Cupcakes and Cashmere

Office Etiquette

January 4th, 2011

I love the idea of embracing a new year.  It’s a clean slate; with lots of opportunities ahead and a time to reflect on things that need improving.  I decided to finally tackle the general lack of order in my life.  I don’t think there’s a word that describes the level of disorganization that I exhibit, so I hired professionals.  Enter: heather|brookes interior organization.   They helped me with my two biggest problem areas (closet post is coming soon!) and implemented systems that are aesthetically pleasing and simple to maintain.



I used to have old magazines stacked everywhere.  Now I keep this rack filled only with current issues.

My desktop file was updated with all white folders for a clean, streamlined look.  It contains all the general categories that are now in my (new!) file cabinet, so when I don’t have time to truly organize, I just throw things into their corresponding category.

My master file cabinet contains all of the main categories (in fun, color-coordinated shades), which are then broken down into specific sections.

My desk drawer used to hold important things like gum wrappers and old receipts.  Now I have lucite dividers that actually ensure that each item has its own place!

I now keep things like stationery and photographs in boxes so they’re easy to access, but not spilling out of my desk drawers.

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  • http://www.prettydaffodils.blogspot.com yv

    your photos are the best

  • http://www.sweetwhimsyblog.wordpress.com Miranda

    new year, new office!! I can feel the creativity blooming!

  • http://monichika2.wordpress.com Monica

    There is nothing better than an stylish and organized office to get inspiration to blog!!! Looks so fabulous and it gave me many ideas on how I i can organized everything and make it stylish!
    ~M
    Classy & Fabulous
    http://monichika2.wordpress.com

  • Jasmin

    okay I need to learn from this as well

    http://unefilleunreve.blogspot.com/

  • http://myfirstwinter.blogspot.com Dana

    Love the magazine rack! I have the same one in green and it is ESSENTIAL to keeping my desk neat.

  • http://cheapgirlchicworld.blogspot.com Hayley

    Heaven knows I need to do the same thing! Thanks for sharing the great ideas and cant wait for the closet post.

  • http://beforethebabywakes.com Alexandria

    your office is fantastic looking both in style & organization!

  • http://thesixthborougher.blogspot.com Katie

    Love it! You just inspired to get that desktop file and paper tray from Paper Source! And have all those colorful and organized files!

  • http://creativeindexblog.blogspot.com/ jessica {creative index}

    your office looks great! you’ve inspired me to organize my office.. and i’m totally using the idea of color coded folders in my file cabinet!! thanks for sharing! xo

    http://www.creativeindexblog.blogspot.com

  • http://www.paint-i-t-pink.com Heather

    I’ve been admiring your blog from a far for awhile, Emily, but this post is just stunning! I’ve just started the process of searching for my first apartment, and when I do, I’ll need an office — and this makeover is very inspiring, and pleasing for someone like me (I’m a little over organized!).

    Thanks for sharing all you do! :)

  • http://www.bonjour-beautiful.blogspot.com Madeline

    There is nothing that makes me happier than a newly organized office space or closet! It looks great! I’ve always thought that getting organized is the easy part, (I even enjoy it!) but staying organized is always harder. I’m trying to keep my new years resolution and stay organized as well!

  • http://kiki-seattle.blogspot.com/ K

    What a beautiful way to get organized!

  • http://lettingthemeatcake.blogspot.com Emma

    Oh my gosh – you have the most amazingly organised office! I want, I want!

  • http://lovelyceri.blogspot.com/ Ceri

    My goodness is your office beautiful! I am loving your (what I assume is cow skin) rug. Very, very inspirational.

    Ceri
    http://lovelyceri.blogspot.com/

  • http://findingjoyinsd.blogspot.com Stacey S

    Please share where that magazine rack is from, I love it!

  • http://two-and-twenty.blogspot.com/ Michaela V

    I am in LOVE with your filing system! I’m suddenly inspired to better organize my own workspace :)

  • http://www.toindigo.blogspot.com Indiana

    Love the new look! I’m off to buy some boxes to store all my bits and bobs in.

    http://www.toindigo.blogspot.com

  • http://www.abitoffashion.com melissa

    I absolutely have to do the same, wow! You gave me some ideas to reorganize my office!

    http://www.abitoffashion.com

  • http://www.miyan-overseas.blogspot.com Miyan

    wow, phenomenal job! your office looks pretty amazing and to begin the new year so organized must feel so great. can’t wait for the closet post! =)

    Miyan

    http://www.miyan-overseas.blogspot.com

  • http://www.idiosyncraticregister.blogspot.com jessalynn

    looks wonderful! think i’m going to tackle this myself! can’t wait for the closet post! x

    http://www.idiosyncraticregister.blogspot.com

  • http://instinctofstyle.blogspot.com/ Pauline

    Oh my gosh I love this post! I love organisation….and that room! LOVE it!

