Small Home-Office Modifications
Our tiny home-office has been the full-time workspace for my small business since we moved into the Cottage 8+ years ago. (See our short video about streamlining a compact home-office here.)
My convertible sitting/standing desk is located in our main room, which is connected to the kitchen through an open floor-plan. This area also serves as our living room, a playroom, a pop-up dining room, West’s sleep space, and a guest room.
Lately I’ve disliked having my back turned to West as I face the iMac while working. So a few months ago I decided to test going without my large desktop computer. I backed up my files and put the machine in our only closet. I figured if I could conduct my creative business as effectively from a laptop and iPad that I could pass the iMac on to a family member who needs a newer device.
It’s been an adjustment, but I’ve preferred the versatility of working on my laptop. It makes me feel more mobile, and less tethered to one spot as West and Adam dart around the house throughout the day.
The absence of the desktop computer also helps the small space feel less office-like, which is nice for West, who enjoys playing with his trucks on the desk, and tinkering with toys beneath it.
I’ve enveloped my workspace with my son’s activities and books, making it a more friendly space for ALL of us during the day. I added a 3-tiered basket to one side of the lift-desk, and it contains repurposed pouches and boxes that hold various toys and puzzles. On the back of my chair I’ve added small hooks to suspend West’s backpack and my handbag.
In terms of office supply storage, everything has remained the same. I keep most items in a single drawer in our sofa’s built-in end table. A small number of paper files that we need to keep in hard-copy format are worked into our built-in bookshelf in the bedroom, or stored in a vintage wicker picnic basket under the bed.
It is, of course, a challenge to accomplish a full-time work load from home with a child playing and chatting mere inches away. But Adam and West often seek and create adventures outside of the house while I plug away at my to-do list. Plus I can easily work remotely at a hotel lounge or coffee shop if the need arises.
I’ve enjoyed updating my work surface with practical handmade items that are not only pieces of art, but also functional tools.
Driftwood brushes, a ceramic paint palette, bristle pens, and small batch leather folios sit in a slim wooden shelf that keeps everything nice and neat, but also on display.
I’ve taken such pleasure in implementing these minimal updates as our business has transformed, and as our son has grown. They’re modifications that we’ve made based on how we use our little home, and the ways in which we move within it. In being patient and observing our shifting habits and needs (and sitting in them for some time before acting), we’ve been able to reduce waste by avoiding decisions and purchases made in anticipation of the next phase of life. Instead, we’ve found such joy in letting time unfold, and embracing what we need when we truly need it.
Smart Updates to Our Little Live/Work Space
This post was sponsored by Pottery Barn / PB Apartment. All opinions are my own.
Our tiny home has experienced so many alterations in the past 2 years, keeping pace with our growing son and our evolving practices. The one area of our cottage that remained the same the entire time was my workspace, despite the fact that my work routines and methods have changed drastically since West was born. This area of the cottage is my full-time office, but it's also our living room, dining room, guest room, and a general play space. As such, I didn’t want to rush my workspace update, and was determined to wait until I found the perfect solutions for the little spot from which I run my business.
I knew that I wanted a place to work while standing, and a place to work while sitting. I couldn’t accommodate 2 pieces of furniture, nor could I comfortably fit an optional, add-on riser that would lift my computer. I explored convertible desks, but every one I saw offered decent utility, but was far from stylish. And nearly all the options seemed better suited for a traditional office space, rather than a compact home.
When I discovered the Petaluma Lift Desk from PB Apartment, the bell went off. It was EXACTLY what I needed— from the color, to the size, to the functionality, to the design details. I am SO excited to share this piece, as it’s by far and away my favorite new addition to the cottage since we replaced our kitchen countertops.
In it’s first position, the desk is a standard table height. The entire desktop can also extend upward into a second position, smoothly converting the desk into a standing workspace within a few seconds.
The hardware for lifting and lowering the surface of the desk functions gently and easily, but is still strong. I’m never worried that the top is going to collapse, nor do I have to physically struggle when converting between the two modes. When the top is lowered, I simply use any desk or dining chair. When the top is raised, I can stand and enjoy working on the entire desktop (as opposed to a mere section, as with a computer riser).
