Behind the Design: Turning a Workplace into a warm place. My Conversion project

Rebecca Bailey Price
Sep 2
9 min read

Updated: Sep 3

a bedroom showing wardrobes on the left with the bed against the right hand wall. — The bedroom in the conversion project with built in wardrobes

I was brought on board at the very start of this office-to-apartment conversion project, when my clients were still using the space for work but dreaming of transforming it into their home. They wanted somewhere warm, full of character, and perfectly suited to their lifestyle now and into the future.

Having never designed an office conversion before, the prospect was both new and exciting. Of course, it came with challenges: the property sat on light industrial land, so we needed a full change of use application, plus careful navigation of greenbelt planning restrictions. While the setting was beautiful, the regulations meant we couldn’t extend beyond the original footprint of the building.

Once approval was finally secured, we could move forward with the builder and start shaping a home that not only met my clients’ needs but also exceeded their expectations. In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes of the entire process — from the initial design concepts to the final transformation — and share how thoughtful design turned an office into a truly personal, character-filled home.

2 photos showing an empty office space with tiled floor and fluorescent lighting — Before photos of the office, this space is now the living room and kitchen area.

Like many office-to-residential conversion projects, this project came with its own unique challenges. We were restricted to the original footprint of the building, which unfortunately meant sacrificing a second bedroom we had initially hoped for. On top of that, because the property had been built to office regulations back in 2001, it fell short of the insulation standards required for a modern dwelling.

To bring it up to residential specification, we needed to add insulation to both the floors and ceilings, along with upgrading all the windows and doors. While the new windows and doors were already part of the plan, the additional insulation meant we lost a noticeable amount of ceiling height in the process.

Although these restrictions were frustrating at times, they forced us to think more creatively about the interior design and ultimately led to one of the standout features of the home. In the kitchen, we decided to take the ceiling right up to the roofline and add a Velux window, creating a striking double-height space. The effect was transformative: the kitchen now feels airy, light-filled, and expansive, while the adjoining living room, with its lower ceiling, feels contrastingly intimate and cosy.

The original office building had been solidly constructed, comprising a large main office, a smaller meeting room, a stationery cupboard, a compact kitchen, and a toilet. It had served my clients’ family business well for over 20 years, holding many fond memories. But with the business closed and my clients now in their 80s, the time felt right to repurpose the space. Converting the office into a single-level, thoughtfully designed home promised not only greater comfort and practicality but also a simpler, more enjoyable lifestyle for the years ahead.

Photos of a kitchen and living room with a sage green kitchen, round dining table with wooden flooring — After photos of the same space as above, showing the kitchen and living room

From the outset, I knew my clients wanted more than just a functional apartment — they wanted a home. Having already downsized from their family house, they were now seeking somewhere simpler, easier to manage, yet still full of warmth and character.

Although the project was essentially creating a new build home within an old office shell, my priority was to ensure it never felt cold or clinical. I wanted the space to be welcoming, inviting, and full of personality. With the property set in a light industrial location, surrounded by agricultural buildings, it felt important to subtly acknowledge that context too. By weaving in a touch of masculinity and understated industrial details, the design pays quiet respect to its setting without losing the sense of comfort and cosiness.

Because my clients had always lived in larger houses, I was particularly mindful of making this one-bedroom apartment feel as spacious and open as possible. At the same time, accessibility and practicality were key — the home needed to serve their lifestyle today while also adapting with them in the future.

Through thoughtful interior design solutions, clever use of space, and a careful balance of textures and tones, we created a modern apartment that not only works beautifully but also feels truly personal and homely.

Sketchup image from the kitchen design showing a sage green kitchen. — CAD image of the kitchen design showing the full height cupboards

My Conversion Project Design Process

When approaching this office-to-apartment conversion, my focus was on creating a home that felt practical, welcoming, and spacious, while also respecting the building’s unique history and industrial surroundings. Here’s how I approached the design:

1. Layout and Flow

The first step was to completely rethink the layout. The original floor plan worked for an office, but it didn’t suit modern apartment living. My clients wanted an open-plan kitchen and living area where they could spend time together in one large space. To achieve this, we:

Flipped the original layout, moving the kitchen from the back to the centre of the home.
Removed the stationary cupboard to create space for built-in wardrobes in the bedroom.
Transformed the old kitchen into a stylish new bathroom with a walk-in shower.
Repurposed the old toilet as a boot room, with floor-to-ceiling built-in cupboards for maximum storage.
Added a new back door leading to an existing outbuilding, which we converted into a utility room and office with an additional toilet.

One of my favourite design solutions was introducing a pocket door to the bedroom. Because the apartment needed to be fully accessible, and the rooms weren’t large, I wanted to avoid the awkward manoeuvring caused by standard door swings. A pocket door made the space easier to navigate and kept the layout streamlined.

Designing for a conversion is different from a renovation. In this case, we had to creatively adapt the limited footprint while working within certain constraints — for example, keeping the original placement of windows and doors. These restrictions pushed me to think more creatively about flow, storage, and light.

2. Lighting Design

Light was a huge consideration in this home. Surrounded by trees and with relatively small windows, the original office space wasn’t bright. To solve this, we:

Added Velux roof windows, which completely transformed the interior by flooding it with daylight.
Chose slim-profile UPVC windows to maximise glass surface area.
Frosted the bathroom window to allow for privacy while letting through diffused natural light.
Designed a practical lighting scheme, with two-way switches in the bedroom, sensor lighting by the front door, and logical switch placement throughout.

The result is a home that feels much brighter and more uplifting, even on overcast days.

a colour palette for the bedroom showing the wall colour, wallpaper, flooring etc — The colour palette for the bedroom showing the wallpaper and wall colour etc.

