back to school notebook
T m a p la n n e r;’ says h o m e o w n e r
Beth Nelson. When her family
_____
remodeled their
“twisting, turning
one-story home” in Rancho Santa
Fe, California, Beth sketched out this
study for he r two
children, ages 8
and
5
, and handed it to her architect
Although the plan changed a bit, the
core of what she wanted is there: a
place out of the kids’ bedrooms
where they can do homework—
and she can monitor computer
usage. With separate built-in desks,
distractions are kept to a minimum.
Open cubbies above each desk hold
books and screw-top canisters for
crayons and small notepads. For the
bench, Beth had pillows made from
French ticking and vintage children’s
cloth books. Beneath the bench,file
drawers offer hidden storage. Also
in Beth’s plan? Updates as the kids
grow and their needs change. “We
put holes in both desks for computer
and pr inter cords,” Beth says.________
S r- v Open spaces offer bright work
environments for young scholars— and make
it easier for parents to check on them. The
windows on three sides of the room,
above,
I
Beth peek into it from other rooms in the
rambling ranch.
desktop in no time flat. Topping a desk with
durable glass,
right,
protects the surface while
222
SEPTEMBER2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
P H O TO S : E D M U N D BARR; PRO DUCED B Y CHAR LAN G O S
