I’ve found that even if I’m working off a desk that was my family’s kitchen table in the 70’s and my chair is less than ergonomic, little design details make me smile every time I sit down to work. Some of my favorite online spots for home office coolness:

See Jane Work has an outstanding collection of goodies that make work more beautiful. I love the vintage wire desk trays and the modern patterned corkboards from NotNeutral.

Red Stamp Cards is a great site for stylish stationery, but they’ve also got a sweet little office supplies category with no generic marbled composition books in sight. The Thomas Paul collection is particularly drool-worthy, with great-looking pencil cups, file folders, and maybe the nicest mouse pads I’ve ever seen.

Museum stores are always a smart bet for those cool desktop details. The steel and aluminum fan-like Note Holder” from MoMA is great for organizing those pressing letters and bills, and I love love love the porcupine paperclip holderfrom Alessi that’s a far cry from the standard middle management cubicle accessory.

At the SFMOMA, I found this awesome set of artist-designed wastebaskets (I know!) for just $15 each. They’re biodegradable to boot. Clearly there’s something clever line in here about the irony of throwing away the garbage can, but I haven’t figured it out yet.

Next stop: The dream desk. If only I could find that one for $15 too.

Presenting: The most excellent, super-cool design resource, Trunkt.

 

Trunkt is a directory showcasing artisans and creative entrepreneurs loaded up with tons of gorgeous photos to help get the salivary glands going. If you’re the type who seeks housewares and décor that no one else in your life will have, this is a great place to look for it.

Some of the artists we’ve featured that have a presence on trunkt include Shosonna Snow’s lovely porcelain bowls and ornaments, gorgeous handmade tea towels from Hammocks and High Tea, the whimsical teapots and serving pieces from Daisy Dog Studios, and bookcases from Dust Furniture which would make Dr. Seuss proud. (Seriously, they’re wacky. Limit yourself to one piece.) But surely you’ll find plenty of your own picks, plenty of which are available right online.

We can’t all own that original Eames sofa or $10,000 hand-carved antique table. But add a single cool hand-embroidered pillow to that affordable couch, or deck out your dining room with a one-of-a-kind artisan centerpiece and suddenly your home looks less catalog page, and more…home.

-Liz Gumbinner, Co-Editor Cool Mom Picks