The New (WFH) Normal

 As we get closer to ushering in a new year, many of us have realized that our daily routines won't return to normal any time soon. Children are remote learning. Offices are still off limits. Unfortunately a great deal of us are working from home, and have been doing so for quite some time. While the commute may be fantastic, the distractions of trying to conduct business while family members are all around us is daunting.

At first, most of us pieced together a temporary workstation, perhaps at the end of a dining room table or atop a kitchen island counter. As the pandemic dragged on, employers saw that remote working wasn't as bad as they'd feared and now, here we are. Even if you had already rushed to Ikea in hopes of transforming an existing guest room into one that could perform double duty, you probably hadn't thought out what a productive, peaceful workspace should look like. Luckily, there are designers that have done this for you.

 A dedicated home office is at the top of the list for many home buyers now and WFH employees are seeing the value of investing in a functional, attractive space where they are spending a huge portion of the day. Here is some inspiration for you... from the sky's the limit, to cold hard reality and every budget in between.

One Wall Design With Freestanding Desk

This spacious, custom office is probably not in the budget for most of us, but it has all the elements of good design that can be easily translated to a typical home. A desk is set up in front of a wall of storage. On the other end of the room is a seating area. Couple this with a comfortable desk chair and coordinating draperies and you can get a similar look for a fraction of the cost.

T Shaped Design

The above office uses a one wall design and places the desk perpendicular to it, forming a T shape. This type of design takes up less space and can accommodate two people working in the same space. You can create a similar look and function with store bought cabinets and desk as well. It is good to note that with all these examples, do not forget the importance of adequate lighting. If your room does not have recessed lighting, supplement it with floor and table lamps.

L Shaped Office Design

Walls on two adjoining sides is referred to as L shaped. This type of setup works well for someone whose work requires them to access files frequently. Carpet is not recommended, as chair wheels will have difficulty maneuvering back and forth from file and computer areas.

U Shaped Office Design

A U shaped office is just that, three walls that come together in the shape of a U. While it looks as if this style requires a lot of space, it can be achieved in spaces no larger than laundry, mud rooms or small bedrooms that used to be nurseries. The benefit of this design is that two people can comfortably work in the same space, with each having adequate storage and counter space.

Don't have a room you can dedicate to an office? No problem. Here are two examples that prove you can have a functional and good looking work area anywhere in your home.

Open Space Office Design

This homeowner utilized an unused wall bordering a staircase. This would work just as well for remote school learning as it would for traditional WFH applications. And when children return to regular school, this is great for a homework, bill paying or craft area.

One Wall Office

The above layout would look fantastic on one end of a great room, whether you have the space for one or two desks. It is the traditional one wall design, so it takes up the least amount of square footage in a home, while providing the maximum functionality.  Note: because these two examples are out in the open for everyone to see, choose appealing materials and keep the work areas clutter free when they are not in use.

What if your budget just won't accommodate a large investment right now? Again, no problem! Here are two examples of budget friendly offices.

One Wall Office With Freestanding Desk

Does that bookcase look familiar? Yes, it's from our favorite big box retailer that has awesome meatballs too. This is the same layout as the first photo, a one wall design with a free standing desk, only it is using readily available materials. Add some floating shelves and accessories and you'll have a very budget friendly office by the end of the day.

Freestanding Desk Home Office

 

Need an office, but have no money to spend? Go shopping around your house. This look was achieved with furniture they already owned. With a little style and creativity, you can come up with a warm, world traveller look. Start by removing everything from the room, leaving it a blank canvas. Bring in items one at time, starting with the desk, and move it around to different areas to find its best placement.

Then add items slowly making sure not to overcrowd the space.  And again, don't forget proper lighting. Finally, add accessories that won't distract you, only inspire.  After all, you're supposed to be working.

As you can see, whether you have a large budget or no budget at all, there's no excuse to not have a functional work from home office. Invest a little time, and invest in yourself.

Found in Translation

The UAE is a culturally diverse and stunningly beautiful country. My husband and I moved to its capital, Abu Dhabi, three years ago and proceeded to set up house.  I was inspired by Islamic architecture and motifs and wanted to bring a similar feeling to the interiors of our home. I set out on a journey to take as many photos as I could of images that resonated with me.

With so many pattern, style and color options available to me, it would've been easy to turn our place into a caricature of the surroundings. The solution was to mix old and new, to highlight traditional motifs against a backdrop of contemporary larger pieces.

