Do you have a small/pocket office?

14 years ago

My husband and I are considering this M. Ginn plan, with some changes.

One thing I've been thinking about is the 7x7 office off the butler's pantry. With the changes we're thinking of making, the exterior wall would be moving out three feet, so the office would end up beind 7x10. (though I have thought about trying to cut into that space for a pantry, somehow)

I can't picture a space this size, though I know how I'd want it to feel. Is that a usable space, in your opinion? A part of me wonders if it's just big enough for there to be wasted space.

In the plan, there is no door to the office. I wonder if that would be an issue since you pass the office on the way to the DR. Do you have an exposed office? If so, do you like it?

OR, do you think there is a better place for this office altogether?

Use for office: paying bills, writing letters, laptop

(Note, we're thinking of closing the side porch to create a mud room and moving the laundry room to that area instead of upstairs)

Any related experiences would be helpful. THanks!

First Floor (level housing home office)

Second Floor- reference

Exterior- reference

Inspiration for home office (don't need one THIS big). It's the craft room in the SL 2009 idea house in GA.

Here is a link that might be useful: architect's site, for reference or larger view

Featured Answer

athensmomof3

14 years ago

I am planning one and I think it is definitely big enough. I think there are several folks on here that have them smaller than that and I have been in one in a home we thought about buying that was more like 6 x 6 . It had a pocket door, which I would consider installing. I would likely leave it open most of the time but there would be times I would want it shut also~

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Comments (21)

