Let's See Your Vintage Inspired Office!

poetman · Jun 23, 2008

Doran said:
Simple shelves are the easiest thing in the world to build. If you don't have a circular saw at home, you may wish to have the lumber cut at the lumber shop. You can make it fit any alcove precisely, and stain it exactly as you desire. I made (elsewhere in our apartment) such a shelf unit and it fits and looks perfect(ly). Drill, screws, a yardstick and wood is all you need. A plumb bob (make it yourself from string and anything heavy) helps, too.

Thanks. I just wonder if the cost of the wood will be more than buying one from the store.

Dr Doran · Jun 23, 2008

poetman said:
Thanks. I just wonder if the cost of the wood will be more than buying one from the store.

You will only be able to get crap particleboard if you buy a shelf unit for the price of buying real wood to make one.

poetman · Jun 23, 2008

Doran said:
You will only be able to get crap particleboard if you buy a shelf unit for the price of buying real wood to make one.

So were you suggesting I buy shelves and brackets to just put up shelves on the wall or actually buy the wood to make a bookcase? I'm hoping it was the later you thought would be easy.

WH1 · Jun 23, 2008

The is my home office. A mix of original and modern. The cigar ashtray is one of a pair I got they came from retired judges chambers. The pencil sharpener is a recent find. The trashcan and trays are OfficeMax. The only thing I am really looking for now is a nice wooden office chair and a "lucy" phone and a secretary that looks like....Never mind, my wife says I have everything I need.lol

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos166.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos149.jpg

John Boyer · Jun 24, 2008

poetman said:
John,

That sounds like a really nice room. If you have pictures, please do share. I never took a wood shop class in my life, but I'm on this kick of trying to build a bookcase now. I detest the idea of spending so much money in a office supply store for a bookcase made of particle board. I figure I could make one out of real wood.

Attached are a few pictures. I am particularly fond of the bookcases added a few years ago:

Dr Doran · Jun 24, 2008

poetman said:
So were you suggesting I buy shelves and brackets to just put up shelves on the wall or actually buy the wood to make a bookcase? I'm hoping it was the later you thought would be easy.

Yes, the latter. That way you can move them when you move.

EDIT: unless you own the place and don't intend to move.

poetman · Jun 24, 2008

WH1 said:
The is my home office. A mix of original and modern. The cigar ashtray is one of a pair I got they came from retired judges chambers. The pencil sharpener is a recent find. The trashcan and trays are OfficeMax. The only thing I am really looking for now is a nice wooden office chair and a "lucy" phone and a secretary that looks like....Never mind, my wife says I have everything I need.lol

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos166.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos149.jpg

Thanks for sharing. That's real nice. Where is the desk from? Very cool place indeed.

poetman · Jun 24, 2008

John Boyer said:
Attached are a few pictures. I am particularly fond of the bookcases added a few years ago:

That's not a study; that's a palace! What a beautiful room! Thanks for sharing. How did you find the bookcases? Thanks again. That's a real gem!

WH1 · Jun 24, 2008

poetman said:
Thanks for sharing. That's real nice. Where is the desk from? Very cool place indeed.

I got the desk at an auction in Colorado Springs 6 years ago. It is from a military base in Kansas so possibly Fort Leavenworth or Fort Riley. It was a steal, got it for $50 and have never regretted it.
Next project for the office is a set of nice bookcases with a small bar area. One of the things I appreciate most about my office is the windows and the cathedral ceiling so there is a lot of light, a great view and I was able to put up the flags and guidons I have from some of my deployments. My wife has been great about letting this be my room only. I think she is just glad to have my stuff contained in one easily controlled area.

WH1 · Jun 24, 2008

John Boyer said:
Attached are a few pictures. I am particularly fond of the bookcases added a few years ago:

That is a very nice office. I really like the bookcases.

John Boyer · Jun 25, 2008

poetman said:
That's not a study; that's a palace! What a beautiful room! Thanks for sharing. How did you find the bookcases? Thanks again. That's a real gem!

The bookcases were actually built by a friend of my in his garage. He installed them in about (8) sections. This is really a relatively small area about the size of a "sleeping porch"--although with 'old home' high ceilings. The bookcases seem to add some depth to the area. Thank you very much for the compliments. I love to read and write in this area.

AmateisGal · Jun 25, 2008

John Boyer said:
Attached are a few pictures. I am particularly fond of the bookcases added a few years ago:

Oh GOSH. I have bookshelf ENVY now. Wow. What a spectacular office.

