| Rewards For Referrals | Our business could not survive without the loyal clients we are privileged to work with. We thank you with a gift certificate or a donation to your favorite charity. This month's rewards go to:
Annette & John - Manassas
Mike - Fairfax
TW Perry - Springfield |
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Services
- Additions
- Kitchens
- Baths
- Room Updates & Remodels
- Whole House
- Interior Remodels
- Repurposing existing floor plans
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About Us
Schroeder Design/Build is a full service, family owned remodeling company serving Northern Virginia since 1986. Since conception, our culture has been based on honesty and integrity while transforming dysfunctional space or creating new space to suit each client's needs.
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 | 9514-B Lee Highway
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Phone: (703) 449-1700
Fax: (703) 449-1735
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Special Thanks to Our Sponsor
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To the Friends of SDB,
Happy Fall 2013 (ALREADY!)  When you hear the words "home office," you might think, "I don't work from home, so this doesn't pertain to me." Yet, home offices play a wide variety of roles for our clients. If you do work from home, it's your 9-to-5 place of business; for others, it's a space to pay the bills, go through mail or store important documents. It can also be a library, a sitting room or just a quiet place for taking good naps. If your space is limited, it can be paired with a guest room or added into the nook of a bedroom, living room or kitchen. For kids, it's can be homework spot or where they play hours and hours of computer games. They might also use the space to do research or talk on the phone. There are many options, so determine what's best for your family. If we can be of help, just give us a call or email. On another note, I recently went through something that many of our clients might experience when picking new paint for my house. I chose what I thought was great colors, and they all got nixed by either Stefanie or Fonda or my great friend Sue, who owns A Room With a View. Thank goodness, they were my heroes. So, here are my chosen colors and I love them all. I learned quickly not to go by what is on the computer screen, but get the sample chips or look at the color wheel that Schroeder provides as the best source. Thanks Stefanie, Fonda and Sue! Benjamin Moore Paints Happy Halloween! Trish |
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Three Essentials of a Perfect Home Office
You may need a home office for keeping up with family finances, or for telecommuting, or for a small business with regular clients. Whichever it may be, we recommend these three essentials for creating a perfect home office.
1. Allow for Privacy
In years past, a home office often consisted of a desk tucked into a corner of the kitchen. The intention was to help a busy homeowner multi-task: prepare meals, watch kids, and pay bills all at the same time. This concept is no longer so popular, since the kitchen has increasingly become the place in the home where everyone congregates. Homeowners need a quieter location to concentrate on family business without constant interruptions and distractions. Today the home office is usually located in a separate room adjacent to the kitchen. Keeping the office door open provides a sight-line to the kids, but closing the door allows privacy when necessary. If this arrangement is not feasible in your home, another option is to install tall bookcases in the kitchen (or family room) to divide the office area from the rest of room.
2. Include Daylighting
Home offices are sometimes set up quickly with little forethought. They are squeezed into whatever space is easily available, such as a large hall closet or under a staircase. If ample lighting is not provided, these spaces can be disappointingly dark and gloomy. Ideally, a home office should have windows or skylights that allow natural daylight into the area. Some of the benefits of natural daylight include helping energize your body and uplift your mood by increasing serotonin levels. It can also help your immune system by boosting the body's production of Vitamin D. Plentiful general and task lighting should be installed in addition, utilizing daylight-replicating light sources. It is important, however, to avoid creating a glare on your computer screen from the overhead lights.
3. Select the Right Furnishings & Equipment
Homeowners will often purchase a standard office desk, filing cabinet and bookcase when they outfit a home office. As time goes by, they may discover that this arrangement does not function well for their particular business needs. It is best to plan ahead: make a list of all your various business activities, and start thinking outside the box. Do you need a large, flat surface on which to work? Perhaps a table would suit your needs better than a desk. Would a number of small cubbies serve your purposes better than open bookshelves? Consider ergonomics as you are selecting your office furnishings and deciding where to store equipment and supplies. Heavier items that you may need to lift should be located at waist height to avoid back strain. Invest in the fastest, most reliable office equipment you can afford, from your cell phone to your printer. This will pay you back with time dividends in the final analysis.
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