Does the suit define the man (or woman)?

Some home offices reflect what their owners do, and when you look at Julie Fountain’s home office/studio with its colorful walls and containers overflowing with supplies, it’s clear she runs a creative, artistic business. As a lampworker and the owner of Lush Lampwork, Julie melts glass to make stunning beads and buttons. Checking out the designs on her Web site is like being a kid in a glass bead candy store.

For three years she worked in her covered porch but after she outgrew it, she hired a builder to convert her garage into a studio. Her 9′ x 13′ studio has a partition wall almost 5′ back from the overhead door, which leaves her with room for a general storage area.

Julie encourages visitors — students and past students come back to rent the equipment and work on their own projects — to bypass her house and come through the side gate, which brings them into a little graveled yard area. The studio door and window also open into the yard.

Across from her desk is a long work counter with a wavy mirror above it, and plenty of room below it to store equipment. The chrome stools with adjustable seats tuck out of the way when not being used.

Along with making jewelry and teaching lampworking to beginner and intermediate students, Julie travels to other studios to teach larger groups. That’s a longer commute than the few steps from her back door to her studio.