Working from Home will be the "New Normal"

Most of us have spent the last 10-12 weeks in and around our homes whether we wanted to or not;

So what have we discovered?

Everyone keeps saying that life in the “NEW NORMAL” will be very different. That work life will very be different as business try to rearrange their office space to maintain social distance. It’s also likely that your home might look very different too.

Working from home is likely to become more the norm for many people as companies realise that, with the help of good technology, remote working is actually possible allowing valuable office space for those people who do have to attend the work place.



I consider myself fortunate to have a space which is dedicated to working and although it’s open to the rest of the house, it’s still a space that I can leave tidy or untidy and walk away from at the end of the day.

During the last 2months, many of us have been sat at the kitchen table , spreading out papers and working at our laptops. Even worse still, you’ve may have been competing for that kitchen table space with the rest of your family, who are also trying to work or do their school work.

Or maybe you’ve been sat with your laptop or computer in your bedroom or spare room, not only is that inconvenient but to be able to see your work device from your bed, puts a whole new spin on the meaning of Work/Life Balance!

It’s a pain to have to tidy everything away and unplug just because we need the house back for our family life to continue.

Currently work life and family life are being merged into one and there are of course many reasons why this shouldn’t continue as a long term strategy.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a space somewhere else, where you and the kids can do all those  activities togther, without interrupting family life as much. To have a bit more space somewhere that is flexible enough to accommodate everyone at various times without the need to be competing for that kitchen table surface all the time.

What else have we discovered during lockdown?



Thankfully, for the past couple of months, the weather has been kind, sometimes glorious, which has meant that we have been able to spend more time outside too. It’s been great to take our coffee break outside or even find somewhere with piece and quite to get some work done, soak up the rays and get our daily dose of vitamin D.

Inspiring outdoor spaces are just as important for our well being especially now when the stresses of being at home are set to continue for some time.

Being in a nice outdoor space can be very calming, we feel inspired by nature, by it’s colour and it's beauty. The fresh air makes us feel more alive. Even the shadiest of gardens can be full of wonder and they don’t have to be large spaces. The small outdoor spaces just need to be well thought through and well designed.



Imagine having a lovely outdoor space right outside your living room or kitchen, that you could open up, let in the light, the warm sunshine and the fresh air. Blending the inside OUT and the outside IN

So how easy is it?

Obviously there’s a lot of time goes into planning and thinking about turning your house into a dream home, as well as the resources necessary to fund such a project. DIY home improvement are fairly easy to manage yourself but something more ambitious needs careful thought and a lot more planning. For many of us it is probably the financial burden that prevents us from taking on a project like this, but you need to plan now and keep the dream alive.

Projects like these are possible with a little bit of faith in the person you ask to help you, but take time to find that right architect and make sure they are a "fit" for you and your family.

So if you are thinking of taking on a building project, I suggest that in the next few weeks before you do anything else, you;

• Live in your home but look around with fresh eyes, ask yourself "whats not working?"
• Watch how everyone uses the different rooms or spaces and at what times, who sits where and does what?
• Collect pictures and images of inspirational spaces, things that you would like to see in your own home and garden. Search the web or use sites such as Houzz, Pintrest, Instagram etc
• BUILD UP A PICTURE. And when the time comes, this makes it much easier for someone like me to understand what clients are looking for what are their dreams and ideas. Architects can then use their skills to transform those dreams and ideas into real projects.