See These Design Pros’ Live-Work Homes and Offices
Peek into the personalized workspaces of designers, stylists and landscape architects
Working from home can take different forms. These interior designers, architects and landscape architects featured in our My Houzz series have carved out six special places to run their businesses from home. Let’s take a look.
“The home should be an extension of yourself, your soul. It should be full of character, full of personal mementos and should be serene. It’s your haven,” says Soriano, pictured. “I feel like my home is just that: It’s an extension of my character, who I am and what makes me happy.”
Create a Home Office That Works for You
Create a Home Office That Works for You
Why it works: Soriano tucked a cheery yellow desk and a Kartell Ghost chair between the window and the wood-burning fireplace in the corner of the living room to create her office area. The gallery wall includes meaningful mementos: a duck she painted when she was 7, a palm tree that was a gift from artist friend Mita Corsini Bland and a caribou mask that was a party favor from her best friend’s wedding.
Favorite feature: “Having a wood-burning fireplace is so special, and I count my blessings every time it snows,” Soriano says. “I’m warm-blooded, so I make any excuse to light a fire — even on a beautiful spring day. The smell, the sound and the warmth of the fire make me so happy.” Her desk’s position gives her the best of both worlds — “natural light from the warm summer sun and a crackling fire during the frigid winter,” she says.
Typical workday: “No two days are similar, especially as I often travel to Asia,” Soriano says. “When I’m working in New York, I start my mornings by taking my dog on a long walk in the park by the Hudson River. I then tackle emails on my computer. Many days end with a conference call.”
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Favorite feature: “Having a wood-burning fireplace is so special, and I count my blessings every time it snows,” Soriano says. “I’m warm-blooded, so I make any excuse to light a fire — even on a beautiful spring day. The smell, the sound and the warmth of the fire make me so happy.” Her desk’s position gives her the best of both worlds — “natural light from the warm summer sun and a crackling fire during the frigid winter,” she says.
Typical workday: “No two days are similar, especially as I often travel to Asia,” Soriano says. “When I’m working in New York, I start my mornings by taking my dog on a long walk in the park by the Hudson River. I then tackle emails on my computer. Many days end with a conference call.”
Browse popular desks in the Houzz Shop
Best work-from-home perk: “I find I’m most creative and productive when I’m working in the comfort of my own space and at my own time. I’m someone who needs to sit at a table to work — even if I’m just responding to emails or reading a design book, searching for inspiration — so I love my desk. Sometimes work flows out to the dining table,” Soriano says. This little reading corner is also one of her favorite spots.
On using Houzz: “I’ve spent countless hours pulling aside inspiration imagery and ideas, and love that I can buy directly from those favored images,” Soriano says of Houzz. “It also serves as an amazing online resource and testimonial to designers, architects and contractors.”
Current project: “While still working on interior decorating and styling projects, I’ve turned my efforts to Fini, a womenswear line created with two of my childhood best friends from the Philippines,” Soriano says. “We work with co-ops, single women and charitable organizations to produce all our wares and sell in pop-up sales online.”
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On using Houzz: “I’ve spent countless hours pulling aside inspiration imagery and ideas, and love that I can buy directly from those favored images,” Soriano says of Houzz. “It also serves as an amazing online resource and testimonial to designers, architects and contractors.”
Current project: “While still working on interior decorating and styling projects, I’ve turned my efforts to Fini, a womenswear line created with two of my childhood best friends from the Philippines,” Soriano says. “We work with co-ops, single women and charitable organizations to produce all our wares and sell in pop-up sales online.”
Read more about this home
2. A Landscape Architect and a General Contractor’s Backyard Cottage in California
What happens here: General contractor Pat Barry and landscape architect Chris Kukula use their custom cottage in their hilly yard in Piedmont, California, as their home office. The couple reshaped their sloped 2,835-square-foot yard to create three distinct outdoor rooms: a patio off their 1920s main house, a gently sloped planting area and an upper yard for a cottage office.
What happens here: General contractor Pat Barry and landscape architect Chris Kukula use their custom cottage in their hilly yard in Piedmont, California, as their home office. The couple reshaped their sloped 2,835-square-foot yard to create three distinct outdoor rooms: a patio off their 1920s main house, a gently sloped planting area and an upper yard for a cottage office.
