Work and play needn't be mutually exclusive. Faced with creating a study for a woman in the Junior League of Princeton Designer Showhouse, designer Gretchen Christie decided to compose a space that functions as both a workplace and a retreat. "It's so important for women to have a place to get away from the television, the radio, the chaos--to have a private room to call their own," says Christie. "It should be a haven of sorts, a room where, even when she is not hard at work, she's also happy to relax with a book or enjoy a cup of tea with a friend. There's no reason she can't have both."

Wrapped in an unexpected horizontal-stripe wallpaper, this study wears clean lines, complemented by white trim and floors. "We painted the hardwood floors to match the trim, because a busier wallpaper requires simplicity around it." The white floors also showcase the rich mahogany finish of the furniture. Pink cotton sateen drapes and throw pillows lend a feminine touch, while espresso-brown velvet pillows and a chocolate-color sisal rug connote masculinity. "I tried to strike that balance here," says Christie. "I believe in the juxtaposition of things, be it masculine and feminine details, or old and new furnishings."

While most home offices center around a desk, this one is peripheral--an attractive, yet practical place for taking phone calls, working on a laptop, or indulging in a hobby. The nucleus of this study, however, remains a pair of linen-upholstered slipper chairs and an inviting chaise longue warmed with cozy accent pillows.