A few more gorgeous pieces that are on sale:

Printer’s Letter File Hutch

A selection of lovely baskets

The Harrison Lamp

Now, if you’ll excuse me, the Wyatt Table Lamp is calling my name…

**Just so you know, this post wasn’t sponsored or requested–I just noticed the sale going on and wanted to share it with you.**

For us, chalkboards aren’t ideal, so though I got a lot of inspiration from the choices I shared with you last week, none of those calendars will be finding their way into my office.

This week, I have corkboards. I happen to adore corkboards–they’re so easy to use, and can be decorated in so many different ways. And I was delighted to find so many attractive corkboard wall calendar options. Here are some of my favorites.

First up, we have a pretty standard corkboard calendar–it’s a great size, and I love the tip to adhere the dates with velcro so that each month the calendar is easy to set up. With something this large, I think I’d stick with a solid color as Southern Living has done, but I don’t think I’d use two neutrals–for my office space, a colored ribbon would infuse a nice jolt of color.

If you only need to see a week at a time, Michaela made seven cute squares that might fill the bill. I like the way she switched up the positioning of the fabric on the squares to give it a bit more dimension without a lot of detail to distract from the week’s agenda.

I love this checkerboard style command center. It looks like it was from Pottery Barn, but I can’t find it on their website now, so you’d probably have to DIY it. Their version includes white boards and chalkboard tiles, but I’d like it all in cork.

I love Shannon’s collection of framed corkboards and think it would make a great calendar system–you could even number the frames themselves which would save a little space and give each frame an extra decorative element.

I love this embroidered perpetual calendar by Sara on Etsy. It’s hand embroidered on natural linen and has a piece of cork in the back so that you can pin and re-pin the numbers to date the calendar. I couldn’t resist including this one even though it doesn’t really have any space for weekly tasks.

This gathering inspiration for my wall calendar has been so much fun. And I’m not done sharing just yet–stay tuned for one more roundup of fantastic wall calendars for home offices.

One of the things I’m craving is a big planning wall calendar. I’ve been gathering wall calendar inspiration, and today, I have three chalkboard style calendars to share with you.

First up, we have a gridded, painted calendar from Martha Stewart. It’s got a great blend of sleek and rustic, doesn’t it? Just enough texture to be interesting, and the straight lines keep it looking orderly.

Next, is this one-week calendar which is simply hung on the wall. This would be a great option for renters, or for people who don’t want the hassle of painting over chalkboard paint. I don’t really find a weekly calendar to be very helpful (I need to see my schedule further out to feel really organized), so if I go with this one, I’ll probably make a month’s worth of squares instead of just 7.

I really like the way Holly framed out her chalkboard for her command center. Plus, the tags add a unique, attractive touch. This version probably comes the closest to what I was looking for when I first started my search–it has a rustic charm, and enough polish that it would work well in many home offices (including mine!).

The drawback of chalkboard wall calendars, though, is that there’s all that dust involved. Of course, that they’re easily erased is both good and bad. So, I’m not completely sure this is the right approach for my office. Lucky for me, there’s plenty more inspiration out there, so stay tuned for another roundup or two of what else I’m considering for creating a big wall calendar in my office.

Because I work in architecture, I liked the idea of bold, classic patterns, and found that when I searched with those terms, more possibilities opened up. Here are a few of my favorites.

The Zig Zag Chevron Pink Orange Yellow Green is a 5×5 art block by studioredtilestudio. This chevron print is mounted to a cedar block and then varnished in a high gloss finish. That means it winds up being a beefy 1.5 inches thick making it a really solid statement on an office wall. What’s more, the shop offers a wide variety of similar prints so you could create an attractive wall grouping if you wanted.

Perennial Moment by papermoth is a lovely 8 x 10 print. I love that it’s feminine and fresh and dynamic and just a little bit unexpected for an office.

A Little Peacock Print by dekanimal is available in two sizes. The simple color scheme gives the print just the right amount of drama for an office space, while the patterns in the feathers are playful in such a perfect way.

