Inspiration

Industrial Lighting Transforms Man Cave into Modern Home Office

Working from home has its perks. If you’re a blogger or a consultant or anyone who works from a home office, people tell you all the time how lucky you are. In reality, the job has its downsides. You can never really escape the office because it’s always right there.

Our good friend Sommer Collier, food and travel blogger on A Spicy Perspective, worked out of her home for more than four years, mostly in the kitchen but also from a small office just off the busiest room in the house. Last fall, Sommer decided a change was in order.

“I loved having my office so close to the kitchen, however the overflow of both office items and kitchen tools started spilling out into other rooms of the house,” Sommer says. “My little office started to disappear under a pile of dishes, photography equipment, and props.”

Sommer set her eyes on the detached garage that served as husband Dan’s man cave and decided to give the space new life as A Spicy Perspective headquarters. The bones were good, as they say, with French-style doors that let in fresh air and a skylight providing natural light. Sommer brightened the space with new paint, added all new cabinetry, and painted the concrete floor.

“We wanted to bring a punch of red into the room to give it a modern feel,” Sommer explains. She chose the Wilcox Deep Bowl Chain Hung Pendant Light customized with a thick chain and red-and-white cloth cord. This deep bowl shade is reminiscent of the industrial lighting of the early 20th century updated with a modern, high-gloss finish that will never fade.

To complement these American-made ceiling pendants, Sommer chose two Bomber Retro Desk Lamps also finished in brilliant Barn Red to provide task lighting at the oversized desk she now shares with Dan. This vintage industrial table lamp has a weighted base for stability and can be customized with finish color, stem length, and cording options.

To complete the space, a Ball Ceiling Fan, with its brushed aluminum blades and minimalist design, keeps the modern vibe going and helps with air flow from the vaulted ceiling.

For the exterior of the building, Sommer hired an electrician to add an electrical box to accommodate a classic RLM-inspired warehouse shade. This Bomber Gooseneck Light is customized with a 17″ shade, Bronze finish, G22 gooseneck arm, and a dusk-to-dawn photocell so Sommer never has to worry about flipping the switch — especially helpful when she travels!

An Industrial Static Sconce brings light to the side of the building for added safety and security. Sommer customized this rustic wall sconce with a Bronze finish and ribbed glass.

“We are thrilled about the way our new barn lights look,” Sommer says, “and the lighting solutions they bring to our new space, inside and out!”

Photos courtesy of A Spicy Perspective