A demonstration garden of low-water plants has beds representing Australia, South Africa, the Mediterranean and California, and succulents provide color when the native plantings go dormant. “The garden is still a work in progress, which is fine with us,” says Kukula, pictured at right with Barry. “It gives us something to look forward to.” The limestone stairs behind the couple lead to the entrance of the cottage.
Why it works: Barry designed and built the 120-square-foot cottage, which sits at the top of the sloping backyard. Inside, a desk, filing cabinets and custom Douglas fir flat files that match the office trim run along the longest wall. Long work surfaces provide plenty of space for laying out landscape plans.
The Douglas fir used for the trim, ceiling and wainscoting was salvaged from construction jobs and from found and recycled materials. The space was designed to include more than one workstation.
Best work-from-home perk: “Having chosen a profession that is integral with my life mission to improve the lives of others, working from home allows me to work 24/7 in all moments that I am at my best,” Kukula says. “Meaning, if I am tired, I can sleep in and go to the office later and work later — no traffic and quiet.”
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The Douglas fir used for the trim, ceiling and wainscoting was salvaged from construction jobs and from found and recycled materials. The space was designed to include more than one workstation.
Best work-from-home perk: “Having chosen a profession that is integral with my life mission to improve the lives of others, working from home allows me to work 24/7 in all moments that I am at my best,” Kukula says. “Meaning, if I am tired, I can sleep in and go to the office later and work later — no traffic and quiet.”
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Typical workday: “Choosing to be self-employed means you need to be disciplined and organized. My week is a mix of field work, meetings and in-office designing,” Kukula says.
On using Houzz: “I refer clients and potential clients to Houzz. Most clients need imagery to help them convey their wish lists, and I encourage them to collect them from Houzz and other sources,” she says.
Here’s How to Create and Use Ideabooks
On using Houzz: “I refer clients and potential clients to Houzz. Most clients need imagery to help them convey their wish lists, and I encourage them to collect them from Houzz and other sources,” she says.
Here’s How to Create and Use Ideabooks
Favorite feature: Original art and drawings from past projects hang on clipboards above Kukula’s desk for inspiration. While this space is now used as the couple’s office, it could someday be converted to a guest room.
Current project: Kukula and Barry just purchased 6 acres in Southern Oregon. “We are transitioning to developing a guesthouse business. I will be exploring new work opportunities there that include working more directly with my new community as well as designing a large native wildflower meadow on our property,” Kukula says.
Tour this hillside garden office on Houzz TV
Current project: Kukula and Barry just purchased 6 acres in Southern Oregon. “We are transitioning to developing a guesthouse business. I will be exploring new work opportunities there that include working more directly with my new community as well as designing a large native wildflower meadow on our property,” Kukula says.
Tour this hillside garden office on Houzz TV
3. A Husband-and-Wife Design Team’s Spare Bedroom in Australia
What happens here: Interior designers Joshua Reitano and Adriana Vujovic of The Salted Chair live in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Rosebud, Australia, south of Melbourne. Near the back of the house is a third bedroom the couple converted into their home office to run their interior design studio.
Favorite feature: The clipboard wall gets regularly updated with inspirational images, client mood boards and famous furniture references. Reitano and Vujovic also particularly love the paned windows and openness of their home office.
What happens here: Interior designers Joshua Reitano and Adriana Vujovic of The Salted Chair live in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Rosebud, Australia, south of Melbourne. Near the back of the house is a third bedroom the couple converted into their home office to run their interior design studio.
Favorite feature: The clipboard wall gets regularly updated with inspirational images, client mood boards and famous furniture references. Reitano and Vujovic also particularly love the paned windows and openness of their home office.
Why it works: “As designers, we are passionate and absolutely love what we do, so we don’t tend to separate our work and life. Our favorite room in our house is our studio. It is a space where the most creating happens,” says Reitano, pictured at left with cat Marble and Vujovic. “The studio provides us with ample storage and open space for working on large projects. And, of course, Marble — our British blue shorthair and unofficial mascot — still has her space to lounge in the room and keep us company.”
