Typical office spaces have endured ever-changing trends. Some folks spend their careers in cubicles, while others work side-by-side in shared, open-layout spaces. And yet, more than ever, many people work remotely, creating their own office space within their home — or their favorite coffee shop. If one thing holds true, it’s that every work space is unique — but perhaps few quite as much as the two you’re about to learn about.
Surrounded by a Moat
Eric Chauvin is both an esteemed painter and special effects creator for television and the big screen. His IMDb page has more than 58 credits, including “Star Trek: Voyager,” “The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones,” “Jumanji,” “The Mask,” and “Forrest Gump,” among many others.
For many years, Chauvin lived and worked in northern California’s Marin County, working at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic. But Chauvin tired of his commute and its effect on his family and their lifestyle. The family relocated to a home in the woods at the end of a private road in Bow, Washington, just minutes from the delicious diners of Edison and easy access to Interstate 5 in Skagit County.
The family home has a spacious yard where Chauvin’s children enjoyed their growing up years in a peaceful setting. And since making that move, Chauvin no longer climbs into his car to go to work, he simply walks across the yard to a building across his long driveway that’s surrounded by a moat — yes, a moat!
Many years ago, I visited Chauvin for another article featuring his work on popular television shows at the time, “Lost” and “Alias.” I teetered my way across stepping stones and thought he had a snobby coworker — which turned out to be a life-like statue of a man.
The building is comprised of a workshop downstairs for making physical pieces, such as a boat structure for “Lost,” and his past experimental airplane. Upstairs the workspace looks like a living room with computers set up with the most current specialized software, awards on the walls, a library, coffee table, kitchen, and views through the windows of the trees.
Chauvin’s work can be seen at www.chauvinart.com.
Working in a Windmill
An office above a coffee shop and within a windmill is the site of another friend’s work space. While Chauvin’s space is in a private setting not seen by the public, Mark Warren’s office is hard to miss and passed by hundreds of people a day along Lynden’s Front Street.
Warren has been a career coach since 1996 and involved in leadership training. Previously he had offices in Bellingham, teaming at Whatcom Community College and being on a church staff in a part-time capacity. When the owners of Lynden’s Fairway Center contacted him with their unusual office availability, he was intrigued. “They pursued me,” he says, “and said, ‘We think you will like it.'”
At first, Warren was hesitant to make the change, but was willing to think about it. “My clients were in Bellingham, and I thought they would be reluctant to come.” Instead, they happily make the drive and usually share the same reaction to the distinctive space: “They think it’s cool.”
Below Warren’s office is a Woods Coffee location with the smells of bakery goods and coffee drinks wafting up where his clients now wait for their appointments. Mark claims he no longer notices the delightful aromas, but many of his clients end up stopping at the coffee shop, as well.
Also just downstairs is a colorful, cheerful gift shop, Surroundings Home Gifts and Garden, owned by Warren’s wife, Christa Warren. The gift shop had already relocated from within the former Dutch Mother’s Restaurant in the downtown following a remodel before Warren moved into his current location.
Visitors to Woods think the windmill space must be accessible to coffee shop patrons, but are disappointed when they can’t access it, Warren says. He looks out through his window toward Mount Baker, consistently hears clients discussing the charming setting, and sneaks down at lunch as often as possible to enjoy lunch breaks with his wife.
Featured photo by Elisa Claassen
