Working the Closet

There are so few design mags these days, I've even taken to reading the country-style ones (not usually my look). While flipping through the March Country Home, I came across this absolutely darling "closet office." I'm smitten! Robin's egg blue, peonies, and a dab of a chandelier make an adorable office space. And made me wonder:  what other closet inspiration is out there? Answer:  plenty!

Birds do it, bees do it, even big time designers do it! Here's Charlotte Moss, turning a 

little closet into BIG time style. This space is like working in Morocco - without that brutal 

10-hour commute on your private jet.

A closet make-over is easy - at least according to Lowe's, where the motto is "You Can Do It. We Can Help." Here, the Lowe's model home office. I think a key feature to notice here (and in all good design) is LIGHT. If you go to all the trouble to renovate and decorate a former "dark spot" in your home - and then fail to light it properly, it will remain just as unused as before. You must fill it with light if you expect to use it.

The key to all of these looks is color:  lots of it, and in generally light shades. That's because - you 

guessed it - nobody wants to work in a dark hole! Notice that the owner slipped

in a parsons desk. Quality furnishings such as the bamboo chair ensure this space doesn't feel like 

an afterthought. 

Here's a charming example of incorporating former storage space seamlessly into a room. Removing 

doors and adding curtains makes it feel like a recess or niche, not former storage. The "yellow neutral"

palette is sophisticated and soothing at the same time (side note:  it would look even better without

that 70s era bedding beside it!).

This room combines a sophisticated mix of color and space. The swiveling chair turns a small corner into 

a full office:  one half desk, one half meeting table. This would be a marvelous set-up in a multi-function

guest room. And don't miss that disco ball!

Ready to try this at home? Here are some great - and affordable - design resources. 

Furniture, rug, pendant lamp, laquer and stone desk sets, all West Elm. Pencil cups, flower

file folders, See Jane Work. Rainbow paper boxes, message board, The Container Store.

Image Sources:  robin's egg office, Charlotte Moss office via fab blog Cote de Texas, Lowe's office, Parson's office, Yellow bedroom office, Pink and grey office.

The Economic Apartment

Economizing is all we hear about these days: money, space, or both. Ugh. Time for some can-do attitude! My favorite tip this week is for folks learning to live large in a studio apartment. No - don't click away. It CAN be done. Behold...

Here are a few marvelous "little" spaces that are big on style. First, Ron Marvin's studio apartment is breathtakingly simple. Choosing three colors, black and white with yellow accents, prevents visual clutter. The acrylic coffee table, which would normally block a large section of the floor, blends into the rug. Another hint: don't avoid pattern! In the same palette as the rest of the room, it keeps the eye moving. For another great example of a black and white studio apartment, click here.

This picture from gorgeous blog, La Dolce Vita.

Another beautiful studio apartment, courtesy of the late, great, Domino Magazine. Notice how white is a continuing theme. Why? It's just like you learned in your first visit to the dressing room: white makes things look bigger! And a high gloss white refracts light around a space. Another plus? Renters who choose white walls need not repaint. This apartment, like the one above, takes full advantage of natural light and a simple color scheme. And notice how mobile all the smaller pieces of furniture are. If you feel a little claustrophobic, pack 'em away!

Now, as anyone who has lived in a studio knows, the biggest question is: what do I do with the bed? Well, there's the traditional screen (made more interesting here with pattern). Don't be discouraged if you find only blah screens - decoupage my friends! Find a gorgeous paper and glue your way to a more stylish room. For how-to, click here.

Next up, the bookshelf conceal. This is my favorite, for a variety of reasons. 1) It doesn't look like you're trying to hide a bed somewhere. 2) It doesn't cut off light from the "bedroom" section of the apartment. 3) It has so many decorative possibilities!! Aside from placing eye-catching items on the bookcase, you can add a curtain for increased privacy when visitors come. And, you can treat the space a bit like a wall - stack books artfully, or hang pictures or mirrors. (For great hooks that you can attach to a bookcase without damage, I recommend Command hooks.) Can you tell there's a bedroom back there? Believe it!

