Designing your office can be one of the most important rooms you can design, since most of us spend a good amount of our time in an office environment. I am so excited to introduce Vanessa De Vargas of Turquoise who shares office design tips in today's Monday designer interview. She is such a talented designer with an incredible eye for color, texture, and materials.

LAMPS PLUS: How would you define your style?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: A mix of vintage and modern

LAMPS PLUS: What inspires your design?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Fashion and textiles, movies, and old vintage home decorating books

LAMPS PLUS: I love all your office designs! How is designing an office different from designing other spaces?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Actually it's very similar since most offices are very personal. Most of my clients spend alot of time in their offices, so they want it to feel like an extension of their home.

LAMPS PLUS: What are the lighting requirements in an office?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Overhead, task, and reading lights

LAMPS PLUS: How do you balance function and aesthetics in a workspace?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Function always comes first, then finding the right decorative pieces that fit its purpose

LAMPS PLUS: What are a few tips for selecting the right desk chair?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Does it adjust, do the arms get in the way? Does it have a cushion?

LAMPS PLUS: What is your advice for putting together a space plan for an office when it is a shared space and requires two desks and workspaces?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: Put tham back to back or push them against the wall to create as much room as you can in the space.

LAMPS PLUS: What are your two favorite desk lamps from Lamps Plus?

VANESSA DE VARGAS: The Robert Abbey brass desk lamp and the Seeri double shade table lamp

Robert Abbey Alvin Antique Brass Book Desk Lamp

Seeri Double Shade Table Lamp

Thank you Vanessa!

Images: Courtesy of Vanessa De Vargas