    I so cannot wait for the closet post!!!

    http://instinctofstyle.blogspot.com/

  • http://beehonthelook.blogspot.com Kaye Beeh

    what a great system.

  • http://www.simplelovely.blogspot.com joslyn

    oh this is genius…i am dying over your filing cabinet!

    happy new year lady!
    xoxo

  • http://rennea.blogspot.com Rennea

    Great! I need that mag. holder and drawer organizer!!

  • R.L.

    I know you get this all the time, but I LOVED this organizational post! Keep ‘em coming and I can’t wait for the closet post. Your office is just to die for, even down to the last detail :)

  • http://www.ilovemylemonadelife.blogspot.com Debbie Baker Burns

    January is “getting organized month” for me, too, so it was helpful to see your home office. One of my goals is to make myself an attractive home office out of my dining room and seeing examples like this helps a lot. Thanks for the lovely photos. I get a lot of inspiration out of your blog!

  • http://amy@amyvermillion.com/theblog Amy Vermillion

    I love your office! And always wish I was more organized. Happy New Year!

  • http://twentyoneoheight.blogspot.com Kathleen

    organization porn! I love it…

  • http://petitemom.blogspot.com Petite Mom

    Your office looks great! I’m living in disorganization hell right now and this is so inspiring. Where did you get your lucite trays, magazine organizer, and desktop file? I want them!

  • Molly C

    My heart just witter-battered with pure joy. Adore this lovely room… thank you for sharing!

  • http://hemenwaystreet.blogspot.com/ Sarah

    Fabulous post! I’m inspired to start organizing my desk. I can’t wait for the closet post – I need all the inspiration I can get before I start to tackle my own!

    http://hemenwaystreet.blogspot.com/

  • http://linkalinks.blogspot.com/ Alinka Johnson

    Very inspiring! I am an organizing freak so I can truly appreciate this! Love it

  • http://sierralund.com sierra

    Great tips on organization!
    sierralund.com

  • http://villedela.blogspot.com Villedela

    This is totally inspirational… makes me want to get my life together asap for 2011.

  • http://cupcakesandkardashians.tumblr.com Rei

    I’m in LOVE with your office!! I’m so inspired to go re-do/organize mine =)

    Thanks!

  • Alexandra

    Where is the magazine rack from my roommate is in desperate need of that very same thing!

  • http://myatypicalmantality.blogspot.com/ jessie rubin

    wow wish I could be that organized! (:

    http://myatypicalmantality.blogspot.com/

  • http://cinzee.wordpress.com Cindy

    omg, those organization skills are fab! if only i could be even just half as organized. I esp love the magazine rack and rainbow colored folders:D

    Cinz
    http://cinzee.wordpress.com

  • http://www.stephanieandsuch.blogspot.com Stephanie J

    You seriously are PERFECT!!!

    http://www.stephanieandsuch.blogspot.com

  • http://www.flyycoast2coast.wordpress.com L.Camille

    Gorgeeee!! I love the color-coordinated filing and the cowhide on the floor! I was DTLA the other day and spotted one that I can’t wait to get. Looks great. Stay FLYY! Live FLYY.
    http://www.flyycoast2coast.wordpress.com
    L.Camille

  • http://alongtheshorestyle.blogspot.com Becca

    This all looks amazing! THis is something I really need to look into doing as well, I am eternally disorganized.

  • http://www.iheartkiwi.blogspot.com iheartkiwi

    This post speaks directly to my type A, list loving heart.

    I am a sucker for organizing and color coding things… It looks amazing!

  • http://www.laurenspurebliss.blogspot.com Lauren

    this looks amazing! I just reorganized, but I am far from organized comparatively! Great Job!

  • http://rufflesandsequins.blogspot.com Tasia

    Everything is so organized and properly coded! It makes me want to organize my desk too!!!

  • Melissa

    Brava! Very nice!

  • http://www.brebeauty.com/ http://www.brebeauty.com/

    Your office looks absolutely incredible! It’s definitely inspiring to see such an organized, clean space.

  • http://kpfusion.blogspot.com kimmiepooh

    This came at the right time for me! I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to get my home organized and this really helped! The folder idea, though something small, will really work, especialyl if it’s done in fun colors.

    Nice!

    kim
    http://kpfusion.blogspot.com

  • http://www.thesydneygirl.com the sydney girl

    VERY inspiring! x

  • http://beagleandbear.blogspot.com/ Kelly

    Wow! I love the overall look of your office and I love your file folder system!! Thanks for this inspiration : )

  • http://www.DessertDarling.com Dessert Darling

    Holy Coordination! I’m inspired by your rainbow filing system!!!