Desk: Caroline Smalley, Push the Envelope

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Desk: Caroline Smalley, Push the Envelope

Once a designer for television shows and record companies and an Art Director for multiple publications, Caroline Smalley has taken her design talents to a more personal level: custom stationery. Now a mother of four and the designer behind and owner of Push the Envelope, Smalley has a lot to keep her busy. That did not stop her, though, from taking a moment to share her office with us. Like her stationery, Caroline's office is bright and colorful, with touches of whimsy, sparkle and a healthy dose of usefulness. Here is what she shared with us:

The Desk: a giveaway from a 60's little girls bedroom set, repainted glossy aqua
Chair: still searching for a comfier one...
Clock: none, just check on my computer
Calendar: I love my undated Post-it calendar next to my desk
Charging: camera and ipod
Book (current, recent or favorite): just finished Dominick Dunne's Another City, Not My Own. I am so sad he just passed away.
Magazine: I have an addiction to well-designed magazines, actually to all magazines. So many of my favorites are gone, though. I loved Blueprint and Domino.
Paper: Love it all. Usually, I print on an eggshell finish. I keep lots of scraps around for inspiration, also lots of watercolor blocks of various sizes.
Color: Always love shades of green, from lime to moss.
'Thank You': Can never be said too often. I learned the importance of Thank You notes from my mother and grandmother.
Flat note or Folded: Either, depending on how much I have to say.
Handwritten or Emailed: Handwritten. I am obsessed with finding the best pens, too.
Stationery/Fashion Trend: Love retro geometric patterns.
Favorite Stationery: There are so many great choices out there...
Recently Used Stationery (& Occasion): I sent my girls letters and mystery novels when they were at summer camp
Office type: home office
Organization: HA! I m always working on this, controlled chaos.
Day-at-a-glance: Each day is different depending on projects. I try to schedule specific days each week for PR, production, design, marketing. All of this mixed in with busy family life with four kiddos.
Inspiration: I always listen to music when I am working, that is an inspiration. I am inspired by everything, my family, the outdoors, fashion...
Current Project(s): getting my Holiday 2009 designs on my site
Planning: targeting ads and blogs for fall giveaways
Business: Busy!

Part of the workspace and storage in Caroline's office, and her husband's guitars. "Only after the fact did I realize I painted my desk to exactly match!"

Little baskets, boxes, jars and cans organizing ribbon, brushes, envelopes and glitter. Says Caroline: "I love working with glitter... it is so beautiful, I want to sprinkle it on vanilla ice cream or put a spoonful in my coffee!"

Last, but not least, her aqua desk, Post it calendar, and beloved chair (aren't we all searching for a comfier one, though?)...

Thank you, Caroline, for sharing your office with us... It is perfectly colorful, quite organized, and absolutely charming!

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Mary Despian
Posts: 4

caroline smalley office
Reply #1 on : Mon August 31, 2009, 19:58:19

i love caroline smalley's organized chaos. you get a sense of her attraction to color and shape by looking at the items she has chosen both as functional and inspirational. her colors are fresh and fun - you can tell she is inspired by her children.

Fiona Richards
Posts: 4

Nice!
Reply #2 on : Mon August 31, 2009, 22:59:55

Yay for Carolina - great to see your sweet office here and really enjoyed your interview too!

christina b.
Posts: 4

who wouldn't love an aqua desk!
Reply #3 on : Tue September 01, 2009, 11:15:29

it's fabulous. i have to agree about the glitter too! ;-) beautiful!