Third and final option: give up and sleep on a daybed or divan. This is for hard-core fashionistas only! Not recommended if you have back troubles. But this look will convince your guests that the closet door really is a passageway to an entirely different room.

Now for the how-to. Here are my top four (inexpensive) suggestions for studio transformation, based on the designs above.

1) The Screen. These options from Overstock.com are $188, and come in a variety of great colors. My personal favorite is the Hermes orange! At five panels, they can cover a sizable space and are sturdy enough to hang pictures on, if you're so inclined.

2) The Daybed. This example from West Elm, called "overlapping squares," has been displayed in a number of magazines recently. Available in white and brown.

3) Bookshelves. I am such a fan of these Expedit bookcases from IKEA. I've had a set in white for years, and they've survived four moves and numerous other destructive attempts. They still look great - and just as good as models four or five times their cost. The best part? This wall-size unit is only $199. My favorite option, however, is the add-on desk. It's sleek and modern, and in a tight space? It's a desk AND a dining room table. All yours for only $50.

Naturally, storage is always a big problem in little spaces, so add some of these shelf inserts for $20. They look good from both sides, they're perfect in a room divider, and the little door opens to reveal whatever you've hidden. Even BETTER? Upgrade the hardware with some gorgeous knobs from Anthropologie, priced between $8 and $14. Remember: you have no problem buying cheap. You just don't want it to LOOK that way!

4) Acrylic. Pair some Philip Starke chairs with the desk/table above, and live spaciously ever after. Two for $258.99 at Overstock.com. For nesting tables that you can easily move around a space, try these from Target: three for $179.

Picture 1, La Dolce Vita. Pic 2 -3, Flickr.com. Pic 4, Elle Decor. Pic 5, Flickr.com. Pic 6, Overstock.com. Pic 7, West Elm. Pic 8 -9, Ikea. Pic 10, Overstock.com. Pic 11, Target.com.

Writing Papers: It's a Pleasure

Stylecourt is one of my favorite blog reads (and a fellow Southerner!) and this week I was so excited to see stationers Gadabout Papers featured. Beautiful, personalized papers are such an encouragement to writing, and I would pepper my friends with notes if I owned a set of these (coming soon - look out friends!). The monogram placement is just so clever. Be sure to visit the website to see more of Hanna Brooks Nation's designs.

All images, www.gadaboutpaper.blogspot.com.

Dempsey and Carroll

After being so disappointed in the (literally) overnight disappearance of Mrs. John L. Strong, I was delighted to hear from Jonathan Arnold, the General Manager of Dempsey and Carroll stationers. Jonathan wrote to let me know that D&C is starting a special program to duplicate your personal Mrs. John L. Strong stationary. And, for a limited time, they're offering it at a significantly reduced cost. Send them your existing engraving plates, or a sample of your stationary, and D&C will work to duplicate your typestyle, ink color, stock thickness, etc. If you don't live in NY to drop by in person, mail your plates or samples to 1049 Lexington Avenue, NYC 10021. So Happy Monday - your favorite stationary may not be gone for good!

A few examples.

Redesign: The Green and White Chinoiserie Desk

I have a quaint little fold-top desk that has been with me since childhood. A writer must have a desk, however small, and this one has followed me like a devoted little dog through a series of apartments and houses, frequently squeezed into awkward corners, dragged up stairs, or stuffed in the back of my SUV. My faithful desk needs a face lift, and I've decided to do it in green and white chinoiserie. 

It may look average now - but wait till we're through!

THE PROJECT

1. Replace the handles and knob with brushed brass bamboo hardware.

2. Decoupage the interior of the desktop in a green and white trellis paper.

3. Paint the foot and crown of the desk in a green matching the paper.

4. Fill it with beautiful things!

THE PIECES

A few favorite items I'd like to use in my re-design (clockwise):  

1. Thomas Paul crysanthymum pillow. 

2. Iomoi personalized paperweight. 

3. Brushed brass faux bamboo hardware. 

4. and 6. Iomoi pencils. 