A slightly modern interpretation

East/West harmony, old and new sensibilities

The contrast of these two styles translated perfectly and created a restful, yet luxe home. It also exemplified the essence of what the UAE is, a country proud of its past while embracing the future.

Quick and Affordable Redo

After - A paired down, inviting guest room that the clients can continue to embellish as time permits

Sometimes you can get big returns with little effort. If you have been wanting to redo a dated space in your home, all it takes is a little planning,  some focused shopping and a weekend to pull it all together.

After an extensive bathroom remodel adjacent to this client's guest bedroom, there was little time or money left to update the room and give the entire ensuite a cohesive theme, but we were up to the challenge. First, we chose a carpet remnant to replace the dated flooring. Remnants are a very cost effective way to provide big impact. We scheduled installation for the following weekend and set our sights on the rest of the room. By keeping the clients' artwork and side tables, we stayed in budget by focusing on bedding that evoked a spa-like luxury without breaking the bank. Shop at big box retailers first, especially those who focus on home goods and accessories. They stock designer brands at discounted prices.

We simply needed to use the color palette of the connecting guest bath as our guide. That way both rooms would feel like a true ensuite any guest would love to use. The following weekend we had the carpet installed and pulled it all together.  Since the furniture needed to be removed to install the carpeting, we decluttered and only brought back pieces that worked. The client can replace lamps and night tables in the future when the budget permits, but for now the transformation was easy, affordable and impressive.

Before - Nice, but not restful

Mise en place

Mise en place is a French culinary phrase which means "everything in its place." It refers to the set up required before in a kitchen, all ingredients ready and prepared, in order to properly cook. It can be applied to any situation really, in that, any task is easier if organized.

A jewelry designer's work beautifully showcased in her new studio

This was never more true than for a jewelry designer who found herself at an impasse in both productivity and creativity.  She was using a bedroom as her workshop that was filled with furniture intended for other purposes. An old dining table served as her work table and the surrounding chairs housed the materials she used to create her beautiful pieces of jewelry. While she needed everything within reach, she also needed space to work and a clutter free environment where creative ideas could be born. Plus, she wanted a showroom where she could bring clients and display her work.

Before

There was no room to be creative or productive in this cramped guest room that was being used as a design studio

We removed everything  and installed custom white cabinetry that could be used for both storage and displays. The center work table functions as her primary work area, but has storage cubbies underneath and seating for three additional people for when she chooses to hold jewelry making classes. We refinished the old honey oak floors with a grey wash stain that complements the crisp white cabinetry, and keeps the room from feeling cold. Finally, we stained the large window area the same, so that her jewelry designs can take center stage.

After

With room to design, room to showcase and room to do office work, there is still enough room to grow
as her business expands

Now everything has a place for it, whether it be the components in making a piece of jewelry or the finished product itself. And there is ample space for work, creativity and growth in the future. Perfect mise en place!

Making the most of things

As a complement to my previous post, I wanted to illustrate how the correct scale and proportion of an area can greatly enhance its usefulness.  The front patio of this condo is the only outside space for the home, so every square inch of it is precious real estate.

Before

The oversized table, chairs and umbrella take up the entire area, provide only seating for four and leave no room for traffic flow. If you open the sliding doors from the living room, you walk straight into a chair, not ideal for indoor/outdoor living.

At the opposite end of the patio are two trellises, assumably for privacy, but they add no value to the outside and the privacy issue can be addressed more efficiently.

The first step is to have a plan of action. Determine how you want to use the space. How many people do you want to accommodate? Next measure the entire area. If there are doors, windows or gates, measure these and the space between them as well. Next go shopping with your measurements in hand and find 2 or 3 potential furniture candidates..but don't purchase anything yet. Get spec sheets on your candidates or measure them in store. Now come home and see how each of your selections would fit in your space. If you need more of a visual aid, cut out butcher paper or tape out on the floor where each piece will fit to see if there is enough room. You extra effort will be greatly rewarded!

After

As you can see, with properly scaled furniture we were able to create a comfortable seating area that includes a loveseat, two chairs and a coffee table. Accessories, planters and a larger bbq grill complete this side.. all while enabling good traffic flow around the furniture and into the living room, when the sliding doors are open.

