Interiors: A Wood-Paneled Office Transformed

It’s not my usual fare, but this project kept calling to me. And after two Friday Fashion posts with wood-paneled backdrops (here and here), I finally decided to share. Now, on the surface, an office-turned-living space may not seem the most glamorous of concepts. But the architectural details are too fabulous to ignore and, of course, the gleaming wood panels are absolutely amazing…

Which brings me to a different dilemma: paint or preserve?

Designers are often faced with this challenge, and handle it in various ways. For this Melbourne apartment, designer Ljiljana Gazevic had no choice but to leave things in tact while modernizing the space through contemporary furnishings. "It is all heritage protected. We couldn’t touch it." OK. Part of me appreciates that. I mean, who could paint such gorgeous wood anyway?!?! Certainly not me—or could I? After all, without treating the walls, the space looks like, well, an office, albeit a beautiful one.

So, barring any preservation laws, what’s your preferred approach? Paint (a few coats of white paint would transform this into a modern dream) or preserve?

Images: Lisa Cohen, Vogue Living

InteriorsDesiré GreeneOctober 16, 2012Beaux Arts, Ljiljana Gazevic, Masculine Design, loft, wood