Project Spotlight: A Bold, Refined Office on Music Row
At ONYX + ALABASTER, we love creating spaces that inspire creativity + confidence, and this high-end office makeover on Nashville’s iconic Music Row was the perfect opportunity to do just that.
When this music industry executive first hired our team for her home, she quickly discovered how design could transform not only a space but also how she felt in it. So when the time came to reimagine her office, she called us back… this time with an open invitation to dream big.
“She spends so much of her day here,” says Principal Designer Tanya Hembree. “She’s a wife, a mom of three boys, and a partner in a major music firm. She’s constantly juggling all the things, so it was important that her office felt beautiful, inspiring, and like her.”
From Uninspired to Unforgettable
PROJECT BEFORE
When Tanya first stepped into the space, it was dark and uninspiring. Think taupe-gray walls, fluorescent lighting, and underscaled furniture that felt more ‘apartment’ than ‘executive suite’.
“It was just kind of meh,” Tanya laughs. “For someone with her level of influence and creativity, it didn’t reflect her personality or position. She needed a space that had Presence. A place that communicates “This is where things happen.”
Designing with Edge and Elegance
The client gave our Award-Winning Design team full creative freedom to give her space the full O+A treatment.
The transformation began with a focal wall of bold, patterned wallpaper, a statement piece that set the tone for the entire design. “It had to be professional but still a little edgy,” Tanya explains. “Because she’s in the music industry, we had the freedom to play with pattern and texture in a way we might not in a corporate space.”
To balance the strong lines of the wallpaper, the team introduced arched cabinetry, curved furniture silhouettes, and soft metallic accents (a careful mix of structure and femininity).
“We followed what I call the rule of three,” Tanya says, referring to when designers group objects in odd numbers to add visual interest and a balanced composition. “Repeating the arched detail in subtle ways creates rhythm and cohesion.”
We sourced the perfect green velvet sofa to anchor the sitting area, which also balanced the wallpaper’s color palette (and one of Tanya’s favorite features in this project). Paired with bouclé swivel chairs and a cheetah-print hide rug, the result feels refined yet full of personality.
“I wanted her office to feel more like a living room than a workspace,” Tanya says. “We added petrified-wood tables, layered textures, and mixed materials to keep it feeling collected and custom.”
Personal Touches + Meaningful Details
The client brought in her own art collection, much of it tied to her work with well-known artists, and asked for O+A’s guidance on placement. The final result showcases a balance of professionalism and individuality, with moments that reflect both her career and her creative spirit.
“I think we struck that perfect balance of elevated and approachable,” Tanya reflects. “It’s polished enough for high-level meetings but still feels warm and uniquely hers.”
The Beauty of Designing Creative Workspaces
For Tanya, projects like this hold special meaning.
“I love designing creative offices and studios,” she shares. “There’s so much freedom to be bold. In a home, people can get really emotionally tied to every detail—but in a workspace, they’re more open to taking risks. And I think that’s where the magic happens.”
The finished office now feels like a reflection of its owner: elegant, driven, and unafraid to stand out.
What Does Your Space Say About You?
If you’re ready to re-imagine your space, whether a high-end office, a home workspace, or a full-scale design transformation, our team at Onyx + Alabaster would love to bring your vision to life. Schedule your 15-minute inquiry call to find out more.
Schedule Your 15 minute Inquiry Call
All photos by Allison Elefante Photography