Features: Working

Oswald Fifties Desk from Graham & Green

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Oswald Fifties Desk, £875, from Graham & Green

Give your home office a touch of retro chic with this Oswald Fifties Desk from Graham & Green, £875.

You’ll probably think I need to get out more when you read this but, for more years than I care to mention, one of my major interiors dreams has been to own a desk.

Finally, I have the room for one in my spare room and I can’t wait to go shopping.

Top of my list is this Oswald Fifties Desk from Graham & Green which is just the ticket and will fit in with the rest of my home perfectly.

I love the angular design, classic retro style and, best of all, it has three handy drawers, helping (hopefully) to keep my office space neat and tidy.

Blocks Collection from Kukka

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Blocks Collection, £60, from Kukka

Keep your desk tidy with the Blocks Collection from Kukka, £60.

Hands up if you’re one of those people who claims to know where everything is on your extremely messy desk?

I’ll go first as I definitely fall into that category, and one of my New Year’s resolutions was to be a lot tidier.

However, almost four months in and I have failed miserably to keep my workspace clear of clutter. But that’s all about to change thanks to the Blocks Collection from Kukka.

Crafted from solid beech, the set consists of four simple, yet ever so elegant, containers which are perfect for keeping your desk space neat and tidy (and tidy and neat).

Magnetic Pig Memo Board from The Metal House

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Magnetic Pig Memo Board, £26, from The Metal House

Keep up to date with appointments with this Magnetic Pig Memo Board from The Metal House, £26.

I don’t know about you, but my life seems to get more and more hectic with each passing day.

Birthdays to remember, bills to pay, parties to RSVP to – I don’t know how I’d cope without my trusty memo board.

But why have a plain, boring one when you could have one in the shape of a pig? It seems those peeps at The Metal House agree with the addition of their bright pink Magnetic Pig Memo Board.

At approx 55cm x 30cm, it should be large enough to cater for even the busiest of people so you need never miss an appointment again.

Mid Century Writing Desk from Artisanti

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Mid Century Oyster And Archer Coloured Drawer Writing Desk, £454, from Artisanti

Give your home office some mid century charm with this Mid Century Writing Desk from Artisanti, £454.

Since moving into my new home (which is a rather amazing ’70s townhouse) I’ve been buying retro furniture left, right and centre.

The next item on the wish list is a desk for the spare room, mostly so I have somewhere calm and peaceful to work, but also because it gives me an excuse to buy another piece of furniture.

And I think this Mid Century Oyster and Archer Coloured Drawer Writing Desk from Artisanti is just the one.

I love the delicate legs and the two-tone colour scheme, plus the drawers are just generous enough to hide away all my bits and bobs.

Bed Spring Memo Board from Rose & Grey

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Bed Spring Memo Board, £65, from Rose & Grey

Add some industrial chic to your home with this Bed Spring Memo Board from Rose & Grey, £65.

When it comes to interiors, trends come and go with every season, but one favourite which seems to be sticking around is the industrial look.

From old factory-style lights to steel storage boxes, the industrial look is a particular favourite of mine.

Which is why I love this Bed Spring Memo Board from Rose & Grey and can’t wait to get it in my kitchen.

And if, like me, you’ve ever bemoaned a lack of space on a memo board, there’s no such worries here as it measures a whopping 1.3 metres, and is perfect for displaying everything from photographs to reminders.

T2 Squared Golf Notice Board from A White Room

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T2 Squared Golf Notice Board, £42.50, from A White Room

Keep your office organised with the T2 Squared Golf Notice Board from A White Room, £42.50.

I’m not a huge fan of golf but I do love the Ryder Cup, always finding it nerve wracking but full of excitement.

This year’s tournament, however, was unbelievable.

No-one (except team captain José María Olazábal) thought the Europe team stood a chance of coming back to win, but win they did.

So, in their honour, I’ve managed to find a golfing-inspired product to bring you today.

The T2 Squared Golf Notice Board from A White Room is ideal for organising your office bits and pieces, and looks great with its golfing image and eight golf ball magnets.

Quick Shop: Office Accessories

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Some of our favourite office accessories

Get yourself organised with our pick of the best office accessories.

As we head towards the end of summer, and the end of the holidays, most people are back at work and for many that means being back in the office.

After being away for the hols, and hopefully coming back refreshed and raring to go, it’s a great opportunity to give your office a bit of a refresh too, and there’s a huge choice of fab office accessories available here at Furnish to help you better manage your working space.

