Does your office have a “living” room?

Our Conference Room

Agile Learning Labs started out as a home office, but as we’ve grown, I’d have to say that it has evolved into what I can only call an office home. Having started out with Chris and I occupying a two-desk office in what used to be a den, our workspace has now taken over the entire downstairs of the house, and we have several delightful people who join us here every day (some in person, some via web cam). I’m the resident interior designer, and when I first started laying out our expanded workspace, I envisioned a sea of desks and conference tables. But then during one of our company retrospectives, which we had been holding in our living room, I noticed how well everyone responded to getting to walk away from desks, phones and computers and sit in comfy armchairs while having a lively conversation in a humanistic setting, the way people do when they are just socializing. So I polled everyone, and it was unanimous: the sea of desks could take over the dining room, and any other available space, but the living room was a vital part of our office, the place for reflection and communication, and it would stay.

I ended up converting one of the upstairs bedrooms into a second, private living room, as I wanted to have that kind of personal space–I’m an early starter, and sometimes I want to clock out at four and watch some Iron Chef while others work later, so I very much need a “home” zone to go to.

Why, you ask, do we not rent a proper office space? Many reasons. We like having an office that is homey, and we consider our crew to be a species of family. Also, I like making lunch for everyone on days when we have our retrospectives, and need to be near my rice cooker and VitaMix. And of course, having the office at home enables Chris and I to work at all kinds of strange hours.

Personally, I’m not a fan of the whole work/life balance concept. I think that if you view your work as separate from (and gods forbid as competing with it), then you’re in the wrong field. So integrating the two environments closely is consistent with my world view. Someday I can see us moving into a loft space, but we will probably always choose to work at home, and be at home at work.

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2 thoughts on “Does your office have a “living” room?

  1. Pingback: Totem Poles, !Kung bushmen, the Love Economy, and you

  2. Alice Bachini-Smith

    Although the continuousness of work and life is a good idea that’s been around for a while (although it still seems mentally out of reach for many, which is a shame), I have never seen it set out in a physical environment this way before. Inspired & ready to act on this- thanks!

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