Small Spaces: Take Mini to the Max

Both Ken and his wife, Danielle Brooks, a direct-marketing executive, work from home. He gets the downstairs, while Danielle has an office on the second floor, next to the master bedroom and bath. "It's not an enforced thing," he says. "With a duplex, there's a lot of privacy without a closed door."

Ken recommends finding multiple uses for as many pieces as possible. The Rakks shelving system above features an Ikea foldout desk.