Tips for Chic Transformations: Office Storage

I look at how people organize their homes and sometimes I just give a deep sigh of boredom.  Aren’t you tired of the gray steel file cabinets, the black or white plastic trays, the humdrum brown storage boxes?  I know you may not have a choice in an office workspace but to submit to the corporate drabs, but that doesn’t mean your home office storage should be the same. It's time for a transformation!

I picked out the typical storage choices one sees all over the place and found some fabulous replacements. Let me know if you agree too! As seen above, instead of the usual leather and wood desk accessories, I found this bold red and blue geometric design in acrylic with an exotic Indian motif from Horchow.  Every office needs a file cabinet, but do they have to be plain Jane?! Here's a champagne diamond-patterned file cabinet also from Horchow.

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Tangerine Dreams

(Blenko glass, courtesy of The End of History)When I was little, I dreamed in tangerine – maybe the deep orange painted wall across my bed had something to do with it but now finally the world has caught up!  Pantone has declared Tangerine Tango the color for the year 2012 and not a moment too soon! Its power may just block out a little of the world’s woes.  Tangerine Tango is a deep reddish orange, full of pop and vibrancy, a little like that child in all of us. Below are a few samples of tangerine furnishings.

(Geo Bedding from Z Gallerie)

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All that Glitters

It’s that time of the season to create a holiday wonderland in the home.  Here are a few suggestions to brighten up your rooms and your table. 

In our first décor setting, we have what I called the Golden Door – the entrance to a fabulous, luxe-filled ambiance.  Gracing our holiday table is the Gold Nest runner and placemats from Z Gallerie.  The dinnerware is the very chic black and gold Metropolitan set, also from Z Gallerie.  Instead of the usual evergreens, we have the aromatic Golden Clove tree from Horchow, coming in a variety of heights.  For pure luxury, we have the Snow Lynx pillow (faux, of course) and the Sparkle pillow, both from West Elm.

For our second décor setting, the Silver Peacock, we turn to the blues and silvers of the winter landscape.  To provide instant color and drama to the room, we used several branches of the Ice Spray – made of rough cut crystals - and Peacock feathers from Z Gallerie.  All the branches are held in the elegantly curvaceous porcelain Artura Vase from Crate and Barrel.

For our table setting, we have the lacy bowl, the Aqua Nest, designed by Heather Palmer and available from Artful Home.  To match the silver décor, we offer the hammered Savoy pitcher and shaker from Crate and Barrel.  Candlelight is provided in the iridescent Coastal Mosaic hurricane lamps from Pier 1 Imports.  And for that something unusual, we have the Aqua Finial from Kirklands, a ceramic sculpture for your holiday table. 

Interested in learning more about decorating and accessories?  Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.