Welcome to Week Two of the One Room Challenge, created and hosted by Linda at Calling it Home. If you missed my Week One post, you can click here to catch up. I must say, I was blown away by the talent demonstrated last week by the other 19 participants in this ORC, and I am thrilled and honored to be along for the ride as we each transform one room in six weeks!
For this challenge, I am decorating my home office, inspired by Lilly Pulitzer’s antique wicker and bentwood desk that I purchased at her estate auction in February, from her very own home office! I love to think of the personal correspondence and business savvy that the Queen of Palm Beach Chic herself created at this desk… and given the condition, there was a lot of inspiration going on here, because it was definitely in need of a fresh coat of paint and some minor repairs. I debated on whether or not to restore the desk, as each of those chips and missing pieces held a special story and place in history, but the paint was really really chippy, and I just couldn’t live with it on a daily basis. So last week, Lilly’s desk received a minor face lift, and she is now resting comfortably in her new home!
As a side note, I must share a fun story. When we took the drawers out of this desk to repaint, I found the following items stuffed in the back…
These whimsical monkeys are so Palm Beach Chic. Monkeys have been affiliated with Palm Beach ever since legendary Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner’s pet spider monkey, Johnnie Brown, became so well known in society that the monkey ran for Mayor! Lilly loved monkeys as well… This was evident at her estate sale, where the following monkeys went on auction.
I also found the perfect desk chair, thanks to the Luxe Girls at Luxe Report Designs. This is a bargain version of the $400 Louis Ghost Chair by Phillipe Starck… I’ll provide a full report as soon as it arrives!
Mimosa Lane
My Notting Hill
The Pink Pagoda
Simple Details
My Sweet Savannah
Verandah House
One Room Challenge Week Three
One Room Challenge Week Four
One Room Challenge Week Two
One Room Challenge Week Four: Nursery Makeover
I absolutely love it all … not that I expected to feel anything less!!! That desk is just so over the top and I would have absolutely peed myself had I discovered some Lilly paraphernalia in the back. So exciting! Can't wait for next week …
Lilly's desk was quite the coup but then to find some of her personal items is thrilling! Thanks for the Garnet Hill tip. Your room is going to be fab.
WOW- what a great find in the back of the desk. That's amazing. Love what you've got going on so far!
I can't believe you found Lilly stuff in the desk- so so awesome. This is all just too pretty for me to cope with!
Holy moly, what fun treasures!! You need to incorporate them in your bulletin board. 🙂 Love those cute prints from Jennifer, too!
I have goosebumps. That is so super cool that you found that stuff in the desk. AWESOME!
How exciting for you with the Lilly finds. The desk looks so pretty and fresh. That chair is a great find, and of course I have elephant console envy.
I thought I was over the moon that you won the bid on Lilly's desk, but now I have envy about the elephant table. Love those!!! The colors of your office are amazing and I love your rug.
Sharon
I get giddy every time I see that desk…and now personal finds!!!! Love! Also, love where you are headed in the room, especially Jennifer's monkeys! So fun!
And I thought I was cool finding hidden treasures in my ordinary house drawers 🙂 Love those 3 monkeys!
So exciting to have found those little treasures. Lots of prettiness happening in this room.
So fun what you found in her desk – wild!!
Great start lady!! Cannot wait to see that huge bulletin board! And how cool to find stuff in the desk!
This is going to be so fun. Love the elephant console and the desk especially.
I love it already Andrea! Those coral drapes are so chic!!
Yes, I love that you are using the sheets for a DIY! OMG this room is so amazing already. I can't believe the desk came with treasure. That is very cool. The elphant console looks amazing there and I die over that bookcase. So fabulous!
You gotta love those little trinkets left behind in that magnificent desk, fun! This is already full of fab finds and will no doubt be the envy of us all when done.
Your homage to Lilly is certainly coming along well Andrea! I love the pattern and how exciting to find some of Lilly's OWN STUFF in that desk, mundane or not!!!!! I would keep the fab elephant console white for now since you already have a lot of color going on. Love that ghost chair, have 4 of those in my dining room and love them still. Can't wait to see more next week!
