Weblog
Moved Out
Man I’ve been neglecting this blog lately. You’d think finally getting an off-site office after working out of the house for 5 years would be at least worthy of a mention. I actually moved out of the house around 3 months ago and am just getting around to posting about it now. Lame.
My house (and former office) is located in a funky little part of Grimsby that has some really cool history to it. The community was originally a Methodist campground during the mid 1800’s, and most of the houses were built as summer cottages. Summer cottages != spacious, so when Lucy showed up on the scene, I knew my days of working at home were numbered.
Along with space issues, Sadie (my 3 year old) was starting to wonder why I had to work during the day, and couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t just want to play instead. It wasn’t that she was distracting me from work, I was just getting concerned that she would start thinking that I valued work more than her. So when a good friend of mine offered me some office space and bookkeeping services in exchange for a bit of design work each month, the decision was a no-brainer.
I don’t have any pictures to post of the new office, because it’s basically just a cubicle right now. Nothing that you would find inspiring. Come spring time though, there are plans to move the office into a newly renovated building, where I’ll get a lot more space to work with. If I’m on the ball by then, I’ll have to post some photos of the decorating / furnishing process.
Any suggestions on quality office furniture? I think I’m going to forgo making my own this time around.
Hello, my name is…
Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain, a stay at home designer from Grimsby ON, Canada. To get in touch use the contact form.
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R.Bhavesh
January 13, 2008
Working outside the home is really a nice feeling. Especially you are rewarded by “I am going home” and “I am going office” feelings.
It also helps keep your work and family life separate. If you were here in India, I would have no hesitation offering you a separate office to the great JBC :).
Apart from this, I am craving to have a look at the more of your work since MobileWebDesign.
Scott
January 13, 2008
Congrats Jesse!
I’m currently crunching numbers and trying to finalize a similar move myself. I’ve found a place that’s pretty close or dead-on perfect and am really excited about the opportunity to look a bit more at inward instead of only outward growth this year.
Are you making the SXSW trek again this year? Hope to see you there!
Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain
January 13, 2008
@Bhavesh – I’ve completed a couple of projects since mobile web design, but won’t be able to show them until they launch. :/
@Scott – I think I’m going to pass on SXSW this year. I need a new computer this year, and also have a new office to furnish in the spring… so the extra expense of SXSW is hard to justify.
You’ll have to organize a NXNE at your new office!
Scott
January 14, 2008
Jesse – we’ll miss you, but as for NXNE – I’ll get on that!
Juliano Dasilva
January 14, 2008
Jess, It’s good to hear that you’ve moved and that you’re back! I dont know if you noticed but period between posts has been long than usual(not including the last post). I really love your design approach and your skills. I wish I could design like you! :) Good luck with your new office!
Ricardo
January 14, 2008
Congratulations for your new space.
I hope I can do the same in some months.
Steven Hambleton
January 14, 2008
Any new insights into your dealings with ExpressionEngine?
It’s always cool to hear of a new method of doing something or problem solved.
Moving into an office maybe something I will have to consider once I have children. But for the time being I have my music up load and the house is mine :)
Brian White
January 15, 2008
Jesse, You can always build on a studio so you have the best of both worlds! :) That is what I did a while ago and it has been great. The two minute commute, excellent coffee, with the separation of family via a sound proof wall.
As far as SXSW I was in the same boat, hmmm new mac or a little bit of networking? Great work btw!
Take care,
Matthew Griffin
January 15, 2008
Great move. I did the same thing about four years ago and I know it was the right thing to do. I have young kids too so I understand exactly where you are coming from.
Iain
January 15, 2008
I’m swinging towards trading the office for a mobile home, with a fat office desk and wifi in the back…
that way i can pay it off as a business expense, depreciate it to the point i can buy it back personally in 5 years for next to nothing, and enjoy it in the holidays whenever we want to go away…
that really would be ‘mobile web design’ eh!...
(ps, this captcha is phsycic… its asking me to type the word ‘children’ lol.)
Vivek
January 18, 2008
Congratulations!!!
I am sure you would notice a slight improvement in your work methodologies and concentration while working from an office. You may have also noticed an amazing feeling of contentment and pleasure coming back home after hard days work and seeing the loved ones.
Best wishes for your new office!
Regan
January 31, 2008
It’s always fun to stumble upon a fresh site that’s interesting enough to warrant a return trip back to see what’s new….....
Even cooler when you realize the author is from your hometown and is writing from a couple blocks away from where you grew up.
You’re in the beaches – I grew up on the other side of the QEW on Bedford Park.
Cheers Jesse.
Nathan
February 27, 2008
You have definately provided inspiration. As far as office furniture goes, I have one word——-beanbags
Anny
March 22, 2008
Man you don’t even know how long I’ve waited for this since disabling my own Movable Type widget (that doesn’t work since Haloscan bypasses that code).