Tech + Art + Decor Updates: Making my Office a Prettier Place to Work

Thanks to my husband's prodding, I finally ditched my old school mouse and keyboard and upgraded to a sleek wireless duo. As an Apple junkie, I got the Bluetooth-enabled Magic Mouse and the Apple Wireless Keyboard. I am thrilled with the performance of both (although I miss having the calculator part of the keyboard) and I'm deliriously happy about the cord-free zone that is my desk. I HATE cords so I'm not sure why it took me so long to make this improvement. I also got rid of our huge tower so I'm solely on a laptop + LED display setup now. Integrating technology with decor can be frustrating, so less is definitely more when it comes to the tech gear! And thank goodness Apple makes such pretty technology :)

Unfortunately I didn't take a shot of the "before" look but hopefully you can appreciate the aesthetic improvement nonetheless...

So now that I've wrangled my tech sitcho, I can move onto the rest of the room. Besides getting a new rug (the black Greek key indoor/outdoor one that I had in here before started to ripple....grrr), I'm thinking of getting tailored skirts made for the desks so that the trestle bases are no longer exposed. Also, at some point in the future, the bookcase will be replaced with a custom credenza that includes tons of storage and cubbies for my dogs' beds :)

Also, I'd like to fill the walls with artwork. All spaces need lots 'o art but I emphatically believe that a creative work environment has to have plenty of it. You can see here that one whole side of the room has no art...very sad. So I went and bought a couple of canvases and am going to attempt to paint something for the space. I used to be an avid painter many moons ago and I really want to get back into it. Nothing like a HUGE blank canvas to get me back in the saddle - yikes. Jazzy is obviously supportive and excited about the possibilities!

If I create an artistic monstrosity, Plan B is to order this amazing piece from Natural Curiosities called Silver Leaf Wave. It's massive (84" x 36") and is framed in acrylic so I'm sure it's stunning in person. Apparently Jazzy is not quite as pumped about this idea. Here's a mock-up of what it would look like in the room (at least partially)...

Have you made any improvements to your workspace lately? It's amazing much impact even the smallest enhancements can have on your working environment. Whether it's a new wireless mouse, a colorful lamp for your desk, or even a fun coaster, it's nice to reward yourself for working hard every once and a while.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Paule Marrot's Textile Creations

I love seeing artwork of the past celebrated in new ways. Besides creating new art, Christopher Wilcox's Natural Curiosities seems to be on a mission to make sure that the lesser-known artists of the past are not forgotten. By acquiring the oeuvres of a diverse set of artists such as engravers, painters, botanists, and architects, Natural Curiosities has resurrected their work by reproducing it in a modern context.

I'm transfixed by architectural drawings so I've long been a fan of NC's offerings in that area and I also love their maps and botanical illustrations. A relatively new release from NC, the Paule Marrot Collection, is one I've recently taken note of. Here is a piece from the collection called Swirl Set, which is comprised of four 22" square panels....

All images copyright of Paule Marrot Editions.

French artist, Paule Marrot lived from 1902 until 1987 and began her life in art as a painter and eventually came to focus on textiles. She became known for her inventive use of bold color and pattern and truly breathed new life into the world of textile design. Her work was fawned over by many in the interior design community including the iconic Billy Baldwin. One of Marrot's floral creations even prompted Jacqueline Kennedy to have an entire room of the White House designed around it. In short, Marrot's art was recognized by the savants of her time and happily, she enjoyed success during her lifetime. Read more about her life and work here.

I first spotted Marrot's work at the Calypso Home store that just opened in Dallas. Their walls are adorned with a few pieces created by Marrot, produced by Natural Curiosities. NC took Marrot's beautiful work and presented each piece floated on raw linen, housed in a fabulously modern acrylic frame. The one called Feathers, the vibrant pink piece shown in the number one position below not only caught my eye, it also got the attention of one of my clients and we're trying it out in her house today.

In addition to Feathers, here are a few more selections from Natural Curiosities' Paule Marrot Collection...

All images copyright of Paule Marrot Editions.

I'm thankful to Natural Curiosities for bringing Marrot's work into the light and for presenting it in such a fresh, current manner.  While I'm generally not in favor of reproductions in art, I do think that Natural Curiosities produces its prints with a higher level of integrity and sense of purpose than some others in the business. Like I said before, I feel like they resurrect and share the works of artists past and I appreciate that.

What is your take on reproductions? Also, what do you think of Marrot's work? If you love it, be sure to check out NC's Paule Marrot Petites as well!