a pretty desk, please

via the goodie life

My desk is presently littered with pages and pages from a dissertation that I don't don't see an end to anytime soon. There are no pretty notebooks or books left open that are being read for pleasure or desk lamps that stand slim and tall like bright flowers, but it is lovely to think that one day (maybe soon?) I'll be swapping out stacks of scribbled notes with bunches of poesies. And these darling desks just make me happy to think that I will be able to some day reclaim my own pretty work place....

(These images first found here, here, and here - all on the lovely tumblr blog, "it's mary ruffle")

via Hooked on Houses

via My Scandinavian Retreat

Thursday, an English professor's office, and Etsy

It's true we've done a home office in our Etsy series, but as a real live English "professor" (without the actual title of professor, since I'm neither tenured nor on my way to being tenured), I thought it would be nice to design my ideal literature scholar's office, a place where students would take me seriously and where I'd inspire them with my erudition. Or somethin'.

First, of course, you need the tweed:

image courtesy of Studio1950

Which, yes, of course, a professor could wear to look sharp and...professor-y. But she could also simply hang it on a lovely coat rack:

image courtesy of halfpintsalvage

And that tweedy professor could also hang a nicely broken-in leather satchel on her lovely coat rack. In fact, I'd argue that one is not really an English professor without a leather satchel:

image courtesy of caseyrhodes

For the walls, some literary art:

"Hamlet"

image courtesy of sophieblackall

"Miss Austen"

image courtesy of kirby


"Bookshelf 36"
image courtesy of janemount

For the door, you'll need a place for students to leave messages like, "Professor Mae, I tried to turn in my paper, but you weren't here and my computer is broken so I can't email it, and I have vacation plans that I can't change (doctor's orders), so I can't turn in my paper until next week." For such messages, you might hang a very cool chalkboard:

image courtesy of halfpintsalvage

A good English professor is organized. Wait. Scratch that. Good English professors are actually very rarely organized, but I'm sure we'd LIKE to be organized. And to help with that effort are the following:

A pretty pencil cup to keep grading pens handy (you'll need many, many pens if you're as strict as I am):

image courtesy of cozycottagecreations

A vintage desk organizer so important things like your gradebook and your tea bags don't go missing on the vast wilderness of your desk:

image courtesy of hannabellamemories

Little notebooks to keep track of important tasks. The key is, you have to remember to open the notebook later and actually READ the reminders. That's the hard part:

image courtesy of theblackapple

A desk clock to keep you on time for classes. You need one that ticks. It's nice to hear a soft, rhythmic ticking while you sit and read/ruminate in your office:

image courtesy of ModishVintage

Having a place to sit is nice, too. Especially if it's a very cool-looking place to sit, like a tufted
blue chair:

image courtesy of fabulousmess

For your (large amounts of) tea and coffee, a literary mug. Poe is good because that will make students a little bit afraid of you:

image courtesy of PoesProse

If they're not too scared of you, students might ask to borrow books, in which case you'll need a bookplate to remind them the books are yours. S0 return them or else:

image courtesy of terbearco

Now all that's missing is the pipe. And perhaps a musty smell.

Thursday, a home office, and Etsy

"la classe, original illustration" by baboucherouge

For my first attempt at our Etsy-only designed room, I'm taking on a teacher's home office. I love the illustration above, by baboucherouge, so I decided to use it as my color inspiration. And I was able to restrain myself from bombarding the room with red apples and chalkboards, but I couldn't resist completely.... I just included one thing (the very last item) that covers both (2 birds, 1 stone, right?).

The desk:

Thank goodness we didn't decide to put a price cap on the dream Etsy purchases for our Thursday rooms. If so, I could never include this great vintage desk via thevintagesupplyco.

And for the desk:

glass jars for pens and pencils via greatfindz

pencil sharpener via RedheadVintageII

pencil case by BirdWatching (teachers have a lot of pencil needs!)

vintage clock via elizabethwrenvintage

computer keyboard wrist rest (filled with flaxseed and lavender!) by HomeGrownPillows

vintage lamp (not the apple!) via ModishVintage

staplers (any color, please) via TopsyDesign

"sprouting potted plant" bookends by auroraleehales

The chair:

chair via jawaddel



pillow for chair by ModDiva

Wall art:

"bird sketches PRINT field guide tennessee" by dolangeiman


"French Alphabet Un Velo Print, bike, bicycle collage abc's" by barkdecor

"REDRUM two hand embroidered motifs in ornate frames" by HAREandDRUM

This room just needs one "ShaNickers Wall Decal/Sticker -Chalkies-Apples" by shanon1972