Typical workday: Reitano and Vujovic divide their work between their beachside home studio and client visits in Melbourne.
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Home Office
Typical workday: Reitano and Vujovic divide their work between their beachside home studio and client visits in Melbourne.
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Home Office
Vujovic is passionate about midcentury modern furniture and design. Displayed on top of the beautiful midcentury wood sideboard is an Eames bird. A black candle bought in Bordeaux, France, remains untouched in the studio as a reminder of the couple’s travels.
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Read more about this home
4. Music and Mountains for an Architect in Salt Lake City
What happens here: Architect Vincent Oles designed and built his family’s contemporary two-story home on a vacant lot in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Pam, lived next door while the house was being built. Vincent served as the architect for the house and worked closely with contractor John Rohbock of U.S. Custom Builders. “Since I was living next door, I was on the job site every day and did as much damage as John and the other subcontractors would allow me to get into!”
Why it works: Vincent designed a dedicated office area for his residential and commercial architecture firm and music studio upstairs. “We oriented the house so that we were getting natural light from all four directions,” he says. “It changed throughout the day, and you got amazing and different light quality.”
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What happens here: Architect Vincent Oles designed and built his family’s contemporary two-story home on a vacant lot in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Pam, lived next door while the house was being built. Vincent served as the architect for the house and worked closely with contractor John Rohbock of U.S. Custom Builders. “Since I was living next door, I was on the job site every day and did as much damage as John and the other subcontractors would allow me to get into!”
Why it works: Vincent designed a dedicated office area for his residential and commercial architecture firm and music studio upstairs. “We oriented the house so that we were getting natural light from all four directions,” he says. “It changed throughout the day, and you got amazing and different light quality.”
Find a local architect
Favorite feature: Vincent could take in views from the informal sitting area and chat with neighbors from the balcony when needing a break from his architecture projects. “I had immediate access to a balcony overlooking the street as well as a more private rear outdoor patio for midday reading or sketching,” he says. “The mountain views are always changing and have their own personality depending on time of day or season.”
Best work-from-home perk: Vincent has been working out of his house for 30 years. “There’s lots of perks — I got my drum set and no commuting. I’ve been playing the drums for 50 years,” he says.
Typical workday: Vincent gets started with work about 7 or 7:30 a.m. each day. “The nice thing about working from home is getting a lot of work done early in the morning. Usually by midday, I’m working on research projects and resourcing. In the afternoon, I go to the gym, then work an hour or two in the evening,” he says. “Everything is right there, and I don’t have to worry about driving to an office. I’m getting close to retirement now, though.”
Current project: “I’m working with Wiehle Carr Architects from Los Angeles on a contemporary hillside property that overlooks the city down below in Missoula, Montana,” Vincent says. “It’s very similar in style to the Salt Lake City home.”
In 2018, the Oleses relocated to Atascadero, California, and now live in a 1980s ranch that Vincent is updating. “It’s on a property with hundreds of trees and feels like being in the middle of a park. The house is on a flag lot — from the road, it’s 800 feet to get into the property, and you feel like you’re in the middle of the forest. It’s a great and different experience for me after living in a more urban environment.”
On using Houzz: “I have clients that come in with images they’ve saved on Houzz with things they like, materials they like,” Vincent says. “It’s a great help in the beginning of a project to see what direction a client is headed in.”
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Best work-from-home perk: Vincent has been working out of his house for 30 years. “There’s lots of perks — I got my drum set and no commuting. I’ve been playing the drums for 50 years,” he says.
Typical workday: Vincent gets started with work about 7 or 7:30 a.m. each day. “The nice thing about working from home is getting a lot of work done early in the morning. Usually by midday, I’m working on research projects and resourcing. In the afternoon, I go to the gym, then work an hour or two in the evening,” he says. “Everything is right there, and I don’t have to worry about driving to an office. I’m getting close to retirement now, though.”
Current project: “I’m working with Wiehle Carr Architects from Los Angeles on a contemporary hillside property that overlooks the city down below in Missoula, Montana,” Vincent says. “It’s very similar in style to the Salt Lake City home.”