John Boyer · Jun 25, 2008

AmateisGal said:
Oh GOSH. I have bookshelf ENVY now. Wow. What a spectacular office.

Thank you very much. My only regret was this room wasn't big enough to do 3-4 walls like this--over a period of time. On the upside, I probably have enough reading material, as it is, for the rest of my life; particularly if I could discipline myself to re-read books more often; this is not one of my strong points. John

John Boyer · Jun 26, 2008

WH1 said:
The is my home office. A mix of original and modern. The cigar ashtray is one of a pair I got they came from retired judges chambers. The pencil sharpener is a recent find. The trashcan and trays are OfficeMax. The only thing I am really looking for now is a nice wooden office chair and a "lucy" phone and a secretary that looks like....Never mind, my wife says I have everything I need.lol

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos166.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t36/wh1fedora/CanonPhotos149.jpg

This is a wonderful space. Do you know the time period of the "cigar astray". Also, I am intrigued by the "bankers lamp". Is this an original? Regardless, it works very well in this room. John

Hammelby · Nov 10, 2008

Custom made period-desk?

I am in a lucky situation.
I designed a logo for this danish furniture designer, and instead of paying me a special friend price ($ 1-2.500), he want to build something special for me!

So what do you think I should have him make? He suggested a desk, customized to my vintage taste and work. I am a storyboard artist and draw alot, so little shelves underneath for paper and rulers might be nice. He suggested to make it in mahogany.

What do you think?

Down2BDapper · Nov 11, 2008

Mine would be more like a library than an office.

ShoreRoadLady · Nov 11, 2008

Hammelby said:
I am in a lucky situation.
I designed a logo for this danish furniture designer, and instead of paying me a special friend price ($ 1-2.500), he want to build something special for me!

So what do you think I should have him make? He suggested a desk, customized to my vintage taste and work. I am a storyboard artist and draw alot, so little shelves underneath for paper and rulers might be nice. He suggested to make it in mahogany.

What do you think?

I think that if you have an opportunity for a free or reduced-price custom mahogany desk, you should go for it! Silly question!

For my own ideal office, I like Down2BDapper's library - but as an attachment to the office. For my actual workspace, I'd like something very clean, bright, and streamlined, with plenty of natural light. I make enough clutter all by myself - I don't need dark wood or low lighting to add to the stuffiness.

Since I do a variety of things, I'd want to have separate areas for artwork and paperwork/computing. (In my dream world, I'd also have a completely separate sewing room.) Light, calming colors only - shades of white and probably some blue accents. Furniture would be either light-colored wood, or painted white or an off-white shade, although a few dark accents *could* be accepted.

And I'd have plenty of room to spread things out (I'm a Horizontal Organizer, not a Vertical Organizer). Trays galore for organization. Plenty of shelf space for frequently-referenced books. Everything would be very ergonomic, and set up so I could sit or stand as I pleased. Oh, and there would have to be a sink in the corner for washing up all the art supplies.

Hammelby · Nov 11, 2008

ShoreRoadLady said:
I think that if you have an opportunity for a free or reduced-price custom mahogany desk, you should go for it! Silly question!

Yes, that was a silly question.. I see that now

But what kind of gentlemans vintage desk should I have him make? I see some nice pictures in this thread but can't see the design of the desk, except the one in the Hopper painting. More suggestions wanted, pleeeze!

Hammelby · Nov 11, 2008

Space-cadet office?

ShoreRoadLady said:
And I'd have plenty of room to spread things out (I'm a Horizontal Organizer, not a Vertical Organizer). Trays galore for organization. Plenty of shelf space for frequently-referenced books. Everything would be very ergonomic, and set up so I could sit or stand as I pleased. Oh, and there would have to be a sink in the corner for washing up all the art supplies.

Oh - Goodie! I'm also, like you say a horizontal organizer (pile rather than file). A creative mind that prefers Right Brain organizing, or in scientific terms (yes, there is one): Divergent Thinker.

Heres two really neat tips (maby you know them, but they are reeeally helping me getting my life more organized):

A book, by Lee Silber "Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain: A Creative Approach to Getting Organized". One of the advices I am trying now is the "PHAT" method (4 piles): Pile (stuff that needs to be filed/piled), Hoard (stuff that I dont know where should go), Action (Important stuff, bills), Trash.

And when I put stuff away, I use the japanese Noguchi filing system.

Slim Portly · Nov 11, 2008

Down2BDapper said:

Oh dear... my heart skipped a beat at this. Were my office anything like this I fear I would only go home to water the cat and let the plants out.

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