Shawn Johnson, the former Olympic gymnast and multi-hyphenate social media creator, recently redesigned her family’s home office including an indoor and an outdoor space. Shawn, who runs a successful YouTube channel (@theeastfamily) with husband, Andrew East, is mother to two young kids, Drew and Jett, and a golden retriever named Nash.
Shawn and Andrew wanted a space that prioritized a work-life balance. The office needed to be functional for work, but also family-friendly and relaxing for when family and friends come to visit. Shawn described their number one must-have as “a collaborative space for us to all be at the table comfortably together. We treat our business like family, because at the end of the day, it really is for us.”
The Home Office
Shawn and Andrew furnished their home office space with Williams-Sonoma Sunbrella Laguna Slipcovered Dining Side Chairs around a large table desk/dining table. “Our chairs around the big table get used every single day,” says Shawn. “We love them!”
They created a conversation area with the Williams-Sonoma Sunbrella Laguna Sofa and Crate & Barrel Simeon Wicker Lounge Chairs. Cozy pillows tie the space together like the Crate and Barrel Canvas Pillow in Charcoal.
Andrew and Shawn both prioritize time with family, and part of that is having a good work life balance. That’s why this office has been so special for them to complete! Shawn explains, “We love that we can go in that room and relax or take calls for work there.”
The room also features a kitchenette and bar outfitted with Perigold Lebello Skin Patio Bar Stools with Sunbrella cushions.
“We love Sunbrella fabric. It’s durable for weather (and kids, let’s be honest) but also fits our space the best.”
The Outdoor Patio
Shawn and Andrew outfitted their home office patio with comfortable, modern seating. The outdoor seating area is made up of the Neighbor Haven Coal Outdoor Sofa, Neighbor Haven Coal Outdoor Chairs, and a Neighbor Haven Coal Outdoor Ottoman. The dark grey fabric contrasts beautifully with the solid wood teak frame, providing modern sophistication with outdoor durability.
Shawn described the space saying, “Our outdoor space is so dreamy and perfect to work from.” Extra pillows for the seating like the Pilar Stone Outdoor Lumbar Pillows and the Suelo Neutral Outdoor Pillows from Sien+Co tie the space together and make it extra cozy for the family and their golden retriever, Nash.
Family-Friendly Meets Professional
One of the biggest priorities for Shawn and Andrew was making sure their spaces were versatile. They had a few key goals with the spaces, like making sure that the rooms, both indoors and out, could always be functional.
The design achieves a great balance of functionality and style, with both the indoor and outdoor spaces serving as a perfect spot to relax or enjoy time with family and friends.
How to Create your Own Oasis
We asked Shawn what her advice would be to anyone who wanted to revamp their space but didn’t know where to start. “I know it sounds cliche, but you just have to jump in! If you have a dream... go for it. Build your happy space. Sometimes, the first step is just collecting photos and creating a mood board of what you envision. That helped me a ton!”
Get Inspired
For more inspiration on creating your own personal happy place, check out our Design Ideas and tips for Indoor and Outdoor Living.