In 2018, the Oleses relocated to Atascadero, California, and now live in a 1980s ranch that Vincent is updating. “It’s on a property with hundreds of trees and feels like being in the middle of a park. The house is on a flag lot — from the road, it’s 800 feet to get into the property, and you feel like you’re in the middle of the forest. It’s a great and different experience for me after living in a more urban environment.”
On using Houzz: “I have clients that come in with images they’ve saved on Houzz with things they like, materials they like,” Vincent says. “It’s a great help in the beginning of a project to see what direction a client is headed in.”
Read more about this home
5. Boho-Chic Craftsman in Texas for an Interior Designer
What happens here: Interior designer Allison Crawford lives in an updated Craftsman home in the South Congress neighborhood of Austin, Texas. She’s pictured in her dining room with her 2-year-old black rescue dog, Hugo, and her papillon, Pierre. Previously, Crawford lived in a two-bedroom high-rise apartment downtown.
Typical workday: Crawford starts her day about 7 a.m. “I immediately let the dogs eat and have a cup of coffee. After a bite to eat, I work out and start work promptly at 9 a.m. Every workday involves different tasks like meeting with employees, public speaking engagements, interviews with the press or working on tedious accounting systems,” she says.
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What happens here: Interior designer Allison Crawford lives in an updated Craftsman home in the South Congress neighborhood of Austin, Texas. She’s pictured in her dining room with her 2-year-old black rescue dog, Hugo, and her papillon, Pierre. Previously, Crawford lived in a two-bedroom high-rise apartment downtown.
Typical workday: Crawford starts her day about 7 a.m. “I immediately let the dogs eat and have a cup of coffee. After a bite to eat, I work out and start work promptly at 9 a.m. Every workday involves different tasks like meeting with employees, public speaking engagements, interviews with the press or working on tedious accounting systems,” she says.
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Best work-from-home perk: “The time saved by avoiding the commute” is a huge benefit of a live-work home, Crawford says. “Working from home creates flexibility even though it requires more discipline and focus.”
On using Houzz: “I use Houzz for several reasons and usually utilize the website. Potential clients often contact me on Houzz for design sources like paint colors and lighting manufacturers,” Crawford says. “Most recently, I ordered a French chandelier on Houzz, and it is perfect for the space. I have received rave reviews on everything I’ve ordered on Houzz and will continue to use the website for ordering and communicating with potential clients.”
On using Houzz: “I use Houzz for several reasons and usually utilize the website. Potential clients often contact me on Houzz for design sources like paint colors and lighting manufacturers,” Crawford says. “Most recently, I ordered a French chandelier on Houzz, and it is perfect for the space. I have received rave reviews on everything I’ve ordered on Houzz and will continue to use the website for ordering and communicating with potential clients.”
Current project: “For 2019, I’m solely focusing on Hotelette,” says Crawford, referring to her design-centric vacation rentals in Dallas; Austin, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee. “All the homes are full of unique furniture, original art and vintage accessories,” she says. “We want our guests to be inspired by the interior design, and experience each city like a local.”
Crawford works with a small design team on Hotelette. “Since I have the stock for my textile line, the girls and I will swap out a pillow, and stand together in a line and stare at it. We’ll each adjust, fluff and move it before deciding if it can stay. Then we’ll have a laugh and gather around the counter for a snack before getting back to work,” Crawford says. “This sums up my day — hardworking, playful and relaxed,” she says. “I love having my team in the house with me. It makes them feel more at home and keeps our spirits high.”
Crawford’s master bedroom is decorated with a dusty-peach color palette. The Moroccan rug is a purchase from her recent trip to Marrakech. The paint color is Everlasting by Benjamin Moore.
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Crawford works with a small design team on Hotelette. “Since I have the stock for my textile line, the girls and I will swap out a pillow, and stand together in a line and stare at it. We’ll each adjust, fluff and move it before deciding if it can stay. Then we’ll have a laugh and gather around the counter for a snack before getting back to work,” Crawford says. “This sums up my day — hardworking, playful and relaxed,” she says. “I love having my team in the house with me. It makes them feel more at home and keeps our spirits high.”
