Name: Gregory Han
Location: Silver Lake, California
Size: Home office measuring 60" width x 106" length
Years lived in: 4+
It's been awhile since we last had a tech tour, so I thought I'd offer my own newly updated home office today. Let me begin describing what my home office first looked like before the redo: the small narrow sun room was filled with a hodge podge of vintage, IKEA, and miscellaneous items. It was where things went to stay (and often die) when we didn't have anywhere else to put them, and I alway felt like it was the most neglected room, despite the fact I spend the most time in it of all the rooms in our 637 sq. ft. space. It was definitely time for something new...
I worked closely with a friend/contact at IKEA Burbank, noting I had a limited budget and an even more limited amount of space to work with. We walked through the showroom and I was able to pick out some major pieces, thematically creating an outdoors-inside aesthetic, while relying on my friend Peggy for advice how to optimize storage within the desk, shelving and cabinets. With such a small room, I decided to reorient the whole layout with a shallow depth desk running along the length, ending with two tall bookshelves, while using panel shades to regulate ambient lighting.
Three motivating factors shaped the redesign: 1) more storage for books and tech peripherals, 2) an increase in lighting options at night and sunlight regulation in the day, 3) improved wire and cable management.
With the redesign, the office now uses vertical space, offers more compartmentalized storage, and feels a lot more expansive because of the new layout. And I think I've personalized the room with small touches that make working here a complete joy (especially now all the wires and cables are hidden away).
Unplggd Tech Tour Survey:
My style: Pop graphic minimal. My professional background is in graphic design, with experience primarily in the video game and toy industries, so I have a strong affinity for bright and playful colours. That being said, one day I'd like to decorate a new apartment/home in a wildly divergent ornate and darker style. But for this room, with its brilliant natural lighting and small dimensions, a lighter palette was optimal.
Inspiration: I approached redecorating/reorganizing my home office by imagining it was a space inside a seafaring craft. Boat interior design is all about space efficiency, and although I don't have a steering wheel in the room, the new space is optimized for my work flow with a myriad of carefully planned storage options.
I also found inspiration looking at various home office and desk setups from Unplggd, Flickr, and Deskopgraphy.
Favorite Element: It's a tossup between the wide range of storage items and the nearly perplexing amount of lighting options now available. Everything now has a place to be stored away in, which is amazing considering how much junk was once stored away haphazardly before, all labeled carefully and thematically. The lighting options include LED lighting situated inside the drawers (automatic battery powered LED strips from IKEA), two desk lamps, a centerpiece overhead lamp that was spray painted and hardwired for ceiling hanging and bookshelf lights overhead.
Here's the jellyfish tangle of cables and wires that once hid behind my desk.
Biggest Challenge: The small layout alongside the amount of natural light that pours inside this room made it a challenge to optimize storage while also providing a comfortable spot to work in for hours on end (thus is the life of a managing editor). Previously, my small hodge podge desk setup was situated at the far end of the room, against the wall; the location gave me a sense of narrow seclusion, and not in a good way. Now, I've situated the desk where the width of the room fools the eye into perceiving the space as far wider, alongside using the view out the window to expand the horizon. Instead of feeling trapped, I now enjoy as expansive view from the hills of Silver Lake out to Hollywood and beyond.
What Friends Say: I haven't shown it to anyone except a single friend visiting from NYC. It's been a top secret project until now!
Biggest Embarrassment: The cheapo KMart roller shades behind the lovely window panels. I need to replace these with better quality roller shades. Also, the room needs some additional touchups in the paint department.
Proudest DIY: All the wire management. Using an IKEA set of cable harnesses, Velcro, nail-in cable guides and a Galant cable management box, I worked hard at hiding almost all the wires and cables from view. Considering the back of my desk used to look like above, it was quite an accomplishment.
Since a great deal of the room is white, I wanted to add splashes of colour, especially on the desk. A visit to the Paper Source in Pasadena resulted in finding some faux bois patterned decorative sheets which I cut and joined together to sit underneath a clear desk pad. A small touch, but one that I think warms up what could be an overly minimal space.
I'm also quite happy how the spray painted BRASA overhead light came out. It's supposed to graphically symbolize the Southern Cali sun that pours inside this room each sunset.
