Decor

Browsing one of my favorite websites, TED.com, I came across author Sam Martin discussing how the building of his backyard writing space sparked his interest in “manspaces” nationwide. I’m uncertain as to how the term “manspace” applies, as my experiences have shown the need for personal space is independent of gender. Nonetheless, I found the video interesting and relevant for writers who are “carving out” their place in this world with ample room for GADGETS…I hope!

via http://ted.com

If you’ve seen Kung Fu Panda you know that the key to the "secret ingredient" is just to believe there’s a secret ingredient.  So if you’re going to have your morning cup of java or tea, why not transform it into "screenwriting fuel" with this cup from Zazzle.com.  Let it be a constant reminder of your screenwriting goals in 2010. 

Buy Here: $13.95

Leather and technology are an odd combination, mixing old world with new age.   However, Restoration Hardware has put together a handsome combination of the two eras in the form of a steamer trunk office.  When I came across this desk piece I thought it might be ideal for some of our readers. Writers so often love the nostalgia of  traditional  office settings, but don’t want to be fettered by antiquated technology. 

The Mayfair Steamer Secretary Trunk is a reproduction of an antique steamer trunk with over 3,000 hand-hammered brass nail heads.  If your main room doubles as an office and entertaining space, you can literally close up shop, allowing for privacy and additional room for guests.   Window placement in your loft or house might cause "glaring issues" with your computer screen at certain times of the day.  The Mayfair Steamer stands on wheels for easy mobility - so you can position your office away from the sun, the kids, or your spouse???  

Price: $3995

I came across these typewriter key coasters while placing an order with one of my favorite online catalogs - Sundance.  Each coaster is stamped with a courier font letter of your choice and encased in glass at $8 a pop (two or more $7 each).  Order your favorite letter, piece together initials, or get creative and spell out something like LOVE or DREAM or QWERTY. These coasters would make the perfect gift and fit the decor of any writer.

Smart Furniture takes an innovative approach to  a  staple in office furniture - the bookshelf.  There’s a lot of creative artistry that goes into book cover design, so why not display your books as…wall art???

The base of the Concealed Floating Bookshelves tuck indiscreetly between the pages, offering the appearance of a floating stack of books.  I can imagine an entire wall covered with floating books. Each shelf is made of powder-coated steel.  The large wall-mount is $11.50 and the small wall-mount is $8.99 and holds the same weight.  There’s your conversation piece; now just add wine.

If you want to mix it up, Smart Furniture also offers what they call a Flybrary.  Much like the  Concealed Floating Bookshelves, the books are suspended to the wall with invisible shelves, but the spine faces up.  Priced at $30, the Flybrary is engineered to hold up to 20 lbs.  For those of you taking a modern approach to your office setup, these creative bookshelves might be just the right touch.

I wrote at length about the advantages of netbooks for writers several months after these gadgets first stormed the scene. With the current state of the economy, the Founders’ Blog is getting more and more inquiries about the capabilities of these new computers. In response, I’ve taken the time to graphically depict what a productive office setup might look like as it relates to gadgets/technology and the netbook.

Let’s quickly eliminate a few skepticisms about netbooks. While a netbook is not as powerful as a laptop, it is adequate for a writer’s needs. Can a netbook run MS Word? Yes. What about Final Draft? Yes. Movie Magic? Of course. Writers have it easy - we deal with text, the whole text and nothin’ but the text. And netbooks are perfectly capable of running text-driven applications. I do caution a few things: before buying, make certain you purchase a netbook with at least 1GB of ram if it’s running Windows XP and at least 2GB of ram if it’s running Vista. Keep pictures and music to a minimum unless you are using the netbook to transport the files to the web. [click to continue...]

May is just around the corner and graduations are nearing.  Need the perfect gift for that English Lit grad leasing a new apartment or that quick-witted screenwriter finishing up film school? The Atelier polished task lamp is a memorable gift that sends the perfect message: Your future is bright. 

For those middle of the night "bursts of brilliance", gift them a journal or notebook to keep beside the task lamp.  I love the Jenny Bick refillable SMILE journal.  Just click on your task light and jot down your thoughts. 

Lamp Price: $229      Journal Price: $29