Simple Desks

Minimalism, infographed

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:28:00 +0100

Rince and repeat. Seriously though, this is how it’s done. There really shouldn’t be much more to it.

Submission Spotlight for 5th April 2013: Submitted by David...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:27:00 +0100

Submission Spotlight for 5th April 2013:

Submitted by David Hellmann. Unfortunately I don’t have any more info than that, but regardless it’s a lovely workspace. I’m on a real ‘home sweet home’ kick at the moment, so this sort of thing really enthuses me. On an anecdotal basis alone, this sort of warm atmosphere seems much more conducive to creativity than something more corporate. That’s not to say I’m correct of course - any and all workspaces are welcome in my inbox.

The Submission Spotlight is a daily feature showcasing the best reader submissions I receive. Submit yours and it could be up next.

Writers' Rooms

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:13:00 +0100

Writers' Rooms:

The Guardian presents a series focusing on the spaces in which writers create. It hasn’t been updated in several years, but with over one hundred different writers profiled (including such names as Rudyard Kipling, Martin Amis, Ian Rankin, Michael Morpurgo, Simon Callow and Roald Dahl) it’s certainly worth a browse. Along with the images are some lovely insights from the authors themselves or those who knew them.

Workplace Showcase for 4th April 2013: Another entry all the way...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:17:00 +0100

Workplace Showcase for 4th April 2013:

Another entry all the way from August 2012, this time from Desire to Inspire. The images here are from one of two semi detached houses by David Boyle Architect.

For me, these are so appealing because they feel lived in - something summed up nicely by commenter ‘Ash’ over at Desire to Inspire:

“Love seeing personalized homes which don’t look as if they have come out of the pages of Vogue Living.”

Sophisticated minimalism needn’t restrict itself to the cold colours of glass, concrete and whitewash, surely? This doesn’t, and for me the result is a warm, friendly, creative workplace.

The Workplace Showcase is a daily feature indulging in some of the very best work setups I’ve come across. Many are unattainable to all but the most resourceful reader, but for a these I turn a blind eye. Take the time to take inspiration and enjoyment from them without anything else getting in the way.

"Simplicity is not about making something without ornament, but rather about making something very..."

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:01:54 +0000

“Simplicity is not about making something without ornament, but rather about making something very complex, then slicing elements away, until you reveal the very essence.”

- Taken from a piece in The New Yorker by Christoph Niemann detailing the experience he had creating an app, Petting Zoo. Via Jason Kottke.

15 Things

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:00:57 +0000

15 Things:

Many of you reading this (and myself, writing it) will be surrounded by no small number of things. We don’t like to admit it, but the truth is we don’t need most of the clutter we convince ourselves to buy. Yet we keep on buying it all. And gradually, all these things we thought would help us become more productive become a hindrance rather than a help. The less you have to distract you, the more you can enjoy doing good work and living life. So this struck a chord:

“When Andrew Hyde started his worldwide travels, he limited his belongings to just 15 things needed for his survival. What would your 15 things be?”

Perhaps we should all try and limit ourselves like this at home as well as abroad. Well worth a look, even if you don’t agree with my thoughts above.

Workplace Showcase for 20th March 2013: Originally posted on...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:05:00 +0000

Workplace Showcase for 20th March 2013:

Originally posted on Freshome all the way back in August 2012, perhaps I’m a little late to the party. It’s so good though that I have little doubt you’ll enjoy a second viewing.

You’re looking at a small snapshot of the Kirchplatz Office and Residence, born of a partnership between Huesler Architekten and Oppenheim Architecture + Design, both of whom now use it as an office space.

Originally a centuries old farmhouse, this extensive renovation puts the ample space to good use. Full of natural light and modern, minimalist styling it now provides the perfect setting for the two firms to work comfortably and without distraction.

There is a great deal more to this building than I’ve been able to describe in this short entry. The great people over at Dezeen, ArchDaily and Freshome each have a full overview and many more images for your viewing pleasure.

The Workplace Showcase is a daily feature indulging in some of the very best work setups I’ve come across. Many are unattainable to all but the most resourceful reader, but for these I turn a blind eye. Take the time to take inspiration and enjoyment from them without anything else getting in the way.

Support Simple Desks

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:16:29 +0000

Simple Desks is a small site, but takes a lot of time to maintain. Sometimes it can take a few hours a day to find content, write posts, respond to mail and fix issues. Along with a full time job my time is therefore very, very limited. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a joy to be a part of this site and its surprisingly large - and altogether lovely - following. However if the site is to be sustainable it needs to bring in a larger income - to a reasonable extent - so that I can justify spending the time I do on maintaining it.

Simple Desks will always remain free. But if you enjoy the site and value the time you spend here, I would warmly encourage you to become a member and support it.

Membership Options

A monthly subscription costs £1 (~$1.50) - less than a coffee at Starbucks - and will help the site develop, grow and continue.
Alternatively you can opt for a yearly subscription for £10 (~$15).

Subscriptions are handled by PayPal (no account required).

In Return

In return, I aim to increase the post frequency at Simple Desks from around three a day to six or so. In addition there will be more original content and a lot more depth to posts in general. In future there will also be some extra benefits for members to enjoy.

Whether you subscribe or not, thanks for reading. If you have any questions about this or anything else, feel free to contact me.

A new coat of paint

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:12:54 +0000

Hello everyone! Thank you for being so patient over the last few months. Finally - finally - Simple Desks is back, and with a spruced up design to shake off the cobwebs.

Gradually this week posting will resume, the aim being to post a rough tally of six entries a day once everything is back up to speed.

