Home Office: Stuck in the 80s No More!
Work-from-home offices are still proving relevant in 2024, but we know not everyone has a home office they love to work from. A home office should feel like a peaceful space where focused, quality work is easy to achieve. If your home office feels like it's stuck in the 1980s, you're not alone! Look no further for home office improvement ideas, because on this weeks blog, we're highlighting an 80s home office remodel transformation we recently worked on.
Our client had lived in their home for many years, working in a home office that wasn't a perfect fit. Updating the office was a long-awaited dream. The space had originally been designed for two people to work side by side, but now, as a single user, it was time for an 80s home office remodel to better suit his needs.
Identifying Pain Points
To figure out our focus with this renovation, we first had to identify the clients pain points - what wasn't working about the current space that needed to change.
- Shared workspace: The office was set up for two people, but he was now the sole user since his wife had moved her office to the main floor.
- Insufficient file space: There wasn't enough space for filing important documents
- Inadequate display space: There was no suitable area to display cherished items like an illuminated Bible, his grandparent's clock, and family business memorabilia.
- Lack of lay-by space: There was no convenient surface for temporary placement of items while working.
Exploring Space Plans
The next step in the 80s home office remodel was to explore the pros and cons of several space plans, identifying which one was best for our clients needs.
U-Shaped workspace
The client initially preferred a large U-shaped desk facing the window but with his back to the door.
Pros:
- The U-shape the client requested
- Plenty of lay-by space
- A more open feel to the room
- A view of trees and the lake
Cons:
- Back to the door, which can be an uncomfortable position psychologically
- Less upper storage
- No workspace facing the door
- No view of art or memorabilia
Floating desk and credenza
Another option was a setup with a floating desk and a credenza behind it.
Pros:
- Faces the door; more comfortable psychologically
- More file storage
- Opens the closet to be a sitting area
- More open floor space
Cons:
- More restricted upper storage
- Loss of closet storage
- Less gracious way to display the secretary desk
L-Shaped desk
The third option was an L-shaped desk.
Pros:
- Better lay-by space
- Fun hidden room
- Lots of bookshelf space
- Highlights the secretary desk as you come up the stairs
Cons:
- Smaller office space
- More construction and expense
Finalizing the Design
After careful consideration, we decided on the U-shaped workspace facing the door. This was the best solution for the 80s home office remodel, providing the best balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Implementing the space plan
We explored several ways to implement the U-shaped space plan and worked on elevations. We sketched out ideas for a hidden door to the closet storage, including a hidden bookcase and a jib door. If you're wondering, a jib door is a concealed door that blends seamlessly into the wall, often used in traditional interiors.
We also created sketches showing either bookcases with a bookcase door or a paneled wall with a jib door. Traditional details like an ogee desk top, reeded elements, and paneled elements were explored the maintain the character of the home.
Creating Construction Drawings
With a clear design direction, we moved forward with creating construction drawings for the 80s home office remodel. We detailed the exact layout, storage solutions, and design details for the office. We also explored finishing touches like lighting and hardware.
Within the closet, we were still exploring the best options for closed and open storage. We wanted to nail these down before the project went to estimating, so the client would have the best idea of what to expect for the remodel moving forward.
Final Steps
The final drawings were then sent to the contractor for pricing. Our client could relax knowing every detail of their office would be included in the price, eliminating any surprise change orders once construction started.
This 80s home office remodel was a comprehensive process that will transform an outdated, underutilized space into a functional, beautiful office tailored to our client's needs. The result is a modern, efficient workspace that will be enviable by all the most savvy work-from-homers.
If you're inspired by this project and want to see more, check out this recent blog highlighting the remodel process of a sitting room.
20 July, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Hi Lisa-
This was a fun post to read. I enjoyed seeing the process you went through from identifying his pain points, through quick sketches to determine what layout he liked best, to the final construction drawings for pricing by your contractor so there won’t be any surprises when he gets the final bid. I look forward to seeing how it all comes together!
20 July, 2024 at 10:06 pm
As always, I love seeing a peek at the design process! And I love how you’ve have honored your clients needs with the perfect solutions – I’m sure he will be delighted with his new workspace and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished photos!
21 July, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Oh my gosh…the layout updates AND the new finishes made for a complete transformation!! I can see how this update was sooo needed…I mean, an office space today has different requirements than one from 40 years ago!!!
22 July, 2024 at 4:45 am
Great blog post, I love how you considered many options before moving forward with the preferred solution, so well thought out!