sierraeast
14 years ago
In our upper loft, there was originally a small space that really only could be used as storage space because the roof line prohibited head room for any other use than sliding "stuff" back in the area. We raised the roofline over that area creatinag a shed dormer that we can now use as a small office space,( 5' x 7'), one of the many changes we made to our plan.
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Thanks all. I guess I should have added in background info on our situation. We are recently retired, empty nesters who live in a 100 year old house, and, as we all know, there is never enough closet space in older houses. That is why I initially wanted to try to open up this inaccessible closet space. Then, we had the window dilemma, and using the double door type opening we want there will still be some dead space on each end of the closet. (I do think I've figured out a way to make it usable and accessible in a reach-in closet though.) I worked at home a lot, so our smallest bedroom is an office, and I still use that space a lot. My husband typically works with his laptop at a desk/table in the living room. He is the one who is asking for a desk nook so he'll have room to spread out paperwork (and not have it visible all of the time if he wants to walk away from it). The desk nook would be in a guest bedroom that we don't use at all because we hardly ever have overnight guests. All of your comments have been immensely helpful, and I now am starting to wonder whether he would actually ever go up to that second floor space and shut himself away when we have a large, open first floor. I think maybe the solution I should suggest is that I give up my habit of stationing myself in the office and turn it over to him. I can sit at any table in the first floor with a laptop instead of upstairs in the office. Thanks for all the help. And, yes, we are not a completely paperless world and often have printed documents we want to reference while using the computer.
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I would think you'd be good - I've saved a number of these layouts, as I'll have one too. This one, for example, is 7'x15', and they've got a cabinet across from the desk. The open space should thus be the same in yours... I've seen that picture before, and I like it a great deal. It definitely goes along with what I'm thinking ... that L-shaped desk would work nicely with our space. I wouldn't go narrower than 7'. 6' is rather tight. That's the direction I'm leaning ... I think the sacrifice of 1' from the garage is worthwhile. Does the 6' include the window seat bump out? Or is it wider at that point? 6' PLUS a window seat bump-out. So the space would be maybe 7 1/2' or 8' at the window seat area ... what I'm wondering if, would the bump-out by the desk /in the area where we'd actually sit /stay make the 6' walkway acceptable? You have to think about how the space will be used - it's a tucked away office where you'll probably enter and immediately sit at the desk. It's not like in a kitchen where aisle width is critical and you need space to regularly pass another person. Yes it'll be a tucked-away office -- as I said earlier, my husband likes to close the door and listen to music loudly; he thinks (incorrectly, but with great fervor) that I mind this, so the office is on a far corner of the house ... it is not a pass-through to anywhere else. My pocket office/reading nook is 5' 8" x 11' 2" and that's baseboard to baseboard. There's a 36" French door on one long wall that opens to our foyer and it doesn't feel cramped to me at all. I have an Ikea countertop on the short wall with a 2 drawer file cabinet under one side. Plan is still to to get an Ikea Hemnes or Brimnes cabinet or 2 for books , copier, modem and other office needs and a small scale comfy chair. And there's still breathing room. That's much like my plan ... if you substitute the windows for the French door. Do you have a 6 foot closet to compare to/mock it up in? (Several of us have WICs between 6 and 7 feet wide). I have a 7' x 9' walk-in pantry. Thing is, it's so full of shelves that I'm not sure whether to trust myself using that as a guideline. I also have my classroom desk, which faces the students /allows me 4' walking space behind the desk ... and it feels comfortable. If you steal space from the garage, what is your final garage dimension? The 1' would be stolen from the depth, not the width ... and it would make the garage 21' deep. I'm thinking that's acceptable. I drive a Honda Civic and have no higher vehicular aspirations. When we want a big van for vacation, we rent. 1) how the room will be furnished; 2) how many people will be in the room at the same time, and; 3) if the room will be used for different purposes by more than one person at a time ... Long narrow rooms are essentially corridors, As discussed above, one long built-in desk with one desk chair ... shelves above ... possibly window seat. This room would only very rarely be used by two people at a time ... really it would never be used for two purposes at once. The idea of room-as-corridor resonates with me. This room won't "lead to anywhere", but the corridor would be the room. My daughter just moved out of an apartment that had a built-in desk in a hallway, and although it was small, it worked wonderfully well. She and her new husband got so much use out of that space, and although they love their new house, I think they miss that desk. Is that 4 feet with or without someone sitting at the desk area? It would be 6' wide total ... 2' desk ... leaving 4' walking /sitting space. Windows on two sides. Actually I take back what I said earlier. DLM reminded me of my Mom's pocket office and I'd guess hers was probably a few inches shy of 6' wide. She managed to have a 30" deep desk with a 15" bookcase right behind her and it worked well for her for 30 years. And even after she started using a walker, she managed to get into the space. The 6' was the width or the depth? Meaning, how much space was available for walking /sitting space? Thanks, All, for your ideas. I'm very open to hearing more.
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I suggest you make a list of all the things you need to do /all the things you need to store in your office. Only once you've analyzed your personal needs can you determine exactly what's "enough" for you. Personally, we're going to have less office space than you are proposing ... but my husband's retired, and I'm very near retirement, so our "office needs" are very small. Consider these things: - Do you want an office just off the kitchen /living area so you can "be part of things" ... or do you want a spot in a more remote /quieter part of the house? - Where will you store books? Files? Wrapping paper? Craft items? Other unique items? - Do you need a spot to recharge laptops, tablets, phones? Don't skimp on electrical outlets. - Do you need to be able to close a door so you can have quiet /make a phone call /listen to music? In a small space, do consider the door swing; this might be a place for a pocket door. - What type of lighting do you need? This is not a skimp item. - Air circulation can be difficult in a small space. Consider a ceiling fan or a spot for a small fan on a shelf.
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gopintos
14 years ago
I have trouble with rearranging other ppl's layouts, and it looks pretty close to the kitchen, and for me I want to be closer to the kitchen, but that is just because I know the way I do things.

Our new house was going to have my office off the foyer to the left, with a wall between it and the kitchen on the back side. I knew I would hate to use it like that and probably wouldnt, and have my laptop everywhere but there. And if I did use it, I would be burning stuff in the kitchen, not hearing or neglecting the laundry, etc and just feel so isolated.