The color lightens up the office wall, which in turn appears to enlarge the room. The finish is ever-so-slightly weathered, which is a look that sings to me. It helps conceal inevitable wear-and-tear, while still looking bright and beautiful.
The drawer is a convenient size for the basics, such as a compact shredder, select hardware, and small office supplies. But the ledge around the desktop is the best bonus. It keeps items from rolling off at a great height when in standing mode, but also keeps toddler hands from pulling down every item on the surface that’s within reach when the table is lowered.
And on the topic of toddlers— West is the real reason why I wanted this office update. I spend several hours sitting at the computer at night or when West is out of the house, but I spend just as much time working while my son is playing here at home. I wanted to be ready to pivot on the spot and run around with him whenever he’s nearby. And this design works perfectly for that without cluttering up our home. It’s funny how little design changes like this can make a sizable impact on your day.
(Also pictured: Small Daytrip Lidded Basket + Throw Blanket)
I also upgraded our laundry set-up with the Galvanized Rolling Cart. Thanks to our indoor/outdoor lifestyle, the sand from the beach, two pups that shed, and our cloth diapering system, we spend a lot of time doing laundry these days and wanted to make that routine more comfortable. (I’m almost 6’ tall, and Adam is 6’2”, so hunching over various laundry piles was getting old.)
This clever cart is on casters, allowing it to tuck into our closet or into the bathroom with ease when not in use. It has two removable laundry bins, and a lift-top work surface / lid for easy access to the compartments below.
When we’re ready to sort, fold, or spot-treat, we simply roll the cart out into the bedroom or stoop.
I'm reluctant to admit it, but I’ll be honest… I actually kind of enjoy doing our laundry these days. Although seeing the numbers on West’s clothing tags increase every few months still astonishes me… sigh. I truly appreciate how these small yet significant home changes are enabling me to work more efficiently, providing me with precious extra minutes to share with my rapidly growing son.
(Also pictured: Small Daytrip Lidded Basket + Throw Blanket)
Forget the File Box
In a recent blog post, I provided tips on how to curb your daily paper clutter by regularly using a mini-scanner and organizing your files digitally. However, I didn't address one key issue: the leftovers. When living in a tiny space, what do you do with the paper files you cannot scan and HAVE TO keep? How do you maintain an uncluttered, beautiful, and yet practical home-office? The solution is simple-- repurposed picnic baskets:
Bottom Basket: This horizontal design holds my current office paperwork.
Top Basket: This vertical format is the perfect filing solution for baby West's medical records & product safety information documents.
There are so many ways to get clever with necessary storage containers. In this case, think beyond the file box. In a small multi-use space where everything is visible, nothing will stab at your eyeballs like a plastic or metal file box that is not only ugly, but also a constant reminder of work. I chose picnic baskets because they're almost always large enough to house A4 paper and US-size folders, and because they're usually a similar color, so they're great to mix and match:
Both of these are vintage. I found the larger basket at The Mart Collective in Venice, and the other at Tower 20 in Santa Monica. Two of my favorite online shopping resources for vintage cases like this are ETSY and Maven Collective.
I love that I can leave these file boxes open and in use for the entire workday without making the house feel like a traditional office. You'll be amazed at what a difference little details like this can make in your little home.
Storing your baskets on the floor? Make sure to select pieces that are stackable. Stowing yours up high in a closet? Pick a format that's slender enough to slide out easily when you need it. There's a never-ending and diverse array of designs out there-- enjoy finding what works for YOUR small space!
Small Office Space Feature on Domino
I was happy to see our cottage featured twice on Domino this morning! Both in a home tour, and again in a helpful round-up of small-space desk ideas.
This is one of our extra office set-ups, which I add to the bedroom & back stoop if we have an overnight guest staying in the main room of the house. We can comfortably fit 5 work stations inside our tiny home. You don't need to live large to live beautifully!
Tiny Live/Work Office Space
Lately I've received numerous inquiries about my live/work office space. (Does it REALLY look like that? Where's all the stuff? What is it like working and living in the same tiny space?) In this post, I'll provide a list of my go-to supplies that help keep the room organized and uncluttered.
