WORKING IT

Get our expert organization and storage tips for a creative and clutter-free home office.

Out of the Closet

Designer Chante Leblanc converted this closet space in the living room of her Los Angeles cottage-turned-Airbnb rental into an office by removing the sliding doors and installing simple wooden boards to act as shelving and a desktop. A quick coat of paint helped further define the space, and now guests have a cute, convenient spot to write postcards and keep up with emails on a laptop.

Nooks & Crannies

When the team at Jackson Design and Remodeling redid the kitchen in this San Diego, California, cottage, they opted to use this adjacent space as a built-in office area. Using the same kitchen-cabinet style here unites the space with the kitchen, yet tucked neatly in the corner behind a narrow wall that separates the kitchen from the open-plan dining room, it’s out of sight when you first enter the home.

Wonder Wall

Floor-to-ceiling wall units flank a small open desk area to make this craft room/office a stylish multitasker. David and Jean Abrams used a combination of bottom kitchen cabinets for the lower storage combined with hanging shelves for the upper units in their Montana Craftsman. Vintage corbels and turned posts used to connect the top and bottom units make the whole project look built in. David used a single long wood board to act as a continuous countertop, giving Jean plenty of space for crafts too.

Period Appeal

Lori Blackburn was lucky to inherit a built-in secretary desk in her 1920s Spanish colonial cottage in Orange, California.

But it’s a good reminder for anyone looking to fit a workspace seamlessly into a small home how stylish and beneficial a secretary desk can be. The front ledge can be folded up to conceal the inner workings of the desk—which often came with built-in compartments and drawers for added organization. Even if you don’t have a built-in, you can purchase a new secretary desk (see page 20 for options) to help tuck in desk space anywhere, without having the space feel too much like an office.

Make a Case for It

Built-in cabinetry is the way to go to create that timeless cottage design. It’s a great way to add period architecture too, and this custom approach allows you to maximize every inch of space, no matter what your room’s floor plan may be. We love how this traditional office by Rafe Churchill is designed so the built-in bookcase travels over the doorway for maximum storage.