My Dream Office

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 12 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #2,295 in DIY, #42,360 overall

Accommodating Work and Play

So, inside my dream house, along with my dream kitchen, here are some ideas for my home office.  I did a lot of textile design in my grad school years and love to do "wet work" (dyeing) but this space is about my "dry" work, i.e. writing, web design, art/paper stuff, reading and movie watching.

The Work Zone 

a blend of working and entertainment

I don't want a conventional desk in this space, more like an area where I can sort of spread out and think. Science fiction writer Spider Robinson once said he always appreciated how when his wife saw him lying on the sofa with an open book on his chest, staring at the ceiling, she recognized he was working. As someone who writes a lot, I know what he's talking about.

I like my interior backgrounds to be darker than most people. I've often lived in rooms that got the nickname "the cave." I still see skylights and some really nice bay windows in this house though, and I'm never at a shortage for house plants. I also like the blended look of antiques with modern and Eastern with Western. Like a gentle setting from the movie "Bladerunner."

Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio 1966

Amazon Price: $1,799.95 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $2,499.95

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

'Aurora Red Lamp 26'' Ht W Shade''

Amazon Price: (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $53.40

Split-Top Laptop Caddy! Portable Adjustable Rolling Computer Desk (Black/Silver)

Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $119.00

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

All Work And No Play... 

All these links are to articles or web sites that talk about setting up work environments in ways that support creativity and flow.
A New Year, A New Home Office: How to Set Up Your Professional Space
Part One of a Two-Part Series from the Creative Group eZine
When Form Meets Function: Designing Your Home Office
Part Two of a Two-Part Series from The Creative Group - eZine
Creative Workspaces
For optimal creativity and getting the best from people, you need spaces that encourage creativity.
russell davies: creative spaces
And I think 'creative spaces' demand a lot more thought than they normally get. (Incidentally, I also hate myself for using 'space' this way, like a gallery owner, to mean, really 'place' but 'place' doesn't quite seem right either.)
10 seeeeeriously cool workplaces
Physical space matters. It's easier to be productive, creative and happy at work in a colourful, organic, playful environment than in a grey, linear, boring one.
DG Creative Offices - Welcome
DG Creative Offices is an independent office interiors provider delivering solutions for office specializing in making the challenges of office refurbishment, fit out and furniture selection, purchase and installation a trouble-free process - no matter how small or large the project.
An Office for Creativity
An article from Flexibility, the online journal of flexible work, about a flexible approach to cutting absenteeism.
The Dirsmith Group
World-renowned architecture, landscape, engineering firm dedicated to blending the environments of man and nature.
For rent: Reversible Destiny Lofts (w/ video)
Designed to stimulate the senses and force inhabitants to use balance, physical strength and imagination, the lofts feature uneven floors, oddly positioned power switches and outlets, walls and surfaces painted a dizzying array of colors, a tiny exit to the balcony, a transparent shower room, irregularly shaped curtainless windows, and more.

The Hardware 

I think it's time to do away with multiple large screens and just have one huge one, since I so rarely watch any broadcast tv. It's almost all DVDs, with the occasional VHS tape, or whatever it is will be on my computer. I'd like to get the card to bring the tv signal into the computer and just run all that through there.

MacSpeech Dictate

My latest productivity "toy" has helped with my writing in interesting ways.

Amazon Price: $161.49 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $199.00

Usually ships in 24 hours

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Standard Student Edition

Amazon Price: $298.99 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $1,399.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

"They don't work for money anymore, or to earn a place in heaven...They are working and inventing because they like it! Economics has become a spiritual thing. I must admit it frightens me a little bit. They don't seem to see the difference between working and not working. It has all become a part of one's life. Linda! Larry! There's no concept of weekends anymore!"

-- Earl Culver (Spaulding Grey), TRUE STORIES

Interiors 

These links are to web sites, design firms and architectural solutions that that I find to be creative and out of the ordinary.
Livingstones, les coussins galets - Decoration interieure et exterieure
Fancy French pillows that look just like rocks. This really makes you start to rethink the living room.
sakura adachi_product&furniture designer: collection
This two-sided bookcase with a seat built-in is just the thing for partitioning space in a dome house!
DB Fletcher Design
DB Fletcher, Designers and manufacturers of exclusive and innovative furniture
Steel Casey - Vintage Steel Furniture - Home, Office, Prop Rental
this company reconditions and repaints steel furniture. Awesome retro looks!
cape schank house, paul morgan architects at materialicious
Within the living room the ceiling wraps down to an internal water tank. The tank cools the ambient air temperature of the living room during summer, supplies rain water, and structurally carries the roof load.
Apartment Therapy New York | AT Europe: London Close-up - The Amazing Staircase
Limited by space, we melded the idea of a staircase with our client's desire for a library to form a 'library staircase' in which English oak stair treads and shelves are both completely lined with books. With a skylight above lighting the staircase, it becomes the perfect place to stop and browse a tome.
DIY Vinyl Wall Art - Instructables - DIY, How To, art, home
I do like having bright, interesting spaces, so I was brainstorming on creating a large art piece that I could maybe mount on the wall, or other types of removable decor, and the universe smiled on my with inspiration from one of my favorite blogs: Nest did a neat post on using contact paper to make wall decals.

Accents and Accoutrements 

Adding to the flavor and look of the main living and work space.

Exotic Retreat Bookcase/Room Divider

Amazon Price: $279.99 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $349.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

Unique Fabric Wall Paper Print Damask Pattern - 6ft. European Style Folding Floor Pricy Screen Room Divider Partition

Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $279.95

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Small Room Divider - Black

Amazon Price: $39.98 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $159.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

Best Family Gift for Dad- 5.5ft. Photo Screen Room Divider w/ 8" x 10" Picture Frames - 3 Panel Black

Amazon Price: $299.99 (as of 01/05/2010) Buy Now
List Price: $395.95

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Now here's an office environment to aspire to! 

Google's new Zurich office

Google has opened a new office in Zurich, Switzerland and Web User was invited to have a look around.

Runtime: 245
54406 views
37 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

For the Love of Books 

No matter what I do, I can't seem to ever get enough bookcase space. I just love books. Here are some fun and functional ways to cram more bookcase space into your home office.
Fishbol bench/bookcase
A neat bench/chair with built-in book storage.
mareike gast...BROKEN SHELVES
a more natural way of shelving books. the new structure that appears through the broken shelves gives space to differently sized books. one element provides a place to sit and read inside the shelves.
Flexform Oltre Sofa
The backrest metal frame coverd with polyurethane padding and a protective fabric lining seat cushion in down with a resilient inner core or with polyurethane and dacron back cushion filled with down available in different dimensions bolster on the back filled with dacron Shelf/Case modular with function of armrest /backrest - metal frame covered with hide leather on top armrest in fabric with metal insert covered with polyurethane padding and a protective fabric lining upholstery removable fabric or leather covers.
Nils Holger Moormann : Bookinist
A self-contained chair and reading space, and mobile too!
BathTub With Book Storage For Bookworms - Born Rich
This Corian rectangular bathtub is meant for serious bookworms who don't feel like parting with the book even if for taking a shower. The bathtub includes back rest, automatic drainage, combined bath spout and overflow.
bookcasebedroom
See akamé's bookcase bedroom in Tokyo.

What's the Most Important Thing For You in an Office? 

A Comfortable Place to Sit

Whether I'm writing or reading, I want a comfortab more...0 points

A large work surface

Lots of room to spread stuff out0 points

Good light

It's either got to have at least one great window, more...0 points

Places to tack things to the wall

I love hanging up notes for projects, or bits of i more...0 points