Cupcakes and Cashmere

Work in Progress

August 31st, 2010

After I started working from home, I realized that I needed to transform my desk into a fully functioning office space.  I made drastic improvements last year (see my original desk here), but since the area is so small, I needed to relocate any unnecessary items (namely my vintage globe and phone).   Here are the simple steps I took to ensure that my work space is clean, pretty and most importantly, inspiring.

{These file folders are aesthetically pleasing and functional}

{I now have room for current magazines, a paper weight and my notepad}

{For a fun, rustic touch I made bows out of raffia}

{I treat myself to bright flowers and keep plenty of pictures nearby}

{I spray painted an old chalkboard white and added ribbon to my lamp}

{There’s something so nostalgic about classic, #2 pencils}

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  • http://thesidewalkismyrunway.blogspot.com Emma

    Lovely desk! I always find my desk too cluttered to get any work done there but yours seems very functional.

    Emma
    TheSidewalkIsMyRunway

  • http://myidiseed.blogspot.com MY I.D. IS E.E.D.

    These pictures make me wanna go reorganize my workspace so I can make my homework there instead of making it on my bed. Such an inspiring post!!

  • http://heyhilarywrites.blogspot.com Hilary

    i agree about the #2 pencils. I feel like I never use them anymore since I’m not in school. I love all the white with the pop of pink flowers.
    xoxo

  • http://sugarpatch.blogspot.com/ Katie

    Love the chalkboard and paper weight! :)

  • Grace Escudero – The Afeminada

    I love your office space! Ever since a couple of years ago, I have had mine all planned out. I want a big oak desk with 1 drawer in the middle like yours. I want to have one of those green lamps like from the old detective movies. I want globes all over the place and shelves and shelves full of books.

    http://www.theafeminada.blogspot.com

  • http://www.raindropsofsapphire.com Lorna

    I don’t have a desk so I normally work on my stairs lol! It can be quite comfortable :) Your desk looks beautiful though!!

    http://www.raindropsofsapphire.com

  • http://www.lemondroplove.com Lemon Drop Love

    This is a great post. I am actually redoing my work space at home becuase it is a mess and I need it to be more inspiring. I love the file holder. I am going to go to container store this weekend to check them out. Your space it cute and fun. I love it. Having a nice workspace is so important.

    xo Jen

  • http://itsawordcloset.blogspot.com Lucy

    I absolutely love what you’ve done with a space that you say is so small! It looks so homey, due to the subtle details you’ve added. I wish I had such a tidy work space!

    itsawordcloset.blogspot.com

  • http://www.amandablaira-to-b.blogspot.com amanda blair

    This is a beautiful office space! I would feel very inspired to work here every day. Where did you get those file folders?

  • http://www.thefashionscream.blogspot.com LM

    Wow! with the environment is easier to work. I think my desk needs a little change. A big hug! We follow you :)

  • Melanie

    Love the chalk board

    XOXO,

    http://outfitidentifier.com/

  • http://heart-of-light.blogspot.com Rachel (heart of light)

    Oh, I love that you got around to spray painting the chalkboard edge! It looks amazing.

  • http://www.infashionandstyle.com Christie

    love this – clean and chic!

  • http://agirlastyle.com/ A Girl, A Style

    I love what you’ve done with this – it’s so fresh and inviting!

    Miss B xx

    http://agirlastyle.com

  • http://beautyandthebudget.onsugar.com Valerie at Beauty and the Budget

    Your desk looks so neat and clean! :)

  • http://www.improveme.se/LondonLife jaqueline

    Oh.. Such a cute working desk. :)

    /jaqueline http://www.improveme.se/LondonLife

  • http://fromdenimtodessert.blogspot.com/ Chas

    You are so organized! It looks great!

    http://fromdenimtodessert.blogspot.com/

  • Yusra

    You should take pictures of your whole house like a house tour

  • http://www.aprettypennyblog.com Keira

    Thanks for the inspiration! I’ve been slowly overhauling my home office, and I can definitely use a lot of those ideas!

  • http://paleisthenotan.blogspot.com Jessica

    Very organized! Not binding and dull like usual work spaces. The name alone suggest hell. But you made it really friendly and cute!

    http://paleisthenotan.blogspot.com

  • http://www.hiddenjem.blogspot.com Julie

    Such an inspiration!!! Thanks for getting me motivated to get organized!

    Check out my up-and-coming blog:
    http://www.hiddenjem.blogspot.com

  • http://www.OnceUponAShine.com Alexis

    omg so cute!! what kind of flowers are those? loves it.

  • http://winginiteveryday.blogspot.com/ Jocelyn Stott

    Beautiful workspace and I agree about the pencils. Totally wonderful.

