SPECIAL SECTION: HOME IMPROVEMENT
suited to your exact purpose will eliminate a great deal of frustration
and overwhelming feelings of disorganization. A designer and expert
carpenter can help you get the most from your workspace.
Just because you don’t have an entire room in your house to
dedicate to your home office doesn’t mean that you can’t have
a dedicated workspace. Even a closet can be transformed into a
workspace with the right planning, and the whole office can be put
away at day’s end by simply closing the closet door.
If you have even less space to work with, try a wall-mounted desk
that can be extended when in use and can collapse flush with the wall
when it’s not. Cubby holes built into the interior wall area can also
provide places for storage in a tight space. A creative builder can help
you make the most of your available space.
If your office is not separated from the rest of your home and
building a wall is not an option, there are still attractive ways to define
your workspace. For example, tall wooden shutters can be linked
together with hinges and painted to any color to create a private area.
Though not soundproof, they can create an intimate atmosphere of
privacy when needed for oneself or seeing clients. Tall silk plants, such
as a series of ficus trees, can also be used to divide the space.
Don’t skimp on your office chair! It’s likely a place where you
will be sitting for several hours every single day. Make sure that it’s
comfortable and provides plenty of lumbar support, in addition to
being an attractive addition to your office. Visit Spine-Health.com for
some helpful suggestions on choosing the right chair that will work
best for you.
THE GREAT ESCAPE – YOUR BATHROOM
Though your bathroom may not spring to mind as the place to hold
your next cocktail party, with the right accoutrements, your bath can
be a great place to hang out and enjoy life. And if you live with family
members, it may be the only place in your house where you can truly
be alone for a bit.
Besides just being a place to “get ready” to meet the day, it’s also
a relaxing space to
recharge your batteries
after a long week at
work. Hydrotherapy is
one of the best ways to
relieve stress and help
tired, overworked muscles.
With tons of specialized
showerheads, you can
have everything from the
sprinkle of a gentle rain to
an invigorating massage to bring your body back to center. And a nice
relaxing bath in a soaker tub can make the world go away for a while.
Does all of this sound like a fantasy? Maybe not. According to
designer Mary Laipple, Director of the Kitchen and Bath Design
Studio at 84 Lumber, you may be able to make updates to your bath
for less than you might expect.
“If a homeowner is just updating and not moving plumbing, heating
ducts and electricity, the makeover can start at around $10,000,” says
Laipple. And the choices for today’s bath are incredibly enticing.
Laipple says that many homeowners are opting for larger showers that
will not only get you clean, but can also bathe you in LED lighting that
changes colors to suit your mood. You can also enjoy your favorite
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