What does a gal need to create a super-chic retro Home Office?

Find the answer below with a range of stylish vintage and modern products in a limited colour palette of Flamingo Pink, Gloss Black and Tweed Grey:

ABOVE: 1. When working from home it’s crucial to be disciplined.  To ensure you don’t allow yourself to be distracted during work hours by constantly disappearing off to the kitchen to make drinks, buy a chic coffee or tea service for yourself & visitors, and along with a mini kettle you’re all set.  I love this 50s McCoy Coffee Service from Retro on 8^th in Pittsburgh.  2. It’s generally not considered a good thing to be a ‘clock watcher’ but I think this Retro Clock wallpaper in grey colourway by Albany (available from Wallpaper Direct) would be a wonderful feature wall for a Home Office.  3. When I used to work from home I still liked to ‘dress for business’ each day - it helped me to get in the right frame of mind and differentiate work from home life.  I still like to ‘look the business to do the business’ and no outfit or accessory is off limits … not even this Pink Flamingo Feather Coif Hat from Etsy seller Katerina Kyrimi (based in Greece).  4. Being comfortable is essential if you’re going to spend long hours working at a desk, and I don’t think you can beat the 50s for style and comfort when it comes to furniture.  Why not invest in a Mid Century Modern propeller desk chair like this one.  5. Add a bit of old school style to your desk by treating yourself to a Personalized Desk Name Plate from Etsy sellers GaroSigns in Oregon, USA.  6. Stay looking good throughout the day by keeping a smart Vanity Case in your desk drawer – like this vintage set from Etsy seller VincaraVintage in Scotland.  7. I pine for Push Button telephones and I’m LOVING this Classic AT&T in Gray & Black from Etsy seller FrancFrancis in San Francisco.  8. A ‘thinking sofa’ is an absolute MUST! I like this Night & Day Sleeper Sofa in Grey Tweed from Urban Outfitters.  9. Heading out for a meeting?  Tuck your iPad into one of these Pink & Purple iPad cases by Etsy seller ForestAndTheTrees (based in San Francisco) and be sure to make a great first impression.

The Nude palette is now well established, going from a soft pink blush to apricot cosmetic tones, and smooth eggshell to a luxurious taupe.  We’ve seen a super feminine look come down the catwalks, nude tones working with neons,  and now a more structured look or slouchy and layered, with a definite edge.  It’s a fashion trend that has transitioned perfectly to interiors and home products.  Nude tones can soften the hard edges of a space and they exude a sophisticated tranquility, creating a soothing visual flow.  Be inspired by the Queen of Taupe, Interior Designer Kelly Hoppen.

I particularly love the dreamlike delicacy of the Gastrologik restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden.

 Gastrologik by Jonas Lindvall

This project features within our A/W 2013/14 trend, The Vision, which sees cosmetic and blush tones playing with the season’s new diffused pastels, as well as nude metallics and iridescents which create a new gorgeously elegant shimmer.

You can purchase The Vision trend board in our shop here or email Phil for full details of all the season’s key trends in our A/W 2013/14 trend report.

Other Designers working this trend (all shown below) include Phil Cuttance and Lorna Syson, both presenting faceted, origami-like structures in hushed nude tones.  I also love the simplicity of Frederik Roijé’s candle holders, and the lustrous sensuality of the Chignon chair by Koket.

Clockwise from top left: Blumarine S/S 2013 collection; Faceture Vases by Phil Cuttance; Decanterlamp in white by Lee Broom; Wall of Flame candle holders by Frederik Roijé; MAC nail lacquer; Chignon chair by Koket; Plymouth Touch Task lamp in taupe from John Lewis; Notebooks from One Kings Lane: Utensil jar in nutmeg by Le Creuset from John Lewis; Valentino S/S 2013 collection; The Ritz sofa by Studio Bertjan Pot; Maze bowl in taupe by Gordon Ramsay in collaboration with Royal Doulton from OCCA Home;  Linear Fold cushion in cream by Lorna Syson

The lovely people at John Lewis asked us to review the Plymouth Touch Task lamp (shown in the montage above); the sample arrived in the UK studio today, here’s what Zak and Victoria thought:

Zak: “This delightfully nude-coloured lamp from John Lewis has real attention to detail – from the perfectly smooth painted glossy nude shade & base, to the twisted cable. I also like that there is no noticeable button on the lamp we were sent – it is ‘touch control’ so you simply touch the product and mysteriously the light comes on with a 3-stage dimmer function.  It’s stylish enough to work in any room in the Home or in an Office - it certainly looked good on my desk in the studio!”

Miss V: “I like this classic yet pared-down modern lamp.   It’s a touch bigger than I expected it to be from the online picture, which was a bonus, and the brass components & angle adjusters are weighty & sturdy so it feels like a quality product that was made to last. As you know, I’m a stickler for getting the details right and so, like Zak, I really like that John Lewis had decided to go with an old school braided flex – it’s a nice retro feature, and of course making a design feature of cables on lighting is currently a strong trend in Interior Design.”

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A John Lewis sponsored posting