Long before #stayathome became a global mantra, my client Matt contacted me to design a home for him that would suit both his desire to work from home and indulge in his hobby of baking. Now that it seems everyone is working on their sourdough between Zoom meetings, I’m sure more people can relate.

Our conversation began on the short-lived Dwell.com forum (before it was overtaken by spammers, it was a cool way to connect with homeowners who needed some professional opinions). Matt asked for advice on installing lighting on concrete ceilings; a tricky topic normally but especially in city co-ops where the building rules and not technical limits determine your options. He liked what I had to say, which is now lost in the ether, and we began talking more in detail about his dreams for his new home and how we could achieve it within his budget.

We agreed that the kitchen was most important. The central figure in the apartment; it is the first thing you see when you walk inside and always in view. Why not feature it as an object of art to enjoy? Thinking of our initial problem of lighting sparked the idea to have surface mounted linear lights between wood “beams”, which morph to an angled wall towards the entrance and columns at the far end. The fridge, with integrated doors in the same walnut wood, snuggled up next to a massive column creating our central visual anchor.

Taking second on the most important list? The bathroom. We expanded its footprint and rearranged it all to be more spacious and luxurious. Teak slat shower decking and Rich Brilliant Willing lighting go a long way towards everyday luxury.

What about work from home? We didn’t forget it. In fact, after moving in he requested a more formal work area that could be tucked away when not in use. I designed a bookshelf-desk-tv stand that was scheduled to install right as the stay at home hammer fell. Coming soon.

In the meantime, it’s all bread making and work in pajamas. Matt was kind enough to send me his most popular recipes. First on my list to try is the chocolate chip cookies. From reading it, I think it’ll give Bon Appetit a run for their money.

What are you up to during this extended break? Interested in a work from home design for yourself? Contact me now (am@andrewmikhael.com) for a consultation to design the perfect work from home setup for you.