy brain).

The chevron pattern gave a nod to that ’70s style that Anna’s all about. First, the boards had to be stained, and while that was happening we painted the ceiling a dark color. This was so the pattern in the chevron would pop because the dark color would show through the small spaces in between the boards. As soon as the boards and ceiling were dry, the guys started nailing up the pattern. I was blown away that Alan and my Father-In-Law were able to get the ceiling up on the first day. A trick: Covering up where the “peaks” meet sped up the process because the wood did not have to meet up perfectly.

Live Edge Desk

Mr. Yolo was excited to create a long live-edge desk for the office they could both sit at, but not so deep that we couldn’t fit a twin daybed with a trundle. He sourced some beautiful wood and spent the majority of the 3 days sanding, filled the knots with resin, and crafted this stunning floating desk. It turned out SO beautiful! Not only does it give Anna and Justin two workspaces without taking over the room, but it also frees up space for the daybed, giving them the guest room space they wanted, as well.

Paint Color

I decided to embrace Anna’s love for yellow and do something a little out of the ordinary for me. We went all out with yellow trim around the room and painted the walls a lovely, light cream color. I must say, the color combo turned out so pretty – it’s warm, inviting, and just pairs perfectly with that stunning ceiling. We also added some picture shelves, perfect for displaying Anna’s artwork and photography, pieces that inspire her. I gave these shelves a pop of yellow to keep that color theme going strong.

And the mushroom lights were a DIY in the episode! The steps and supplies are coming this week!

Mid-Century Modern

Now, let’s talk mid-century modern—a style that’s a bit of a departure from my usual comfort zone. We brought in some MCM touches, like that amazing light fixture and those cool orange chairs. They brought in more warmth and introduced colors I don’t typically use, which was fun for me to try! It was important for me to add those elements in because I wanted to make sure the room worked with Anna’s style, and it felt good (albeit a little nerve-racking) to step outside of my usual design aesthetic. Ultimately, my goal was to create an office space that has elements of different design eras, but looks current.

To tie everything together in the office, we added some of my vintage finds: a vintage rug (similar here), the cozy kantha comforter and blanket on the daybed, and a bunch of vintage pillows. I LOVE how it turned out! That ceiling – it’s a showstopper. The reactions were incredible, and it warms my heart to know that Anna, Justin and their guests get to enjoy this beautiful space every day.

Watch Season 2 of ‘Makeover By Monday’ Saturdays at 1p/12p c on the Magnolia Network on TV! Or stream anytime on Max and Discovery plus!

Shopping

• Wall Color: Behr Danity Lace
• Trim Color: Behr 24 Karat
• Upholstered Daybed with Trundle
• Ceiling Light
• Quilt
• Monstera Plant
• Snake Plant
• Pothos Plant (I used real, however Nearly Natural is a great “no” maintenance option!)
• Poppies (I used real, however if these flowers are not in season, artificial is a great option!)
• Flower Vase
• Wall Hanging Planters
• Gold Picture Frames
• Guitar Hanger (Owners already had)
• Area Rug (Similar to vintage find)
• Blinds
• Concrete Accent Table
• Art: Bodega Coffee with Tulips by Kesia Finley Art
• Art: Lisianthus by Kesia Finley Art

Did you miss the season premiere of Makeover by Monday, Season 2? Read about the guest and laundry room makeover here.