{"id":344535,"date":"2025-09-04T09:43:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T13:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=344535"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:44:09","slug":"how-to-design-the-perfect-luxury-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/how-to-design-the-perfect-luxury-study\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Design the Perfect Luxury Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contemporary work spaces in the home should be calm, clutter-free and come with plenty of personality, writes Kate Youde<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>One of two studies by designer Charu Gandhi for a home in Regent\u2019s Park, London. Photograph: <\/span>Nick Smith<\/span><\/p>\n

For many of us, this time of year marks a return to work, whether that\u2019s the start of a new academic semester or back to the office after a summer vacation. But since the pandemic shift in working patterns, this does not necessarily mean leaving home, so it is perhaps unsurprising that interior designers have seen an uptick in requests for beautiful yet practical studies in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The design of these spaces has evolved with the way we use them. Whereas a study may once have been occupied for a couple of hours in the evening, often it is now in demand all day. And while some homeowners still want a contemporary spin on the traditional aesthetic of dark colors, dark wood and moody lighting, a more common request is a lighter, softer, multifunctional room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor my clients, it\u2019s very much a living space\u2014it\u2019s so much more than just a desk,\u201d says interior designer Laura Hammett, founder and creative director of <\/span>her eponymous London studio<\/span><\/a>. Her studies typically feature a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table, used for informal meetings or working with a laptop.<\/span> She often places a couple of chairs opposite the desk as a \u201cconversation space,\u201d as seen in a study she completed last year for a penthouse in the Bahamas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Laura Hammett\u2019s bright and airy study for a Bahamas home. Photograph: Julian Abrams. <\/span>laurahammett.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Acoustics are a key consideration. In a Westminster penthouse, London-based interior design studio <\/span>Elicyon<\/span><\/a> used a special plaster on the study ceiling that can absorb unwanted sound and lined the sides of shelves with sound-proofing fabric. \u201cThat client was self aware enough to say, \u2018Look, apparently I\u2019m quite shouty on phone calls and it gets to the family,\u2019\u201d says Charu Gandhi, founder and director of Elicyon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology is integrated: in the Westminster study, cabling was concealed within the leg of the desk, while the desktop has a hidden compartment for sockets and a wireless charging pad integrated into the leather runner. Equipment is ideally stored out of sight when not in use.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span>This corner study by Elicyon conceals a wealth of technology\u2014and a bar. Photograph: Patrick Williamson<\/span><\/p>\n

In another London home designed by Elicyon, the printer is tucked away in a cupboard with a bar concealed in the elegant art deco-inspired modular unit above. This study is just off the primary living room so doubles as a \u201cspillover\u201d space, explains Gandhi. The client enjoys playing card and board games, so a bespoke table used for meetings has built-in games storage, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contemporary studies should not be all work and no play. \u201cThey\u2019re often the space with quite a lot of personality\u2014a real celebration of self,\u201d says Gandhi.<\/span> The study is where someone might hang the art that feels particularly personal to them (or that their partner dislikes) or indulge in a favorite hobby. Elicyon is working on a study in west London that will showcase the owner\u2019s \u201cStar Wars\u201d memorabilia. Another in a villa in the Middle East will feature a large watch winder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Soft seating in Elicyon<\/span>\u2019s study for a family home in Westminster, London. Photograph: Nick Rochowski<\/span><\/p>\n

This self-expression extends to an ornament that has decorated studies for centuries. <\/span>Bellerby & Co Globemakers<\/span><\/a> handcrafts desktop and floor-standing globes, which the London company\u2019s founder Peter Bellerby suggests is \u201cthe most interactive piece of artwork you will ever buy. It might have the story of your life, your family over generations on there for you to reflect on,\u201d he says. \u201cIt might just be a way of getting inspiration to see where you want to travel on your next trip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Personalization requests include labeling places close to a client\u2019s heart, tracking family migration, or showing someone\u2019s favorite travel itineraries.<\/span> One of the more unusual commissions, Bellerby says, was a globe depicting undersea cables, reflecting that particular client\u2019s industry. It sits on a base of three bronze petals, engraved with the names of his daughters and housing the ball bearings on which the globe spins.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Details of a bespoke globe made by Bellerby & Co Globemakers, London. Photograph: Bellerby & Co Globemakers<\/span><\/p>\n

