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!”