The Cultured Cow is an 8 x 10 print by WildLifePrints. Okay, so this one might not be the right piece of art for all home offices, but for some it’s just the right blend of quirky. It’s charming, but not saccharine.

Something else that makes great art for an office are travel photos and other mementos. If you haven’t yet sailed off into the sunset (or if you’re like me and don’t enjoy lugging a camera along while you travel), how about this set of 10 postcard photos from Venice by missiaja? (By the way, check out the other photos in Marco’s collection–his carnival portraits are stunning.)

So, those are just some of the artwork I came across as I was seeking out ideal artwork for an office. Hope you enjoyed the roundup!

I must admit, I see her point. Usually, you can score great true vintage industrial pieces at flea markets, consignment shops, and thrift stores. So, why would you pay top dollar for a replica? And, really, doesn’t it defeat the purpose of having great vintage-industrial pieces if they’re actually neither vintage nor truly industrial?

But, honestly, I think you love what you love, and sometimes you fall in love with a certain style but finding pieces with true functionality in that style is a little tricky (as is the case with true vintage industrial pieces–finding something with both style and functionality takes some serious time or luck). So, perhaps it’s okay to pick up those pieces that you adore “off the rack” as it were instead of spending lots of time hunting down the right piece only to discover it still needs fixing or reworking to be functional.

How about you–where do you stand on the vintage industrial trend in general? And how do you feel about brand new pieces done in the style?

So, when reader Laurie sent an email asking for guidance on choosing a rug, I was eager to make some recommendations. In Laurie’s case, she has a small budget and needs a large rug. Here’s what she wrote:

I need a 8 x 10 rug, but have you seen the prices on those suckers?! So, any advice for a simple (preferably solid color, or modern design) rug in that size that’s under a grand?

If you’re looking for a large, sleek/modern rug for your home office, take a look at these three that Laurie approved of for her own space (and Laurie, we’d love to hear which one you ultimately choose!)

Dash and Albert

The woven diamond rug from Dash and Albert has a low key, sophisticated pattern. It comes in several colorways, so if the light blue/ivory’s not quite right (or doesn’t have enough contrast for your space), make sure to check out the others. Be aware that it’s an indoor-outdoor rug.

Milliken

This luscious cobalt blue rug, the Modern Times Harmony Blue Jay Rug, is definitely not subtle. It’s also a great price at just $300 for the 7’9″ x 10’9″ size.

Beige Stripe Rug

Though the pattern on this rug is a bit more dramatic than the other options I sent Laurie, it still strikes a nice balance between being interesting and yet not feeling old-fashioned. Be aware that it is made of Polypropylene, which accounts for it’s really low price (just $175).

Other challenges for choosing rugs for a home office include needing to deal with the office chair legs (make sure to pick up a rug protecting mat), but in Laurie’s case that wasn’t an issue due to her office set up. If it is an issue for you, you’ll probably want to only choose from rugs you see in person–it can be tricky to determine how tightly woven/dense/and tall a rug is from its online description and photos.

What do you look for in choosing rugs for your home office? Or have you left the floors rug-less?

The Alice

At 52″ tall, this Overstock.com chair is definitely taller-than-average, and the sleek wings keep it cozy. It would look absolutely stunning against Jessica’s painted purple brick wall, and would make a perfect spot for client calls or sketching design ideas.

Versailles Domed Burlap-Backed Chair

I’m a sucker for the high drama of this porter’s chair from Restoration Hardware. At a whopping 62″ tall, I think it may even be taller than Jessica herself, and it would create a cozy reading retreat in her office.

Sienna Chair

The shortest of the bunch, this sleek ivory leather chair from Jayson Home and Garden is still 42″ tall (which is taller than typical occasional chairs). The nailhead trim gives it a classic look, but the chair still feels really modern because of the clean lines.

Minimalist Wing Chair

The Minimalist Wing Chair by Pearson is upholstered in a menswear-inspired windowpane plaid which gives it a sophisticated, cozy feel. It’s 45″ tall, so it’s a bit taller than the Sienna, and it has classic, yet sleek lines.