  • http://bellabeebee.blogspot.com/ Beth

    I really wish I could work from home so I could make my desk as pretty as this and sit and admire it but I guess that’s nearly impossible teaching pre-school. Oh well.

    I love the rafetta bow idea and might need to “borrow” it for the open space above my own desk.

  • http://www.wewhoshop.wordpress.com brittin

    love the light, femininity of the desk. who wouldn’t be inspired to work in that space?!
    brit
    http://www.wewhoshop.wordpress.com

  • http://www.mel-chilly.blogspot.com rafaela soares

    I loved it! haha It’s so you… xoxo

  • http://www.blushingandsweet.com Marie of Blushing and Sweet

    Love how organized and fresh looking it us! And of course the flowers add that gorgeous feminine touch :)

  • http://www.breadbutterandjam.blogspot.com jackie

    Lovely!

    I have been making over my desk, too, so as to make it “graduate school ready.” It’s a challenge to make it uncluttered and clean, yet still aesthetically pleasing and feeling like me. What a good example we have here! Looks very Emily.

  • http://dollhousediary.com/ Jaycelle

    I love love love all the little details of your new work table esp the chalkboard and the file folder!!

  • http://www.hautewhimsy.com Jen

    That file system is amazing! My boyfriend wants me to get rid of my ugly metal cabinet, so maybe this is the perfect alternative!

  • http://styleandcharm.blogspot.com/ Nikki

    Looks great, I love the changes you’ve made!

    xx
    Nikki

  • http://www.amuseaday.com Alyssa / A Muse A Day

    I agree, the file holders are great. So affordable too!

  • http://www.paraminhamae.com Le

    Just beautiful, beautiful and beautiful! It is really inspiring work place! xoxo

  • http://www.onemoretime-withfeeling.com Kristy

    Your workspace is perfect. Thanks for sharing as this gives me ideas to freshen up my space. I’m still working from an office but one day hope to be working from home as a full-time writer. I enjoy your blog.

  • http://lamouretlapaix.blogspot.com/ L’amour et la Paix

    This is so so pretty and creative. LOVE it! xo

    http://lamouretlapaix.blogspot.com/

  • http://www.kinseym.com Kinsey Michaels

    Your office space looks so cheerful and inviting Emily! I love seeing the transformation from your old brown desk (with the Dell laptop!) to what it is now. The Parsons desk has always really appealed to me too.

  • http://seeyouhere.wordpress.com Amanda

    So cute, I love the bows above your desk! I’m going to try and do something similar with mine

  • http://www.jbride.blogspot.com Jin

    what an inspiring space to work @ … I need to make some improvements in my office area

  • Cait

    Loving this new work space!! What kind of flowers are these? I love them!

  • http://lachicmenagerie.blogspot.com/ Stephanie

    wow it looks gorgeous!

    lachicmenagerie.blogspot.com

  • andrew

    there are flowers and pencils.

  • Jean

    hey! the workspace is so functional and pretty! Just wondering though, what do you do with all of your old magazines? I can’t get myself to toss them! Any suggestions?

  • Candy Elisabeth

    Okay, you’re NOT allowed to be so cute anymore.

  • http://www.heatherbrookes.org Brooke Butin

    Love this! As a professional organizer, I know how important it is to have a functional yet beautiful workspace. The Parson’s desk by West Elm is an inexpensive way to glam up a space, while the brocade file boxes from The Container Store, effortlessly dress up what would otherwise be something to try and hide – ugly files. Kudos!

  • http://novembergrey.blogspot.com/ November Grey

    Love what you’ve done. So inspiring. And for Jean regarding old magazines – I can never toss them either! I started to use them rolled up to keep my boots standing straight and perfectly molded in my closet. It’s great for the toss-away ones, the collectors you probably don’t want smelling like shoes though. :)

    PS – LOVE the file folders so much!!

    http://novembergrey.blogspot.com/

  • Kari

    It seems like nothing in your life goes untouched…everything is so stylish! Those flowers are gorgeous & I love those file folders (love The Container Store)! And I have a whiteboard but the chalkboard is cuter. Lastly, yay for the MacBook!

  • http://www.visionsthroughmyretina.blogspot.com aja

    I love buying weekly flowers for myself…sooo adorable!!

  • http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/ Cynthia

    I love the fresh, yet cozy look to your workspace. You’re such an inspiration!

    http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/

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  • http://manicuresnmudpies.blogspot.com/ Samantha

    I just repainted my desk a glossy ivory over the weekend. It was a an old boring desk with 70′s style staining that my in-laws gave us. Now it coordinates perfectly with my other furniture! Those file holders would match perfectly with it; love them!