When I started my own business, working from home was a luxury. Zero commute. Make-up and hair fixing optional. The “lunch room” was right there, twenty steps away. And of course, the opportunity to make my own work hours.

About six months into it, I started to ponder the benefits of having more separation of work and home. Now, a year and half into it, I know it’s time. I crave more routine. I feel like I’m never done working, even when I leave the “office”. I love what I do, but I’d like to feel like I can leave work where it belongs. I miss “coming home from work.” Literally.

I also find that giving design presentations in my home or at the local coffee shops has lost its initial novelty. The dogs don’t make great door greeters at home, and the coffee shops are often loud or crowded.

So, I started looking for an office space. Criteria: Close to home, as to still avoid a commute. Bigger than my current 10′ x 12′ room. Windows are a must. A secure entrance that will keep my equipment safe — although, I’ll probably still lug my laptop back and forth. (Who can spend a whole evening without Facebook?) And hopefully, some architectural character of some kind.

I found it. Exactly a mile from home.

At the corner of convenience: Italian food, the bank, Three Tiers bakery, a hair salon, bowling and Nokomis Shoes. What more could I possibly need?

It’s a space right above the neighborhood italian food gem, Al Vento. There are 6 office suites upstairs. It’s a 1930′s building, and still looks it — although the big windows are brand new. The building has a secure entrance, and my office is over twice as big as my home office, with plenty of room for my desk, my painting table, and a conference table.

I’ll be in suite 5. The doors kind of have that 1930′s – 40′s detective office feel. You can almost hear the typewriters and smell the cigar smoke.

Suite 5.

Moving in this weekend. Stay tuned for the big reveal…