It’s currently on sale via One King’s Lane for just $1099 (from its regular retail price of $2500). If you’ve never heard of OKL, it’s a members-only home goods site. To join (and see the Minimalist Wing Chair and other great deals), start here. (Note: that is an affiliate link–when you join, you’ll also be eligible for special rewards for recommending the site to friends.)

So, which chair would you choose? And how do you feel about extra-tall chairs in the office?

But, if you’re in the market for an attractive desk blotter, look no further. Here are my three favorites plus one great tutorial for making your own desk blotter.

Black and Gray Geometric Desk Blotter Pad

This 14 x 20 blotter by Labnutz features a quatrefoil pattern in sophisticated black and gray. Depending on the size of your desk, it may be a bit too small, but it’s a great size for smaller desks. The side pockets are great for tucking away notes or other papers you want to keep front and center.

Labnutz creates each blotter herself in Raleigh, NC.

Bella Desk Blotter

The Bella desk blotter from See Jane Work comes in five gorgeous colors. It measures 16 x 21 and features contrasting stitching.

It’s handmade in Italian leather and measures 16 x 21.

Oasis Pad Backer with Concept Pad

The Concept Pad (and Oasis Pad Backer) from Levenger is great for creatives. The 11 x 17 ” sheets of the Concept Pad
offer plenty of space for notes and drawing. The pad itself is only 20 x 12 so it might be dwarfed by larger desks.

Make Your Own

Martha Stewart offers a step-by-step tutorial to make your own desk blotter using leather and chipboard. The great thing about a diy desk blotter is that you can make it any size and color you’d like so you can be sure it suits your desk. (Of course, if you choose to use a standard blotter pad to fill it, you’ll want to make sure you rely on those dimensions.)

Which desk blotter would you like for your own desk?

If you’re a big fan of decorating, I’d love to hear how you approach it; and if you’re lower-key like me, let’s commiserate! (If you don’t decorate at all, whether because you don’t celebrate, or you just don’t like to/want to, perhaps you could share if you make any changes to cozy up your home office for winter or de-cozy it if you’re in the southern hemisphere.)

And, if you need a bit of inspiration, how about an Office Supply Tree (by Martha Stewart, of course)?

Sai Suke

For the iPhone™, Sai Suke lets you manage your calendar on the iPhone or iPod Touch™. It syncs with Google Calendar™ and offers some fancy features like color coding and syncing between iCal or Outlook in addition to Google Calendar. It’s a $10 download making it a bit pricey for an app, though not pricey for a program, and the reviews are quite good. If you like to use Google Calendar, and have an iPhone, definitely take a look at Sai Suke.

Agendus for Blackberry™

Though Agendus for Blackberry is really popular, be warned that it doesn’t seem to be compatible with a Mac, only a Windows-based PC. (For that matter, it’s likely not compatible with Linux, either, but that’s less of a disappointment because so little is compatible with Linux.) It does have a nice feature that enables it to adapt to whatever theme you’re already using, but that seems like window-dressing for a program that’s arguably not as flexible as some of the others on the market. Still, if you have a Blackberry, this is the program several of our friends recommended with a shrug as “pretty much the only option.”

FCmobilelife™ Goals

From FranklinCovey, the FCmobilelife app for iPhones and iPod Touch lets you manage and view your progress on your big life goals. Though not a calendar, many people use their planners to organize their progress towards weekly, monthly, and annual goals, and this app looks like it might be helpful with that. If you’re happy with your phone’s calendar capabilities, but want to add this level of tracking ability to your goal planning, take a look at this option.

Android™ Agenda Widget

If you use an Android, the Agenda Widget offers a great blend of Google Calendar compatibility and customization. It also offers a free option and an upgraded (pay) version. It seems to be a relatively new widget, and wasn’t as feature-rich as some of the options for other smartphones, but it’s worth taking a look at.

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What do you think? Did any of these apps strike your fancy? Or do you already have a smartphone calendaring/scheduling app that you adore? And did all the ™s drive you as crazy as they did me?! (If you ask me, that’s reason enough to stick with paper–no one owns the trademark! )