Work Area

At first, the Freemans wanted to install an espresso bar in the upstairs home office—but foreseeing many children's parties in their future, they set up the space as a gift-wrapping station instead.

The office, located adjacent the master bedroom, is smartly outfitted with a vintage Aluminum Group Management chair by Herman Miller, a custom walnut plywood desk by Kerf Design, and Hitch bookcases from Blu Dot.

“I particularly love the blue paint on the custom millwork in the small office on the second floor,” Barker says. She used paint to make an impact throughout the home without breaking the bank.

Although you might not be able to easily reach the tops of cabinets, shelves, mirrors, or taller moldings, take assistance from feather dusters or vacuums with long brush attachments.

Office

Studio + Workshop Space

Working is much more pleasant when you have natural light to brighten up your space. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a window, then invest in some stylish lighting.

Nestled in the backyard of a Toronto home, this architect’s self-designed work studio is an experiment gone right. Oliver Dang, architect and founder of Six Five Four A, typically works from home, but his rambunctious toddler made him recognize a need for more space with fewer distractions. Instead of immediately turning to office rentals, however, Oliver wanted to see how the numbers would stack up if he were to build his own workplace.

Kitchen nook with original woodwork

A yellow Pedestal filing cabinet by USM is tucked under a built-in desk in the guest bedroom. The leather-back chair was designed by Michael Robbins, a furniture designer based in New York's Hudson Valley.

Jens Risom Design offered a wide array of cabinets, which were both functional and stylish with their multicolored paneling. Risom’s home is well furnished with the fruits of his still-active career.

A workstation in Risom’s office (bottom) shows evidence that the designer is still very much active; a pile of sketches sits in the basket to the left of the table, and ephemera from early Jens Risom Design marketing material decorate the wall.