Thanks to everyone for their kind messages of support.

A long two weeks

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:20:06 +0000

It’s been several months since I last updated Simple Desks. You might remember that before the long absence I had planned to upgrade the site a little bit. Unfortunately as I worked on these upgrades my life underwent a few changes which, until now, have dominated most of my time.

I’ve managed to get a handle on things, and I’m pleased to finally let you all know that in the next few days Simple Desks will rumble into life again. I’ve got many, many submissions so there’s no shortage of content (quite the opposite).

During the intervening period I have received countless messages, all of them lovely. Thanks to everyone for being so patient and kind as always. Hopefully I can begin to repay your continued support in the coming days.

Many thanks, and a belated Happy New Year to you all.

Submission from The Gadget Flow: You can see more images of the...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:28:52 +0100

Submission from The Gadget Flow:

You can see more images of the desk over at The Gadget Flow, part of the Cloudie Network of blogs.

Want to share yours? Submit your own desk.

Kate Alexander and Matt Kardos: Matt and his dad built this...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 04:48:34 +0100

Kate Alexander and Matt Kardos:

Matt and his dad built this desk and shelves in our bedroom. The chairs are another Op Shop find, and the rubbish bin I’ve had since I was a teenager.

Original source: Design Sponge.

Digital Retro: A beautiful digital rendering (yes,...

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 09:32:28 +0100

Digital Retro:

A beautiful digital rendering (yes, really).

Original source: DeviantART, via Lifehacker.

Dan Benjamin, podcast professional: First day in the new...

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:45:55 +0100

Dan Benjamin, podcast professional:

First day in the new studio.

Many of you will know of 5by5, one of the most consistently brilliant podcast networks out there, home to shows like Back to Work, Hypercritical, The Critical Path and many, many more. If you’ve never listened to any of their shows (shame on you), you are missing out. Dan Benjamin, founder and co-host, recently moved to semi-permanent studio space and posted a photo of his podcasting setup.

Original source: Instagram.

Submission from Lenny See Photography: Lovely submission, thank...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:06:02 +0100

Submission from Lenny See Photography:

Lovely submission, thank you. You can see more of Lenny’s photos over on his website.

Want to share yours? Submit your own desk.

Cody Haltom: I’m a designer residing in Austin, Texas, working...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 09:36:13 +0100

Cody Haltom:

I’m a designer residing in Austin, Texas, working in art direction, visual identity, illustration, print, and interactive design.

I love how you can see his work reflected on his desk. Elements of typography, graphic design and print are all visible.

Original source: From Your Desks, via Minimal Desks.

Submission from Paul Stanton: I telework from home full time...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:37:25 +0100

Submission from Paul Stanton:

I telework from home full time and have converted our utility room into a small sanctuary away from the noise of my 15 month old. The desk is an untreated pine dining table which fits nicely into the space, the obligatory collection of fruit branded hardware and aeron chair.

Want to share yours? Submit your own desk.

On submissions and you lovely readers

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:55:14 +0100

I owe much of the success this site has seen in recent months to you, the readers. Your support, kindness and engagement have been inspirational. In particular, your submissions help enormously. They help elevate Simple Desks above the run of the mill workspace blogs that litter the internet, and for that I am very, very grateful. They are so important for one simple reason: they represent authenticity. Achievable, authentic simplicity. They form a kind of antidote against some of the more contrived, extravagant desks that appear here, and strike a nice balance between functionality and beauty. Without them, Simple Desks would roam dangerously close to a desk porno site, and that isn’t what I want. So thank you for all your submissions thus far, and please keep them coming.

I’ve updated the submit page with a much clearer set of submission guidelines. I really encourage you to have a look, even if you don’t intent to submit - they might give you an insight into how I select ones to publish. Finally, another small piece of news: from now on, all submissions that don’t make the cut will be posted in the new ‘Unseen Submissions’ Pinterest board.

Thanks guys for the continued support.

Alexis Mire: Our neighbors moved away yesterday and gave us a...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:12:02 +0100

Alexis Mire:

Our neighbors moved away yesterday and gave us a few stray items of furniture, including these two matching desks. So Ryan helped me renovate the solarium into a little workspace. I played with designs all night and finally decided on this for now.

I’m a big fan of this sort of desk setup. I use a CD rack to store (amongst the obvious) stationary and all manner of tools I use to work. Alexis takes a similar approach and I like the result.

Original source: Flickr (Alexis Mire), via Lalucid Dreamer.

Weekly Remainders: time to get your hands dirty

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:21:00 +0100

Some germs, outdoor offices, space saving tips and an infographic: it’s this week’s remainders.

Why Women’s Workspaces Have More Germs & Where You Should Be Cleaning: The title is misleading - the advice here is useful to all. Keeping a workplace clean is important, and this gives a few insights into the areas which accumulate the most - often unseen - dirt. From Apartment Therapy.
Why Aren’t We All Working In Outdoor Offices Like These?: Some interesting and thoughtful musings on the practicality and possible future of outdoor workspaces. From Fast Company.
How Can I Make The Most of My Meager Desk Space?: An excellent and detailed guide to making the most of your workspace - however small it may be. From Lifehacker.
Creating the Ultimate Home Office Infographic: A nice, if simplistic look at the overall trends surrounding workspaces, presumably across the USA. From Apartment Therapy.

Every week there are a ton of entries that don’t get posted. Sometimes, they don’t quite match the focus of the site, or I don’t feel their quality merits inclusion. The best of these remainders are featured every Friday.