These include the very cute Alessi Dozi Magnetic Paper Clip Holder and the fun Sharpener Desk Tidy, both ideal for helping you get your desk organised, whilst the extremely pretty Phoebe Liberty Print Paperweight will keep your papers under control.

Clockwise from top left: Phoebe Liberty Print Paperweight Liberty London from Liberty, £35; t2 Squared Pebbles Photo Chalk Board from A White Room, £24.99; Alessi Dozi Magnetic Paper Clip Holder from A White Room, £13; Coloured World Map Memo Board from Found Home Store, £54; Sharpener Desk Tidy from Folly, £15.95; Buro Craft Set by Lexon from Gifts with Style, £39.95.

Brooklyn Industrial Desk with Drawers from Alexander and Pearl

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Brooklyn Industrial Desk with Drawers, £795, from Alexander and Pearl

Add a touch of industrial style to your home with this Brooklyn Industrial Desk with Drawers from Alexander and Pearl. £795

As regular readers will know, I am a massive fan of the industrial trend that looks like it’s going to stick around for a good time yet.

From reclaimed factory lights to distressed metal shelving units, I love the lot.

And this Brooklyn Industrial Desk with Drawers from Alexander and Pearl is top of my industrial shopping list.

Super stylish, each one is made from reclaimed ship timbers which means no two are completely the same.

As well as being stylish, it’s practical too, with two handy drawers and a large enough top to hold all your paraphernalia.

Shop the Room: Contemporary Home Office

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Our pick of the best Contemporary Home Office furnishings

Give your office an up to date makeover, with our pick of furnishings for a contemporary office.

Store away the leather bound books and fusty furniture and embrace modern style with these fabulously contemporary accessories.

The Metal Desk Tidy from Graham & Green gives a chic and urban vibe to any desk top and is great for keeping correspondence safe; while the Umbra Talk White Memo Board from Heal’s makes sure you’ll never forget important meetings again.

(Clockwise from top) Greenwich Black Leather Swivel Chair from Fashion for Home, £479, Giant Glass Paperweight from OKA, £55, Metal Desk Tidy from Graham & Green, £47, Anglepoise Type 75S Desk Lamp Aluminium from Heal’s, £112, Desk from Habitat, £850, Umbra Talk White Memo board from Heal’s, £32.50.

Shop The Room: Home Office

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Our range of trendy Office pieces

Spruce up your office space with some funky new furniture and accessories

If your home office is more doom and gloom than refreshingly inspiring, it might be time for a change and what better way then to revamp your study space with some stylishly colourful pieces.

Opt for retro trend with furniture such as the stylish Frag Canouan Chair, from A White Room. Perfect for injecting a bit of colour and great to team against other office brights such as the trendy Gubi Shelving Unit.

We guarantee your study space will never be dull again!

Odyssey Writing Desk, £595, from Graham & Green, Frag Canouan 4 Spoke Chair With Castors, £785, from A White Room, Original BTC London Spun Aluminum Desk Lamp, £373, from Heal’s, Gubi Dedal Shelving Unit, £210, from A White Room, Loyd Three Drawer Filing Cabinet, £325, from John Lewis, Pli Letter holder, £22, from Lifestyle Bazaar.

Rustic Wooden Office Wall Sign from Primrose & Plum

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Rustic Wooden Office Wall Sign, £24.50, from Primrose & Plum

Define your workspace with this Rustic Wooden Office Wall Sign from Prmrose & Plum. £24.50

As someone who has worked from home, I know how tricky it is to stay focused.

You sit at your laptop with every intention of getting that important piece of work finished and all of a sudden you glance down at the washing basket do some washing and hunt for that missing top. Wander into the kitchen and you see the hob needs cleaning.

You get my drift, before you know it three hours have gone past and that important piece of work still hasn’t been done.

This Rustic Wooden Office Wall Sign from Primrose & Plum is not only rather stylish but it will help define your work space.

After all, what will make sure you get that work done more than a sign that reads OFFICE?

Keepsake Box Files from Primrose & Plum

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Keepsake Box Files, £22, from Primrose & Plum

Keep treasured cards and notes safe with one of these Keepsake Box Files from Primrose & Plum. £22

I don’t know about you but as a self-confessed hoarder, I love to keep special cards and letters people give me.

I have all my 30th birthday cards, every single card my husband has ever given me and amongst other the letter my big sister wrote to me at university, explaining, wait for it, that she’d just been shown how to use email.

Moving swiftly on before someone is clever enough to work out just how old that last statement makes me, the problem is I’m fast running out of space to stash these precious pieces of correspondence.

The solution is these super pretty Keepsake Box Files from Primrose & Plum.

