Remodeling
M A K I N G I T WO R K Empty nesters and entrepreneurs transform parts of their residence into office workspaces By Kristine Cannon
W
ith nearly a quarter of the employed workforce working from home in 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and an increase in stay-athome entrepreneurial moms (or WAHMs, work-at-home moms), garages, patios and children’s bedrooms have been rearranged and transformed into home offices. Jeff Hillis, co-owner of Hillis Bolte Luxury Builders in Scottsdale, has witnessed 8
Scottsdale | WINTER 2012
this trend over the past year as well. “We have many corporate clients and regional sales managers that have chosen to make Scottsdale their home base and incur more traveling rather than moving their families to be closer to their corporate offices or their territories,” Hillis says. About 30 percent of Hillis Bolte’s projects include some form of an office addition or remodel. Hillis says the home office remodel is Hillis Bolte’s No. 3 most
requested project, with kitchen and baths ranking at No. 1 and No. 2. “We have worked on approximately 10 office projects last year,” Hillis says, “with an increase to 12 to 13 this year.” What’s important to consider when remodeling a room into an office is location, experts say. According to Christine Cox, designer and owner of CC Interior Designs in Phoenix, homeowners must keep their workspace separate from their personal space.