On the opposite side, there was ample room for a bistro set and planter.  The table and chairs offer flexibility depending on the occasion.  They can be pulled around the seating area, used as a serving table for parties or simply a great place to enjoy a morning coffee. As the Bird of Paradise grows, its'  lushness will enhance the oasis feeling of the now very useful, albeit modest, space.

Not-so Interior Design

Redesigned outdoor living space in Valencia, CA

Often I'm asked to help out a client who is stumped at what to do with their back yard.  In this particular case, the interior of the house was beautiful but the outside spaces were unusable. When building their almost-zero lot line house, they opted to install large planting beds along the entire perimeter of their spartan yard. This left little to no space to enjoy the fabulous Southern California weather without feeling cramped.

Before

Oversized planting beds take up pricey real estate in a Valencia back yard

My plan was radical, but my clients were up to the challenge. I proposed ripping out everything...planting beds, plants and all hardscape.  The hardscape planters took up way too much precious real estate and they wanted an easy care back yard, so their removal would help conserve water as well.

 Once the yard was cleared of debris, you could see that there really was a decent amount of usable space. I designed areas for seating, gas lines for a fire pit, water lines for a fountain and free standing planters for dwarf fruit trees. Next, we poured dark stamped concrete in a cobblestone pattern that complemented the Tudor architecture of the home. Finally we painted the grey concrete walls a neutral creme color to elicit a feeling of space and light, the perfect backdrop for what was to come.

All that was left was to furnish the areas, utilizing the yard's full potential. Now the family has a spacious and comfortable seating area with a fire pit for those cooler nights, a beautiful fountain to drown out any neighborhood noise and clean lined urns housing dwarf fruit trees that will supply them with lemons and oranges next season. Also, by leaving some of the side yard open, it gives a feeling of spaciousness and allows for crowd flow if they decide on having a large party. And when you live in Southern California, isn't every day a reason for a party?

After

Less is more. The backyard now feels spacious with just a few key pieces that allow traffic flow for entertaining

Old Meets New in the Hollywood Hills

When a couple decided to tear down their home and rebuild it from the foundation up, they looked to their surroundings for inspiration. Positioned under the iconic Hollywood sign in Beachwood Canyon, they wanted an open and airy modern home that contained homages to the original Hollywoodland neighborhood.

The large deck at the back of the home affords tranquil views of the Hollywood Hills

An Art Deco powder room on the main floor gives a nod to the golden age of Hollywood's stars, many of whom lived in the neighborhood because of its close proximity to studios.  The Tudor-style residence once owned by Bela Lugosi is just down the hill and was recently sold and lovingly renovated.

Timeless elements like black and white check flooring, marble and subway tile play well against the sleek contemporary lines of the lavatory and faucet

With sweeping canyon views, the main floor living spaces are filled with light and flow seamlessly into one another, blending elements of old and new...just like the neighborhood itself.

An eclectic mix of old and new, traditional and contemporary is exactly what the clients were striving for in the building of their dream home

While the home sits under the Hollywood sign, it is not actually visible from inside. One of the only requests from the clients was to find a way to somehow bring that icon into the master bath. A custom tile mural was made from a photo and painstakingly assembled in the master shower so that they'd always have a view,  no matter the weather.

Situated on a lot high in the hills with no neighbors to the back, the couple can enjoy canyon views with complete privacy in their master suite

An ensuite bath off the guest room has the feel of being original and period to the era, even though brand new. The beautiful floor tiles were all hand made and hand painted.

The handmade tiles were all of different thicknesses, making installation for the tile setter challenging, but the end result was worth it in the main floor guest suite

The Fruits Of Your Labor

     Now that the project is over, you can see how I applied the inspiration to a practical use.

A doorless, walk in shower with bench and rain shower highlight the new guest bath

The pretty stuff is only half of the equation when renovating a bathroom. First, you must identify the needs and purpose of the space and see if you can improve on the existing layout. The homeowner's guest bath had a layout that didn't utilize it's space properly. A cramped shower on one end, two sinks on the other end and a huge empty space in between.

 I repositioned all the fixtures except for the toilet, and was able to give them two separate vanity areas, a walk-in shower and add a linen closet for storage.


                                                                         Before

                                                                            After

The new space feels larger, brighter and includes storage it never had before. This coastal home now has a spa like guest bath that echoes their surroundings with a modern take on the colors of sand and surf.

Before

The original layout made the guest bath feel cramped

After

The colors of the California coastline feature prominently in the guest suite
of this Rancho Palos Verdes home