A miniature scene as editorial illustration.

If we had to imagine our ideal project, it would likely go exactly like this one.

The key ingredient is partnering with great people, and we got to work with the pros over at The Washington Post.

Next, you need a good, unique challenge. Ours was to put together this miniature scene as illustration for their article Tiny cloffices — workspaces in closets — are big, thanks to the pandemic.

Finally, timing is everything. The best creative generally comes out of a set of tight constraints, with just enough time to innovate solutions. We would never have it any other way.

The Room Box

We started with a basic, rectangular room box and got busy with customizations. Robb made a closet build-in that included brackets for the desk and shelves. Then he got to cutting out openings for a door in the back wall and a side window. We designed coffered ceiling panels and brick textured wall panels to laser cut and paint to match. Finally, trim, baseboard and crown molding.

The bi-fold closet doors were definitely one of the biggest parts of the whole project. Robb delicately split 6-panel doors down the middle and refinished them with new hinges. He even designed 3D files for the door knobs. They are so much fun to open and close that the kids can’t seem to leave them alone.

WALLPAPER: We needed something dark, with a little bit of detail, so we put together this Dot Deco Wallpaper in Spruce.

FLOORS: We printed out and pieced together Medium Wood Herringbone Printable and added a coating of glossy clear shelf liner before installing.

‘Cloffice’ Details

There were so many details that went into the furnishing of the office area. We always start out by seeing what can be sourced and then figure out how to create the rest. Even though so many of the tiny details are partially (or completely) hidden, they are still a delight.

BASKET LIGHT: I had a really clear idea of the light that I wanted, but couldn’t find anything close. So, I started with a battery string light and wove a little basket shade around it using floral wire and waxed thread. Switching the light on and off is kind of a weird thrill.
CRATES: Natural Milk Crate
SHELL: We 3D printed this.

BOOKS: Neutral Shelf Filler Book Covers (We used these to fill a little space on the shelf as well as some extras stored in baskets under the hallway table.)

LINEN BOXES: Printable Cream Lidded Boxes

MAGAZINE BOXES: These Printable Cream File Boxes are perfect for holding a hodgepodge of notebooks, magazines and books.
PLANT: Robb painstakingly assembled this little green heartleaf philodendron. He might be low-level stressing that it needs more light.
CAMERA: We 3D printed this.

ART PRINTS: We framed a black and white photo in light wood, complete with white matte and clear plastic “glass”. For the art sketch, we just tacked it up sans frame.
Clock: For the clock, we started with a 3D printed base and added the clock face, hands and clear plastic “glass” to finish it off.
SCULPTURE: We 3D printed this.

PRINTER: We 3D printed this then added paper and stickers. (The boys were making fun of us for printing a printer.)

PENCIL CUP: A mug filled with pencils and scissors did the trick.
LAPTOP: We fixed up a little one we found online. It just needed a blank screen and a better keyboard—so stickers to the rescue!
JOURNAL: We put together this little Printable Journal

CHAIR: We found this office chair wholesale, and it was the perfect shape, but it only came in silver and blue. Not to be deterred, Robb dismantled the whole thing and refinished it. (similar here)

RUG: Linear Diamond Fringed Rug

BASKETS: Purchased wholesale. (similar here) We had fun filling them with extra bits of rolled wallpaper.
HANDBAG: We found this little cutie on Etsy. One of our favorite details was wrapping the fresh flowers in an old copy of The Washington Post.

Room Details

To keep the focus on the office area, we wanted the rest of the room to stay pretty basic. But, we couldn’t resist adding a few little details here and there.

STAGHORN: This little fern was SO much fun to make. Robb cut out a little square of wood and “dirtied” it up a bit. I made wired fronds and attached them with a mound of dry moss.

ART: We wanted something quite colorful and a bit larger for the brick wall, so mounted this print on thick card for an unframed canvas look.
HOOKS: Silver Hook Board We draped a little fringed wrap over one of the hooks and created a natural drape with clear matte sealant. (I usually use spray starch, but had somehow run out without noticing.)

BOOTS: We 3D printed these. I nearly included the boot box on the top shelf of the closet as well, but it was starting to get crowded up there.

BENCH: From this set, painted white.

NAIL POLISH: We 3D printed this, then painted it in my favorite shade of summer red.
CANDLES: White Candles with miniature sea shells collected on our last trip to the beach.

FIG: We photographed a leaf from one of Robb’s actual Fiddle Leaf Fig (affectionately named Phil) and printed dozens of them to construct this little guy.
WATERING CAN: Purchased wholesale. (similar here)

Behind the Scenes

This was honestly such a fun project to work on. We put together a little video of the process. Check it out below:

With a to-do list of dozens of items to create, we learned a few new skills. Robb has some new thoughts on bi-fold doors. I definitely want to make some more baskets. And we finally got to read the finished Jura Koncius piece on the ‘cloffice’ renaissance. Check it out below!

The Washington Post // Home & Garden

Tiny cloffices — workspaces in closets — are big, thanks to the pandemic

By Jura Koncius

The cloffice — a closet that doubles as an office — wasn’t born during the pandemic. The concept has been around for some time. But with the explosion of working and learning from home, more people strapped for space have taken a good, hard look at the tiniest nooks in their homes. READ MORE→

FULL ARTICLE