These Photos Make Me Want To.....

Work! (I know- can you believe it?) Yes, sometimes work can be a joy, while at other times it can be pure drudgery. This is exactly why you should create a work environment that is comfortable, functional, and aesthetically satisfying. After all, don't you want to be inspired to write the next Pulitzer Prize winning book or become the next Billy Baldwin? And how are you supposed to do this while sitting at a faux-woodgrain laminate desk in a drably colored room? Depressing!

The great thing about decorating offices is that you can do it on a restricted budget. OK, so you're stuck with that horror of a laminate desk. No problem- drape it with an inexpensive yet chic fabric such as a solid-colored linen and trim it with decorative tape. How about using a bamboo ballroom chair as your desk chair? Sometimes you can buy used ones from party supply companies. Add a little cushion to the seat and voila- you've just added a little glam to your office. Bookcases, especially for you designers, are critical for organization. I know most of us would give our right arm for some Billy Baldwin/Cole Porter brass bookcases. Until your ship comes in, IKEA makes some decent ones that can be painted or covered in wallpaper. And make sure to paint (or paper if you choose) your walls in a color that makes you happy.

So, with a little creativity and ingenuity, you too can create an office that will have you beaming with pride, much like Ms. Draper below!



Images above: 1) Office in the home of Temple St.Clair Carr, as seen in Elle Decor So Chic, photographer Eric Piasecki
2) Sitting room of the late designer Roger Banks-Pye
3) A Nina Campbell designed study
4) A desk vignette of a room designed by Keith Irvine