Our customers were a couple living in a ground floor apartment in the leafy Whirlow area of Sheffield who were looking for a bespoke home office.
The Brief
In the centre of their apartment was a small windowless space which was separated from the living area, so ideal for a home office. But the space felt cramped and cluttered especially when the couple were working there together. The customer also wanted to maximise the storage space for files and other office related items as well as creating an environment that was calm and helped them to focus. They also wanted the space to feel as big as it could be made to feel.
Sometimes they both needed to work at the same time so wanted their own desk space and monitor space that was left in place. The customer had previously tried to achieve this with off-the-shelf furniture but it just wasn’t working, so they contacted Freebird Interiors for a bespoke designed and fitted solution with better lighting to achieve a more congenial work environment that also felt more spacious.
The original space was cramped and uncomfortable
The Solution
Quite early on we decided to maximise the feel of the space with a single continuous desk surface. One of the technical challenges was that the wall where the desk was to be fitted was not solid. It had 'dot and dabbed’ plasterboard with a gap between the plasterboard and the wall, so we needed to think carefully about the supporting mechanism before fitting. We made use of the void behind the plasterboard to hide the electric cabling for the lighting and sockets.
Home Office Layout Design
As with all our home office projects we gave careful consideration to the layout of the electrics to ensure great functionality and user experience. Our drawings detailed where the current sockets were so we could sit with the client and discuss if any needed to be moved to suit the new layout. We also considered the sight lines of the sockets as you walk into a room at standing height. We also considered the under desk sockets from a sitting position so they were not too low or close to the skirting.
We also suggested cable trays to remove unsightly cables from dangling down at your feet. Everything was thought through, the cables themselves went through the desk surface with a circular cable tidy built into the desk.
Finish
The customer chose an oak finish in real wood veneer with a solid wood lipping for the desk. The customer also wanted to bring light into the space with white cabinetry for the storage areas. During the design process we explored different combinations of oak and white in different places and looked at matt or gloss options. For a matt finish we provide a high quality paint sprayed finish. For a gloss finish we supply acrylic faced gloss doors that have a very flat and mirror smooth appearance. We don't offer gloss vinyl wrapped doors because they often have a slight ripple to them. We always endeavour to offer the best solution for our customers.
The customer had given a fair amount of thought to storage particularly behind the desk where the space was very narrow. To create a streamlined, neat appearance the customer wanted to conceal the radiator by boxing it in, we then proposed to add more storage either side of the radiator to utilise the space.
We also measured items they wanted to store so we could accurately draw and demonstrate to the customer the depth they would have available. We don't just draw a sketch and figure it out in the workshop - we make it fit to the millimetre on a 3D drawing. Our method is a key part of what we offer so you can be confident that your layout will work for you.
Lighting
As part of the lighting design, we give careful consideration to where the wall cabinets and lighting are positioned so that it's not in your face or right at your eye level. When we’re with a customer we’ll try different heights by moving things up the wall while they are seated, so we can see what works well for daily use. When we fit lighting we like to integrate the cables so they are out of sight, and wherever possible, the light source itself is out of sight too.
The customer wanted to create a continuous glow of light along the length of the desk. To achieve an even glow, we positioned the lighting strip right above the working area in such a way that it didn’t cast shadows onto the desk, it was placed close to the centre line of the desk just under the wall cabinet.
The light strip was split into two, but positioned together without a gap so if both strips were on it appeared as one. In addition, each strip could be independently dimmed or independently turned off. This was important for the customer as sometimes one liked a really bright light and one preferred not to have it on or to have it dimmed.
The Final Outcome
The finished room was given a wider appearance with clever placement of cabinets and a considered choice of materials and lighting. The gloss white doors faded into the background but also bounced light around the room. The cabinets were fitted floor to ceiling and wall to wall for an expansive and uncluttered look, and the doors had no handles for a streamlined look with smooth touch-to-open doors that nicely swung open. We are experts at specifying the right hardware so you have the best experience when using your furniture.
Get in Touch
We take care over all the design details, construction, and fitting of your furniture - everything is carefully thought through for the best solution for your home.
If you'd like to get your home office organised then why not get started today? We can come to your home to discuss your requirements and discuss ideas and solutions, you can book a free design visit here.