“Creative people need to move around,” says Danielle Arps, founder of the buzzy firm Dani Arps, who typically spends her days designing massive offices for New York City start-ups (we’re talking 20,000-square-foot spaces). She's a fan of a minimal aesthetic, and when designing this room, she imagined it as if she were the client. Her first step toward a clutterless home office with room to stretch? Eliminate the desk.
George Armchair
Singleton Bridge Stool
Finn Chair
Aurora - Heaven
“Most files are stored digitally, so bulky office furniture with tons of storage isn’t necessary,” she explains. Instead, Arps favors large work tables that are perfect for meetings. It's large enough to hold a laptop and additional monitor without sacrificing table space. She also hates traditional file cabinets and prefers clever solutions that seem visually lighter than your typical metal eyesore. Her go to? A cane cabinet from Industry West that that can easily hold storage files and still look pretty.
Another one of her tricks: creating an additional spot for more relaxed lounge seating so you're not "stuck" at the desk. By placing comfy chairs together around a little coffee table, “a secondary work area can be achieved, even in a small space,” she says. On the back wall, Arps placed a long display unit that's perfect for displaying arts or books. The open display keeps the room from feeling claustrophobic. "It's a great option if you can't do built-ins and this particular one can be used vertically or horizontally—so it can go with you, if you move," she adds.
Calathea
Prado Lounge Chair
Plateau Coffee Table
Castle Homes design team, Rachel Haag and Joy Huber, focused on turning a would-be storage room into the essential home gym. A mounted ballet barre, weight balls and a wall for storing yoga mats makes it an easy spot for a quick workout. The deceptive Mirror on the wall powers on to become an interactive video platform with workouts—and trainers—ready to push you through workouts ranging from simple stretching to high-intensity cardio. Huber remarks, "It has so many different fitness classes, and you don't have to leave your house!" A removable mural wallpaper by Walls Need Love with images of mountains and lakes is the ideal scenery for that much-needed cool down.
mirror The Mirror
Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
Medicine Ball
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Home Office
George Armchair in Black Vintage Leather, Finn Chair in Black Vintage Leather, Prado Lounge Chair, Plateau Coffee Table, Slate Terrazzo Side Table in White Terrazzo, Singleton Bridge Stool, and other furnishings: Industry West, industrywest.com. Laptop: LG gram 17" Ultra-Lightweight, LG. Undercounter Refrigerator: RU 510 Beverage Centre, Liebherr. Hardwood Flooring: 7" European White Oak with custom stain by Mansion Hill Custom Floors, mansionhillcustomfloors.com; Closet Cabinetry & Shelving: The Closet Company, closetcompany.com.
