Making Space for Work
At a time when many of us are working from guest rooms or basements, some local folks have found a way to inject something special into their home office spaces. Giving thought to paint, rugs, family photos and where to position their desks, they transformed their spaces from humdrum to sublime, adding a spooky touch here or an elegant accent there. The goal: peace and serenity to work in. Here are some of the most interesting examples.
Deep Purple
“I wanted it really feminine and fancy,” said Jennifer Eck of her new office in her house on Washington Road. “It has all my favorite things in it.” Those things include fresh flowers, artwork she’s collected in her years living abroad in China, France, Mexico and Columbia, and a chair for reading and meditation. Eck, who runs an HR consulting business, had painted the room Sherwin-Williams’ Mature Grape and refinished the floors a year or two ago, but just recently added the new rug and furniture. “It’s a little sanctuary for me.”
Attic Studio
The third floor was already set up as an office when W.M. Nzambi and his wife, Amanda, bought their house on Terrace Drive in 2015, but as their three girls grew he came to appreciate his hideaway attic space. Whenever he needs to take a break, he can just walk a few feet to his home recording studio. There amid the mics and amps, he takes advantage of the “good thinking space” to solve problems for clients of his financial services business. At other times, he relaxes by writing, recording and producing songs, something he’s done off and on since his early 20s when he played guitar in a touring band. “The key word is joy,” said Nzambi. “If you connect your passion and your joy with your work, you work joyfully.”
A Room of One’s Own
Marcy Jordan wanted a space for her work “where you’d even want to sit down after your work day to drink a glass of wine and read a book.” She got exactly that from Black Oak Hill Design, who transformed a room off the kitchen into a serene and comfortable office space. The shelves and built-ins were already in place, but the two added a desk and a cabinet (both sourced second-hand), pulled up the carpet, and painted everything a warm green picked up from the William Morris wallpaper in back of the shelves. “Everybody deserves to have a little room of one’s own,” said Jordan, Rae Avenue. “Plus it looks great in Zoom calls!”
Dark Beauty
The offices in this house on Mabrick Avenue reflect two Disney-loving personalities. Dan Weir put together his tiki bar-themed office at the beginning of the pandemic, transforming his children’s playroom off the living room into a dark, exotic mancave, with built-in window seat and cabinets and a music and lighting system that adjusts to his mood. His wife Kristan Weir, president of Mellon’s PTA and a member of several boards, works from an office under the basement stairs. Although the theme is what she calls “haunted academia,” she says it makes her feel cozy and safe. Spooky artwork, fringed curtains and lots of candles enhance the haunted castle feel.