5. Jasper Conran for Wedgwood china (for paper clips and odds and ends). 

6. Lucite green and white chinoiserie tray, by Iomoi. 

A Jonathan Adler chippendale style faux bamboo chair, accented with a Thomas Paul pillow. While I'm concentrating on renovating the desk right now, a new coordinating chair is in the future. I may get a green version instead of white - Adler makes both!

A bamboo trellis pattern wallpaper I'm planning to order for the interior decoupage. I'd love to do Wearstler's Imperial Trellis (see below), but it's a bit pricy for an amateur project. I need an affordable paper available in less than a single roll, in a green and white trellis pattern. Do you have a great suggestion? Send it on!!!

THE RESULTS...  stay tuned! 

In the meantime, here's a little of my inspiration. ANY mention of chinoiserie can't overlook the stunning blog Chinoiserie Chic, the authority for this subject in the blogosphere. Check out Beth's recent post on the Blanc de Chine Office, as well as a detailed how-to on chinoiserie decoupage, with stunning results like this:
Maybe I should do filing cabinets next?

And while we're at it, here's an example of Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis used in decoupage and the green Jonathan Adler chair. I'd already thought up this scheme when I stumbled on the picture, and it was nice to see how well it could come off. Here's hoping for a happy ending!

Movie Credits:  All "pieces" as listed above.  File Cabinet Photo, originally Domino via StyleCourt, via Chinoiserie Chic. Trellis Decoupage Cabinet Photo, an unknown, online find. If this is your picture, please email me so that I may give credit where credit is due!

Technology Goes Gorgeous

Tory Burch in her NY office.

I remember my first computer, an unwieldy, unappealing chunk of black plastic produced by Dell Corp and accompanied by the greatest technological wonder known to modern mankind:  a WORKING PHONE NUMBER THAT DIRECTLY CALLED A HUMAN FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT. In under a minute. I know. I tried it.  

These days, such an incident would be relegated to the department of minor miracles, but at least one thing has improved: looks. The modern designing woman need not suffer hours awaiting technical support - oh, she'll wait, but she'll have something lovely to look at while she does it. Below, a few ideas for improving your view. 

Thomas Paul calendar mouse pads.

A personalized paperweight at Red Stamp.

An office by Kelly Wearstler. Orderly, but not TOO orderly shelf stacks and a variety of textures keep the look interesting. Most importantly, there's plenty of light - four light fixtures in this view alone.

Vivienne Tam laptop for HP (there's a matching clutch too).

Anna Griffin file folders from Elisabeth's Embellishments.

Kate Spade pencil case.

A Celerie Kimble office. I like this space because it just happens to have a desk tucked in the corner - the room can be used for so many different things at the same time. And the layers of cool color are wonderful. 

Images/Sources:  Tory Burch image, businessoffashion.com. Mouse pads and paper weight, redstamp.com. Wearstler office image, studioannetta.com. Vivienne Tam laptop, hp.com. File folders, elizabethsembellishments.com. Kate Spade pencil case, katespade.com. Celerie Kemble image, Kemble Interiors via lovely blog M.A. Belle. 

Feminine Revolution

Finally. We had the feminist revolution and now we can enjoy the feminine revolution! No more blah-nilla folders. No more ugly yellow stickies. No more dippy plastic pencil cups. Woman can be powerful AND pretty. As Maggie sings in Funny Face: "banish the black... and bury the beige! From now on girls... Think Pink!" And any other colors or patterns, I might add. All items below from the terrific website, See Jane Work.

One of my favorite finds: this "framed" chalkboard would make a great reminder board at work.

I also fell in love with these desk trays by Thomas Paul - adorable, and only $8!

All images, seejanework.com.