Biggest Indulgence: Framing some vintage manuscripts I purchased years ago from the Glendale Library art and poster sale. They were intended to hang up above my desk, but although they fit, the dimensions overwhelmed the space above and looked awkward. So now they sit at my feet. Not wasted money, but not ideal either.
Best advice: Live within a space for awhile before making any major purchases, especially when organizing and decorating a smaller space where each inch is a valuable commodity. It's through my initial mistakes that I learned how to efficiently utilize the small home office space, and now I'm very pleased with the design and utility of the space.
Home Tech Resources:
Most of the major furniture pieces are from IKEA:
- BESTA BURS Desk in white
- GALANT (cable management)
- ERIK office drawers
- BRASA 23 5/8” overhead light
- 2 BESTA Bookshelves
- DIODER LED lights inside the drawers
- LYKTA lamp
- HAMPEN Rugs
- ANNO LJUV window panels
- KVARTAL window rail
Hardware:
- Apple Unibody MacBook Pro 15"
- Rain Design mStand
- Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP
- Audio Technica Quiet Point Headphones
- NetGear Skype Handset
- Seagate FreeAgent Xtreme 1 TB
- Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet
Artwork:
Photos: Gregory Han
Special thanks to Peggy Kovacic of IKEA for all her advice and help!
I'm resisting the urge to take a sick day and go home to organize today. Very nice!
view carter76's profile
I think it's probably for the best that the prints didn't work out in that space. That much sunlight would really fade them (unless you spent the extra money on UV glass in the picture frames).
I love how the space looks! I will look into the cable management box you mentioned.
Is that a Tord Bontje cover on the light?
view mongoose1's profile
I love love love everything in this space, especially the cats and for some crazy reason, the bright green shag.
Can that cable management box attach to any desk? I'm thinking of getting the Graph desk.
Also, where is the LED light strip inside the drawers? On the drawer itself?
view asinner's profile
mongoose1: yes, a much beloved Tord Boontje garland light. The cable management box is a SIGNUM.
asinner: the SIGNUM cable box can attach to any surface it can be screwed into; the plastic box has several holes to mount. I have mine mounted onto the wall.
The LED light strips are attached with simple sticky-back adhesive, but can also be screwed in if needed: http://bit.ly/8Kbjw
view gregory's profile
mongoose1: forgot to mention I added a UV window treatment to the surrounding windows, but your caution is a good point in regards to wall art in a sunny room :)
view gregory's profile
looks great, nice work!! i'm really digging the desk (wish IKEA had a slightly smaller version). the overhead light and carpet are awesome!
view Matt. M's profile
I love how the orange within your office pendant light compliments the color scheme in the room next door, which you see when perusing the full house tour.
Such a beautiful touch.
view soniaz's profile
Did I not read something... where is the lovely bookrack on the floor from? Love the entire space!
view pimpmyprius's profile
love the use of color and that organization has me drooling. I too wish IKEA sold that desk in a smaller size.
oh & cute kitties :)
view witchbaby's profile
Where can I find the green 'dog tail' hook with the headphones? Love the office!
view Madame Tut's profile
What paint color did you use? I love it!
view marybinary's profile
Very nicely done indeed! I noticed you went from a dual monitor setup to a single monitor, I just did the opposite myself back in late May.
I like the desk setup much nicer than mine but then mine is also deeper and not as wide and I have a keyboard shelf underneath to keep the desk clear for other tasks. I like how organized you have it and the colors are so much fun playing off the white.
I love how your office space looks to the west and you can see the sunsets and having a western view myself, I totally understand just sitting there watching the sun go down. :-)
I have that very same Bamboo fun tablet, but in black in my setup, however have not been on it enough to get the hang of it yet and I've had it almost 2 months now. :-(
You've inspired me to rework my work space although there isn't much I CAN do due to the fact that my desk shares space in the bedroom.
view ciddyguy's profile
i am printing out pictures of your amazing home office and pasting them on my study wall to inspire me! this is everything i want in a home office. congratulations, and thank you!
view saya*'s profile
Gregory very nicely done. Could I ask where you got the blue faux wood placemat below your monitor? My fav color. Tom
view Thomas Weaver's profile
pimpmyprius: a friend gifted the aluminum expandable bookshelf a couple years ago. I'll have to hunt around to see where you can get one too.
marybinary: It's been a few years, but Sherwin Williams 6944 Pool Blue is very close.
