CasaSugar

Roundup: Secretary Service

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0800

Secretary desks are a bit uncommon these days, but that doesn't mean they're any less useful. If your home is more bijou than sprawling, a secretary is a smart, slim, dual-purpose item that you should definitely consider. It serves both as storage and as a desk, and offers tabletop space. If office work isn't in your plans, you can use a secretary as a bar, too!

Here are a few of my favorite secretaries out there in the great wide world right now:

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Cool Idea: OfficePOD

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:30:59 -0800

For those of you who work at home, but are longing for a workspace that's more distinct than your dining room table or a desk crowded into the bedroom, the OfficePOD is probably something you regularly dream about. This uber-modern small building can easily be tucked into a corner of your property, creating a separate work environment form your home. The company, which is located in London, originally promoted the OfficePOD as a way to reduce commuting, and the time and environmental costs associated with it. However, for the at-home worker or small business owner, the concept translates perfectly on this side of the pond.

For about $24,000, an OfficePOD can be delivered and assembled in your backyard in a day. And if you're not willing to commit, there are lease options as well. Since the pods are only about seven feet square, the small size ensures that in almost all cases, building permits are not needed to proceed with installation.

Have you ever thought about adding a separate home office to your house? Or do you already have one? How do you think that separating your home office from your home life might improve things around your house?

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Before and After: Desk

Casa Community — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:00:39 -0800

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member carawilkerson from the Su Casa group:

When I stumbled across this little guy, he was caked in dust and suffering from a curious case of faux wood laminate - think of it as a bad toupée for furniture . . .

Nonetheless, with just a bit of work, we knew the desk would make a great addition to our home office. Once primed, painted, and outfitted with new hardware, this study companion was ready to roll.

Want to see the final product?

Get the Look: Serena van der Woodsen's Office

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:17 -0700

In this week's episode of Gossip Girl, "How to Succeed in Bassness," we got a look at Serena's new blue office. Aside from feeling total envy of the 19-year-old character for even having an office, I'm yearning to re-create the room for myself! It's a pretty uncomplicated space with simple, clean-lined furnishings but the cheerful blue paint and oceanic artwork make it really delightful.

Photos courtesy of The CW

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Casa Quickie: Lean and Layer Your Artwork

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:34 -0700

In last night's episode of The City, Olivia Palermo accepts an editorial job from the creative director of Elle. I love how he's staged his artwork in his office. Leaning and layering framed artwork on a shelf or table is more casual than hanging it, which is ideal for the workplace. It also allows you to rearrange your artwork easily, swapping new pieces in or changing the order of your current ones so you don't tire of them. This style of art display is a bit eclectic, but also quite appropriate for a creative director. If you want to try this in your home, use different frames for each art piece - see how both white and black were used, as well as varying widths? This technique will make each piece stand out from its neighbors. Also, try mixing different mediums of art, such as photography, textiles, and paintings.

Photo courtesy of MTV

Get the Look: Schoolhouse Style

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0700

My lecture hall days may be over, but I'm still loving the industrial schoolhouse aesthetic of this office styled by Canadian magazine editor, stylist, and decorator Margot Austin. From the galvanized metal file cabinet to the linen grain sack pillow, every item seems to have a history. The black/metal desk and sunburst mirrors are a bit more contemporary, which keeps the room from looking too much like a dusty old library. Add some messy piles of paperwork and a MacBook and this room would work for any college student or work-from-home professional. To get the look, read more.

Photograph by Daniel Harrison

How-To: Decorate a Dual-Purpose Space

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:00:55 -0700

Having lived in a studio in the past, I've experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of trying to make one room play two roles. I have many friends living tiny apartments who try to cram the furniture meant for both a living room and a bedroom into the same room, and let me tell you, none have succeeded. It's not only studio dwellers that encounter these issues, though. Sometimes a home office needs to double as a living room, or a bedroom as a workout room. If you're in the same boat, I have a few tips for you.

Guess Which Actor From The Office Lives Here?

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:12 -0700

The DIY Network's Man Caves show recently designed this home office for an actor from The Office. Can you guess who it is? There's a pretty obvious hint in the photo.

Do You Work From Home?

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Working from home has its benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, you can stay in your pajamas all day and put your feet up on a coffee table while you surf away on the Internet. On the other, the mess of paperwork and utilitarian staplers, paperclips, and such may begin to invade your otherwise well-designed home. If you can find a way to make your home office look more like a home than a workspace, such as with rugs, curtains, and artwork, you may be able to combat the drawbacks. Do you work from home?

Advice For Creating a Pretty and Practical Work Space in Your Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:00:34 -0700

Have you ever considered working from home? Whether you want to create a home office or a home business space, there are a lot of things to consider, not the least of which is creating a space that's both attractive and productive. Jennifer Nelson of Home Sweet has done just that by transforming a bedroom in her Craftsman home into a workspace for her business. She writes, "I love that I have my own space to work. Block printing takes up a lot of room and makes a lot of mess, so having this space is essential!"

Her space accommodates a lot of tools, including a sewing desk trimmed with yardsticks, filing crates, task lighting, miscellaneous tools and books, a large printing table, and a fabric roll, among other things. Jennifer also has a television and DVD player in her studio, where she watches movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Norma Ray.

Interested in hearing Jennifer's advice for working out of your home, and seeing more pictures of her space? Then read more.

Jennifer offers this advice for working out of your home:

On distractions: There are a few things that help with that, but were never really conscious decisions. For one, fabric printing isn't very tolerant of interruptions - ink dries out quickly and becomes unusable. So as much as I may be tempted to float off into blog-land, I don't want to come back to a pot full of gummy ink! This way, breaks are automatically kept short. Also, the studio is as far as you can get from the living areas in our house, so family members have to make a special trip to interrupt me. That makes a big difference, I think.
On prioritizing tasks: I do find myself wanting to work when I have household things to do, and for that I just try not to procrastinate - knock those chores out and then get to work! Plus, it means a lot to my husband when I don't leave him with everything to do while I'm printing away in my little studio, and a happy partner is a supportive partner!
On balance: I'm still working on the concept of balance. Somewhere in there must be some time to relax, reconnect with family, and work on things unrelated to chores and printing . . . but in the meantime at least I have a lovely place to work and a craft that I'm passionate about.

Check out more photos of Jennifer's home studio, and many products, when you visit her site and blog.

Do you work out of a home studio space? How do you create balance while keeping productive?

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