Modern Furniture

Basement conversion.

Dank and dungeon-like, our image of the typical unfinished basement is less than compelling. But if you can get past the creepy-movie associations, you may have found a large private space for your office. Split-level homes are prime candidates, as one or more walls may open out to light and an access door.

Moisture-proofing is crucial. Masonry walls should be sealed, insulated, then covered with gypsum wallboard or paneling. Build up the floor in the same way. If you can’t get rid of heating ducts and plumbing pipes, paint them jazzy colors or simply box them in with more wallboard.

Garage conversion.

With a little insulation, a weathertight door, a skylight, and a built-up floor, a garage—especially one that’s detached from the house—could make a great home office. You could even add French doors and a sunny pocket deck.
Logistically, though, a garage remodel may prove daunting. Routing wires, pipes (if necessary), and heating ducts can be expensive. And where will the car go? In some communities, you’ll have to add a new garage or carport to make up for the off-street parking space you’ve lost.

A detached office.

For some, there’s nothing like grabbing a mug of coffee and a snack, then “commuting” to a secluded backyard office or pool-house studio. Perhaps a little-used guest house or revamped potting shed could become the place to hang your shingle. Or you could start from scratch, and get it right the first time.
But while a new building is the ultimate office solution, it could prove an especially expensive option. Besides the labor of building a separate foundation, walls, and roof, you’ll have to extend utilities to the site. You’ll probably wish (and may be required) to include a bathroom, which means routing both supply and waste pipes. You’ll need an independent heat source. If this is your first experience working at home, you might want to try it out on a smaller scale first.

EVALUATING YOUR SPACE
Before you rush off to empty the linen closet or dry out the basement, work out a wish list for the kind of office you’re looking for. Some of your requirements will be structural or equipment-based; others will relate more to your own personal work style. As plans take shape, test them against the questions listed below (each of these is explored more fully later on).
â–  Are the area’s heating, cooling, and ventilation systems adequate to handle your office needs?
â–  Will you have to add electrical circuits or extend phone lines?
■ Is the lighting—both natural and artificial—sufficient? Are there problems with glare? Do you need a view, or would one cause needless distraction?
â–  What about privacy? Will you be disturbed by family members? Will household noise be transmitted over the phone? Will you be able to concentrate with loud traffic or neighbors outside?
â–  Do you need a separate area for a postal scale, copier, project bins, or sample books?
â–  Do you need extra bookshelves or space to display products?
â–  If clients call on you, will the space project a suitable image? Is there room for a conference table and seating? When visitors approach your office, will your entire house (and family) be on display?
â–  Do you need a separate outside entrance?

Imagine not having to get out of bed to raise the blinds—or to lower them, if you want to sleep late. Motorized blinds, which work by remote control, are an intoxicating luxury.  Dressing for bed, you would click to lower the blackout shades; in bed, with the lights out, you would click to raise them, revealing the sparkle nighttime skyline. Finally, at daybreak, husband or wife would wake up, grab the remote, lower the shades against the sun, and go back to sleep.

With modern furniture in your room it’s a luxury, but worth pricing, as more manufacturers catch on. And the possibilities are tantalizing. (Go to a window-covering specialist, not a hardware store.) Consider it a worthy investment if your bed is a command center for reading, writing, talking on the phone, and relaxing.

Many apartment dwellers know the plight of a bedroom window that faces a brick wall. To veil this dreary view without totally obscuring the window we  highly recommend a semisheer curtain of burnt velvet.

This beautiful material is part solid velvet and part sheer, where the nap was burned away in a pattern. Light sneaks through, but your gaze stops at the design instead of traveling past it to the wall outside.

Even the most elaborate curtains can work to your detriment if they obscure any of the glass behind them. Far too many expensive custom valances hang low over the top of the window, wiping out part of the sky.

Set your curtains high and wide so they cover the casing, or window trim, but not the glass. This will not only liberate your view but will increase the bedroom’s sense of height and scale.

Layering different shades of a single palette creates a multifaceted and engaging color design. Tones of blue, green, and lavender can be easily combined if they have a predominantly blue base in common. The same goes for citrus hues: lemon, tangerine, and lime green all blend well if based in yellow. Any combination of shades with a similar base tone can create a pleasing colorscape.

Like human moods, colors change throughout the day and are more interesting when they register subtle variations. Combining true blue with lavenders and green-tinged blues creates dimension and presents a palette reminiscent of sea and sky. Light, both natural and artificial, plays an especially important role, transforming a room as it changes from morning through night. Early light is clearer and brings out the crispness of blue. Late light is warmer and emphasizes depth.

Conventional wisdom has it that blues, greens, and violets are calming, while bright colors are energetic and stimulating. But modern furniture and bedrooms don’t have to be painted in soft colors to feel relaxing. An unexpected color choice adds interest to a space and turns color theory on its head.

While you can add color to the bedroom in many ways - through accessories, bedding, or just a few pillows - don’t underestimate the power of painting a focal wall. A brave color on a single wall can transform everything around it. Especially in modern spaces, a subtle palette can seem too weak. Vivid colors add life and stand up to strong design.