Gone are the days of working from home in an office littered with papers, files, books, pencils and pens. Today we count on one thing, our computer, to stay organized and tuned in to the outside world. The tools for everything we need are right at our fingertips, including a digital fluorescent marker that highlights text but can be deleted with no harm done. Try to do that on paper.
I write from home all the time on my computer, in my living room, without a desk — at least for now. I can live without an office, but what I can’t live without is having a computer and access to the Internet. My craft would come to a screeching halt if I was unable to do research or send email from home. A computer without the web, for me, would be like owning a toothbrush without its bristles; I’d brush and brush but just end up scratching the surface. I’m not alone in my thinking. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 75.6 percent of households reported having a computer in 2011 and 71.7 percent of households reported having access to the Internet.
All that really means is that most Americans have a computer and can access the Web. There is no better tool when it comes to staying in touch with the world via email or other social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. It’s even more important if your business and entire staff depends on it.
Borelli Designs LLC.
Since 2009, Borelli Designs, a leader in digital media and advertising services, has earned the trust of local and regional businesses including Lords & Ladies Salons, United Artists Salon & Spa, Rolling Rock Building Stone Inc., and American Dental Solutions. They also assist nonprofits such as the Greater Reading Economic Partnership and Peaceable Kingdom (a no-kill animal shelter in the Lehigh Valley) in website design and application, print and more.
In addition, Borelli offers online marketing and advertising services such as social media management, search engine optimization and paid online advertising.
The company’s main base — in a two-story home with four bedrooms on Solvay Drive in Ontelaunee Township — is where owner Shawn M. Borelli and his girlfriend Allison M. Walker, production manager and marketing coordinator, live and breathe their work.
Working From Home
“I love the fact that we’re not in a stuffy office building,” Shawn says about his current working environment, even though there has been some talk about opening a second location with a storefront in Allentown. But for now, Borelli Designs and its employees are more than happy to work from the comfort of their own homes.
“We don't force anyone to sit in a chair 9 to 5,” says Shawn, whose office space is bright, airy and tailored to his personality. When he started his business, he was working in his apartment bedroom at school. “I’d wake up in my office,” says Shawn, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mechanical engineering.
On the flip side, he sometimes works late into the night to meet deadlines.
“It’s not a problem,” he says about being stuck at home in his office working as long as it takes to take an old site down so there are no interruptions in the re-launch of a website. “You work more; you have more late nights, and that can be both good and bad, but at least there is flexibility.”
“Having access to the servers at home really helps because we can always help our clients with their websites,” adds Allison, a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising and a minor in business management.
Keep It Professional
Both Shawn and Allison have their own work space across from one another on the second floor of the house.
Rather than come up with their own design plans, the couple hired interior decorator Corrie Taylor to dress up their individual work areas. They found her on thumbtack.com, a website for local professionals to promote and get hired for their services.
At the initial consultation, the couple had to answer three questions before Corrie was able to get started. First, they had to figure out what they were trying to achieve. Second, she needed to know what demographic they would be appealing to. And lastly, they had to decide how they wanted to present Borelli Designs.
Both agreed that they wanted to stay away from anything that was stuffy or traditional. That’s when Corrie stepped in to make sure they had a workable plan.
“Because web design is such a high-tech business, I suggested they go the path of contemporary, fun and funky,” says Corrie, who has more than 20 years of experience in decorating, re-design and home staging. Her assignment included giving both rooms a complete makeover including fresh paint, flooring, lighting and furniture.
His Office
Many of the elements in Shawn’s office, including a contemporary red leather chair and a high-gloss white bookcase with red accents, were chosen to complement the company’s red and black branding color theme.
Finding a functional desk with clean lines and minimal color was a challenge for Shawn. It had to have the right look and feel and be reasonably priced. He ultimately chose a long L-shaped desk with a frosted glass top and wood finish at IKEA. A matching gray leather commander chair on wheels was purchased separately at the store. Other room highlights include grayish-brown colored walls, track lighting and a filing cabinet on wheels that can be stored underneath the corner of a desk to conserve space.
The couple turned to Martin’s Flooring Inc., a Borelli Design client, to achieve the right look under their feet. After poring over several options they chose a commercial-grade, luxury vinyl tile floor with a smooth matte finish in dark gray.
Her Office
Allison's office was a bit more challenging because she hadn’t been able to pin down the exact look she wanted. But with Corrie’s expert eye and guidance, a theme was soon fleshed out.
“I wanted to take her a little out of her comfort zone,” Corrie says. “Once we started introducing some fun and funky things, Allison jumped right in and ran with it.”
For a pop of color, Allison chose hot pink to brighten up the wall facing the door. She found the same color in an area rug and on a mostly black display case. Four large wall mirrors reflect a swag light and make the space look and feel bigger. A white desk and two round white leather chairs on wheels provide plenty of work space and a comfortable sitting area for staff meetings.
Both rooms have windows treated with white energy efficient cellular blinds for privacy and to ward off cold air in the winter.
And because Shawn and Allison did most of the labor themselves — including painting, light installation and furniture assembly — they were able to achieve the high-end look they were after without going over budget.
In the end, it all equaled two fabulous room makeovers for two hard-working professionals who can’t wait to get to work each morning. The good thing is, they don’t have to.
by Marcia Weidner-Sutphen | photos by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
