Since both Hubby and I work from home I am always on the lookout for new ideas to make our office spaces better. I got an email from LinkedIn with a link for “Beautiful and Inspiring Workspaces.” Here is the link so you can look for yourself http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/beautiful-and-inspiring-workspaces
Not to be too critical, but are you kidding me??!! Most of these work spaces are so far from reality. How can these be work spaces? As I scroll down there seems to be a trend, bland, empty, unrealistic spaces (don’t get me wrong, there are a few nice ones). Then I started to think about it, everything is digital these days, everything! This has to be where they pay bills, read/write personal emails, and update their Facebook account. But realistically speaking, who has a desk that looks like this all the time, I mean all the time?
I love home improvement and decorating shows. Looking at my house in a constant state of construction is proof of that. But when I look at webpages like this it makes me wonder. Are there really people out there who have a work space that looks like this all the time? People that are such minimalists that they can function with nothing but a table, chair, lamp, and laptop? Look at the 3rd one down on the website to get my point.
Here is my “work space”. Of course the computer with 3 monitors (gotta have 3 to see what you’re doing). A project in progress on the table (I hope this time I can finish it!). My exercise ball tucked under the table so I can swap it out with my chair during the day. Shelves full of bits and pieces of stuff I really use. Have to have the candles to set the mood, or more importantly reduce the stress. Simply put, this is reality.
Now here is a shot of the infamous bar. This project came out of nowhere the weekend after Thanksgiving (you can read all about it by clicking on the Archive link for November). It is basically done. We still need a new stove as this one is too tall, but it now has given me a surface I can actually work with, and I love it.
But I am sure this too is not what a “Beautiful and Inspiring Kitchen” would look like on a website. In the real world we have messes and clutter. We can’t all afford to have the top of the line everything all at the same time. Most of us do things bit-by-bit as the money and time allows. But let’s get real. I want to see rooms designed for people to really use. With storage that hides the mess, but still functional. A place where it is inspiring to work, and welcoming. Yes, my work space. It is all that. Still some clutter, and will always need improvement. But I have to admit, I like to work in it. After all, isn’t that what a ‘work’ space should be for?