Oh, thank you for the mention, Andrea! This space is going to be incredible. I'd want to stay in here all day! Still cannot believe you've got Lilly's desk — so amazing!!
Andrea, This is so amazing!!! I was so excited to read about the pieces you found in the back of the Lilly desk drawers! I bought a tall chest of drawers from Lilly's estate for our closet and running to check the back of those drawers stat! I am so in love with your room! You know how much I LOVE your style!! Next time we are in Palm Beach we need to meet for dinner or cocktails! David and I are coming down in May!! 🙂
So excited about the little treasures you found in the back of the drawers. Your drapes are so fab, looking forward to see more next week!
Jessie
http://www.mixandchic.com
love. love. love. love. love. that floral print is so sweet. & of course that desk is a winner.
xo
What! That is some serious treasure! Great story.
I love everything so far. I have that chair and it is really comfortable. That's so fun to find some of Lillly's things!
well aren't those fun finds! I adore the desk.
I can't believe how perfectly that bedding ties in to your existing room! Love it!
What an incredible story about finding tidbits from Lilly's life hidden inside the desk! Your plan for the room sounds amazing! xoxo
I am sure it was hard for you to make the call to repaint the desk, but it looks like it was the right think to do. And wow finding those items in the desk is amazing!!! I like were you are going with the space, and can't wait to see more next week.
I am loving this room! That camera would get me awfully excited too. What a find!
Going to Garnett Hill right now….can't believe you found those things in the drawer! Loving everything for this room so far!
Andrea, first of all….LILY'S desk!!!! And second of all, the treasure you found inside, what an incredible gift! The elephant console is killing me, it's so good. I can already tell, I'm going to love this room!
XO,
Krista
http://www.goodwillglam.com
I can't believe you have That desk – so incredible! you need nothing more in that room. What an impressive piece with so much history! So cool finding that stuff. I would have totally freaked out! xo
"Glam Pad" indeed! You have some great furniture pieces, and that rug is so stylish I want it in my office! Oh, and anything Lilly I love! Can't wait to see the progress!
Some of Lilly's personal affects?! I'm sorry what you saying about your room? #kiddingnotkidding. That piece alone is a showstopper with a great story and then you add to that all the other fab elements?! Can. Not. Wait.
I love that you found some little "lilly" things in the drawers!! How fun and you definitely need to use some of them somehow!! Cannot wait to see it all come together!!
OMG I am in love with that elephant console! I love the white, but if you want to change, navy would be pretty.
http://www.designsbykaty.com
What serendipity! The whole room is on track to be absolutely fabulous. Can’t wait to see the evolution, Andrea.
I can't imagine owning a piece of Lily's furniture, let alone finding little goodies in the drawer! Ah-mazing! I love how this is coming together and I know I'm going to want to move in when it's finished. Such a stylish and happy room already–Lily would love it. xx
The desk story just keeps getting better! It was meant to be yours, my friend 🙂 and is that bookcase mirrored on bottom??? oh my!
This is going to be a very special and stylish home office! I love all the Lilly inspirations and, of course, her personal desk 🙂 xo
Love your ideas…I want every piece you showed!
love that elephant console + can't wait to see the rest of the room. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
How amazing to have found some of her things in the desk! I know you will treasure those forever. ANd I'm crazy over the sheets – they will look amazing for your inspiration board.
Cute! Cute! Cute! you've got some great pieces going on,love the elephant console – I see it painted thought,in a colour to ordinate with those cute little monkeys cant wait to see the end result!
Wow. The desk and the story behind it are incredible. LOVE the console.
love your design and the fun colors! i have elephant console envy though 🙂 happy, fabulous friday to you, dana
Stop it your killing me! I'm having serious envy that elephant console is AMAZING!!! can you please send it to me when your over it 🙂 x
I love every single bit of this design!! It's absolute perfection! XO
I love the desk story. Don't you just wish these amazing pieces we find could talk?! Your room is looking fabulous. I can't wait to see the finished product.