I was always one of those nerdy kids who would be itching to get back to school by mid-August. It was totally the promise of fall fashions and crisp, unmarked school supplies that got me. In fact, I'm still a sucker for back to school season and plan on buying myself a cute new notebook for work. It's the little things, you know? This week's Top 5 Friday is all about great new finds for the home office, back to school and future dorm-dwellers.
Timeless Lighting and Storage Solutions
Desk Lamp, $99.50; Handmade Art Deco boxes, $15 for small, $29.50 for large, all available at Indigo
Every stylish work space needs a hard-working task lamp and this version by Indigo has a sleek and classic shape. I like it best in candy red, but it also comes in white and black. And of course, any decor fan worth his or her salt is a fan of a pretty storage box, and these beauties are handmade made with sheesham wood with a resin inlay. The small version is just the right size for business cards on the desk or keys at the front door. The large would hide that pile of mail I keep saying I'll organize...I think Jill Pollack of Consumed would agree!
Dorm Room Sound Systems
J±™ Docking Station for iPod/iPhone with Alarm, $79; Tower speak with dock, $99, both available at Loblaws and Presidents Choice
Perhaps the fact that I never lived in a dorm makes me romanticize the idea of living in a shoebox with a stranger, but I was always envious of residence life. That could be because of the wicked floor parties I witnessed, complete with banging speaker systems that some music-loving kid would inevitably own. Ah, memories... Here are two options that won't take up too much room while still offering clean, high quality sound.
USB Keys
Black cat, ninja 4GB USB keys, $35, Urban Outfitters; Wooden USB stick, 1-8GB, 39-55 Euro OOOMS
This is something I didn't have to worry about as I attended uni in the, ahem, floppy disk days, but can we talk about how adorable USB flash storage keys have gotten? I definitely need extra storage these days and if you have to choose between something plain and something well-designed, I'll pick design every time. I really love the wooden sticks by OOOMS -- they're made from real wood! (Not sure if you can get them here yet, but I had to include it.)
Maps: Reminders of Home
Toronto map/Rosedale neighbourhood, artyMaps, $20;Vancouver vintage map pillow, mybeardedpigeon, $60
Remind your kids where they came from with a map of their hometown. Etsy.com is a great resource for finding designers who will create just what you need in many forms from art to pillows to buttons, jewellery and more. And there's no rule that says you can't display your hometown pride in the office, too.
Bedding
Stripe Duvet Cover and Shams, $19-$89; Hand-Blocked Jaipur Quilt and Shams, $19-$119, West Elm
While new bedding may seem like dorm room decor, fall is also a great time to update your own sheets to something heavier and cozier, and more autumnal in palette (I love that word, autumnal...). Smart grey stripes are masculine, while the fine details and garnet accents in the Jaipur quilt would make a lady happy. Both of these sets would work just as well in the master lair.
How do you get ready for back to school in your home? Are you saying goodbye to kids who are off to experience dorm life?
Related: