The Reveal of The Finished CLJ Studio

Originally when we bought our house in North Carolina, we fell in love with it for so many reasons, one of them being the fact that it had a great room with a separate entrance–perfect for our team to work out of! We did so blissfully before being notified by our town that we can't have employees working out of the house. This was devastating and frustrating at the time, but we pivoted and rented a temporary office space just down the street. It was a fast, easy solution, and the office lease came with all of the basic furniture and everything we needed–but I wouldn’t call it inspiring. We knew we had to find a more permanent solution. After many months, a secondary temporary office location, and back-ordered furniture, the new Chris Loves Julia Studio is finally finished!

Team Room

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This is what we call the Team Room! We currently have eight employees (and counting), and if we grow any more, we're going to have to get a bit more creative with our desk arrangement, haha. When we originally announced that we were moving into a new office space, we planned to be on the first floor, but we upgraded a few levels, and now we have a tree-lush, lake-side view. It's so lovely.

The total office space is about 2000 square feet, and although we weren't given free rein of the design decisions, we were able to make the most important ones–including using our new Faye flooring line with Stuga.

White Desks | Rolling Chairs | Gold Trash Cans | CLJ Runner | Faux Tree | Planter Basket | Credenza | Frame TV | Digital Art | Rattan Lamp

After we bought our home in 2021, we were in a race to lay new hardwood flooring before moving in, and it was one of the most stressful parts of the entire renovation. We flew across the country to approve the color of our stain-in-place white oak, only to be disappointed with the options, and went back to the drawing board with a tight deadline. Flooring makes a HUGE impact and is a big expense, so we wanted to LOVE it. After some trial and error, we got it right.

We immediately started working with Stuga to make wood flooring available for you in a perfect shade inspired by the flooring we have in our home today. It took some time, but we did it! We DID IT!!! And it’s my favorite part about our new office.

Our history with Stuga goes back to when we renovated the Cabin in the Idaho mountains. Their Scandanavian hardwood flooring completely transformed the cabin, and we fell in love with their stunning wood varieties and their unmatched durability. We then installed their Ingrid flooring in our Modern Cottage home because we knew that if they could withstand snow and wet boots in the cabin, they could withstand a lifetime.

So, of course, when Stuga reached out to collaborate and create engineered wood flooring for YOU inspired by our wood floors, we did not hesitate.

Modern Metal Frames | Globe Lamp

I'm completely obsessed with how they look in our new office space, and I'm slightly jealous they're not in my own house (shhhh).

Conference Room

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Every Monday morning, we gather in the conference room for a meeting, but we also have a lot of breakout meetings throughout the week.

Julia's Office

I have one-on-one meetings in here with my team members each week, and as much as I love working closely with the team, it's been nice to have a space of my own to make design decisions and hop on calls.

Shop Julia's Office

Velvet Lounge Chairs | Blue/Sand Rug | Rolling Laptop Desk | Migration Artwork | Modern Floor Lamp

Kitchen

Brass Soap Sensor Pump Station | Brass Paper Towel Holder | Frame Creativity Banner (Vintage)

The kitchen is one of our favorite spaces because... well, we stock it with everyone's favorite drinks and snacks!

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Break Room

Modern Metal Frames in Brass | Banquette | Bistro Chairs | Bistro Tables | Wallpaper | Artwork (Vintage)

We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this banquette, and it just arrived last week! I'm so in love. It's nice taking our lunch breaks here, but everyone's free to bring their laptop or phone over and get some work done over here if they need something more secluded than their desk.

Shop the CLJ Break Room

The Faye collection, named after our middle daughter, strikes the perfect balance between modern livability and timeless style. Faye has delicate swirling grain patterns and subtle knots, which adds to its versatility in style. The mid-tone brown hue is the perfect, natural brown, which will add warmth to any space. Here are more details about the Faye flooring:

• Solvent-free Acrylic Urethane Ultra-Matte finish (their most durable finish)
• Locking system (float, staple, or glue-down approved per their install guides)
• 1/8″ wear layer (it can be sanded down and refinished 2x if you want)
• L 78 3/4” x W 6” x H 5/8”
• 19.5sf/carton (6 boards per box)
• Custom stair nosing that will transform your space. View options

FAQ About Our Faye Flooring

Q: Can I order a sample?
A: You can order a small free sample, or you can spend $25 and get a 2'x3' sample.

Q: What makes this flooring different than other engineered hardwood flooring?
A: Stuga's engineered wood floors have been performing for over 80 years. We source only the best and most sustainable materials that will last a lifetime. Learn more about their unmatched construction here.

Q: What is the installation process like?
A: Traditionally, the industry standard for flooring is a tongue-and-groove connection system, but Stuga's locking system guarantees that your flooring will stay in place for years to come. Learn more about the installation here.

Q: I've ordered a free sample, and I love it, but I'm nervous about taking the plunge. Any tips?
A: Stuga has a 3D tool on the landing page if you want to take a closer look. But if you want my opinion, this flooring is such a classic, traditional, yet modern choice. They also have financing available if you want to be able to pay over time.

Drop any other questions you might have in the comments below, and we'll answer as many as we can!