Entryway Turned Bright Home Office

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Jenna Schreck, a holistic nutrition consultant, shared her pivotal living room makeover with Apartment Therapy. She was able to rediscover her design style after a breakup (and the ex moved out).

This time, Jenna reveals her recent hallway-turned-home office makeover (which she had help designing with Annie Mueller of Currant Design), and it’s great inspiration for anyone looking to carve out space to be creative and productive in an unconventional spot.

The Coworking Spaces Nearby Just Didn’t Work for Her Creative Style

“There are so many fab coworking spaces in this city; that is a fact,” Jenna shares. “But truth be told, I do my best work when I’m in my element, marching to the beat of my own drum. That means making a snack when it’s time to fuel up (usually not at a ‘normal’ eating time), being able to create a recipe or bowl when inspiration strikes, getting a snuggle in with Hansel, my Labradoodle, when I need it, blasting music, dancing, or just moving/shaking my body around to expel stagnant energy.”

Credit: Jenna/ No Whey Lady

Credit: Hillary Jeanne Photography

She Needed an Office Space That Worked with Her Schedule and Various Client Needs

As Jenna explains it, all these things she likes to do when working aren’t always encouraged in public places like a coffee shop or coworking space.

“So, I manifested my dream office space in the underutilized entryway in the loft,” Jenna says. “I also wanted a comfy, quiet area to see local clients one-on-one — and if we’re being real, a serene background for Skype clients to call into.”

Jenna had another reason why her home office hallway needed revamping: she also needed to make room for a very specific purpose.

Credit: Jenna/ No Whey Lady

Credit: Hillary Jeanne Photography

She Also Needed a Workspace for Her New Business Venture Without Feeling Cluttered

Her nutrition practice focuses on gut health and hormone balance, and she believes that “hormone balance is based not just on food and blood sugar control, but also on the mind-body connection, lifestyle practices, and spirituality,” she says.

“All things a little woo-woo. My newest product launch also needed a space to be packaged and shipped. The new office houses a station just for this purpose — The Astraias, a company that I launched with my friend Alyssa Brieloff.”

This transformation is successful for a lot of reasons. Visually, keeping all of the added furniture white, like the walls, keeps the narrow space from feeling too heavy or cluttered. Jenna built “up,” installing open shelving high above the desk taking advantage of wall space.

Credit: Hillary Jeanne Photography

She’s Proud of the DIY She Accomplished and That It Feels Like Its Own Room

The extra worktop that folds up into the wall is an excellent way to make use of underutilized space. Adding a filing cabinet that’s a little bit deeper than the shelving helps define the office’s nook shape. And including a small rug and seating area makes it feel like its own room, and not just a walk-through entryway.

“I’m not a DIY-er by any means, so the fact that I made a trip to the hardware store, sanded the thing, and painted it to blend in with the walls successfully is quite an accomplishment for me!” But Jenna’s biggest indulgence was the peacock mirror. But it was worth it because she could see it from every room, and it opened up the kitchen space.

Jenna’s best advice is that “‘balance’ on a shelf has nothing to do with repeating patterns or colors. It has to do with weights and depths of objects, and it’s so important to mix and match. Have fun with it!”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.