3. Colour and Materials

From the start, I wanted to acknowledge the building’s setting in a light industrial and agricultural landscape. To do this, I introduced black accents into an otherwise neutral palette. Black details brought in a subtle industrial edge, while a soft plaster-pink shade used across the walls and ceilings kept the home warm and inviting.

Using one colour consistently throughout helped make the space feel more cohesive and spacious. To soften the look further, I introduced pattern in the bedroom with a beautiful floral wallpaper — this added character, personality, and a sense of calm.

a photo of the kitchen showing pots, a plant and table lamp with splashback behind — A styling detail in the kitchen blurring the lines between kitchen and living room

4. Furniture and Styling

The furniture choices were a blend of practicality, comfort, and style.

For joinery, I selected classic-style doors that will age gracefully and always look timeless.
The kitchen was finished in sage green cabinetry, paired with plaster-pink walls, touches of black, and brass hardware for a high-end look. Quartz worktops with a subtle gold vein elevated the kitchen with natural beauty and a touch of luxury.
In the bathroom, we opted for deep blue cabinetry, terrazzo-style tiles with flecks of navy and coral, and the same quartz worktop running across the back wall for both function and style. This not only maximised counter space but also reflected light, helping the room feel larger and brighter.
The boot room followed a streamlined design with floor-to-ceiling cupboards in the same finish, using push-release doors for a clean, uninterrupted look.

In the living area, my clients wanted a reclining armchair for comfort, so we had it upholstered in a neutral fabric to blend in beautifully. A small sofa in a deep terracotta added warmth and depth, complementing the plaster-pink walls. We reused many of their existing smaller furniture pieces, mixing them with new items like a black dining table and chairs that nodded to the home’s industrial edge while staying modern and stylish.

Finally, for window treatments, I knew the design needed strong, tactile fabrics to frame the black-framed windows and ground the interiors. We used full-length curtains: a mustard floral weave in the living room and a plain terracotta fabric in the bedroom. These chunky, woven fabrics added softness, warmth, and a sense of connection between the interiors and the outside world.

conversion proejct

A photo of the sage green kitchen with the media unit in the foreground. — The kitchen from the Living Room

Walking into this home today, you’re greeted with a warm and welcoming space that feels a world away from the office that once stood here. The office-to-home conversion is now complete, and aside from the original wall plaque that quietly nods to the family business, you’d never guess this was once a workplace.

My clients are overjoyed with their new home, often saying how it instantly feels like their space because we’ve woven their personality and lifestyle into every detail of the design. There’s a deep connection to the building—not just through the memories of the past 20 years, but also in how this new chapter has been crafted around their needs, character, and future.

The atmosphere is calm, relaxed, and inviting. Natural light floods into the kitchen, now the true heart of the home. Though modest in size, this modern kitchen and living space is brimming with personality and makes the perfect spot for family gatherings. Every corner has been thoughtfully designed to balance comfort, accessibility, and style.

The result? A stunning office-to-residential conversion that proves even the most unassuming buildings can be transformed into homes full of character, warmth, and soul—spaces that feel both timeless and perfectly suited for modern living.

a bathroom showing the shower enclosure and storage cupboard with window behind — The bathroom with walk in shower and lots of storage

During this project, there were a few key design decisions that really elevated the space and helped turn an ordinary office into a beautiful, functional apartment. If you’re planning your own office-to-home conversion, here are some of my top tips:

1. Minimise structural changes where possible Retaining as much of the original building as you can not only preserves its character but also helps to control costs. Where possible, avoid moving existing windows and door openings—this reduces unnecessary building work and keeps the budget focused on features that will make the most impact.

2. Prioritise natural light Lighting can completely transform a space. Nobody wants to spend time in a dark, dingy home, so it’s worth paying attention to how natural light enters the rooms. Consider orientation, window treatments, and the strategic use of skylights or roof windows. Then layer this with a well-planned artificial lighting scheme—both practical and atmospheric—to create a home that feels bright and welcoming all day long.

3. Use colour to unify small spaces If you’re working with a compact layout, keeping the colour palette consistent throughout can make the home feel larger and more cohesive. Painting walls and ceilings in the same shade removes visual boundaries and gives the illusion of more space. A soft, warm neutral is often a great choice, creating a calm backdrop that you can layer with texture, furniture, and accessories.

a close up of a green bedside table showing floral wallpaper behind and cushions on the bed next to it. — Beautiful colours in the bedroom creating warmth and softness

By keeping these three principles in mind—preserving character, maximising light, and using colour cleverly—you can transform even the smallest or most challenging conversion into a home that feels spacious, stylish, and full of personality.

"A house without a soul is just a building; it’s when you add personality, depth, and connection that it transforms into a home."

I truly enjoyed working on this office-to-apartment conversion. Despite the early challenges of balancing local council requirements with the needs of my clients, the end result is a beautifully functional, warm, and welcoming home where they feel completely at ease.

This project gave me the opportunity to flex my design philosophy—bringing colour, character, and soul into a space. It reminded me once again how vital it is to design not just for aesthetics, but for feeling. A house without a soul is just a building; it’s when you add personality, depth, and connection that it transforms into a home. That transformation is what excites me most as a designer, and it’s a reward I take with me from every project.

Wicker tray with lit candle, brown bottles labeled "Body Wash" and "Conditioner" on a marble countertop. Warm, cozy atmosphere. — Styling in the calm, spa like bathroom

If you’re considering your own renovation, conversion, or office-to-home project, I’d love to help you navigate the process. With my experience, I can guide you through the challenges and create a space that not only works for your lifestyle today but continues to feel like home for years to come.

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