So at the last minute, I closed off the door to the office from the foyer side and replaced it with a built in fish tank, and then replaced the kitchen wall between the two spaces with pocket doors.

So I lost some cabinetry on that wall, but I extended the kitchen cabinets down both walls on the side into the office, one to be a desk area, the other side surrounds the fish tank.

I like to work at the table, so I have a round table in the middle of the office space, and then I can turn around and wheel over to my desk.

Or my husband can grab some coffee and bring his laptop to the table also.

So it is office space, but when you walk into the kitchen and glance over, it looks more like a little breakfast nook.

But my point is I guess, think about how and when you will use the space. By simply moving my door, I have gone from from feeling isolated to being in the middle of the things that I need to tend to all day long. Then when I need quiet time, I can close the doors.

I dont know if it will work like this or not yet, I can tell you in about 2 more months haha. But in my mind, I have pictured myself using this space a 1000 times, so that is why I talk like it is done, and I feel much better about my office and getting done what I need to get done.

I can see my driveway (grand central station at times), I can see who comes and goes at the front or from the garage, or from the back porch, and who passes through on their way to the stairs either to go up or down. If you have children playing outside, you may need a view into their play area with quick access, etc so my best advice fwiw, is just picture yourself using your space.
shelly_k
14 years ago
We are building right now and have a pocket office in a similar type location, off the kitchen and between the kitchen and our kitchen table area (dining area). My interior space is 6'8 by 5'6. I think yours is plenty big to be very usable. I am doing built in cabinetry on 2 sides and I plan to store alot of stuff here as well as our laptop. I don't plan to do much "sitting" here -- it's mostly a dumping ground for mail and office supplies. I have a pocket door on mine b/c there will be instances where I want to have that messy area closed off.

It will be several months before cabinets are in there, but I will post pics when they are in!
athensmomof3
14 years ago
Shelly - please do post pics! Your vision is exactly what I want too :) and the size fits with my floor plan. Frankly I would be happy with cabintery on one side as long as I had a filing cabinet which was not in an upstairs bedroom closet and a spot for a wireless printer which did not involve hand feeding paper into a printer in an office armoire - I guess all is a step up for me :)
pps7
14 years ago
We plan to have an office that's 8x9. Ours is off of the mudroom with a window to the backyard and double pocket doors that will be open for the most part but closed if needed. IT will have an L shaped desk like the one show in your picture- I think it will be plenty big enough. The window is especially nice.
shelly_k
14 years ago
OP --

I think I posted this before, but this is the floorplan -- you can see the pocket office off the kitchen area.

We made it bigger than what is drawn in this plan - the 5'6" measurement is now 6'8" -- stole some space from the adjacent walk in closet.

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gopintos
14 years ago
I tried to snap a picture of mine.

This is looking in from the kitchen. Wall fish tank with cabinetry all around on the left, and desk cabinetry on the right. Have small round table for the middle.

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buckheadhillbilly
14 years ago
I love your plan and the front elevation. Just the look we are going for! I would be tempted to do a sliding barn door on that pocket office. I love them and can't find a spot for one in my plan.

I'll have a slightly bigger office (8'6" x 9'2"). I guess I'm moving up in the world, because it's a corner office, but I'll be sharing space with the dog crates and the downstairs laundry. Mine will have double pocket doors to close off the mess.

Here is a link that might be useful:
young-gardener
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for posting your layouts, everyone! That looks nice and spacious, gopintos. You're right, I'm constantly picturing myself "living" in the floorplan. DH thinks I'm nuts. haha!

Buckhead, it's funny that you mentioned the barn door because I've been wanting one since we started plan hunting. I hadn't thought of using it for the office (because we were considering a pantry, which has a door). Maybe the pantry could open into the office. That would give me room for a sliding door. I could leave it open to give that hall more space, and it would still have a bit of "art" to it, open or closed, compared to a regular door.

I'm torn regarding the distance between the space and the laundry area. I'll likely be doing both things at once, but I also don't want to be too near the noise of the washer/dryer.

