Sara Mulcahy, the mumpreneur behind www.babyonholiday.com.au, talked to Mia Freedman, Alex Brooks and Angela Mollard about setting up a successful home office. The post will continue tomorrow with Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict & more. 

Working from home is the dream of many an office-bound employee.  But it has its downside, too. Actually, I'm just saying that to make you feel better. Here are some reality checks from notable others who ditched the commute.



Mia Freedman, publisher, www.mamamia.com.au and ivillage.com.au

How long have you had a home office?
I worked from home for three years after I left mainstream media and started Mamamia.  I still work here sometimes on weekends or if I've picked up the kids from school.

What is the view from your desk?
I tried so many different places during those first couple of years. On my bed, with my laptop propped up on pillows. On the couch. At my eldest son's desk while he was at school. I eventually made a little space in the loungeroom behind the couches. I have a lovely view into the garden.

What's the biggest distraction?
The internet. Which is tricky when that's where you work. It's like having a million different interesting, tempting and exciting people streaming past your desk all day long.

What could you not function without?
I'm going to stick to inanimate objects because obviously the answer to that otherwise is my family, The End. My iphone, Madura tea, my laptop. I'm viscerally connected to all three.

What would improve your space the most?
Fresh flowers, a wife and a WORKING BLOODY PRINTER.



Alex Brooks, executive editor, www.kidspot.com.au, www.birth.com.au, www.justbaustralia.com.au

Are you sitting comfortably?
My partner bought me a beautiful Aeron office chair by Herman Miller for my 40th birthday. It's the best thing ever. No more back pain! I only have to look at that chair and I feel comfortable. It's like the Jason recliner for work-at-home types.

How 'office-proud' are you?
Er, not at all. My desk is littered with Diet Coke cans and the plastic lids from mineral water bottles.

Do you miss conversation?
No reason to. I talk on Skype all day. There's no shortage of people contact.

What three things could you not function without?
Diet Coke. Pinterest. My managing editor, Ella.

What's on your wishlist?
Better lighting and a footrest.



Angela Mollard, writer and columnist, @angelamollard

Describe your work space:
A lovely light-filled, vaulted ceilinged room we built on the top of our house.

How neat is your space?
*Cough* I veer wildly depending on deadlines. For one week a year it looks like a perfect white temple to Scandinavian loveliness, with little ceramic birds floating from a beam. The other 51 weeks it looks like a pile of arts students have moved in with papers everywhere, half drunk cups of tea and files spewing out of folders.

How do you stay focused?
Working from home requires enormous discipline so I NEVER go and lie down. Occasionally, I'll take a sandwich into the garden for 10 minutes. And I nip out for a takeaway coffee every day.

What would improve your space?
A new chair. The stuffing is coming out of it but office chairs are universally ugly. Seriously, it is the most overlooked design item. I'd like an orange one that looks gorgeous and is ergonomically sound.

What inspires you?
A globe to the left of where I sit. I used to travel the world covering news and I miss it terribly. The globe reminds me of how grateful I am I chose the divine lunacy of journalism over law.

Watch out for more insights tomorrow from Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict & others.