Prettily decorated, the files also have a ribbon to keep your most treasured letters and cards safe and prevent your drawers becoming over-stuffed.

Quick Shop: Waste paper bins

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Our pick of waste paper bins.

Be good to the environment and recycle your paper with a stylish waste paper bin.

The waste paper bin is generally seen as a very basic accessory and one of life’s necessities, however that doesn’t mean it needs to look basic.
Furnish has a great selection of waste paper bins in all colours, shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find something that suits your style.

The Faux book library waste paper bin from Pavilion Broadway is great for the bookworms and those with traditional taste.
But if you’re looking for something a little more funky, the Essy red bin bin paper bin from Red Candy is great for adding a splash of colour.

So try a bin that’s a little different than your usual, wicker cheapie and go for something that doesn’t have to be hidden away.

(Clockwise from Top) Essey red bin bin paper bin, from Red Candy £42, Wire waste paper bin, from Summerill & Bishop £23.50, Faux book library waste paper bin, from Pavilion Broadway £85, Sanganeeri wastepaper bin, from OKA £49, Crown wastepaper bin, from OKA £49, Recycled newspaper wastepaper bin, from John Lewis £10.

Routemaster Bus Magnetic Memo Board from Designed in England

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Routemaster Bus Magnetic Memo Board, £40, from Designed in England

Get on board with this Routemaster Bus Magnectic Memo Board from Designed in England. £40

Regular readers will know that I am utterly obsessed with the Routemaster and that my last journey on one was a tad emotional.

Ok, ok, I was coming home from a press show and might have had one too many but I had such a strange love-hate relationship with these iconic beasts that is was sad to think I’d never go on one again.

I dream of living in a house with a garden big enough to house one but in the meantime, I’ll settle for this memo board from Designed in England.

Perfect for a home office or kitchen, it’s ideal for adding a splash of colour and making sure you never miss a message again.

The Orwell Writing Desk from Graham & Green

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The Orwell Writing Desk, £55, from Graham & Green

Give your home office a literary feel with The Orwell Writing Desk from Graham & Green. £550

I’m obsessed with desks almost as much as I’m obsessed with storage.

There’s something so truly decadent about sitting at a desk writing letters, or more likely these days, tapping away on a laptop.

I have long dreamt of having room for a desk and with a move on the horizon, I might just get my wish.

My latest desk crush is The Orwell Writing Desk from Graham & Green.

I love the elegant lines and simple styling and the use of dark Sheesham wood means this desk will become a much loved family heirloom.

With its literary giant name, this little desk certainly has a lot to live up to and in my opinion it does.

Par Avion Letter Holder from Lifestyle Bazaar

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Par Avion Letter Holder, £12.95, from Lifestyle Bazaar

Keep your desk organised in style with this Par Avion Letter Holder from Lifestyle Bazaar. £12.95

Seeing though we’re constantly told we’re fast approaching a paperless society, I am amazed how much post I am greeted with as I return home each day.

Of course most of it is absolute rubbish – direct mail has a lot to answer for in my opinion.

Some of it however, is important, still dull but important and needs to be kept somewhere safe.

At the moment, my bank statements and especially letters from my credit card company are shoved to the back of a cupboard, well out of sight, out of mind and all that.

However, that’s no longer going to be the case as I’ve discovered these Par Avion Letter Holders by j-me from Lifestyle Bazaar.

Available in black, grey and red – these cute letter holders are stamped with post marks from around the world.

A great addition to a bookcase or desk, they even come with a handy letter opener.

Par Avion Letter Holder, £12.95, from Lifestyle Bazaar

Clamp Light from Plumo

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Clamp Light, £89, from Plumo

Add a touch of utilitarian chic to your home with this Clam Light from Plumo. £89

Regular readers will know I’m a little bit obsessed with industrial interiors, and one of my favourite element is lighting.

I could spend ages (and a small fortune) on vintage factory lights as I think they’re utterly gorgeous.

Which could explain how this Clamp Light caught my eye.

I adore the brushed metal shade but I am even more excited about the wooden clamp. Perfect for use anywhere from the bedroom to home office,this is a great way to tap into a bit of utilitarian chic without breaking the bank.

Enter Computer Key Stool from Rockett St George

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Computer Key Stool, £95, from Rockett St George

Add some computer chic to your interiors with this Enter Computer Stool from Rockett St George. £95

I take interiors very seriously, after all writing about homes and all the gorgeous stuff you can fill them with has been my life for over a decade.

