Olive Arch Study

Olive Arch converted a spare room into a study and library for a client working from home several days a week. The room had useful proportions, but it lacked storage, had poor task lighting, and felt visually disconnected from the rest of the apartment.

What needed solving

The brief called for enough concealed storage for paperwork and equipment, open shelving for books, and a focused work setting that would not feel too corporate. A strong architectural moment was needed to give the room identity without consuming too much floor area.

Design approach

We built full-height oak joinery around a deep central arch and kept the desk zone visually quiet. The olive plaster finish softens the geometry, while integrated shelf lighting makes the joinery useful after dark.

• Closed base cabinets hold printers, files, and less attractive equipment.

• Open shelving leaves room for books and personal objects.

• Low-glare lighting supports screen work and evening reading.

“I wanted a room that felt separate from work at the end of the day, not a desk placed in a spare bedroom.”

The finished space is functional during the day and calm enough to become a reading room in the evening.