BoomerGirl Diary

When Lawrence artists Roger Shimomura and Janet Davidson-Hues married more than a decade ago, they knew they would need plenty of room for creativity in their new home.

"When we built the house, we said, ‘We just need lots of big, empty working space,’" recalls Davidson-Hues, who specializes in three-dimensional and compilation works as well as video and performance pieces. Shimomura, who retired from the University of Kansas last year, is internationally known for his paintings revealing Japanese stereotypes, some of which have been done in murals or on full-size rice-paper screens.

"Plus we just have a lot of stuff," Shimomura says with a grin.

Still, the couple faced a problem not unlike one faced by many others: how to have an inspirational place to work at home.

Together with Dan Rockhill, an architect on the KU faculty, they designed a home featuring massive side-by-side studio space with moveable walls, as well as cozy partner offices where they can pursue their writing, lecture preparations and video-editing interests.

The studios take up roughly two-thirds of the home. An open sitting area with a futon, large-screen TV, music system and comfortable chairs allows for a quiet space for conversation, guests or just "downtime."

"The house is so big that one of us can be doing one thing and one doing something else and not really stumble over each other," Davidson-Hues says. "In closer quarters, we probably wouldn’t do too well."

The twin offices — each with its own computer, desk and other equipment — are separated by a wall-length bookshelf. A cutout "window" painted with Davidson-Hues’ hot pink office shade looks out into the three-room lower level of the home.

“I think it only makes sense for practical purposes," Shimomura says of having separate work spaces. "I think any two people have different ways of working — different methods, different materials, different requirements from every standpoint you can think of. So it ought to make sense to have your own space and to provide it in a way that thus accommodates your needs."

A room of her own

KU English professor Mary Klayder drew inspiration from British author Virginia Woolf in finding work space in the home she shares with her husband, attorney David Brown, and her two teenagers, Anthony, 15, and Elia, 17.

In her 1929 essay “A Room of One’s Own,” Woolf championed women’s independence, declaring: "A woman must have money and a room of her own."

"The whole notion that a woman needs money and a room of her own really speaks to me," Klayder says. Her "room" is considerably larger than her husband’s home office area.

"I need space," she says simply. "I’m easily distracted. I’m pulled into other people’s emotions." The design of her "space" allows for that.

"It has two levels," Klayder explains. The lower level, just off the kitchen, is the larger "public area" that includes her computer, music, desk, couch and TV. A step up is an archway that leads into the smaller "inner room" that features seven rows of double-stacked bookshelves, a cupboard and a rocking chair.

"The other room is very cozy," Klayder says. "It feels like a library. You just feel like you can come into the room and sit down and read a book."

Brown’s space, by contrast, is a more traditional home office, she says.

“When he’s in there, he working, he’s talking to a client or he’s playing games on his computer," Klayder says. "Everyone thinks it’s kind of sad that he has such a small place, but when he’s in there, no one thinks of bothering him. The thing is, there’s not really enough room in there for anyone else — and I think he likes it that way."

Klayder’s space, however, invites interruptions — by degrees, anyway.

"When I come home, I get on the computer," she says. "I e-mail my students. I grade papers at home." The office allows her to continue her workday yet be part of her family setting. "My son comes and stands in the doorway and tells me about his day," Klayder says. The kids may watch TV, do homework or relax with one parent, while the other prepares dinner and stays with the conversation. She says she often does her ironing in the office while watching a movie.

"It’s a good location," Klayder says. "When we have parties, this becomes the room where people come to have cozy conversations."