Last summer, Kate Lewis was named chief content officer of Hearst Magazines, and a big promotion (with a new office) calls for a major office makeover. Kate wanted her space to be comfortable and stylish, not stark or super corporate. Her inspiration: living rooms on Pinterest with homey, mid-century-modern vibes, and layers of colors and textures in the form of velvet sofas and Moroccan rugs.
Armed with ideas, the editors at Magazine swooped in to bring her favorite looks to life. Now it’s a space where her team loves to gather, and everyone, including Kate, tends to linger longer than expected. “Honestly, I don’t even want to go home at night,” she says. “This office makes people feel at ease, like they truly are in my living room—though it’s much nicer than my actual living room! They’re happy here, and so am I.”
The Magazine editors warmed things up with navy swivel chairs, a green sofa(all from Article), and a coffee table from France & Son. Visitors can easily circle around to face Kate’s wall-mounted TV to watch presentations. The Moroccan rug from West Elm sets the gathering space apart from the desk area. “Sometimes I’ll come back from a meeting and find my team just hanging out here because it’s such a welcoming space,” says Kate.
The solid-back velvet sofa (no loose cushions to constantly readjust) is deep and extra comfy, but thanks to high squared-off arms and modern tufting, it feels formal enough for an office. The HGTV Magazine editors added a contrasting pop of color with a pink pillow from Bunglo. A pair of soft cream-color pillows from Serena & Lilybring texture to the mix.
What looks great with a green sofa? Blue chairs for the win! A graphic pillow from The Citizenry adds a cool touch. The side table is by Oly Studio.