However, sometimes it’s nice to inject a bit of fun into the home and this Computer Key Stool from Rockett St George is a perfect example.

Made from wood veneer, this stool is a giant version of an Enter key and is perfect for a home office or teenagers bedroom.

How to create the perfect home office

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Our pick of home office essentials.

keep your home office professional yet fun with our pick of office essentials

With more of us achieving the luxury of being able to work from home, your office should be somewhere stylish and practical to conduct your hard grafting. Keeping a professional feel to the room will allow you to stay motivated when the deadlines loom.

However, making your own office attractive and comfortable will make that Monday morning wake-up call a little less daunting.

The Desk

Undoubtedly the most important component of a study is the desk. With so much choice, it can be difficult to find one right for your needs. However you can’t go wrong with a desk that has plenty of storage space such as the Opus Large Desk from Love Furniture. With a spacious top, drawers and a cupboard to fit any large folders, it’s perfect choice for anyone working from home.

The Chair

A good chair is important too and when you’re sitting for what seems hours at a time, choosing a comfy one is essential. Colour-wise, you can’t go wrong with black; it oozes style and sophistication and is perfect for any home office. Add a leather finish and you’re on to a winning seat, such as the Eames EA119 high back ribbed office chair, from Lover’s Lounge. The comfortable, high back is definitely a powerful feature, keeping you inspired on even the most miserable of days, plus it’s fully adjustable so will help keep back pain at bay.

Odyssey writing desk, from Graham & Green £595

The Storage

Creating attractive, storage space in an office is relatively easy if you have the right furnishings. If you want to include a feature of the industrial office inside at home, one option is the 6 Door industrial locker unit from Rose & Grey. With its eye-catching design and edgy, metal finish, it’s fabulous for creating interest in the office, and perfect for stashing away all your clutter.

For a personal touch, how about pinning pictures of your loved ones inside the doors for a real back to school, vintage look.

The Decor

The office may be a place of work, but that doesn’t mean it has to be lifeless. Keeping your office colour scheme relaxed is key for a tranquil place to work and getting things done, so neutral tones jazzed up with some feature wallpaper is a good idea.

Forget the typical, dreary office colours like scuffed white and mucky grey and go green with the Sunlight Through Leaves wallpaper from Ella Doran. Combined with a grassy green rug such as the Sethos Green Rug from Fashion4Home, you’ll feel a little closer to nature and less restricted by those four walls.

Eames aluminium mesh office chair, from Lover's Lounge £350

Lighting

The lighting in your office is certainly something to ponder about. Dim lighting will only make your day seem far longer, plus you might have to pull out the reading glasses. While bright, call-centre style lighting will make you feel stuck in a box. So meeting in the middle with some warm, soft lighting will make you feel at ease in your surroundings along with any tasks that lay ahead of you.

The Wild Horn lamp, from Sweetpea and Willow had a neutral, rustic shade that will expel calm lighting and with its unique design of animal horns, will make a bold statement in any office.
Finish your main light off with a cool designed shade, like the Satellight World lampshade, from Duffy London, to keep you inspired.

Accessories

Pen/pencil holders are great placed on the desk to ensure you’ll never been digging in the bottom of the drawer again. The Pencil Sharpener Desk Tidy from Utility keeps your stationary super safe.

Another useful accessory to have is a calendar to keep you informed of any important business meetings. If you fancy something a little more permanent, the Appointment Perpetual Calendar by Philippi from Pelican Pear is a good choice.

Organisation is paramount to a tidy office, so having somewhere to stash all your important paperwork is certainly useful. The Metal Desk Tidy from Graham & Green will keep all your bills and statements ordered.

So, now you’ve sorted all that out, it’s time for the hard graft to begin. Good luck!

Quick Shop: Desk Lamps

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Our pick of desk lamps

Complete your creative area with a desk lamp.

No desk is complete without the traditional desk lamp; but traditional they’re not! Popular designs appear almost Sci-fi in style, bringing the study straight in to this century and beyond. A work space looks practically naked without a lamp, but there’s plenty of styles to suit everybody in dressing their desk. Illuminate your ideas with a futuristic, flexible lamp. Or maybe a comforting Halo light is more your style. Whatever lamp takes your fancy, don’t be left in the dark without one of these eccentric designs!

(Clockwise from Top) Cygin white desk lamp £99, from Fashion4Home, Visionary desk light £13, from Great Little Trading Company, Canis B silver desk lamp £109, from Fashion4Home, Flos Ara table/desk lamp £506, from Utility, DIAS desk lamp £30, from Habitat, Halo £279.90, from Decolight.