A couple of young college professors from Northern California wanted a modern, energy-efficient home, which is located in Chittenden County, Vermont. The home’s design provides a natural, unobtrusive aesthetic setting to a backdrop of the Green Mountains with the low-sloped roof matching the slope of the hills. Triple-pane windows from Integrity® were chosen for their superior energy efficiency ratings, affordability and clean lines that outlined the home’s openings and fit the contemporary architecture they were looking to create. In addition, the project met or exceeded Vermont’s Energy Star requirements.

HOUSE-KT

N.A.O

photo：shinichi hanaoka

EAST CHOP RENOVATION

MacNelly Cohen Architects P.C.

NYC Pied-A-Terre

Susan Tully Interiors

We love when our clients trust us enough to do a second project for them. In the case of this couple looking for a NYC Pied-a-Terre – this was our 4th! After designing their homes in Bernardsville, NJ and San Diego, CA and a home for their daughter in Orange County, CA, we were called up for duty on the search for a NYC apartment which would accommodate this couple with room enough for their four children as well! What we cherish most about working with clients is the trust that develops over time. In this case, not only were we asked to come on board for design and project coordination, but we also helped with the actual apartment selection decision between locations in TriBeCa, Upper West Side and the West Village. The TriBeCa building didn’t have enough services in the building; the Upper West Side neighborhood was too busy and impersonal; and, the West Village apartment was just right. Our work on this apartment was to oversee the design and build-out of the combination of a 3,000 square foot 3-bedroom unit with a 1,000 square foot 1-bedroom unit. We reorganized the space to accommodate this family of 6. The living room in the 1 bedroom became the media room; the kitchen became a bar; and the bedroom became a guest suite. The most amazing feature of this apartment are its views – uptown to the Empire State Building, downtown to the Statue of Liberty and west for the most vibrant sunsets. We opened up the space to create view lines through the apartment all the way back into the home office. Customizing New York City apartments takes creativity and patience. In order to install recessed lighting, Ray devised a floating ceiling situated below the existing concrete ceiling to accept the wiring and housing. In the design of the space, we wanted to create a flow and continuity between the public spaces. To do this, we designed walnut panels which run from the center hall through the media room into the office and on to the sitting room. The richness of the wood helps ground the space and draws your eye to the lightness of the gorgeous views. For additional light capture, we designed a 9 foot by 10 foot metal and mirror wall treatment in the living room. The purpose is to catch the light and reflect it back into the living space creating expansiveness and brightness. Adding unique and meaningful art pieces is the critical final stage of design. For the master bedroom, we commissioned Ira Lohan, a Santa Fe, NM artist we know, to create a totem with glass feathers. This piece was inspired by folklore from his Native American roots which says home is defined by where an eagle’s feathers land. Ira drove this piece across the country and delivered and installed it himself!!

Creative Carving Studio in Atlanta

Handcrafted Homes, Inc.

Gregg Willett

Home Again

Donna Weir Design

Dark lacquered joinery provides ample storage in this office while the rich wall colour is complemented by the drapes, art work and traditional furniture

Well Read

Laurie Demetrio Interiors

Private Residence, Laurie Demetrio Interiors, Photo by Dustin Halleck, Millwork by NuHaus

Home Office Under Stairs

Christine Lakas, The Designer, LLC

Home Office Design

Hickory Furniture Mart

Take that, FLOOD! A gorgeous contemporary revival.

The Design Firm

Customized Desk and Storage Cabinetry

Deb Seeley Designs LLC

I designed this custom built in desk and storage cabinetry inorder to meet all their needs. To the right bottom are laterial files and to the left bottom is a pull-out shelf which houses their printer/scanner. Since this is a small space, it is important to be able to tuck things away when not in use. Providing easily accessible pull-outs and drawers resolves this issue and prevents clutter, which hampers productivity.

The Pacifica Apartments

American Design International

Contemporary Home Office

Desk Under Stairs with Custom Quartz Countertop and Custom Iron Legs

Christine Lakas, The Designer, LLC

Home Office in Sherman Oaks

Lauren Jacobsen Interior Design

Organic Modern, Cordillera Ranch

Compact Home Office/Secretary

Southern Living Idea House Charleston, SC

Mill & Woods

Custom prefinished, handscraped heart pine floor. Random width. Inlay produced on site. Southern Living Idea Home

Creative Carving Studio in Atlanta

Handcrafted Homes, Inc.

The dark hickory floor complements the lighter hickory cabinets.

Small Home Office Design Ideas with Brown Walls

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.