multiple personality.
i’ve always loved the idea of a room with multiple personalities — say, a dining table that also serves as a desk — like this one above from lotta jansdotter’s old san francisco apartment (i’ve coveted this table forever!). not a table that just piles up with bills, or your purse and car keys when you fly in the door, but one with a multitude of real purposes. some of us tend to live in smaller spaces these days, so the idea of using a room for more than just a place to eat, or a place to work, relax, or play becomes a functional reality. by day it serves one purpose, by night another entirely. here’s some spaces that share what i mean.
i love the cozy window seat in this room, via design*sponge. and a sofa and bench, combined with the dining table and chairs (elle decor, via bright.bazaar), becomes one big happy space to hang out, dine and entertain.
some brilliant live-work-play spaces from design inspirationsk.
some spaces that would easily convert from work to play and visa-versa: via truck furniture, plastolux and emma’s design blogg.
here’s some dining areas that would really work overtime, from apartment therapy and bloesem, and marie claire maison.
The books in the rafters idea is the coolest things I’ve ever seen. wow, wow.
I love how these looks so cozy. I have a difficult time merging both worlds and having it look warm and inviting.
Man, that’s what I need. Right now I’m working at our dining table which is covered in sewing stuff, photography work, my purse, my breast pump, photo lenses, catalogs…. I need that first one. Presto chango.
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com/
i also adore rooms with multiple personalities – i love how you put it. it makes them seem so alive…
my dining room table also functions as a part-time workspace/desk, for both “work” and creative play. i love how the different activities it sees wears it in and gives it different layers of character. but secret built-in compartments? i could use a little bit of presto-chango magic!
my study (i’m a grad student/researcher/writer) also doubles as my studio. it’s overfilled with books, paper, and supplies and organization is always a challenge. i love continually being inspired to improve my workspace(s) and find creative organizational fixes. thanks for all the gorgeous photos and links! you really can do (almost) everything in one space…
I am in love with some of the pieces in these rooms!
♥ sécia
http://www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
I realize I have organizational issues when just seeing those big work tables makes me think, “wow, look at all that open space to pile things on!” maybe multiple personalities is the key.. having one space for multiple functions forces you to maintain a level of organization.
or.. maybe I would start piling cereal bowls on top of paper stacks on top of books :)
I LOVE these, Victoria! But, sadly, you’d probably still have to push art supplies outta the way if you came over and this was my set-up. But, I’d ply you with plenty o’ wine! So, maybe okay? ;)
can’t we just play with the art supplies WHILE we drink wine? :)
a table in which you can stash the computer at a moment’s notice seems like a dream. that table is genius!
i know, right? i love that table! and have for years – never found one like it.
a table with multiple personalities! what’s not to love?? sigh. lovely photos..can’t get enough of them!
What a lovely selection of images….love, love, love the one with the bench and the sofa – just so cosy. Thanks for sharing :)
Love all these ideas. We live in a tiny apartment and my husband made a table that works as a skinny desk and then expands to a bigger table for when we have guest over. It’s my dinning room/office.
I love that all these rooms have so many uses. I always find that I spend most of my time in one room, regardless of its purpose and regardless of where I live–why not just make it multi-purpose? I love the concept of every room being thoroughly livable. It doesn’t hurt that these are all really gorgeous and bright looking, too…
I also have a dinning room/studio/studio. It just goes well. If the canvas and easel are out, I just move it to the side when we have company over for dinner. Its almost like a rotating art gallery.
I love it all, but I particularly LOVE the transparent pink boxes with text. You, lady, know your way around Photoshop! I’m crushing on that curved edge square.
Tee hee!
xo,
– Dottie
dottie – ha! i learned it all at blogshop! :)
Victoria, I’m LOVING these live/work spaces!! I do a lot of work at home and I gotta say, working on my bed or on the couch isn’t ideal. We have a tricky space so I haven’t figured out where a desk/workspace would go, but seeing these options gives me some ideas.
Also, I’m loving (even more!) your posts after your time at blogshop!! They are so beautiful and I’m so bummed I missed this workshop! :( Do you know of any other blogger workshops here in the Bay Area that might be helpful/interesting?
xo,Darina
afoggycitylife.blogspot.com
darina – thanks so much!
i don’t know of any right now, but blogshop was so successful, you should check in with bri on twitter @designlovefest and ask – i’ll bet they come back to sf!