Reality House: Workable Solutions

The home office, once A luxury, is now an absolute necessity in an age of nomadic telecommuters, home-based entrepreneurs, online bill payers, instant messaging–obsessed kids, and closet creatives. In fact, many would argue that one office is not enough.

Some new homeowners in our study confessed to having converted their living rooms into computer workstations where kids could do homework and parents could pay bills without straying too far from the core of family activity. Others who tele-commuted part time, ran home-based businesses, or aspired to more artistic endeavors said they craved quiet space away from the chaos. Said one research participant: “I need to be able to have a business conversation without any background noise.”

The best solution for satisfying these conflicting wishes? The Reality House offers multiple dedicated work zones, including a quiet study off the beaten path and a small home office right in the thick of things.

“We envisioned the study as a rich, masculine space made for an attorney or investor,” says Michelle Reich, of The Interiors Group, “whereas the catchall home office next to the family room is for the stay-at-home mom. We pictured her as someone who's very involved in her kids' activities, school volunteering, and perhaps charitable work in the community. She likes to try new recipes and maybe does a little scrapbooking on the side.”

For artists, musicians, or woodworkers who want to get away from it all, a detached studio in the backyard provides the ultimate escape.

FINE DETAILS

THINK TANK Designed as an appendage to the floor plan, the study/den is a quiet spot, far removed from the frenetic core of the home. Its location adjacent to the front entry means clients can stop by for meetings without encountering the rest of the house. A faux painted ceiling by Artistic Projects of Boynton Beach, Fla., gives the space a touch of Old World flair.

MULTITASKING HEAVENBuilt-in cabinetry and an L-shaped countertop fuse maximum efficiency into a small home office space next to the rear staircase and within earshot of the family room.

A SEPARATE PEACE An intimate outbuilding in the rear yard has all sorts of possibilities—workshop, art studio, potting shed, kids' clubhouse, storage unit, you name it. Air is kept circulating in the vaulted room with a ductless A/C unit. Its clean façade of Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Exterior Acrylic Latex Satin ties in with the main residence.

SWING KINGArchitect Series out-swing patio doors from Pella Windows & Doors maximize views and bring in light. Shown here in the den, the 8-foot doors feature grilles with traditional high-definition profiles permanently bonded to the inside and outside of energy-efficient glass to meet Celebration's design codes. Solid pine grilles are bonded to the interior, while the exterior is protected with weather-resistant brown aluminum cladding. www.pella.com.

CABINET POSITIONSKitchens aren't the only spaces where fine cabinetry is appreciated. Game rooms, studies, and dining rooms also have swag to stash. This study, for example, uses Timberlake Cabinet Co.'s Cherry Chocolate in a simple Shaker design with iron oxide pulls. The cabinets are made the same way as the kitchen units: solid wood fronts and drawer boxes, dovetail joinery, and full-access drawers. www.timberlake.com.

TALL TALESThe right interior door helps make a house feel special. The Reality House uses 8-foot and 6-foot 8-inch Cheyenne two-panel plank smooth doors from Masonite. Launched in honor of the company's 80th anniversary, the special-edition molded panel doors feature beaded planking and lines that mimic the stiles and rails on real wood doors. They also feature Safe 'N Sound solid core construction for noise control. www.masonite.com.

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