Let the Design Shine Through!

Let the Design Shine Through!

Hy-Lite Block Single Barn Door

Hy-Lite Barn-Lite Single Sliding Barn Door

A classic updated.

Sliding barn doors have been a design favorite for years, and the new Barn-Lite sliding doors from Hy-Lite are a bright update to the classic, rustic barn-door. Featuring a grid of clear acrylic blocks encased in vinyl and steel, these doors feature the functionality of a sliding barn door while also allowing the room to be flooded with natural light. The contemporary design comes in your choice of white or bronze framing, ensuring it will complement the existing design. Finally, functionality, privacy,and natural light can be achieved with the same product!

If you're interested in the Modern Farm House Style and want to carry the "modern farm house" theme inside, think of how great these Barn-Lite doors will look in your new home!

Natalie Farm - Hy-Lite Barn Door

Natalie Farm - #42417

A Single Panel Barn-Lite door for the Pocket Office in the Natalie Farm (#42417) home design is a great way to close off the space while in use, yet not feel as closed in with the added light. It's also a nice way to close off the Pocket Office from the Family Room with an added decorative element.

Redwood Farm - #42427_Hy-Light Barn-Lite

Redwood Farm - #42427

The Redwood Farm (#42427) home design's Flex Room off the front entry foyer is a natural fit for a Double Barn-Lite door. Again, it's a nice visual element upon entering the home, yet can be closed off if necessary.

 

 

 

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Images Courtesy: Hy-Lite
Learn more at Hy-Lite.com

(Product spotlights are for informational purposes only.)

The Ante Room Entry Design Solution

The Ante Room Entry Design Solution

Ante Room Entry DesignProblem: If you operate a home-based business, you're essentially opening up your home to colleagues and clients. Wouldn't it be great to have an area where they can wait comfortably until their appointment?

Solution: The Ante Room is a modest entry vestibule that provides a waiting area for business visitors; and, bathroom access is a plus.

Consider how we live: For privacy, convenience, and a host of other reasons, home-based business owners often want to limit their guests' access to the home office area. The Ante Room (or vestibule) in Design Basics' Mackenzie Court (plan 43067) provides such a reception area. It includes a bench seat, coat closet, and convenient bathroom access.

Since the need for an ante room entry is not for everyone, this is a unique design; therefore, if you find a plan in our library that you like, but need the ante room design, talk to us about our plan alterations service to see how we can reconfigure the home's entry.

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Creativity in Flex Spaces

Creativity in Flex Spaces

Change is all around us, having become the norm in American society. And as our lives change, we begin to appreciate homes that were designed to adapt to our changing situations. It’s called flexible design.

Flexibility in Design

With a flex space, you are in charge. No longer need that guest room? No problem. Designed to work for any function, Flex Spaces are easy to transition with your changing needs.

We live in the digital age and virtually anything can be done online, including many of our jobs. Did you recently transition to a work-from-home career but don't have a home office? A Flex Space offers the perfect solution. Whether it be a full-sized room, such as a guest room, converted to a home office or a Pocket Office, a smaller space that can be closed off when not in use, the choice is yours.

Sinclair IV - #42159

Take for instance the Woman-Centric designed Sinclair IV (plan #42159) that presents the Pocket Office design concept rather than a full office.

With our Livability at a Glance™ colorized floor plans you can easily see flexible living areas of the home. Learn more by clicking here.

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The ‘Dirty Office’

No, we're not commenting on your housekeeping skills! The 'dirty office' concept is merely a secluded storage area off your home office designed to store office supplies, files, and equipment that need not be public.

Dirty home office locationIn today's economy, there are nearly 40 million home-based businesses in the U.S. today, and an increasing number of households are operating more than one business from their home. It's not surprising there's heightened interest in home designs well suited to two separate home offices.

Top considerations:

  • Locating the home office with convenient access
  • Near a bathroom (and, not the kids' bath!)
  • Provide desired privacy levels, sufficient storage space, and adequate lighting

Home offices should be inviting and especially if you welcome visitors into your home office. Who wants to see your new printer or cases of soda stacked in the corner?  Imagine a walk-in closet re-purposed--just be sure there's proper lighting and plenty of outlets!

Featured: Leinart plan #29336
Many plans with an optional bedroom/flex room can be re-purposed to the 'dirty office' concept. View all our plans.

