Jimmy Choo founder's well-heeled office
The chic shoemaker's founder and president Tamara Mellon knows just how to create a distinctive executive lair.
 |
| Mellon's London office is as stylish as her shoes. |
(Fortune Magazine) -- Drama is the predominant theme in this young entrepreneur's world: From building a global brand based on $500-plus stilettos, to closing her third round of private equity financing to the tune of $360 million last year, Mellon doesn't do anything halfway - including the recent renovation of her London office.
"It's a take on the '70s - young, modern glamour," she says. She collaborated with L.A.-based interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, whose vision included gilded walls, "skyscraper" chairs by noted designer and metalworker Paul Evans, a '70s desk by furniture innovator Paul Tuttle, and exotic skins everywhere. The hides - wall-to-wall goatskin carpet, zebra pillows, an alligator desk set - echo Mellon's shoe collections.
Here, her six laws for creating a glamorous workspace.
Get Inspired. I have a library of vintage U.K., U.S., French, and Italian Vogues that I turn to for ideas.
Hire professional organizers. In London, the go-to company is Practical Princess - brilliant at getting everything color-coded and logically laid out.
Install window treatments. Aero shades allow light in but preserve privacy.
Keep a small stereo handy. Music can be an effective motivational tool.
Present everything on trays. Also, use nice china and glasses. It's distracting when every mug is different.
Pay attention to scent. A candle or strip of aromatic wood instills a welcoming atmosphere.
1. Flowers: Hand-tied bunches of peonies and hydrangeas. I love Wild At Heart in Notting Hill.
2. Office furnishings: MUJI for office accessories and desk supplies - there's beauty in such simplicity.
3. Power Lunch: The Wolseley, in Piccadilly, is a standout for comfort food and service second to none.
4. Stationery: Smythson has the chicest collection of note cards (I prefer the classic ecru) and diaries (black leather). 
-
The retail giant tops the Fortune 500 for the second year in a row. Who else made the list? More -
This group of companies is all about social networking to connect with their customers. More -
The fight over the cholesterol medication is keeping a generic version from hitting the market. More -
Bin Laden may be dead, but the terrorist group he led doesn't need his money. More -
U.S. real estate might be a mess, but in other parts of the world, home prices are jumping. More -
Libya's output is a fraction of global production, but it's crucial to the nation's economy. More -
Once rates start to rise, things could get ugly fast for our neighbors to the north. More
