Simple

Simple

My Fantasy Cubicle




The words "fantasy" and "cubicle" are not often used in the same sentence. Fantasy brings to mind imagination, freedom, and extravagance.  Cubicle conjures up restraint, harsh lighting, and office politics. 

Employers are in business to earn profits, not to cater to their employees' taste.  But it must be said:  I loathe my cubicle.  Like strip malls, cubicles are at best ubiquitous and at worst, ugly. Many aspects of my job are satisfying.  My cubicle, however, is not one of them.

We were blanketed with snow yesterday for the second time in two weeks, allowing me to work from home.  After work, I thought about decorating my ideal office space. Here are my choices:

Farrow & Ball Silvergate damask wallpaper to replace the unfortunate rust-colored cubicle walls.  I firmly believe that the color rust should be banned from the workplace.  Rust is decay and there is nothing uplifting or motivating about this color, so why bring it into the workplace?


This Louis XVI style chair from Wisteria


Parsons desk from West Elm


Adjustable Library Table Lamp from Circa Lighting



Apple iBook


I'd hang this Marie Antoinette plaque on the wall. I know what you're thinking. She's not exactly a working woman's role model, is she?  I didn't know it was Marie Antoinette until after I chose the piece. Really, I didn't.




Fresh flowers on my desk every day would be a luxury. White and blush pink roses are my favorites.




So far, so good, but things get complicated. The Mont Blanc fountain pen, celebrating the 100th birthday of Greta Garbo, quickened my pulse.  It's a beauty "with a hand-crafted rhodium-plated 18K gold nib" and the clip is set with a 5.25 mm round Akoya pearl. Curious, I wanted to know more.  Instead of showing the purchase price, the website invites one to call a Mont Blanc concierge for details.  I know what this means, but told myself I'll call just "for fun".  My inquiry did not last long as the pen costs the better part of a mortgage payment.  Apparently, rhodium gives platinum a run for its money.  


  
A gold-rimmed china cup and saucer from Replacements, Ltd. for my morning coffee. No paper cups for me.  I'll gladly wash the cup myself.




Soon I will be back in my cubicle, grateful as ever for my job and my 401K.  In the meantime, there is no harm in a little fantasy.  Common sense keeps me from dragging wallpaper and table lamps to the office.  Instead, I just hum along to the same tune everybody else does. 
With a smile.

16 comments:

  1. Stunning darling!

    I am fortunate enough to have an office right now. Senior engineers get offices so when I moved up I got one. Thank God. I am so much more efficient, but our downtown office still has cubes for senior folks. I just don't get it. How can one think with all the noise? They think they are saving money on walls but productivity sucks. I love your dream cubicle. I have not even tried to "decorate" my office. I want to, but the furniture is so bad and I work with so many men that I don't want to be the one with the "decorated" office, so I added a few touches but kept it simple. You have inspired me sister. Unfortunately the trim in our offices is RED, my least favorite colour. How do I work with that?

    I heard about all your snow....heaven to have a snow day. Here in Canada, we are expected to drive in anything. Getting snow tires on my new car Friday as the all-seasons are VERY slippery.

    xo Terri

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  2. I know exactly how you feel,and I love your ideas, I work from homoe now so I have my office just how I want it ,heaven!
    ~Sharon~

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  3. That is one sweet cubicle. It is nice to dream.

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  4. I'm sitting in your dream chair right now only I bought mine from RH on sale, very comfy, go for it. That plaque of Maria Antoinette is amazing, I love it, where did you buy her? I'm lucky I work from our newly renovated carriage barn and have it decorated just the way I want...mostly. Love your dream cubicle.

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  5. That pen caught my eye immediately! Actually, I think this is a brilliant design opportunity. If you could show increased producivity charts (because we all know productivity would increase if people were happy being in their cubicle) maybe employers would go for it. You choices are perfect!
    joan

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  6. Love all your picks and soothing palate. And too funny about the Greta Garbo reference and I too can relate!! I'll live in your fantasy cubicle as well - thank you!

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  7. You must have read my mind. Looking at Louis and parsons right now. I love it all, and the china finishes it off!
    Have a nice weekend.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  8. hi deborah,

    how wonderful would your 'ideal' office be? me, i prob wouldn't get any work done b/c i'd just be staring at all the nice stuff.

    xo
    janet

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  9. So Great ideas...spectacular pieces as well as the Photographs.Fantastic Blog indeed.

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  10. Oh that would be very nice. I am on my lunch break now at work in my little cubicle and it looks nothing like that inspiration, I do have quite the set of pretty decorative office supplies though : ) Glad you got to work from home. Enjoy!

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  11. I just so love your blog i have an award for you on my blog. Hope thats ok, Fiona

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  12. you are so funny deborah, and, whatever you do in a cubicle can't match your talents for good solid design!
    but the decorating bit seems appropriate, hold a contest for 'best cubicle design', you are a 'shoe-in'.
    well, it never hurts to dream..........and you know i am dreaming of meeting in london....dreaming, always dreaming
    xo
    debra

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  13. Nice dream! I love the damask...perhaps you could make it your desktop picture at work! I'm all for the fine china too, nothing like a touch of the finer things in life to keep you grounded!

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  14. I love the items you choose.The ibook and fresh flowers are two of my favorites. So glad I found your blog.

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  15. I love the damask wallpaper! I am a big fan of large print wallpaper too. And I love the chair choice. Productivity would be so great, because people wouldn't want to leave their cubicle!

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