Through Wedding Workspaces, we are showcasing Virginia-based wedding pros and where they create throughout the week when not on location for a wedding. Weddings never are one-day gigs; it typically takes months and days to be part of that special celebration... so we might as well feel cozy for the day in, day out tasks!
And today, we have DIY guru and vendor fam Caitlin Gerres of Caitlin Gerres Photography and her cozy gray photography home office in Virginia Beach. Through purple accents, handmade window treatments, and family-built furniture, this space is meant for comfortable productivity surrounded by all the best of one's favorite things.
What was your inspiration for the space?
My husband Ryan and I had two priorities when we were designing my home office space. First and most important for a photographer, we wanted a space that was nice and bright with lots of natural light coming in. (Most days I don't even have to turn on the lights!) I also wanted the office to feel like an extension of my website and brand, so we knew there would be a lot of purple and gray involved.
Give three adjectives to describe how you want your clients to feel coming into your workspace.
Since our sweet cat Lucy joined our family, she has taken co-ownership of my office, so I have actually been conducting most of my client meetings from our living room. But regardless of what room we meet in, I want our clients to feel cozy and welcome in our space.
What's your favorite part of the workspace?
My favorite decor item is the purple chandelier. It used to hang in my parent's dining room (back when it was gold). They replaced it with a more modern fixture over a decade ago, but I asked them to save it for me because I knew I would want it when I had a house of my own.
I also love the 'celebration' jar on my bookshelf. Whenever I have a big accomplishment or something exciting for my business, I write it on a slip of paper and put it in the jar. I love emptying out the pieces of paper at the end of the year (or after a hard week) and reading over all the amazing things that have happened.
Do you have any interesting locally based details in your workspace?
Two small details in the office were found locally at thrift stores: the glass pineapple that reminds me of our honeymoon in Charleston and the filigree handles on our closet doors.
Have any personal stories of designing, building, or creating?
Ryan and I are total DIY people! I think it's because we always dream up something that fits our space so well that I know I'll never find it in stores! So we have to custom make it for ourselves! The white bookshelf was built by my father-in-law, and Ryan created our L-shaped desk based on plans from Ana White's farmhouse table. I love that we were able to design it based on our needs and the room size instead of trying to find something that would fit.
Our most challenging office project was creating the upholstered valances for our windows. We wanted white blinds and curtains to give privacy while letting as much daylight in as possible. But we wanted the room to have an elegant feel, and I knew that valances would be the perfect solution. Ryan wasn't excited to install them because they fit so tightly to the wall and were challenging to screw in, but we were both really happy with the final look!
You can get to know Caitlin and her wedding work on Facebook and photography captures on Instagram.
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography
