After completing my bedroom project, I was so happy to see my equestrian memorabilia displayed every day in a way that felt honorable. My room is the ultimate relaxing retreat.

My office on the other hand, was a disaster. As someone who knows just how much our environment affects our well-being and productivity, I knew how much of an energy-sucker that room was for me. I also had so much more of Alice’s tack displayed in a hap-hazard way. It was time for a major change.

The first thing I selected was a dark green for the built-in shelves. I knew I wanted something dark and bold, so I chose Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green. Next, I wanted to carve out a special place for my large photograph of Alice to live. I removed some shelving and she fit perfectly and I love how it frames her in. It created a perfect spot to hang her halter and polo bridle on some antique brass hooks. I found an antique box to hold her ashes just below her stall nameplate I mounted to the wall, and hung some polo mallets on either side of her.

Remember my old wingback chair from 1981 that we saw in the “Before” post? Now it’s as good as new, dressed in Ralph Lauren wool tartan and Rogers & Goffigon linen. This is my favorite RL tartan and I have been hanging on to a sample piece, waiting for an opportunity to use it. It works perfectly with my alpaca herringbone throw blanket from Modern Equestrian Shop and my little needlepoint fox pillow from Macjac. Isn’t he just the cutest little addition to my equestrian room?

I discovered artist Sally Moren in Equestrian Living and fell in love with her work. Surprisingly, her Polo Player original painting from the article cover was still available so my husband bought it for me for my birthday. I loved it so much that I asked Sally to partner with me to create giclée versions to be available for sale at Modern Equestrian Shop. Also available in the shop is my favorite photograph of British polo pony “Tuesday” by Georgina Preston, intentionally placed beside my polo mallet and a silver bowl filled with old polo balls. And so many trinkets and treasures from The Polo House antique store, one of my favorite shops!

This wallpaper is another one whose sample I’ve held onto for quite some time. I proposed it to my husband years ago for our powder room and he nixed it. Well this time it’s my room, my rules. Since I had decided to turn my desk towards the windows and was losing my Zoom call background of decorated shelves, I needed this wall to be a focal point, and a great place to display some artwork to photograph for my shop.

I found this hand-colored print at Das Kutscherhaus in Germany and I fell in love with this lady! I call her my Side-Saddle Badass. She is elegant and strong, she has a mother’s watchful eye on the child and I presume she is about to say goodbye to ride off with the hunt. There is a man in the background looking at her disapprovingly, and I love that she doesn’t even take notice of him. I have named her Virginia because it reminds me of beautiful hunt country and my unforgettable trip to Middleburg.

I found this incredibly preserved blue ribbon from 1924 at Hart Equestrian and I just love the rich color it brings to this vignette. My mixed-media print from Silver Oaks Farm is also a treasured find, along with my Interest Candle available in my shop.

I always love incorporating a one-of-a-kind lamp in my designs. It’s a great way to add something unexpected. I found this stone sculpture lamp on a piece of marble on Chairish, one of the best sites to find unique items. It was in an antique shop in London called Ed Butcher Antiques, and it had to be rewired and shipped across the pond, just for me. With a black lampshade lined in gold, she stands strong against the black and white wallpaper. Yes, I said “she”. Can you see how her right ear is pinned back? Got to be a mare. If you‘ve had one, you know :)

You might recall that Alice’s saddle was resting on the back of the wingback chair because I did not have a designated spot for it. So I called on my woodworking friend at Msquaredworks and asked him to build a walnut standing rack so her saddle would have a place of its own. On the shelf below, I placed my hunt boots and polo boots so I could enjoy them every day. I decided that my beat up polo helmet was display worthy and added that too. My two year old daughter comes into my office almost daily just to see that helmet. I think even a two year old is aware that it’s not a normal find in an office environment!

I have always wanted a bookshelf ladder like an old library. This is way better than the IKEA shelves I had before! I have storage almost to the ceiling and can finally organize my books and interior design samples in a way that helps me run my business more efficiently.

I created a special place for a very meaningful drawing done for me by my friend Amanda Bonner. I had a vision of what I wanted for my business logo and she brought it to life in the most beautiful way. Now it sits here as a reminder of the business I have built and the dream of what’s to come. It sits next to a portrait of Alice a friend painting on a vase for me years ago.

Alice isn’t the only animal who graces the office with her presence; I also have Oliver at my side! And of course he has his own tartan blanket.

That’s my office- my place to be productive and creative while surrounded by my most treasured possessions and mementos of Alice. I am inspired by the space and it drives me to design meaningful spaces for my equestrian clients, with Alice watching over my back, of course.

Modern Equestrian Design- The Office: The Reveal