Guest Picks: Retro Charm for a Home Office
http://decor-ideas.org 02/11/2014 03:23 Decor Ideas
I can’t help it; I love vintage, especially for the office. Whether they’re midcentury modern or much older pieces, I like my workspace to be filled with ideas and tools from yesteryear — or at least inspired by yesteryear. If work needs to be done, whether on the computer or with paper and pen, why not surround yourself with some charming furniture and accessories? — Claudia from Mockingbird Hill Cottage
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Vintage Wood Swivel Chair - $249 This swivel chair from Pottery Barn is a favorite of mine. It has the perfect blend of wood and metal, and has warmth and functionality too.
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Vintage Industrial Blue Stapler by Hippo’s Dream - $29.32 Now, this is a stapler! I love the vivd blue color. It would be a welcome addition to my desk.
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Cast Iron Tape Dispenser by Industrial Relic - $32 Solid and dependable, this vintage tape dispenser is made of cast iron. It isn't going anywhere. I love the color too.
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Slimline Phone, Green - $19.95 Be still, my heart. In this age of smart phones, I still long for a good old phone like my family used to have in the house when I was growing up. This particular Slimline is a modernized version of the original design, so you needn’t worry about it being compatible with your current needs. It comes in four colors, but this one is my personal favorite.
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Boston X-Acto Pencil Sharpener - $29.95 Just like the solid, dependable pencil sharpeners of my youth, this hand-crank version can be mounted to a desk or the wall. Ah, memories!
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Oxidized Iron Task Lamp - $79.99 This oxidized iron task lamp is simply gorgeous. Perfect for a desk, it’s a vintage touch that can’t help but add warmth to a home office.
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Vintage Rand McNally Political World Globe on Stand by Forrestina Vintage - $30 Vintage globes are pretty popular nowadays. Wouldn’t a globe like this one be a fun addition to your desk? I don’t know about you, but I am fully capable of spending hours looking at maps and atlases and globes. Plus, I just love the muted colors of this one.
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Martha Stewart Living Ingrid Desk, Rubbed Ivory - $399 This is a lovely and functional desk, with a feminine touch. It reminds me of an inherited piece or something discovered in an antiques shop. The creamy color would brighten up a work area.
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Flatiron Desk - $595 Or how about this for an industrial look? With a large work surface, it provides plenty of room to spread out papers and everything else you might need for your work project.
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Filofax Malden Personal Organizer - $99 I suppose with all the technological advances in planners (on phones and computes), a Filofax could be considered retro. So be it. I have a much-loved Filofax that I absolutely rely on every day. It sits on my desk, and I constantly scrawl dates and appointments and notes in it. For me writing something down with a pen or pencil is much more effective than entering it via a computer. That being said, look at this gorgeous Malden organizer! If I didn’t already have my own Filofax, I would snapp this up.
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Retro Pen and Stylus - $6 Don’t you love the color combinations of these retro-inspired pens? Color makes me happy. And these pens have a dual function: One end works on paper; the other works on an iPad. Neat!
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PE Collection Paper Tray - $24 This paper tray is inspired by the wire paper trays of times past. I happen to have a vintage one on my desk. There’s just something about it that makes me smile.
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Jadeite Desk Set - $40 Oh, my! I love jadeite, and this desk set would be such a beautiful addition to any desk.
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Knock Knock Sticky Notes - $4 Though not necessarily retro, these are still a great splash of color for a desk. The standard sticky notes we see everywhere are fine, but aren’t these more fun? I think I might be more apt to heed a reminder if it were written on one of these.
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Scotty Dog Giant Eraser by Jonathan Adler - $9.95 Could there be a cuter eraser than this one by Jonathan Adler? I love the color and the whimsical Scotty dog design.
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To Do Notepad by Skel Design - $6 I make lists all the time. There are all sorts of wonderful notepad designs in this designer’s Etsy shop.
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Bliss Bouquet in Teal Fabric Mouse Pad by Gilmore Creations - $10 Do you need a new mouse pad? This one inspired by vintage fabric would add a bright, happy touch to your space. It reminds me of vintage bark cloth, which is a favorite of mine.
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Room for the Cube Desk Organizer - $19.99 This brings back memories! This Rubik’s cube pencil holder — which is magnetized to boot — is a nice, bright pop of color. Alas, I could never find the secret to solving the Rubik’s cube.
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Woven Wire Trash Can - $29 I love this wire wastebasket. It’s right out of a period movie about, let’s say, a newspaper office. Can’t you just picture a writer wadding up a piece of paper and tossing it in here?
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Paper Clip Letter Holder - $12 We all need holders for bills and letters. I have one on my desk. This large paper clip letter holder makes a statement and does the job.
Next: 7 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work Better for You
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