The Home Office – Essential to the Modern Floor Plan

Part III in our series - Avoiding Common Regrets When Building Your New Home

home office.jpg
Whether you work from home full time or just need a space to keep your personal finances in order, the home office has become an essential room in the home. Over 2 million people work from home at least part-time, changing our priorities in the way we design our homes.
Deemed more important than the traditional dining room, many people are ditching the dinner table for a desk, and saying goodbye to a formal eating space. Who can blame them? A room that is only used during the holidays is hardly worth keeping. From condo living to a 4000+ sq. foot home, there are endless possibilities to design your work space.

Make it practical

One very important aspect of designing a home office is location. Have kids? They may not do well with unseen boundary lines, so the living room is probably not the best place to get set up. What about frequent guests staying the night? You won't get much accomplished when visitors come into town if your office doubles as a guest bedroom. Privacy and a quiet atmosphere are essential to making your home office a success. It is also important to have a window that lets in a good amount of natural light due to the strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and your sleep, activity, and quality of life.

Make it useful

Perhaps you have the prettiest office on the block, but it won't do you much good if you don't have room to store all of your supplies. A home office must have plenty of storage space to be useful. Drawers, shelves, and filing cabinets are all great places to start maximizing space. For those in truly tight quarters, consider floating shelves above your desk for extra storage that doesn't take up unnecessary floor space.

Make it resourceful

There are certain items that every home office should have. When planning yours, you should definitely consider these:

  • Office desk: Every workspace needs a desk, and if your space can accommodate a larger desk, then it is worth the investment. The desk is where you will be doing all of your work, and it is important to have one large enough to spread your work in front of you.
  • Office chair: Finding the right office chair isn't as easy as it looks. Some elements to consider are a chair that swivels, has adequate padding, good lumbar support, and adjustable height.
  • Storage: Even if the majority of your work is done on a computer, there will always be some paperwork to keep in your office. If you don't have a lot of paperwork, then a small one- or two-drawer filing cabinet might be a good choice. It is always best to overestimate your needs so you do not run out of space.

Make it stylish

Functionality is always essential when designing any space; however, you should not sacrifice style for function. It is important to design a space that is visually appealing so you don't dread going to work. Brighten your office and your mood by:

  • Adding plants.
  • Personalizing your space with pictures.
  • Hanging an inspiration board to remember the goals you are working toward.

Condo Living

pocket office

Perhaps you live in a small condo or townhome and a full-size home office does not fit in the space you have. Consider a "pocket office" for your small condo or otherwise cramped quarters. These spaces can fit into a large closet or even a spare corner of a room. You don't need a lot of room to create a workspace that is both useful and beautiful.

Larger Homes

There are many design and layout options to choose from when planning an office in a large home. To get away from the noise and distraction of the first floor, some two-story homeowners are opting to put their office on the top floor directly off the stairs. For that same reason, others choose to nestle their office in a corner next to a bedroom.
When choosing your layout, keep in mind your personal work style. Do you thrive on loud noise or music? Near the living room is a good possibility. Perhaps you prefer to work in absolute silence? Near the back of the house or by an older child's bedroom is better. Make your office tailor-fit to your own needs to make your work environment a success.

Libraries and Studies

Not everyone needs a large workspace in their home, and a library/personal study is an option for those who might be looking for a more relaxed environment for light work, without the business overtones.

While we may not all be capable of installing an ornate study/library, there are many smaller scale options that would be just as satisfying. Built-in bookshelves might be expensive, but freestanding models come in a variety of sizes, colors and price points. Add a desk to turn your library into a study were you can write or take notes on your reading. Keeping your essential costs down allows you to splurge on one or two decorative pieces to give your library an elegant feel. Antique bookstands and globes are a good place to start, but consider a rolling library ladder for an old-timey, whimsical touch.

An Office that Fits

expanded drop zone interior

Not everyone is lucky enough to have the option of working full-time out of their home, but we can all use an organized space for paying the bills, working on the computer, and storing our personal or business paperwork. It doesn't need to be expensive or elaborate, but it should invite calmness and productivity. By critically thinking about your location, planning for enough storage space, and decorating it to look inviting, you can easily create a workspace you will enjoy every day.

Previous Posts in this series

6 Master Tips for the Master Bedroom
Avoiding Common Regrets When Building Your New Home

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