Madame Tut: the hooks are $1.99 from IKEA
Ciddyguy: I regretfully had to switch to a single monitor for two reasons. My desktop tower's power source died so I migrated to a MacBook Pro which can only drive a single 24" LCD. Also, we purchased a Mac mini for my mom, so I gave her the extra 24" to use. But I definitely miss the extra real estate. I hope you share some photos once you redo your space :)
view gregory's profile
Tom: the placemat actually isn't a placemat at all, but decorative paper that was cut and taped together and placed underneath the clear desk mat. I purchased it via Paper Source in Pasadena: http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Woodgrain-12X12-Paper-Teal-Brown/3108.001/727846503778.html
view gregory's profile
Simply just love everything about this study. The colours are amazing and the amount of detail you have put into it really shows- plus you have great taste in books.
view SJwashere's profile
I'm glad you linked that, Gregory, bc my favorite thing was the paper 'placemat'. Great idea.
I'm glad you photographed that green shag carpet with both artificial and natural light. Totally different effect. With the natural light, it looks kind of like grass to me...
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
view k51279's profile
Gregory, do the dividers in the drawers come with the table itself or are they sold individually? If the latter is the case, how can I find them?
Forgive me if the answer to my question can be found in the post or in previous comments.
view EdGar's profile
k51279: exactly! The mood of the room changes throughout the day according to the lighting, both natural and artificial.
EdGar: they're plastic drawer organizers from IKEA.
view gregory's profile
*sigh* This is my dream office! I just bought that green rug, too. I love that desk, I just wish I had room for it. Wonderful job all around, it must be so nice to work in there.
view CassieB's profile
Beautifully done! You make Ikea looks un-Ikea.
love the computer set up; can you say where I can find the
stand for the MacBook pro? It's the nicest laptop support I've seen around, and yes, I would love to have it on my desk.
view scmonkey's profile
oh please oh please tell me where to get the laptop stand, i'm trolling everywhere online but with no luck. . . help!
view scmonkey's profile
scmonkey: it's a Rain Design mStand for MacBook Pro. I love it and it's built beautifully.
view gregory's profile
Fantastic job on your office! Which Macbook Pro cover/case do you have?
view tabbycat's profile
Oh, and cute kitties! and where is the cat drawing in the black frame from?
view tabbycat's profile
tabbycat: I have applied a ZAGG invisibleSHIELD on the top cover of the MacBook Pro, but otherwise travel with an Acme Made bag when on the go. The invisibleSHIELD is a pain to apply, but great protection thus far.
The kitty illustration was done by my friend Steven Weissman. Be sure to check out his stickers in the same series, sure to please a cat lover.
view gregory's profile
Wow, fabulous office space. I love the palette, the desk, the rug and all of your attention to detail. I am considering purchasing the Besta Burs desk for my kids to do their homework. It is very narrow and wonder if it is too narrow. How do you like working at this desk? Thanks so much.
view karsha's profile
Gregory: love the office! Pretty much exactly what we want to do.
However, one quick question. I see that you say you used the Signum for cord organization. However, when I looked that up on Ikea's site, it's just a metal contraption. In your photo, it looks like you have some sort of glossy white box hiding both the cables and the Signum. Could you tell me what that is and where you got it? It is precisely what we've been searching for!
Thanks so much.
view whiskeyriver's profile
You MUST pick up the pictures off the floor. Put them in a drawer, a closet, a box, another room, anywhere! but on the floor of your office. Your office is 99% clear of clutter - why not let it be 100%!!!
view Jackie's profile
karsha: I love the desk. It's narrow, but with an LCD and a small sized wireless keyboard, there's plenty of room and I never feel cramped. A good task chair always helps.
whiskeyriver: it appears IKEA discontinued the plastic box version of the SIGNUM cable organizer. It's a shame, because it's pretty darn great at hiding and holding cables with room to spare.
Jackie: I actually am quite fond of the two framed pieces on the floor now. They're both out of harm's way from the sun and I admire them each day now while I work. Art is never clutter in my eyes, especially art that I find inspiring. But hopefully one day when we move to a larger space, they'll find a wall to adorn properly.
view gregory's profile
I absolutely love what you've done with your home office. You cat is adorable as well, peeking from behind the books.
Continue enjoying your space.
view Afromrembo's profile