Requesting help for remote server access

Hello Folks,
Firstly I hope I am placing this question in the appropriate section, my apologies of its not, but here it goes.
I am building a network for a business and am stuck with ideas how to proceed.

At the office I have installed Windows Server (Server 2012 R2 Essentials) which hosts the user profiles from all the users. The profiles "roam" when a user log off a computer and when logs onto another in the office, given they are all on the same domain they have access to all their files and your local profile wherever users log in. All the mapped drives and personal folders follow the user. Simple enough.

Now; the request is to have a user to able to access their files and such from home. As a temporary solution I have setup the NAS to allow the user to read/write their files through a web based application. Annoying 2 step process where user has to "download" the file from the server and then "upload". In an effect it is the exact same as running an FTP, but in a graphical user interface to make it easier for the user. Obviously they are not too happy with this solution as there is a two-step process as one cannot "mount" (map) the network drives from a home computer.

So I am looking for the best solution to be able to access the local resources (hosted on the server at the office) from a remote location.

1) Remote Desktop to the windows server is useless because this just loads an instance on the server itself and has no access to local resources such as word, etc. The server itself really only hosts the databases and centralizes all the documents.
2) A computer from a remote location cannot connect to the domain unless (to the best of my knowledge) goes through a VPN. So say hypothetically I set up a VPN at the office. I have a user connect to that VPN from their remote location through a personal windows based computer. The challenge that comes up is when one connects to the VPN on windows; all local connections want to connect through the VPN not just Windows Explorer for the files on the file server. (ie. Open network places, then connect to \\192.168.0.*** ) which this will connect to the files, but now windows wants to force all connections through the VPN (ie. Internet, Outlook, etc) so now the user is tying down all of the network resources (and bandwidth) of the office connection for the users personal connections which have nothing to do with just the files that need to be read.

Anyone have suggestions on what may be the best way to resolve this issue?
Thanks!