Makeup Room

Cardea Building Co.

design and construction by Cardea Building Co.

Bradway Boulevard

Heller & Associates

Blaine - Traditional Cottage

Visbeen Architects

The classic 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Blaine boasts a timeless, traditional façade of stone and cedar shake. Inspired by both the relaxed Shingle Style that swept the East Coast at the turn of the century, and the all-American Four Square found around the country. The home features Old World architecture paired with every modern convenience, along with unparalleled craftsmanship and quality design. The curb appeal starts at the street, where a caramel-colored shingle and stone façade invite you inside from the European-style courtyard. Other highlights include irregularly shaped windows, a charming dovecote and cupola, along with a variety of welcoming window boxes on the street side. The lakeside includes two porches designed to take full advantage of the views, a lower-level walk out, and stone arches that lend an aura of both elegance and permanence. Step inside, and the interiors will not disappoint. The spacious foyer featuring a wood staircase leads into a large, open living room with a natural stone fireplace, rustic beams and nearby walkout deck. Also adjacent is a screened-in porch that leads down to the lower level, and the lakeshore. The nearby kitchen includes a large two-tiered multi-purpose island topped with butcher block, perfect for both entertaining and food preparation. This informal dining area allows for large gatherings of family and friends. Leave the family area, cross the foyer and enter your private retreat — a master bedroom suite attached to a luxurious master bath, private sitting room, and sun room. Who needs vacation when it’s such a pleasure staying home? The second floor features two cozy bedrooms, a bunkroom with built-in sleeping area, and a convenient home office. In the lower level, a relaxed family room and billiards area are accompanied by a pub and wine cellar. Further on, two additional bedrooms await.

Montlake

Hoedemaker Pfeiffer

This remodel of an architect’s Seattle bungalow goes beyond simple renovation. It starts with the idea that, once completed, the house should look as if had been built that way originally. At the same time, it recognizes that the way a house was built in 1926 is not for the way we live today. Architectural pop-outs serve as window seats or garden windows. The living room and dinning room have been opened up to create a larger, more flexible space for living and entertaining. The ceiling in the central vestibule was lifted up through the roof and topped with a skylight that provides daylight to the middle of the house. The broken-down garage in the back was transformed into a light-filled office space that the owner-architect refers to as the “studiolo.” Bosworth raised the roof of the stuidiolo by three feet, making the volume more generous, ensuring that light from the north would not be blocked by the neighboring house and trees, and improving the relationship between the studiolo and the house and courtyard.

Bright and open home in Houston

By Design Interiors, Inc.

One of the first rooms you see through the front entry is this beautiful study mixed with traditional and contemporary furnishings. Brightly colored abstract artwork pops against the neutral walls and metallic groin vaulted ceiling. Photographer: Daniel Angulo

Rustic Home Office

Rough Hollow Study

Cornerstone Architects

Winner of five awards in the Rough Hollow Parade of Homes, this 6,778 square foot home is an exquisite addition to the prestigious Lakeway neighborhood. The Santa Barbara style home features a welcoming colonnade, lush courtyard, beautiful casita, spacious master suite with a private outdoor covered terrace, and a unique Koi pond beginning underneath the wine room glass floor and continuing to the outdoor living area. In addition, the views of Lake Travis are unmatched throughout the home. Photography by Coles Hairston

Sona's Art Studio

Paul DeGroot

I designed this 2nd floor art studio for my next-door neighbor, Sona, who does fired glass art, jewelry, fabric projects and other crafts. The vaulted ceiling makes the space seem larger, helps to keep the room cooler, and lets in abundant daylight via the high gable-end windows (one end faces north, of course). Hidden fluorescent cove lights wash up the sloped ceiling planes, spreading uniform ambient light across the room. I designed the 4'x8' island as a project layout center and convenient work area. Perimeter display and storage cabinets and other work counters line the perimeter of the space. You can see some of Sona's glass art displayed with backlighting on the custom "light table" countertop along the stairwell. This GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) countertop was built by Austinite John Newbold of Newbold Stone. I concealed fluorescent lights below the glass panels that are recessed into the countertop. Photos by Paul DeGroot

Tupper Lake Residence

Dillon Kyle Architects (DKA)

Casey Dunn Photography

Art Studio

Rusafova Markulis Architects

Photography for AR Architecture - artist's studio, house extension, London

Adelina Iliev Photography

Photo: Adelina Iliev Photography

Our Work

K&C Classic Homes

Creative Carving Studio in Atlanta

Handcrafted Homes, Inc.

