Question: Help! The most attractive bedroom in our house is underutilized and we want to turn it into more of a utilitarian gathering spot. The room is currently a guest bedroom but we would like it to "repurpose" it into a home office, family room and auxiliary guest bedroom combined.

To complicate matters, it is relatively small (12 by 11 feet), has two access doors and two walls of windows (with spectacular views that we would prefer not to block). The floors are hardwood, and the room is painted off- white.

The primary purpose of the room would be as a home office, with desk space large enough to hold two computers and accommodate two people working at the same time. The secondary purpose is as a family room, ideally with a sectional sofa that could contain fold-out beds or enough surface space for at least one person to sleep. We'd like to build in a console somewhere for a TV and stereo.

We'd also like to add a large, thick rug that people could sit on comfortably,

either wall-to-wall or sufficiently large to fill up the room.

Given the constraints of the room, we are willing to invest in custom-made furniture, especially the desk and entertainment console. How can all this come together in a coherent and aesthetically pleasing way?

Beth Castberg Litton
San Francisco .

Answer: The office used to be a place outside the home that you went to on a daily basis to do your job. Now it's much more common for the office to be in the home.

The biggest problem with this concept is that our homes haven't necessarily expanded in size to accommodate this need, so the home office has become a space within a room that also serves other functions.

The challenge is how to make this space multifunctional without giving up our need for it to be attractive. Fortunately, because this is a common problem, there are many choices of furniture and building materials readily available that address this challenge.

AN EFFICIENT WORK AREA

As a designer I would address your primary need first -- office space that two people can share. But when designing this space, I would also keep in mind the other purpose of the room -- an area for conversation and watching TV. The room won't have to be a guest bedroom very often, so we'll downplay that function.

The overall approach we'll take is to make the room a "library" incorporating lots of book space and cabinets below the shelving for extra storage.

Begin with the desk space. Let's use the principle of a peninsula, an area surrounded on three sides by open space. This configuration will allow two people to work at the desk at the same time. Shelving above the desk adds functionality to the work area.

We'll put the desk area near the closet so that space can be used as additional storage for office materials. To make this corner more efficient, I would remove the closet's hinged door and replace it with a sliding one so we don't have to allow valuable floor space for the swing.

Using the shoji screen principle, the "door" could be hung from a track and slide back and forth. It can be an attractive fabric panel that adds to the decorative appeal of the room. Inside the closet, use efficient storage systems that are readily available in stores that specialize in storage and closet systems.

TIPS TO DESIGN

Since we're making this room a library, let's build some bookcases on the west side that incorporate shelving with a space for the television to be built. This can be a shelf that pulls out and swivels for easy viewing from a variety of angles. Design the bookcase so the lower portion is cabinets and drawers (this arrangement eliminates the need for a dresser for guests).

Keep the line of bookcases going and turn the corner to continue them on the north side. As we design them, let's leave space for a window seat under the dominant window. This maximizes your terrific view, adds seating when there are more than two people, and creates a quiet corner for reading and watching the world go by.

Next is the main seating area for conversation and watching television. Start with an area rug to visually define the space. Then select a pair of comfortable chairs, perhaps leather in a toasty brown or tobacco color. One or both might even be recliners. Floor lamps behind each give illumination for reading.

Between the chairs is an upholstered ottoman that's both the coffee table and footrest. The top is hinged and lifts up to become storage space for the blankets and pillows you'll need for guests.

SURPRISE ELEMENT

"But where's the bed?" you ask. Ah -- that's the beauty of the window seat! It opens to a queen-sized bed, much like a sofa would, except that the mechanism is built into the window seat itself. It's a wonderfully practical way to hide the bed and moves away from the predictable convertible sofa approach.

The overall feeling of this room should be warm and rich. When selecting colors and building materials, use wood for the bookcases and desk and incorporate nature's deeper, earthier colors in the wall color and fabrics. The key to this room from a design and usage standpoint is that it be kept free of clutter so people will look forward to spending time there. No one will be able to relax if papers are scattered about, so it's imperative that work evidence be kept at a minimum when your office is closed for business.

If you use the space wisely it will reward you with many pleasurable hours of relaxing time at the end of the day.

 

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