Open admission: my office is still entirely packed in boxes one and a half months post-move. My old shelving system wouldn’t fit up the stairs at the new house, so I had to order something new. Well that of course fell through, so now I’m on the hunt for something else. I’ve been making due with the basics, like this pen cup and desk lamp from Grovemade. Both pieces are beautifully made and will be residents of my desk for years to come. You might remember Grovemade’s insanely awesome wooden iPad sleeves that we’ve shared in the past, and their entire shop is rife with goods to make the most mundane of work tasks better.
Sidenote: Those walls are destined to be white in the very near future. And sitting at my desk in this room, in front of this window makes me feel a little like Carrie Bradshaw in SATC.
I look forward to Ferm Living‘s new collections just about more than any other. They’re always perfectly put together because, well, those Danes just know what they’re doing when it comes to design. The autumn/winter collection for 2014 is full of fantastic use of sparse color and lines, as well as a few crazy patterns used with restraint.
I love a solid piece of furniture that can do double (or triple!) duty in my home because I’m most definitely a re-arranger. So when Target invited me to choose an item from their revamped Room Essentials line to style three ways I was all in. More than one piece caught my eye, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this Parsons Desk and its clean lines and unmarked surface.
The entry is a busy part of my home – it’s where I drop my bag, the mail, my keys, and whatever else I happen to be carrying when I traipse indoors. For that reason I like to keep it tidy, but pretty with a vase of fresh cut flowers, an accessory or two, and done.
The office is the most obvious spot to place the Parsons Desk, but I can’t say enough about how it’s the perfect size for all I need it to hold. (I tend to get a little too cluttered when given more space than necessary.) My laptop, my planner, and some basic supplies leave me ready to work – or play online! – for hours.
This last might just be my favorite – ever thought of using a small desk as a vanity in your bedroom? Me either until this one came along into my life. I can’t tell you how much nicer it feels to sit down here and put on my face, much better than sitting on the toilet lid and leaning over the bathroom counter! Dare I say it’s a luxury even?
How would you use the Parsons Desk in your own home?
So it turns out I’m a bad blogger and missed Design Crush’s 7th birthday last Thursday – whomp whomp. But it also turns out that seven years of blogging means you’re kind of legit, and what better way to proclaim it that with an entire identity suite of paper goods from MOO.
I went all out designing letterhead, postcards that double as notecards when slipped into an envelope, business cards and mini cards, and mailing labels. I pulled in elements from Design Crush’s site design like the diagonal stripes, dotted line, arrow, and signature green to keep the branding consistent. But if you’re not a designer, no biggie. MOO has plenty of templates you can use instead for an equally custom look.
I opted for MOO‘s Luxe line, paper and card stock that go above and beyond to leave a stellar first impression. Each piece of our identity suite was packaged in a box with magnetic closure for maximum protection against crushed corners and the dangers of messenger bag interiors and office drawers and shelves.
One of my favorite things to design – aside from logos – are business cards. For awhile now I’ve been wanting a super pared down version in black and white, so I decided to go for it and may never go back to anything more complicated. I love the simplicity and stark contrast!
For the mini cards I changed things up slightly by adding a touch of our signature green and reversing out the logo on black. I imagine I’ll be using these for more casual contacts, so didn’t include my name or phone number.
These sticker labels are super simple and can be used to organize things in my office or for the more obvious purpose of addressing packages going in the mail. Sufficed it to say I now feel prepared to handle any sort of communication emergency with all of my crisp and clean identity suite goods!
For as much time as I spend in my office, a good desk and chair setup is key. I’m ready to update my desk, but finding a solid chair that’s both stylish and comfortable was on top of my list of must haves. Though I get up what seems like a hundred times an hour, my lower back starts to ache by early afternoon like clockwork. I’m not even going to show you my old chair – let’s just say it was a super cheap kitchen design from a place that rhymes with SPIKEA.
It was far past time to upgrade, and I have to sing the praises of the Office Star OSP Furniture Mid-Back Executive Chair after using it for about a month now. It keeps my back supported in all the right places and has just the right amount of cushion – the main qualities I was looking for. And after my previous setup, having armrests is a total luxury! (Who knew?)
I like to keep my space as clutter-free as possible, but I must admit this is the cleanest it’s been in some time. A vase of fresh flowers, a candle (this one’s blueberry muffin!), and lip balms to feed my addiction are always on hand. The only thing missing is my planner which is never far from reach. My new chair stays true to my MCM sensibilities as well as the predominantly white accessories that dominate my office space, which I love.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Quill. As always all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush going!
Whenever I think back to my school days, I can’t help but laugh and shake my head at the classroom settings. Desks that didn’t match, busted equipment, and old chalkboards. And I attended a highly rated school, so I can only imagine what lots of others have had to deal with. It wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school when a large-scale renovation took place (think classes in trailers) that I started to appreciate my surroundings considerably more. Why was there such a lack of color, pattern, and design? If you’re wondering how my dream classroom might look, well, here it is!
One thing students and teachers shouldn’t have to worry about is access to great technology, Bing in the Classroom is an initiative to help bring just this to schools. When they work with Bing in the Classroom, schools receive access to ad-free, safe, private searches by Bing, digital literacy lesson plans, and opportunities to earn free Surface tablets for their classrooms through Bing Rewards! You can show support for #adfreesearch right here.
Modern and chic or trashy cool? Oh lucite, you’re so controversial! In moderation the transparency of lucite can act as a tool to visually open up a space or add a touch of 60s vibe. Stick to clean lines and minimal color and you’re set.
esign Letters & Friends recently launched a slew of new products – everything from office supplies to kitchenwares to decor – and I can hardly wait to get my hot little hands on some of the pieces. My favorite is Office Koncept, which features stationery items with the typography of Arne Jacobson. (Squee!)