Hammett\u2019s Bahamas study has a built-in cigar humidor. She believes it is important that a study represents a client\u2019s identity.<\/span> \u201cIt\u2019s the lifestyle element that comes with working from home these days,\u201d she explains, \u201cand it needs to feel like a space that is tailored to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She brought \u201ca masculine feel\u201d to the daylight-filled room with the use of materials including fluted mid-tone timber, sandy-colored leather and<\/span> a bespoke dog-leg desk with a Nero Marquina marble base and liquid metal-finish top.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got the drama with the desk, but it\u2019s not overpowering,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not heavy. And that\u2019s probably the way that our more masculine studies are going: less of the heavy darkness.\u201d Where they do retain a traditional feel, it tends to be \u201cmore of a stylized space,\u201d and less regularly used.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/b>Marble and metal contrast with the lighter timber of the cabinetry and flooring<\/span> in Laura Hammett\u2019s Bahamas project. Photograph: Julian Abrams<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the properties Gandhi works on have at least two studies, as is the case in a high-end family home near London\u2019s Regent\u2019s Park that she designed.<\/span> This is partly done with children in mind.<\/span> Hammett agrees: \u201cStudies have become more of a family space for the kids to come in and do their homework, or play games,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The recent work-from-home trend has driven a cultural shift. While once people sought a work-life balance, today\u2019s buzzword is the work-life blend. And a contemporary study accommodates that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From work to play, read more about the emerging trend for high-end games rooms<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Contemporary work spaces in the home should be calm, clutter-free and come with plenty of personality, writes Kate Youde One of two studies by designer Charu Gandhi for a home in Regent\u2019s Park, London. Photograph: Nick Smith For many of us, this time of year marks a return to work, whether that\u2019s the start of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770370,"featured_media":344536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1417,1504],"class_list":["post-344535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-bahamas","tag-united-kigdom"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-1.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1rD1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345882,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/collecting-focus-rare-drawings\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":0},"title":"Collecting Focus: Rare Drawings","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"January 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Contemporary artists love to collect sketches and studies by their predecessors and they aren\u2019t alone, writes Katie Armstrong Jean-Antoine Watteau, \u201cA Man Playing the Guitar,\u201d which will be auctioned in \u201cMaster Drawings from the Collection of Diane A. Nixon,\u201d Sotheby\u2019s New York, February 4, 2026. Photograph: Sotheby\u2019s Old Master drawings\u2014the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"people viewing Master Works at Sotheby's Auction House in London","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Master-Works-London-B.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":401,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-palatial-park-avenue-penthouse\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":1},"title":"Inside a Palatial Park Avenue Penthouse","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"January 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"High above one of the most prestigious addresses in Manhattan, this triplex penthouse virtually brims with elegant classicism and contemporary comfort and convenience. Long recognized as one of the most prestigious addresses in Manhattan, Park Avenue has symbolized luxury and refinement for at least a century. During the 1920s, construction\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/NYC.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341660,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/new-and-notable-sales-over-10-million-may-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":2},"title":"New and Notable Sales over $10 Million: May 2024","author":"SIR Admin","date":"May 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From a one-of-a-kind estate in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, to a waterfront tour-de-force in Gardone Riviera, Italy, these are this month\u2019s five featured notable properties for sale over US$10 Million. Gardone Riviera, Italy Italy Sotheby's International Realty Situated on a hilltop with a captivating vista of Lake Garda and a stone's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Market Insights"","block_context":{"text":"Market Insights","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/market-insights\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/montenegro2-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/montenegro2-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/montenegro2-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345143,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-an-elegant-modern-estate-in-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":3},"title":"Inside an Elegant Modern Estate in Houston","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"October 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"At this new residence, a leafy landmark setting and an august brick fa\u00e7ade suggest an Old Worth formality, yet the expansive light-filled interiors are a study in subtle modern sophistication. The historic Houston neighborhood of River Oaks is a coveted community with roots stretching back to the 1920s and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entry-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346016,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-chic-russian-hill-aerie\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":4},"title":"Inside a Chic Russian Hill Aerie","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"February 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"High above the historic San Francisco neighborhood of Russian Hill, this chic contemporary residence is a nexus for sophisticated living and entertaining with nearly panoramic views of virtually every area landmark. At the crest of Russian Hill\u2019s namesake peak\u2014and the highest elevation in northeastern San Francisco\u2014is a small park named\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"living room with aerial city views","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":347094,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-tranquil-texas-retreat\/","url_meta":{"origin":344535,"position":5},"title":"Inside a Tranquil Texas Retreat","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"June 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This enchanting home tucked amid three acres of towering trees could easily be mistaken for an enduring Tudor manor in the countryside of England or France. It is, in fact, a unique haven of sophistication, comfort, and seclusion in the peaceful community of Tomball, Texas. With its handsome masonry and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"exterior of Tudor-style Texas home with trees","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770370"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344535"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345077,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344535\/revisions\/345077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}