Bringing the Outside In: Nature Inspired Office Designs

Last night we dipped our toes into the eternal debate for desk setters: would life be better if you had a job where you didn't sit at a desk all day. Over drinks withco-workers, we shared stories of friends who are teachers or yoga instructors or -- gasp --actors who don't sit at a desk and are therefore impossible to get an email back from immediately.

"How do they do it?" we say, shaking our heads.
"What do they do all day?"

But then, as the drinks keep coming, we start to think a little deeper about those questions that were flippant half an hour ago. "How do they do it?" becomes "Could I do it?" and "What do they do all day?" becomes "Would my day be better that way?" The debate continued both aloud and unspoken in our own heads, but by the end of the night, the only conclusion we had come to was that we'd ingested a week's worth of salty foods and carbs should be banned immediately from our lives.

We, the desk-set, may never find our own answer to would life be better without a desk job. We have a feeling that the only answer is best summed up by the pithy saying "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." And in honor of that thought, we're posting some pictures of inventive work spaces where they've brought that green grass right into the office.

For example, the design firm of HOK London has brought the ability to lounge on the lawn right into the office.

At this awesome office space in Milan, Italy, "the goal is to keep workers very relaxed." {via}

The chamber of commerce in the capital of Slovenia has put the principle into practice by filling their space with greenery.

And if you've ever found yourself admiring at the colors of fall foliage, you should know about Sugamo Shunkin Bank in Tokiwadai, Japan where it's always autumn (inside at least). The floor to window glass windows are decorated with 24 colors of stenciled leaves.

{All pictures via}

Does your work space bring the outdoors in? Let us know at OfficeEnvy@Gmail.com or Office_Envy on Twitter.

A few more inspirational home office interiors

Please excuse our silence for the last few days while we worked on our site revamp project. Today we're keeping it short and sweet. For your viewing/design-loving/procrastinating pleasure: a few more inspirational home offices that mix whimsy with work.

{Via}

Have Your Ever Seen A Better Attic Makeover?

It should come as no shock to you, the faithful Office Envy reader, that we here at Office Envy are constantly in search of pictures of inspiring office design and decor.

What is surprising - is how this awful unusable attic space transformed into one of the chicest little home offices we've ever seen.

Before:

After:

All pictures {Via}

The renovation project - and gorgeous new home office - belongs to the writer behind the blog Perfectly Imperfect, with whom an interview is posted on TheOfficeStylist.com.

Of her favorite parts of her new home office Shaunna says:

"It truly is hard for me to narrow down one favorite, but it would have to be a tie between my desk area and the daybed. The desk is an 1800′s French Provencal piece that I found at a local antique mall for $120, and the chair I bought, painted, and reupholstered for $50. Of course I love the space I work on, but as much inspiration comes from what I look at while working. That’s where the daybed comes in…my husband and I built it from the doors of my childhood home. In addition to writing the blog, I paint and restore furniture. This project was especially challenging and meaningful to me. Plus, I got exactly what I needed for the space for $50." {Via}

If you love Shaunna's style, you can download her e-book here!

More Inspiring Home Office Design Ideas

Last week's post on home office designs was a big hit, so we're back with more.

This week's home office interiors are sleek, sophisticated and professional but full of character.

Let us know which one is your favorite!

All images are via Home-Designing.com

Show us your home office! Email us at OfficeEnvy@Gmail.com or
find us on Twitter @Office_Envy

Home Office Decor Inspiration

A few months ago a friend of ours told us that shopping for cosmetics was her way to relax, and last night as we found ourselves curled up with a stack of Crate and Barrel catalogs we realized that "shopping" -- more like window shopping really -- for furniture is our way to relax.

Often after a long day we'll find ourselves ducking into a West Elm on the way home from work or fighting the urge to see what's new at the Container Store.

And when it comes to procrastinating, stumbling around the internet looking for awesome interior design is a favorite pastime (thank God we got over that annoying little computer solitaire addiction that used to be our go to way to procrastinate).

It was on one of these recent browse-about binges that we came upon these awesome home office set ups. We love them all, and find them all inspiring in their own unique way.

Click on the image to see more details.

Which one do you like best?

Cardboard Offices - The Sequel

Yesterday we brought you news of this office made of cardboard and revealed that we may have stumbled upon a trend in disposable office furniture that intrigued us?

So why on earth would you ever build an entire office out of flimsy cardboard?

Dutch advertising firm Nothing -- whose cardboard office you'll find pictures of below -- addresses just that issue.

They write on their website "An interior can be seen as an overhead or an opportunity."

Let's stop there and take a moment to love that statement, shall we?

They go on to explain their choice of cardboard, "Using cheap throw-away material such as cardboard to create an inspiring work space, tons of free PR and a never ending supply of interesting job applicants seemed like a good way for our young agency to demonstrate its not so complex, 'it's not what you do but how you do it' philosophy."

{Pictures via Nothing}

We also found some posts on Dezeen about various structures made of cardboard, including some office spaces like this Dutch Bank (designed by Sander Architecten)

And this office also found on Dezeen.com

As it turns out, cardboard furniture is not just recyclable, it's multi-functional. And really what else do you need in order to be trendy these days?

Let us know what you think @Office_Envy on Twitter.

Creating Modern, Colorful Office: A Field Guide

Desk Setters, we know you have impeccable taste when it comes to office design. Whether your sense of style is eclectic or organized - you need your productive place to be in an inspiring space.

Today we're bringing you a little dose of design inspiration in case you're ever in the mood to add a pop of color to your office arrangement, we have a few ideas for you.

Check out these sleek, modern, colorful pieces that we found on Dwell.com.

First, we start on the inexpensive end. The Snap It Up organizer ($16) allows your to store your random loose leaf papers/pics/notes/items under the colorful bands. Available at the MoMA Store
Keep your contacts filed safety away in this eye catching address file from Pica Press

Store your books and folders on a bike shelf that can be suspended on the wall of your office

To really go all out with a colorful, modern office, you'll need:

A blue desk, $800Colorful desk lamps, $148
And a yellow stool for resting benefit of your soles and visitors

Of course, to contrast with all this color, you'll need something in a neutral tone to balance out your color scheme.
We love this eye catching indoor gas fireplace ($3,600-ish)

Do you have favorite colorful pieces we should know about?
Let us know at OfficeEnvy@Gmail.com or Office_Envy on Twitter.