The home office has emerged as the most important room of the house. Straight from the experts, here’s how to achieve the design-forward workspace of your dreams.

A minimalist workspace from Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture & Design

Among the many lessons the COVID-19 pandemic taught us is that we can work from anywhere. With a laptop, solid internet connection and Zoom, there’s few things Americans can’t do when it comes to getting the job done—even if we’re doing so in suit tops and pajama bottoms. Inevitably, the interior design industry has taken notice—and reacted. “The pandemic has changed the work landscape tremendously, and that’s reflected in our current projects,” says Paul Fischman, principal of South Florida-based Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture & Design. “Although home offices were not a unique request pre-2020, they have become a prerequisite on essentially all our design commissions.” As for what customers want? “Technology is the highest demand,” he adds. But of course, the yin-yang of aesthetics and functionality is still of utmost importance. “There is a delicate balance between function, design and programming. From Wall Street CEOs and entrepreneurs to professional athletes, everyone uses their office in a unique manner.”

This Palm Island office exudes serenity.

1. Room With a View For this second-floor home office, soft, warm tones dictated the overall design intention. Of extreme importance to the homeowner was the view. Fischman’s team optimized that by providing lush tropical landscaping for privacy, but allowing great natural light in through the trees.

2. Everything Zen Art gallery sensibilities dominate the aesthetic in this minimalist office. Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture & Design opted for white ash flooring, precise lighting, art that seems to melt into the wall and sparse furniture to denote demure sophistication.

Alex Rodriguez’s home office

3. Masculine Moxie “New York contemporary meets Miami tropical modern” is how Fischman describes the vast home office in former slugger Alex Rodriguez’s house, which also boasts the talents of South Florida interior designer Briggs Edward Solomon. Herringbone wood floors and black lacquer walls lend a “masculine Tom Ford look” to the space.

A work by Zhuang Hong-yi hangs in this study.

4. Studio Art Details abound in this study by Choeff Levy Fischman. With input from designer Deborah Wecselman, color motifs were introduced with a painting by Zhuang Hong-yi and a green floral print area rug from Niba Home. Walnut paneling, clean white shelving and a Holly Hunt deep-seated armchair achieve that overall effect of warm elegance.