Here is how the office generally looks on a daily basis. Sometimes it's a bit messier, sometimes it's a bit more simplified, but this is usually the norm:
First off, I should mention that nearly all of my business work is done digitally. My office is not a traditional artist's studio, so I don't have to house hundreds of materials and tools. Having said that, I do store craft supplies, a printer, a scanner, my business documents and standard materials, chords and tech accessories, reference materials, and other such office items my tiny home-office.
This is what is in, on or around my desk at all times:
1. Apple AirPort Time Capsule
Like so many people, I've experienced a total loss of my main hard drive... and it was pretty devastating, both personally and professionally. For better or worse, our computers are now our record collections, photo albums, filing cabinets, bookshelves and more, so I will never again make the mistake of failing to back up my machine. The Airport Time Capsule by Apple looks clean and minimal while backing everything up in case of calamity. Plus it provides a strong WiFi signal (with multiple network logins) so my collaborators and team members can work throughout the cottage and garden with me.
I got this particular Airport Time Capsule from ENJOY, which just launched here in LA (they're in numerous other cities as well). One of their experts (Umair) brought it to the cottage and installed it for me at no additional cost. Umair set up the Capsule and reworked the new WiFi networks within 30 minutes. (We also arranged a special discount code for $50 off any Apple product from Enjoy.com to share through 6/30/16: RAF-WHITNEY)
2. Big Jambox Bluetooth Speaker
The Big Jambox Speaker is great for small spaces. It's about 10" x 3" x 4", and comes in a variety of colors. This one blends into the cottage perfectly-- I keep it in the corner of the main room, above the kitchen cabinets. I can hear it clearly throughout our home and garden. It's wireless, and the charge lasts for around 15 hours. I stream Spotify or iTunes to it from the iPad and my old iPhone all day long.
3. Brother DS-620 Color Mobile Scanner
This little gizmo is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I scan all of our financial records, medical documents, pet paperwork, cards and notes. It saves me from accumulating piles of paper around the cottage, and helps my business run more efficiently. It measures 11.5" x 2" x 1.5" inches-- basically the size of a thick ruler. I highly recommend it, or a similar model.
4. Muji Handy Paper Shredder
After scanning all our documents, I need to shred a good deal of them. Usually it's just a page or two, along with a few receipts per day, so I use this amazing mini shredder from Muji to get the job done. It measures about 7.5" x 2", and is sleekly designed.
5. Poppin Supplies
Poppin is pretty much the best. They make modern, beautiful office supplies in a variety of colors to suit your taste. For those of us in small spaces, it helps when functional items are also pleasing to the eye-- that way we can leave them sitting out (as storage is so limited), while maintaining a clean and mindful space.
6. Cord Taco by This Is Ground
(See item #8 for details)
7. BackPack for iMac by Twelve South
The BackPack for iMac shelf is probably the handiest tool in my office. It stores my portable scanner, hand-held shredder and client hard drives-- all safely and out of sight. I recommend it to everyone with an iMac, no matter what size space you have.
Here's the description from their website: BackPack is a sleek, sturdy shelf designed exclusively for your iMac or Apple Display. This gorgeous slice of steel makes a perfect perch for hard drives, USB peripherals or business cards. Included vertical support pegs prop up tall drives, Time Capsule or even your MacBook Air. BackPack hangs on the back (or front) of your iMac using two clips and gravity. Built-in cable management rails hold your power cords in place for grab-and-go convenience. BackPack is here to help you create the minimalist zen-like workspace your Mac was made for.
8. Tech Dopp Kit by This Is Ground
I'm obsessed with This Is Ground-- they make the greatest leather organizational tools I've ever used. I also love the team behind the company-- they're based in downtown LA, and I've worked with them on several occasions in the past. This is the regular-sized Tech Dopp Kit, and I use it to hold my mirrorless camera's accessories. I also use their Cord Tacos, Mod Laptop and Mod Tablet daily.
9. Not Pictured: Organizational Pouches in Baskets
Lastly, I keep organizational pouches containing miscellaneous tools, cords, envelopes, etc. in zippered toiletry cases from West Elm (but you can get these pretty much anywhere). I keep them in baskets throughout the living room. Much like the printer, the baskets are stashed in the few built-in cabinets (some exposed, some covered) surrounding our couch.
