Started out nine years ago out of the house, that was okay for four years, but as Kelly so subtly indicated I was easily distracted...For the past five years I have rented studio space in an art gallery, about 700 sq. ft, just two miles from home.  The old brick building was totally renovated 6 years ago and with the gallery created so were many artist studios were built, but quite nice actually.  The atmosphere is real quiet, there is no one around because they are all starving artists with real jobs, (and I may be one soon if I don't get more work!) and the cost of rent, which include heat, bathrooms, all utilities and air-conditioning is a ridiculous $175/mth, so I won't be going anywhere any time soon!

I trimmed it out with carpeting, window treatment and all and made it comfortable.  I have most of the toys.. two CAD stations, large plotter, hand-crafted (white oak & mahogany) drafting/design table, 4'x5' (I am a custom woodworker too), 4'x5' digitizing tablet, scanner and all the other typical office stuff.  I have no conference table or fancy chairs, we simply "GIT ERR DONE!" and focus on design and production as needed.  The view directly in front of me through 4 large windows is across a small park and the Erie canal.

Congratulations — The first poster ever to include the term "Airstream Travel Trailer" in a first post.

I was originally out of the house, in what is the den now.  5 years ago, I built an addition to my 100 year old, 12X18 garage and went up a level, where I have my studio.  It is about 400 sq. ft., and I built in my light table and lots of desk/work tops/storage to match the height of the drafting table, so it has a lot of flexibility if I need it for certain projects.  There are also an old oak table and 4 chairs that are big enough for what I need (I think I have only had one owner in the studio and that is because he lives in TC -- I am always at the site or going to meet an owner).  It is just me, although I had one employee for a while and there is enough room for two to work and plenty of space to have a discussion group, watch a ballgame, or play poker with 6 or 7.

I concur with many others on the ease of being close to the family for the reasons stated, as well as the kids like to come out and draw (my son on the light table, with the light on, of course!).  As to the pajamas . . . well, I don't do that, but 99% of the time I wear Birkenstocks to the door and slip them off, preferring to walk around in socks.

Cheers!

Mike N.,

Yeah, the kids like to paint on the computer, too, but they have that in the house and I have my laptop for work only (this qualifies as work, doesn't it?!!?).  

Mike

Ice has been broken, allowing us non-architects in, thank you,
M.

20 X 20 home office, stuffed with books, golf images, plus various unsorted piles from previous finished projects everywhere, shared with 3 cats (one very inquisitive) and a dog. I tend to overdress on the road and overdo the informality at home, which is the main reason for a home office, besides tax advantages. If you don't sleep, it's also very easy to get writing done at wacko hours.

Have four phone lines (one cell, one fax, one office, one home) into the room, plus high speed cable. Desk is one-watt short of blowing up, thanks to variously plugged in cell phone charger, fax, printer-scanner-copier, tape recorder, AM/FM, electric pencil sharpener (!), amber lamp plus overhead flood light, and two computers, one a MAC the other a desktop, my theory being that by switching off on keyboards I reduce likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Tommy, I can't afford your rates, though I would be willing to trade out for free golf at Wintonbury if it could be arranged.

Besides, no need to worry; when we moved in here three years ago we upgraded all of the circuitry, even got a second squirrel on the generator pedals.

at the house....keep 1 employee....2 drafting tables, light table,  1 dual 21" screen microstation Cad system...  plotter and 42" wide scanner.

Mike,
I stated using Microstation back in 1988 and am finally moving up the ladder of design.
I'm in Australia and in dire need of a new cad person, preferably a mictostation operator. Having a bugger of a time finding one.
Are they easy to come by over there ?