By MATT PATNEAUDE

Does your bedroom double as an office? Maybe your kitchen has become an art studio or your bathroom a darkroom.

ActivSpace, set to open its third North Seattle location in July, was designed with these type of people in mind. Private space can be rented by artists, hobbyists, small business owners, or anyone else needing a little extra room to pursue their passion.

The Lake City ActivSpace will have 190 units in a four story building. These units vary between 100 and 400 square feet with 10-foot ceilings. Spaces "provide people with a privacy and retreat," said co-owner Jude Siddall.

Tenants have their own door, window, power, heat, lights, water, and telephone access. Entry is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The units are only for commercial use, no live-ins are permitted.

Siddall said that ActivSpace allows people to reclaim their homes by getting hobbies and business out of the house. As housing in our area becomes denser, many residents don't have room to work on projects. "It gives people space to follow their bliss," she said.

While most commercial leases are for a minimum of three years, ActivSpace tenants can sign a six-month lease. Siddall said that this allows small business owners and others to test the waters before making a huge commitment.

Siddall and her husband, Gary Romain, put their backgrounds together in coming up with the idea for ActivSpace. Siddall was a professional dancer while Romain was in the real estate business.

Six years ago, the couple tore down their house in Fremont to construct the first ActivSpace. About a year ago, the second ActivSpace opened in Ballard. Both the Fremont and Ballard locations have 100 percent occupancy with waiting lists.

The tenants at ActivSpace range in age from 18 to 85 and include all types of artists, writers, musicians, and small business owners. One person has even used their space as a personal gym.

People who have been working in isolation become part of a community when they join ActivSpace, according to Siddall. The buildings provide a meeting place where cross-fertilization can occur.

If your kitchen table is overrun with artwork or your writing is plagued with constant interruptions, you may want to consider ActivSpace. "It's a very personal, private area for the creative process," said Siddall.

The Lake City ActivSpace is located at 10015 Lake City Way NE.