A thought I've had....If I do nice cabinetry in there with organization to it, I could have everything stored, leaving a clear desk, in case I ever needed a landing spot for trays and whatnot while entertaining. If we do the cabinetry right, it would almost look like an extension of the butler's pantry. Then, it would just be a matter of stashing the laptop in a drawer when necessary.
highjumpgirl
14 years ago
I've had so many houses, and a number of craft rooms (my 'office,' critical to my existence---I actually do some real work for my husband) and my current one is 10 x 10, right beside the kitchen (was a dining room in this old house originally). It's my fave ever. Although I'll be building a much larger one in my new house (have serious craft space needs) this is awesome for most purposes. You'd be amazed how much I can fit in 10 x 10 (and 3 large windows in here on 2 walls).

My SIL just built a 10,000 s.f. home. Her office is a 'pocket' office about the size you describe, with built-ins all around, and we all LOVE it. She works full-time from that office, in a high-level job....so it is very functional.

I think you'll love it.
katrinavhh
14 years ago
Young-gardener, did you see the SL idea house craft room in real life? It was awesome. You probably did and already know this, but its placement in the floorplan was very similar to yours - across the hall from the kitchen area with windows looking toward the front yard of the house. It was really perfect, I was completely gaga over it. It had this wonderful big cast iron sink and lost of built-in cabinetry. So if that's your inspiration, go for it! The only real difference is that the SL idea house had it placed near the kitchen and the back entry, so it also functioned as a mudroom (hence the sink and laundry). Since yours will not serve that purpose, it looks like you have the side porch area for that perhaps, then you would not need it to be as big anyway. Your plan looks great to me.
gopintos
14 years ago
I have some pocket doors now :-)

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Here is a link that might be useful: More Kitchen Pics
mrsmuggleton
14 years ago
Seems large enough to me, though I would just have a small roll top desk with chair for the accounts, a cupboard of some sort to house a printer and a comfy recliner.
brickton
14 years ago
Apologies to the OP for the highjack, but gopintos what are those lights in your kitchen? The two fisherman style pendants are great. I'm currently trying to find something like that for my office area.
jimandanne_mi
14 years ago
I love your paint color with your cabinets. Can you tell me what it is?

Thanks, Anne
young-gardener
Original Author
14 years ago
gopintos- You're new doors are beautiful; I bet you love them! Thanks for sharing!

Katrina- We did go to the Idea House, and we both fell in love. Wasn't it wonderful? It was actually DH who said, "We MUST have a room like that in the new house." The combo of the finishes and the window was just gorgeous. I'd LOVE to get ahold of a sink like that. It would be great for my gardening projects and washing out diapers one day. I was actually surprised that the house didn't have a separate mud room- just a mad hall with a stand alone bench. We looked into the cost of having that basic floorplan built, but it was big $$.
gopintos
14 years ago
Oh ty! :-)

The lights will be a bit lower once the island is in. But they are Nautical something or the other. From ebay. And they are outdoor pendants.

My cabinets are just a natural stain and the paint is BM Powell Buff. I used this for most of the first floor so just put it in the kitchen also.
suzyqtexas
14 years ago
I have a small 5 X 8 office, it is wedged between the back of the fireplace and a bathroom. No door and no ceiling, just walled on each side with bookshelves and file drawers. The desk is accross the back with a window the width of the desk. I love it, the TV controlls, stero system are all there plus lots of bookshelves and drawers and cabinets.
ncamy
14 years ago
suzy: I would love to see a picture and or a layout of your small space. That sounds exactly what we're doing.
Marcia B
14 years ago
I love love LOVE, my small home office!!! 6 11' x 8. With desk top along 2 walls.. lots of room to spread out all my stuff! Have lots of cabinets as well. It is off a back hall across from my pantry. I do have a pocket door I can close if I don't want others too see my mess..

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Do you have a small/pocket office?

athensmomof3

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