Irwin & Nicola dispense some great design tips when it come to planning your home office or library. What are the latest trends, storage tips, and multi-functional solutions to help you make the most of your living space?

Video Transcription

[Music Playing] Irwin: Welcome to Design 2 Share Q&A. I am Irwin. Nicola: And I am Nicola. Today we are asking how can I work from home without making or creating a huge mess. Irwin: I think that the home office or the library or the guestroom that you use as the home office or library works very well for that purpose. Having a desk and a--is all one that you needs. The desk and the computer or a laptop, anything else like that will work very well. Nicola: And also that depends on how you are going to use this space. Are you going to use it on a daily basis to work from or you are going to use it, you know, occasionally or maybe you will meet your accountant there and possibly you know if you have children at home maybe they are going to use it to their homework or maybe play a board game. So, really determines how you are actually going to decorate it in terms of how you are going to use this space. Irwin: I think storage is really a key because working with a computer or doiing as a home office work creates a lot of mess. Nicola: And also, if you are working, you obviously function much better if have everything organized and to hand, you know, exactly where to find things. It is easier to keep it tidy. You can get some great little storage boxes now from place like the Container Store— Irwin: And Marshalls is great. Nicola: Yes. So, you know, they can all adds like a decorative element, you know, you can have the - ones or the leather bound or the suede ones. You know you can make it fine. Obviously, you know, keep it tidy. Irwin: I think designing with space and traditionally, we looked at our library is very much as a traditional space. But that is not necessary there is no reason why you cannot have a contemporary library. Nicola: Right. Irwin: And as long as you have some sort of desk as office, it works very well. Nicola: Right. So, it does not have to be so formal. It can be a relax space also and social. Irwin: Right. And then, also I think with book cases, if you can afford, you then want to put book cases all around the room to create that continuous paneled look. That you can even use as wall covering for example that is on the same color as where you could get color wall covering or there was like a raffia or a grass cloth or even I use once a wall cabinet looked like books. Nicola: Indeed, if you use something like a velvet to upholster the walls, it can really have that sense of luxury to it where a library. Irwin: Yes, and graceful acoustics actually as real. Nicola: Yes. Irwin: And in fact, if you do not want to spend the money as expensive as upholstering a wall with fabric, you can have the fabric paperback. It is a applied black wallpaper and it gives the same look. Nicola: Right. Irwin: Almost the same look and for less money. A library is also a great place to just meet people. Say, if it is a little bit more of a formal situation, you are meeting your accountant perhaps or just having a meeting with somebody that is not say intimately connect to the family, it is a great place to do it in the library. As well as playing games. Serving drinks after dinner for example is a great use of library. Nicola: Yes. Also one thing, we did not touch on this lighting in a library or home office. You know, obviously you will need a task lighting if you are working there sort of like to you know wee hours or whatever. So, you will need to go recess whichever but basically task lighting and also some ambient lighting, a nice little desk lamp. Irwin: What is also lovely is to have a lighting on a book case. Toward picture lights above each book case. Nicola: Yes. And they are expensive. Irwin: It is a great look and it has a great function actually. Nicola: Yes. Irwin: And I think also, this is where Feng Shui. We have not spoken about Feng Shui today but one should really face the door and not I mean sometimes you cannot help it and you have your desk set up in room where you are facing the wall. And your back is not facing, is not facing the way from the door but rather you are face and back towards the door. And a nice tip then is to put a lovely mirror actually in front of you so you can see what is behind you and even that you do not really need to, it just gives a good sense which is what sort the Feng Shui is were about. Nicola: Yes. So, I think in summary, what we can say is that depending on how you use the room is going to dictate and decorate the room and really the key issue here is storage and clever use of space. Irwin: So, create your own little jewel box of a library. I am Irwin. Nicola: And I am Nicola. Thank you for watching Design 2 Share Q&A. When entertaining, have your guest retire to your home office library for an after dinner drink. Our Wine 2 Share recommendation for this occasion is the Meridian Pinot Noir. Our 2005 vintage is from the Central California Coast. It has a lushness of cherry and violet notes and has a complex flavorful taste that smacks of juicy ripped berry fruitiness. Also good with that salmon steak dinner you love to serve. After the feast, this is a special treat. The Meridian Winery is in Paso Robles, California. With over 200 year old oak trees, landscaped urban flower gardens and beautiful picnic grounds. Their natural stone winery building and shop are also on the grounds. And we like that catered picnic lunch served on their patio complete with breath taking views of their vineyards and gardens. Who can resist thinking about sunny California when you are sipping from our Wine 2 Share Meridian Pinot Noir? [Music Playing]