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Furniture Home Decorating Design Dilemma

chic office/ flexible guest bedroom

5 years ago

I have a spare bedroom in my home that I want to turn into an office (primary use) with the flexibility of converting into a bedroom for friends that may come to visit. I’m thinking that a day bed might work well in this space or some type of pull out that I could also use as a place to hang out or read. Definitely need a desk and some type of storage.

Need your help with designing this space!

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Patricia Colwell Consulting

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

First thing is some lighting and not that fan.I think this could have as many answers as posters, get rid of the blinds and post an actual floor plan so we know where the windows and door are. What do you need to store, are most of your guests couples? The more info you give us the better the advice.this is a nice combo,

Comments (11)

My3dogs ME zone 5A
5 years ago
Please list the dimensions of the room, and whether you already have the desk you need for your office. Do you also need a printer, and/or any file cabinets? We'd need to know what you need for the office, to see how much room is left for the guest area.

Just IMO, I don't care for the very dark wall, and would paint it to match the room.
Jessica V
Original Author
5 years ago
Room dimensions: 12x16

I don’t have any furniture for the space. Would need a desk, chair. Would like to have a console table and maybe a bookshelf.
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People are giving me a lot to think about. And I did broach the idea of a lift to DH. The lot is just over half an acre--150x160. For what it's worth, I've been watching the expanded northwest/west Chicago suburban area for homes with extra large garages (or both an attached and detached garage). There aren't many and they disappear fast. They will only appeal to a certain market, but to that market, they're in high demand. (Car collectors, people who have a hobby that requires a large workshop) As for garages in the neighborhood, the few existing homes have 2--several with an additional detached garage. The new homes mostly have 3--and a few have 4. I know it's not what everyone would do but that's one of the reasons to build instead of buy--because we can plan for the things that are important to us, even, or especially, if they're not commonly available. But when it comes right down to it, few of us only have as much house as we "need". I *need* a place to sit with a computer. I want it to be comfortable (desk with pullout keyboard tray), and I want a window to look out of, and I want to have nice furniture in it. I don't need any of those things (although my chiropractor might make an argument for the keyboard tray). But I want them and can't think of any reason why I shouldn't make them happen. We're all different--there are those on this board who prefer jack&jill bathrooms. I hate them. There are those who think a 2nd sink for a hall bathroom shared by kids is a waste of money. I disagree (and so would my kids)--but that's okay. We want a house with a large double shower and don't care at all about a soaking tub. Someone else wants that tub enough to devote 36 sq ft to it. That's all okay. Looking at houses on-line, I saw zillions of "newly remodeled kitchens" that I hated. Some were objectively bad designs. But most of them weren't--they were just finishes that I didn't like at all--and knew we'd pay a premium for that 'newly remodeled kitchen' even though I'd want to rip it all out. It's all part of why people build instead of buy. We want what we want--and some of us are fortunate enough to be able to make that happen.
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Regardless of forever home or not it would make sense to utilize the closet better for all of your 'office' stuff so if that means getting an outlet put in there so the printer and all your stuff on the tall shelving can go in there - that would be wise. Then, daybed or not, replace the tall shelving and nightstand with a continuous low closed storage furniture piece - maybe like this photo - this will open up the room visually. This furniture piece can function as a nightstand and office storage. Closed storage is your friend in this space. Replacing the closet doors with slider doors would allow for the 'office' to function easier. Maybe the inside of the closet is converted to half 'closet' for guests use and half 'office' with shelves for printer and office supplies. Then, once you decide on daybed or not I'd repost an updated photo and we can help with rearranging art. I think where you have it now is not doing the room any justice. I could see it consolidated/edited on the wall where the tall shelving is as that will create a focal point.
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Lil S
5 years ago
Do you have any inspiration photos?
Jessica V
Original Author
5 years ago
Attached is a floor plan to show the dimensions of the room. This is a quick draft I did on paper - hopefully this is clear. The measure the room incorrectly initially. The correct dimensions: 10x14.5

I've also added some inspiration photos.

London apartment for LLI Design · More Info

Transitional Interiors Greenwich, CT · More Info
Jessica V
Original Author
5 years ago
A few more inspiration photos

Beach Style Home Office · More Info

Client A · More Info

Southern California Homes · More Info
Nancy Walton
5 years ago
A Murphy bed! Can find them with side cabinets which would be handy for office supplies.
katinparadise
5 years ago
following
J J
5 years ago
following
PRO
BANDD DESIGN
5 years ago
Here is what we did for a client, who wanted a office with a guest bedroom. Maybe you'll find some good ideas in this design of ours?
Chic Home Office · More Info

Chic Home Office · More Info

Chic Home Office · More Info
Nick
5 years ago
Design is not my forte, but I can pass on some practical tips from our combined office/guest room.

With any dual-purpose room there is bound to be some compromise, but flexibility is your friend. A good example is the shelving unit in Patricia's picture that can also serve as a bedside table for the sofabed. It looks as though you have some built-in storage already, but I have found that the IKEA Pax/Komplement wardrobe range is great as you can design the wardrobe for both office storage and clothes and easily switch around drawers, shelves and hanging rails. Whether you consider it chic is a matter for your taste.

A sofabed that unfolds so that the head of the bed is the back of the sofa can make it easier to plan bedside furniture, as side tables become bedside tables without having to move furniture around, as you would with a trundlebed where people lie the length of the couch. The downside is that sofabeds can be heavy to unfold and are not often as comfortable.

If you use a computer screen, consider a TV that doubles as a monitor. That way, you only have one screen on the desk.

After you have plugged in all your office equipment, make sure there are enough sockets left over for guests to charge their phones/plug in hair straighteners/etc.

Spend a night or two in the room. I sometimes use ours if I am working late. The first time I drew the curtains and switched out the lights, the room was lit up like Times Square. Those standby lights on all the electronic office equipment suddenly become very bright when there is no other light source. Where practical, make sure that equipment can easily be switched on and off. Some things, such as a modem or router might need to be on through the night, so it either needs to be relocated into a closet (or other room), or the lights taped over. I also discovered at about 04:30 that we needed thicker curtains than when we were just using it as an office.

Lockable filing is useful, so that any confidential work papers or your financial documents are secure. I generally trust my guests, but I shouldn't want to risk their kids getting artistic with our latest mortgage statement.

And some feedback from our first guests: a webcam and microphone, even if switched off can be somewhat off-putting in a guest room.

I'm hoping you will show the room when finished, so that I can steal some ideas.

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