Before & After: French Interior Style for a Feminine Home Office

Ever wondered how a plain guest room can be transformed into a chic, elegant workspace straight out of Paris? With the right vision and a touch of French interior style, even the most basic home office can become a refined retreat. This stunning before-and-after makeover proves that timeless charm and modern function can beautifully coexist.

The Challenge: French-Style Interior Design & Decor

The client turned to Decorilla for help shaping a French-style library that also functions as a home office. She asked for a creative interior design solution featuring paneling on ballet-pink walls and shelving that carries the weight of her vast collection. An antique desk was central to her vision, both as a functional piece and as a marker of character. The team listened, and translated these notes into a set of clear steps for the designers:

• Select an antique desk with room for a monitor
• Plan shelving or built-ins for books
• Curate a statement crystal chandelier
• Specify a ballet-pink wall finish and an appropriate paneling design
• Choose curtains, French-style decor, and vintage accents

Pro Tip: In love with French Interior Style, but not sure whether to go traditional or modern? Try our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to discover your ideal style today!

Design Inspiration: French Interior Style

The client’s interest in French interior style grew from seeing rooms where ornament and function meet in measured balance. She noticed how paneling frames color in ways that make even soft tones feel architectural, and how chandeliers could ground the vertical space with grace. Shelving that stretched wall-to-wall signaled permanence and offered a solution for storing their full library inside a small home office.  

The seating in their inspirational gallery images oozed softness that could alter the register of the whole room. The desks extended the sequence with antique finish echoing the patina of book bindings on the shelves, while the colors of wood, textile, and paint carried through at a consistent depth. Across the floor, patterns set by rugs drew all these parts into circulation, linking different zones into one continuous interior.

Initial Concepts: Finding the Right Designer

The Decorilla team identified two professionals for the French interior design project, both with a strong track record. Sharné L. prepared a soft pink scheme that leaned toward a decorative traditional look. Her moodboard emphasized the vibes of a sitting room—a library that could double as a salon. Discrete floral patterns appeared in both decor and accessories, while the chandelier amplified the ornate detailing. 

Picharat A., by contrast, approached the French home office interior design through balance. Her proposal placed the executive desk in front of tall built-in bookcases, so that their painted arches framed both storage and display. Structured wall wainscoting and tailored drapery defined a space that supported work yet kept fidelity to French interior style.

The client gravitated toward this plan, selecting Picharat’s design as the most fitting direction—”Thank you for this lovely design!—at the same time suggesting a slightly more traditional approach with a few changes in elements.