The Rural Voice, 1997-08, Page 50Home Decorating
Decorating the home office
By Patti Robertson
Once considered quite unusual, the
"home office" has become part of our
everyday social landscape. Architects,
designers, and manufacturers are all
becoming pros in creating spaces and
furnishings that will be practical,
good looking, and work closely with
the '90s lifestyles.
New homes and those undergoing
major renovation, more often than
not include home office space in the
initial plans. In smaller, older homes
we often need to be more innovative
in searching out that perfect space to
create a home office.
A guest bedroom can double very
effectively as office space, and there
are some very effective tricks to be
used in camouflaging double -duty
furnishings. As an example, use the
closet area as your filing room.
Locate bulletin boards, filing
cabinets, and paper work behind a
door that closes for privacy when you
have company. It is quite easy to
make a floor -length slip cover to
conceal a standard office chair,
thereby changing it into a boudoir
chair.
Nondescript filing cabinets can be
turned into interesting end tables
once camouflaged with slip covers
(make sure to allow access to the
drawers with a flap). Once covered,
top your file cabinet with a sheet of
glass which will protect your fabric.
Arrange the top with a co-ordinated
lamp and some stylish knick-knacks
and voila! an elegant end table to
flank your pull-out sofa bed. Use
tricks such as covering or painting an
old trunk or butter box with co-
ordinated fabrics to use as a coffee
table, the inside space once again
working overtime for storage
purposes. Free-standing divider
screens can be a great asset in these
double purpose rooms by "screening
off" desks and
computers when
necessary or
desired.
If space is
extremely tight
we need to
become
innovative .. .
consider the
possibility of
working home
office space into
a closet (even
removing the
door if
necessary).
Perhaps you will find just enough
space under a stairwell.
Recently, a client and I planned a
home office contained within a
locking armoire. The client's home is
a tiny, quaint cottage with space
extremely limited. We decided upon
the wall on which our office armoire
would be located and then we
analyzed our needs, utilizing space
with adjustable sliding shelves, file
drawers, a printer/fax trolley, etc. If
company arrives, we simply close the
double locking paneled doors and the
living space become uncluttered for
our guests!
Those fortunate enough to have a
full-scale home office, the sky is the
limit! Manufacturers are creating a
variety of versatile pieces which
assist in creating efficient home
work stations. I'm aware that more
and more of our local furniture
dealers are designating large sections
of their shops for "home office
furnishing".
Not surprisingly, home office
furnishings closely follow overall
trends to complement our residential
decor, while at the same time
incorporating features that house all
computer equipment and assist home-
office workers to keep up with the
paperwork.
Once we have chosen a location
for our home office and selected the
furnishings, the fun can begin! I truly
believe that we are happier and more
content surrounded by colour and
textures that please us and sooth our
harried souls. So indulge yourself!
Paint the walls sunshine yellow and
add drapery to the windows and file
cabinets in periwinkle and navy blue
motifs of Ming vases. Go ahead, use
a textured grasscloth and adorn the
walls with African spears and native
masks. Or be contemporary and
install a checkerboard flooring in
black and white and hang verticals of
red lacquer.
If a body is content working in
their personalized home office space,
then how can one help but be
productive and successful?0
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.
HURON COUNTY MUSEUM
13TH ANNUAL QUILT SHOW
AUGUST 9TH TO SEPTEMBER 21ST
REGULAR MUSEUM HOURS AND ADMISSION APPLY
110 NORTH ST., GODERICH
HURON 524-2686
Quilts from
Women's Institute
Branches of Huron East,
South & West Districts
will be featured in
recognition of the
100th Anniversary
COUNTY
46 THE RURAL VOICE