SMALL SPACES - BIG BUSINESS

Michael Holigan: Welcome to Your New House. If you're anything like me, you know that 24 hours a day is not enough time to get everything done. More and more people are looking for ways to create office space in their homes.

Al Carrell: Whether you need a place to run a business or just somewhere to balance your checkbook, we've got some great ideas today to let you create space to make it all happen.

M.H.: The good news is, the space you need to get the work done does not have to be a separate room. In most cases, just a quiet area will do. Today we're going to give you four great ideas on how to turn small spaces into big business. In today's high pressure business world, more and more people are taking office work home with them. Some to get ahead, others just to keep up. One of the big frustrations about working at home is where to do it. Obviously the best solution is take a spare room and turn it into a home office, but what if you don't have the room to spare. Well, today we're going to show you how to take small spaces at home and turn them into big offices. We've decided to put our office in the guest bedroom closet. And there's a few questions you need to ask. One, is there any obstruction? We've already removed the shelf and the rod, but you need to check for a security system or any plumbing access. How will your office be used? To pay bills? Business? Will the kids use it? What will be in your office? Computer, books, telephone? After we measured our closet, we contacted Henry Brown at The Closet Factory (214-620-0606) and asked him to design and build our closet office. Henry, what design did you come up with?

Henry Brown: Well Michael, here's the design. I think it's the perfect thing for what you need. We have your file drawer here like you requested for your bills. Then we have a pullout shelf for your printer. We have your pullout keyboard tray and we have your computer CPU unit in the corner and then your monitor here. And we have a couple of extra drawers for pens and pencils and some shelving above. I think it will fit perfectly for what you wanted.

M.H.: It looks great. Let's get started building it.

H.B.: Okay. Okay Michael, we're going to place this panel about here and then we're going to set this tray here that's going to hold our keyboard.

M.H.: Henry, on your system why do you use 3/4" particle board instead of using plywood?

H.B.: We use a particle board because it's more durable, it stays straighter and we use a thermafuse melamine surface on it so it's washable, so there's no maintenance required on it.

M.H.: So no water will get behind the surface and upset the particle board.

H.B.: No water will get into it, no.

M.H.: Henry, your system starts on the floor instead of like some of the other systems that hang from the wall. Why do you do it that way?

H.B.: Well the main reason is, one, to distribute the weight evenly on the floor. You wouldn't hang a refrigerator on the wall because there's a lot of weight there. It's the same with your closet system. And walls are designed to divide rooms. They're not designed as a support system for hanging things.

M.H.: Instead of screwing the system together, why do you use the Rayfix connector?

H.B.: Well use the Rayfix because it gives a real tight connection and it's real strong and if you ever wanted to take a system apart later, it allows a quick disassembly of it. It's just a much better connection than just using a wood screw.

M.H.: So the holes won't wear out.

H.B. The holes won't wear out, nothing's going to pull apart.

M.H.: A home office like this built into a closet, approximate price range?

H.B.: Probably between $400 and $800 depending on what kind of components you use.

M.H.: And you can take it with you.

H.B.: And you can take it with you. That's the beauty of our systems.

M.H.: Less than most office desks.

H.B.: Yes.

M.H.: But what if you don't have a closet that you can spare? We're going to take a look at some specialized furniture that takes advantage of small spaces and gives us a big office.

Brian Dalton: Right now there's so many different options that you can use. This particular manufacturer has a desk that actually makes into a bed so that does give you that extra sleeping space that you need.

M.H. The desk drawers are separate units and roll away. They can also be used as night stands. The bed pulls out from under the desk similar to a sofa hide-a-bed. The executive style desk is made from cherry and it fits nicely in a 10x12 room. The hutch comes as a separate piece. How long have pieces like this been available?

B.D.: Approximately about a year and a half, this idea has been around, and it's been very popular.

M.H.: Brian, another common problem on space is you're in your master and you'd like to have a desk, but there's really not room and it doesn't look appropriate. What do you do?

B.D.: Manufacturers again are really thinking ahead, so they are producing an armoire that looks like it could fit into any 18 century bedroom appropriately and yet it houses a computer as well. So here you've got your monitor, your CPU and then there's also a hidden keyboard in here as well.

M.H.: So it's actually a functional desk and it doesn't take up as much space.

B.D.: Absolutely.

M.H.: We showed you a lot about home offices. Now we're going to show you the ultimate home office. It just takes up a few feet. It looks like bedroom furniture, but look inside. Fred, I think you have the ultimate office and what's the name of it?

Fred Turpen: Thank you Mike. It's called The Office (1-800-522-6334).

M.H.: And it makes sense. Why would it?

F.T.: Very simply, it has everything that anyone would need to operate fully and within a very limited amount of space.

M.H.: CPU's over there. Where's the monitor?

F.T.: The monitor is off the desktop, out of the way. If you'll press that little button there, we call it MIGABIB, make it go away, bring it back.

M.H.: MIGABIB.

F.T.: You're now bringing it back. You can bring the monitor down from a storage position to work with.

M.H.: The unit has plenty of storage space. Room for a fax, letter tray, files. It has a built-in fan to keep you and your equipment cool. It's own telephone and all accessories are up off the desk surface. All you have to do is plug it into the wall and you're ready to go. Price range - where do they start and go to?

F.T.: Suggested retail price on this is about $6500.

M.H.: And this is with all the bells and whistles?

F.T.: This is with everything included, except the computer.

M.H.: Well it doesn't take up much space, looks appropriate in the bedroom. You open it up and you've got a full business office.

F.T.: Absolutely.

M.H.: It's great. Office of the future.

Episode 32 1996 - 97 Season

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