Saturday, January 8, 2011

Fantasy Office

When you wander aimlessly, you find the prettiest surprises.

One gray day a couple of weeks ago when I was snooping killing time, I found this pergola right smack dab in the front yard of a house near Caltech. I'd like to have a pergola just like it in my back yard, with wisteria trailing over it and chaise lounges lazing underneath. I imagined wifi, but making the back yard into an office is the opposite of my fantasy. Then again, it would be a hell of a nice office.

What's your fantasy workspace?

25 comments:

Book Dragon said...

Who said wifi was just for the office? I can see your office and like it just fine. Maybe a fireplace for cooler nights

Shell Sherree said...

I think it's rather a lovely daydream, Petrea. My workspace is pretty darn close to my fantasy one. Great natural light, large work surface, a view with lots of greenery, and my kitty and good coffee within paws reach.

Kate said...

Anywhere there is surf, sand, and sea. Oh, and with little or no work, but lots of time for blogging.

Mister Earl said...

There's a Jefferson Starship song called Mau Mau with the line: "Sign me up as a diplomat - my only office is the park." Everyone wants a pergola! Nice photo.

If you had wifi, you could have a band like this:

iPad Band

Petrea Burchard said...

Book Dragon, that is a superb idea.

Shell, that sounds so nice. Mine's close, too. All I need is more space. Like Kate. You know, she has the whole beach.

Mister Earl, I love that band.

Speedway said...

I've always dreamed of having an old store front in a small town on the Ohio River. I'd live in back or above, and have the store as my studio, bringing in light from the windows as well as open to passers-by.

Trouble is, there are very few of those available anymore, gone to redevelopment or priced out of my reality -- making it "fantasy office," for sure.

Katie said...

If you had a gorgeous office set-up like this I can imagine you saying more than once to people "sorry I can't [whatever] -- I'm stuck at the office". You might need a water cooler fountain.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Cinder block, modern architecture, wood, rock accents, 20 ft high ceilings, north / south exposure, large sheet glass windows, isolated location with a fabulous view and a water feature nearby.

Petrea Burchard said...

Sounds like a true workshop, Speedway. I hope you get it.

Katie, I need to learn to do more of that anyway.

PA, I didn't have you figured for the cinder block type. I like the windows.

Anonymous said...

fantasy workspace; Italy!

Karen said...

I've always wanted to have my office in a sun porch (windows all around) with a view - either mountains or ocean. One of those cottages on the dunes along Cape Cod would probably do the trick. ;-)

Anonymous said...

PA has given this serious thought.

Petrea Burchard said...

klik: I'd never get anything done there.

Windows are becoming a theme, Karen.

Hiker, you must already have your dream office, or you'd have imagined your Queen Anne chairs and manservant.

Trish said...

this is a nice start to my perfect office, if it has the wifi (those dang 500ft cat6 cords are a pain!)...the manservant and comfy chair would be a nice addition---tho I think I'd pick a chair more adjustable---reclining or sitting up or...whatever works best for working...but then again, if I could do it in this type of setting, it wouldn't be hard at all!

wait, snooping, er, out for a walk, right?

Jean Spitzer said...

I recognize this place. Always assumed it was the remnant of the yard of some old estate.

Petrea Burchard said...

Walking with my camera, as always, Trish.

It may be that, Jean. Sure looks like it, and doesn't quite match the house. It's a lovely old thing.

pasadenapio said...

One of my favorite pergolas is at the south end of Brookside Park. It links the park's barbecue area to the next door neighbor, Rose Bowl Aquatics Center.

My fantasy workplace: the courtyard at Pasadena City Hall.

Bellis said...

Ann, I love that pergola too. I was worried they were going to remove it when I saw all the construction work down there. They're renewing the long pergola at the Huntington Library. You can watch a craftsman skillfully making the new plaster tree trunks look like wood.

Amy said...

That's a good option, but I would love a treetop office. Probably something enclosed, but with screens so I can get fresh air while keeping out the bugs and squirrels.

BaysideLife said...

The end of my dock in an adirondack chair, a table and my laptop. That's my office and I love it. (I can even use my wi-fi!)

Ms M said...

I'd like something similar to what Shell described, except I'd like a view of the ocean or large river, like the Mississippi...

Petrea Burchard said...

Ann and Bellis, I guess I don't know that pergola. Yay! Something to discover.

Bellis, is that the one by the rose garden?

Amy, treetop, very nice. Where would your tree be, or does that matter?

Bayside, a fantasy achieved! Bravo!

Ms. M, do you notice we've had windows, water and greenery as themes? No one has said they want to look out upon a downtown cityscape.

Amy said...

As long as it's somewhere cool (no rainforests), I'm not too picky. :)

Susan Campisi said...

I like the sound of Shell's office. I hope to create something similar when I move into my house, which won't be for a few months. For now I'll have to make do with the total disarray of my kitchen/office. No wonder I'm so behind on my blog...

Petrea Burchard said...

Amy, hard to work in the rainforest with all the bulldozers.

Susan, every so often I get frustrated and say, "I can't work! I've got to clean out my office!" I spend a whole day at it. And pretty soon it's a wreck again.