Updated Oct 11, 2025 2:33 PM EDT
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Domino Reno: Before + Afters, DIYs, and Advice From the Pros
Domino Reno: Before + Afters, DIYs, and Advice From the Pros
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Sylvia Tribel’s New York City office was hardly the most inspiring setting—think dated furnishings with an ’80s vibe. “I do miss the view of skyscrapers, but my new space is definitely an upgrade,” says the New Jersey–based fashion merchandiser and ceramist. Once she started working from home six months ago, she decided to overhaul her attic; the onetime guest-room-slash-storage unit is now a dreamy workspace.
Equally inspired by the idea of a French artist’s loft and her beachy surroundings, Tribel nailed the minimalist-coastal look with neutral hues and pared-back furniture. “Less is more,” she explains. “I find a simple, light-filled space really soothing. It helps me focus.” Her first step? Shopping her own home. She pulled a shag rug that didn’t fit anywhere else to add texture, repurposed a laundry hamper for storage, and brought a pair of IKEA Finnvard trestles out of retirement—she’d originally bought them for an old desktop a couple of years back.
The rest of her shopping list topped out at around $55:
The real focal point is that desk. Sleek and simple, it offers ample room for brainstorming new designs and cranking through to-do lists. Tribel wandered the lumber aisle at Home Depot until she found a slab of wood that was smooth, sturdy, and the right tone. She had it cut to her exact measurements (pro tip: measure the legs before heading to the store), then propped it on the IKEA trestles for the ultimate flat-pack-meets-bespoke design. For extra stability, she anchored the tabletop to the wall with small L brackets. “It’s exactly what I envisioned!” she says.
If you’re looking to spruce up your at-home office, let Tribel’s foraged desktop be your muse—though if you’d rather grab something ready-made, these desks under $180 are pretty great, too.
Wall-Mounted Folding Shop Desk
Go-Cart White Rolling Desk
Kullaberg Desk
Metal-Tubing Desk
It’s hammer time: Follow @reno_notebook for easy rental updates, clever DIYs, and tips to nail your next project.
Elly Leavitt
Writer and Editor
Elly loves covering everything from travel to offbeat design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would sit on the Upper West Side and overflow with mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her mission of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her waiting in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.
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