Attic Office Conversion: Transforming a Cluttered Loft into a Creative Workspace
- godwinvintage
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
When we moved into our 200-year-old cottage in Scotland at the end of 2024, we quickly realised we wanted to put our own stamp on the house. Over the years, previous owners had made various renovations, many of which felt a little bland, dated, and uninspiring. Our aim was to gently strip back some of those changes and bring back charm and character to the cottage, while still keeping it fresh and practical for modern living.
One of the spaces that needed the most attention was the converted attic, which had become my home office.
The Starting Point
The attic space was functional, but far from inspiring. It had gradually become both my workspace and a dumping ground for boxes we hadn’t yet unpacked after moving in 9not fogettign the dog bed), largely due to a lack of storage elsewhere in the house.
I spend a lot of time in this room — and I mean a lot. Between my full-time day job, editing videos for my growing YouTube channel, and managing the Godwin Vintage website while photographing and uploading Adam’s latest upcycling creations, this space needed to work hard.
The room itself had white sloping ceilings, tired laminate flooring that had clearly been laid decades ago, and very little personality. For someone who thrives on creativity, it just wasn’t the environment I wanted to spend so many hours in.
I had brought with me from our previous home a beautiful vintage captain-style desk that I had previously upcycled in Farrow & Ball Railings, a rich blue-black tone with new cast iron drawer pulls. While it was a lovely piece, it simply wasn’t practical for this space, as what I really needed was more storage and a larger working area.
Designing the Space
I began sketching ideas and concepts for how the room could be transformed.
The vision was to create a beautiful yet practical workspace, centred around a long desk with plenty of room to spread out. I wanted bespoke cabinetry and shelving that would provide enough storage to hide away clutter, while also displaying books, cameras, and interesting objects that inspire creativity.
My shelves would become home to my collection of vintage cameras, books, and decorative curiosities, creating a workspace that felt personal and inspiring.
The overall aim was to create a space that felt:
High quality
Timeless and classic
Calm and inspiring
Practical for everyday work
But without feeling overly glamorous or pretentious — after all, this is still the attic of a 200-year-old cottage.
Bringing Cottage Character Into the Design
To tie the space into the rest of the house, I incorporated several design elements that appear elsewhere in the cottage.
The wall behind the desk was finished with bead and butt panelling, which instantly adds a sense of traditional cottage character. The cabinetry below the desk was designed in a shaker style, another classic feature that works beautifully in period homes.
Repeating design details throughout a house helps create a sense of cohesion. For example, the bead and butt panelling and shaker-style cabinetry appear in our kitchen and bedroom as well, so bringing them into the attic office helps the space feel connected to the rest of the home.
Choosing the Colour
Originally, I had planned to paint the cabinetry in a deep green such as Farrow & Ball Studio Green. However, after thinking it through, I realised that such a dark colour might make the room feel just a little too heavy.
Because this space is used for work, I wanted it to feel light, calm, and airy, rather than cosy and cocooning like a snug or bedroom.
Next I considered Farrow & Ball De Nimes, a beautiful heritage blue-grey. But after testing samples (which I always recommend doing), it still felt a little darker than I wanted.
Eventually I settled on Farrow & Ball Selvedge, which has a similar heritage feel but is slightly lighter with a subtle hint of green. It turned out to be the perfect balance — timeless and characterful while still keeping the room feeling fresh.
Clearing the Room
Before work could begin, everything had to come out.
This proved more challenging than expected because the attic is accessed via a narrow spiral staircase. Some larger pieces of furniture simply wouldn’t fit, which meant they had to be hoisted onto the roof and brought through the Velux window!
Once the room was cleared, the old laminate flooring was ripped up along with the worn underlay.
New Flooring
The new floor was an important part of the transformation.
Solid wood flooring would have been ideal but was far outside my budget. I still wanted something that felt warmer and more authentic than laminate or LVT, so I chose a rich dark oak engineered wood floor — a great compromise that still offers the look and texture of real wood.
Underneath, I installed woodfibre underlay panels, which are breathable, improve sound insulation, and help smooth out minor imperfections in the subfloor.
Creating Bespoke Cabinetry on a Budget
Originally, I had considered hiring a carpenter to create fully bespoke cabinetry to fit the sloping walls.
However, the cost quickly became clear — tens of thousands of pounds — which simply wasn’t realistic for this project.
Instead, we created the bespoke look using IKEA kitchen cabinets, built onto a frame to achieve the correct height. A full-length dark wood-effect worktop runs across the entire width of the room to create a generous desk surface.
Designing the desk height required careful planning. Standard kitchen cabinets are much higher than a comfortable desk height, especially once you factor in legs or framing and the thickness of the worktop.
Getting these measurements right took quite a bit of planning.
Getting the Worktop Upstairs
The room itself is about 4.5 metres wide, which created another challenge.
Standard kitchen worktops aren’t long enough to span that distance, so we used three sections instead:
One full piece running across the main desk area
Two shorter sections at either end
This avoided having a join directly in the centre of the workspace.
Just like the furniture earlier in the project, the worktops also had to be lifted onto the roof and passed through the Velux window.
Cabinet Finishes and Hardware
The cabinet doors and drawer fronts were painted in Farrow & Ball Selvedge, starting with a light sanding to create a key, followed by primer and several coats of paint.
I chose modern antique brass knurled cabinet knobs, which add a subtle contemporary touch and stop the cabinetry from feeling too traditional.
A high vintage-style skirting board was fitted along the front of the cabinet bases and painted the same colour to give the built-in units a more integrated, bespoke look.
Lighting and Shelving
The existing wall lights were removed and rewired so that the new lighting could be positioned perfectly above the desk.
The new fixtures are vintage-inspired industrial wall lights in antique brass, which bring warmth and character to the space.
The shelving was built using large sheets of MDF, cut to size and assembled into frames that follow the slope of the ceiling. Under each shelf we added a small overhang so that COB LED lighting could be hidden underneath, casting a soft glow across the workspace.
All shelving and panelling were finished in the same dead-flat Selvedge paint, creating a calm and cohesive look.
Modern antique brass double power sockets with USB and USB-C charging were installed above the desk, ensuring there are plenty of places to charge cameras, laptops, and other devices.
Styling the Space
Once the construction work was complete, the fun part began — styling the shelves.
Books, vintage cameras, decorative objects, and small plants now fill the shelves, creating an inspiring environment that reflects my interests and personality.
Above the desk hangs a hand-painted canvas from a recent holiday, a reminder of a beautiful place and a welcome moment of escapism during busy workdays.
On the floor, a handmade rug we picked up during our travels adds warmth and texture against the dark wood flooring.
The Finished Result
What was once a cluttered and uninspiring attic has been transformed into a beautiful, functional, and creative workspace.
The room now feels calm, organised, and inspiring — somewhere I genuinely enjoy spending time. With plenty of storage, a large workspace, and carefully chosen lighting and styling, it’s a space that works both practically and aesthetically.
And perhaps most importantly, it now feels like it truly belongs in our 200-year-old cottage, blending character and craftsmanship with modern practicality.
Inspired by this attic transformation?We love helping people reimagine their homes and turn overlooked spaces into something truly special. If you’re planning a renovation or looking for help designing a room with character and personality, take a look at the interior design services we offer.
Comments