It takes Tad Carpenter about two seconds to commute to work.

That’s because Carpenter, an illustrator and graphic designer who makes things like iPhone cases and children’s books for a living, works from a studio inside the River Market loft he shares with wife Jessica.

Lots of people like to escape from work, but Carpenter says he can’t get enough of it. Some days, he still can’t believe people pay him to draw stuff.

“It’s a dream,” Carpenter says of his job. “It’s what I always wanted to do.”

Jessica Carpenter is a graphic designer, too. She works outside of the home at Willoughby Design. The fact that two designers live under this one roof is apparent in the vintage movie posters, Jonathan Adler pottery and stacks of books on art and design.

Even without those touches, the home has an inspiring feel. The 1,200-square-foot corner loft’s white walls and concrete floors provide a clean backdrop for sweeping views of the downtown Kansas City skyline.

The Carpenters love the space, but Tad says that after five years, it’s time to move on.

“We just put it on the market,” he says. “We’re at that point now where we’re ready for the next step.”

The couple have already started designing their dream home. They want the open feel of a loft in a traditional neigbhorhood, like Brookside or the West Plaza. And Tad Carpenter wants a bigger studio.