ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE OF THE MOMENT
WELL-CRAFTED, BUILT-IN WORKSPACES THAT CHIME WITH A HOME’S INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER ARE THE NEW WAY TO WFH
FEATURE Ellen Finch
Once a luxury, now a staple, home workspaces are increasingly integral to modern living thanks to the rise of remote working. But for the design-forward among us, this new way of working presents the chance to create a space that’s in equal parts inspiring and conducive to work. And while there’s still a place for an antique desk in our homes, designers are looking to a more permanent solution to create playful, interesting work zones: the built-in desk.
‘A built-in desk makes the most of the space available and allows you the freedom to create a useful workspace from an awkward corner,’ say Alan Drumm and James Hoy of Uncommon Projects. ‘Stand-alone desks tend to be larger so can be harder to fit in. A built-in desk doesn’t have to dominate the space; it can be an extension of another piece of furniture, like a bookshelf.’
Hideaway designs are ideal for smaller homes, but as architect Ben Allen tells us, ‘Things that move are notoriously complex to engineer, so making something bespoke along this vein won’t be easy.’ His own home features a more lo-fi approach, with a fold-out desk that slots into place; there’s also a high desk in another room, which runs along the wall and widens as it blends with the windowsill. If you want a fold-down design, he recommends Pith & Stem. ‘Their desks are quite elegant – as narrow as a unit, but when you fold it up, it looks like a picture,’ he says.
For Ben, what’s on your desk is important, too. ‘The bane of workplace design is that you can create a beautiful space, only for the client to add screens, phones, laptops and cables,’ he says. ‘Ask yourself: how visually obtrusive is your work paraphernalia? Can you buy a simple one-screen solution, a wireless keyboard and mouse? Even a drawer underneath your desk means you can hide things – and it’s nice to tidy up, signifying you’ve finished work.’
1 NIFTY NOOK
An alcove is a natural home for a built-in desk – and painting the entire wall and shelves is a clever upgrade to this idea. ‘We used an existing cupboard to create this home office, which is located within an open-plan converted garage,’ explains interior designer Emma Gurner of Folds Inside. ‘It was an unusual-shaped room that needed to be multifunctional, and so being creative with the space was key. Simple shelves provide storage space for box files and books, while also allowing areas to be styled up with gorgeous accessories.’
2 SLEEK FINISH
This working zone is part of a wider renovation of a house by Architecture for London. ‘The new kitchen, dining and study spaces are informally defined by exposed oak posts and beams, allowing light to