Crawford’s master bedroom is decorated with a dusty-peach color palette. The Moroccan rug is a purchase from her recent trip to Marrakech. The paint color is Everlasting by Benjamin Moore.
Shop for Moroccan-style area rugs
6. Lush Views for a Landscape Designer in California
What happens here: Michelle Derviss runs her landscape design business from her home in Novato, California, and turned her second bedroom into an office. “I do all my drafting for clients by hand and use my Mayline drawing table daily to design. The worktop is roughly 3 by 5 feet, and I bought it used from an engineer,” she says. The desk is nestled in the corner with a view of a flowering trumpet tree in her side yard.
“As a landscape designer, I work in collaboration with other architects, engineers, highly trained craftspeople and property owners to bring about the most site-responsive inspirational expressions of the landscape in a sculptural manner,” Derviss says.
Derviss uses the Japanese chest to store her pencils, photos, paints, books and other resource information.
What happens here: Michelle Derviss runs her landscape design business from her home in Novato, California, and turned her second bedroom into an office. “I do all my drafting for clients by hand and use my Mayline drawing table daily to design. The worktop is roughly 3 by 5 feet, and I bought it used from an engineer,” she says. The desk is nestled in the corner with a view of a flowering trumpet tree in her side yard.
“As a landscape designer, I work in collaboration with other architects, engineers, highly trained craftspeople and property owners to bring about the most site-responsive inspirational expressions of the landscape in a sculptural manner,” Derviss says.
Derviss uses the Japanese chest to store her pencils, photos, paints, books and other resource information.
Best work-from-home perk: “The commute is a breeze, and having my dog close to me during the day is comforting,” says Derviss, pictured with her rescue dog, Clifford, on a sofa she brought back from Bali. “Clifford is a very dedicated little dog and sticks by me as much as he possibly can,” she says. “He’s also my hillbilly doorbell. When someone comes to the front door, he barks and lets me know someone is at the front gate.”
Typical workday: “Morning time is filled with coffee and addressing correspondence with my colleagues, tradespeople, suppliers, and the planning and building departments,” Derviss says. “Afternoons are a mix of meetings, design, drawing and-or site visits to the project site. There are days where I spend time at the stone yards, plant nurseries and other suppliers who supply materials to our projects.”
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Typical workday: “Morning time is filled with coffee and addressing correspondence with my colleagues, tradespeople, suppliers, and the planning and building departments,” Derviss says. “Afternoons are a mix of meetings, design, drawing and-or site visits to the project site. There are days where I spend time at the stone yards, plant nurseries and other suppliers who supply materials to our projects.”
Find a landscape designer
Favorite feature: She likes her backyard greenhouse for propagating seeds in the late winter and early spring for vegetables and herbs she plants in the summer. “In the wintertime, I move my tender bromeliads in there since we get three to five days of frost — some years are worse than others,” says Derviss, a member of the Bromeliad Society of San Francisco. Outside the greenhouse is a collection of terra-cotta pots. She enjoys making arrangements with her plantings; her original creations are scattered throughout her property and inside the house.
Lay of the Landscape: Tropical Garden Style
Lay of the Landscape: Tropical Garden Style
On using Houzz: “I use Houzz as a mood board to convey an emotional idea or a tangible product,” Derviss says. “I will send a photo or a link with my directive and ideas to a client, a supplier, and-or the craftsmen and women whom we are collaborating with.”
Current project: “We have several projects on the boards, ranging from a landscape design for a historical Spanish Colonial in Pebble Beach, a modern meditation garden in Mill Valley and a sensitive renovation with an eye to fire safety in Sonoma Valley.”
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Current project: “We have several projects on the boards, ranging from a landscape design for a historical Spanish Colonial in Pebble Beach, a modern meditation garden in Mill Valley and a sensitive renovation with an eye to fire safety in Sonoma Valley.”
Read more about this home
More on Houzz
How to Find Your Renovation Team
Find a local design professional
Browse outdoor lounge furniture
What happens here: Interior decorator and stylist Cristina Soriano works from her 800-square-foot one-bedroom apartment in the West Village neighborhood of New York.