2012 House of the Year: Home Office

For the home office of our 2012 House of the Year, designer Barbara Kurgan, along with experts Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt, created an artfully organized, thought-provoking studio for a husband-and wife team who work side by side, all day long.

Big Ideas for Small Spaces
Ever dreamed of having a 10-second commute? Here are 10 tips to pull of an enviable home-away-from-home office, via our 250-square foot studio cottage.

1. Elevate a standard desk. Explains Stephen Loidolt: "We prefer counter-height surfaces that encourage us to stand and move around, instead of just sitting and stagnating." Barbara Kurgan fashioned a tall, partners-style setup by pairing two Ballard desks and topping them with a custom box that provides a stealthy spot for stowing files and books.

2. Now, this is worth noting! Kurgan attached a roll of kraft paper to the end of the dual workstation, so Loidolt and his wife, Shauna Alterio, can scribble and sketch, then pull a blank sheet over the desktop to start anew. "This office-for-two was designed around collections arranged to trigger the imagination," says Kurgan.

3. An enlightening path to a clear desk? Ground table-hogging task lights and choose floor lamps, like Ballard models. The Smith + Noble shades open from the top and bottom to offer greater control over natural light, while the floor is painted in Crisp Linen by Benjamin Moore.

4. Find furniture that plays hide-and-seek. Intended as dining room servers, these Ballard buys met Kurgan's aim to provide "display opportunities, along with drawers for tucking things away." Mission accomplished. "The stuff that inspires us is out," says Loidolt, "but the office still looks neat."

Take a Seat

5. Define a room within a room. Kurgan subtly delineated a sitting area with Company Store's cowhide rug. The Ballard Designs settee, upholstered in coral velvet from Calico Corners, helps cement the workshop's palette, sparked by a box of Ladurée macaroons.

6. A little quirk never hurts. This vintage print of bow-tie connoisseur Abe Lincoln, from Liza Sherman Antiques, references Alterio and Loidolt's neckwear line. Kurgan also embroidered Ballard's skirted burlap stool with the name of the couple's farm.

7. Climb the walls. Hooks and baskets from Ballard designate a home for jackets, bags, and files, without encroaching upon a bit of floor space.

Bright Idea: For a low-commitment pop of bold yellow, Kurgan lined a high shelf with National Geographics. The ceiling is painted Raindance by Benjamin Moore.

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