A girly glam home office with the perfect mix of functional and decorative decor.

Rashell Gouwenberg wanted a room of her own when she and her husband built their 3,400-square-foot home on five acres of land outside Fort Langley, B.C., four years ago. So in her 10-by-12-foot second-floor office, with the help of Leah Balderson of Vancouver’s Peridot Decorative Homewear, she deviated from the more subtle neutrals incorporated throughout the rest of the house and went all out. (At the time, Rashell was working in sales and marketing for a Vancouver developer, but she now co-owns the popular housewares store with Leah.) “I wanted to have fun,” says Rashell. “That’s why I picked such a bold wallpaper. And the glammy antelope head was definitely the starting point. It’s so cool and unexpected.”



The look
Playful and feminine

The decorating idea
A mirror-mosaic antelope head serves as a glitzy statement piece, while colourful wallpaper creates a dramatic focal point in the space.

The high-low mix
1 HIGH The chic mirror-mosaic antelope head was the jumping-off point for the room’s fun, feminine look.
2 HIGH Covering two walls, the vinyl designer wallpaper offers a burst of pretty pastel colour.
3 LOW Vintage brass bookends, which homeowner Rashell Gouwenberg found at an antiques shop, allude to her equestrian background and impart a personal touch.
4 HIGH The hammered-brass lamp pierced with quartz complements the room’s luxe vibe.
5 LOW Instead of buying a traditional large desk, Rashell used a less expensive clean-lined dining table. “Because there are built-ins in the closet for my books, printer and other items, I was able to have a desk without drawers,” she says.
6 LOW The chenille shag rug looks more luxurious than its price tag.



7 HIGH A set of textural snakeskin boxes provides accessible storage.



Get the look: Functional and decorative
1 Horseshoe bookend, Jayson Home, $150 US per pair.
2 Carl Robinson Edition 2 Brittania wallpaper in 11, Peridot Decorative Homewear, $20 per yard.
3 Lacquer storage boxes in White, Elte, $195 per set of 2.