The Carving Studio includes a sink, work bench, TV, spot lighting from recessed cans, and decorative general lighting. The cabinets offer storage for items, such as grinders, power tool sharpeners, and hand tools, and for conveniences, such as laptops and printers.

Coastal Modern

Caldwell & Johnson Custom Builders & Remodelers

Nat Rea

Cottage on Keowee

Gabriel Builders Inc.

Great paneling treatment in the owner's study.

Tallman Segerson Portfolio

Segerson Builders

red desk, red table, dark wood floor, built-in window seat, dark wood beams, ceiling beams, cathedral ceiling, attic, dark wood posts, taupe walls, taupe window trim, orange pillows, floral pillows, black drum shade, silver desk lamp, black table lamp, desk lamp, contrast,

Home Office/Study

Giambastiani Design

Home Office/Study Bruce Martin

Office and Screen Porch Addition

Stuart M. Jones Custom Homes, Inc.

Stuart Jones Photography

Irvine Residence

d'Arcy & Associates Architecture, Inc.

Home Office Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors

A home office has many uses and isn’t a mere luxury anymore. You might work from home, or bring work home, or you might just need a place to go through bills, mail or store important paperwork. Kids can use a home office to do their homework, or quietly play a game online. Browse the photos on Houzz for home office ideas and inspiration, and strike up a conversation with the architect or designer or your favourite picks. For more home office ideas, check out the Stories section.

How much office storage do I need?

To ensure your home office or study room isn’t buried under a deluge of paperwork, books and supplies, incorporate plenty of shelves, cabinets and drawers. Floating or built-in shelves with cubbies can stock books and magazine holders; or for a more traditional look, make room for a large bookcase that fits in with the decor of your home. Invest in a filing cabinet to store paperwork, and opt for a lockable filing cabinet if you have sensitive documents. A tray organiser can store incoming mail and will help prioritise bills. The type of desk you choose is also key to keeping things organised. Look for desks with deep drawers and plenty of surface space, and add tray organisers to the drawers to keep track of staples like pens, pencils, highlighters and sticky tape. If you want a streamlined look, find a way to conceal any computer cables or wires, too. One solution is to install a false back on your desk, if it doesn’t already have one.

How do I choose an office desk and chair?

If you spend long hours hunched over your work desk at home, invest in ergonomic office chairs with wheels for better back health and comfort. Consider optimal lumbar support with flexibility in adjusting handles and back angle. Most rolling office chairs come upholstered, typically in leather, but that’s no reason why you can’t have one custom-made to suit your home decor. When picking out your work desk, be sure to consider its overall function. If you work from home and hold meetings, pick an oversized, sturdy desk that is double-sided (can be accessed from both sides). You’ll want it to look professional, so opt for dark timbers over high-shine finishes. It’s also a good idea to create a separate study desk for the kids, so homework doesn’t go missing among your files. If your home office is for the whole family a two-person desk or built-in long work bench are more suitable. Where space is tight, look for a retractable computer desk, or utilise an awkward corner with a corner desk.

What home office decor will encourage productivity?

Use your walls for to-do lists: hang a pegboard and paint it in your favourite colour or be adventurous with chalkboard paint and whiteboard panels. Bulletin boards that keep the whole family in order are an extra feature that always come in handy. Use your stationery and office accessories – think pencil cups, paper trays and magazine holders – to add colour and pattern, and desk lamps, clocks, maps and calendars to personalise the space. Above all else, aim for ease of use.