Blogging and All that Malarkey Stuff & Nonsense

Malarkey is Andy Clarke, a creative designer with a passion for accessibility and web standards. This is his personal website.

Decorate my studio

Stuff an Nonsense have moved up a floor and I have a new studio space. Trouble is, it's dull and I need your help or suggestions to decorate it.

Some of you may recall that way back in June last year, Stuff and Nonsense grew up, moved away from home and got a place of its own. I wasn't so sure about the move at the time, but (happily) I was proved wrong and it's been a good move. So much so, that we've moved again! This time not into a new building but to a new floor.

The new space allows us to separate design from development from management, gives us more space and more opportunity to grow without outgrowing our space. My problem is my studio, bland or uninspiring just doesn't sum up the space.

In need of decorationMy studio sure needs your delicate touch.

<excuses>I know I haven't had time to decorate.</excuses>

But I don't know what to do. Plants, pictures... I simply haven't got a clue. So, I thought I'd leave the decoration up to you. Tell me what you think I should do, or decorate the place for me.

Here is a ZIP containing layered Photoshop image of my space (990Kb). Do with it what you want and then post the picture here, I've enabled images in comments for this column.

  1. Please ensure that images are no wider than 320px at 72dpi
  2. Upload them to your own server
  3. Add the XHTML for the image <img src="https://" alt="" />
  4. Anything that might be considered objectionable might get deleted

Now, out with the overalls!

Replies

  1. #1 On February 7, 2005 02:50 PM Dan said:

    You should cover your walls in these beauties.

  2. #2 On February 7, 2005 02:51 PM Grant Broome said:

    Is that chair in the corner for naughty people?

  3. #3 On February 7, 2005 03:15 PM Matthew Pennell said:

  4. #4 On February 7, 2005 03:30 PM Jon Hicks said:

    perhaps...

  5. #5 On February 7, 2005 03:36 PM Phil Baines said:

    Go to https://shop.deviantart.com/ and check out some of the cool imagery. Then think about it on your walls. some of it is rubbish (this is the net), but there are some awsome artists available there also.

  6. #6 On February 7, 2005 03:55 PM Neko said:

    Perfect if you bring kids in office!

  7. #7 On February 7, 2005 03:56 PM Rob McMichael said:

    As Ludacris once stated on MTV cribs, "How many people can say they have a swamp in their house!".

  8. #8 On February 7, 2005 04:12 PM Josh Jarmin said:

    Can we see more pictures of the new office?

  9. #9 On February 7, 2005 04:14 PM Veerle Pieters said:

    I see many creativity going on here... but maybe you might look for something that can REALLY help? :-P

    Check out our working environment. Maybe some pictures of my readers in the comments might help too.

    I bought some new cabinets lately. You'll immediately notice my love for bright colors. Great for lifting your spirit up ;-)

  10. #10 On February 7, 2005 04:23 PM Jeff Croft said:

    Man, what a clever idea. Wish I had time to give it a go myself. Oh, and props to the blue screen. Classic.

  11. #11 On February 7, 2005 04:33 PM Sean Fraser said:

    Mr. Malarkey on the leeward side of O'ahu, Hawai'i (and, since this - after all - is his office, Rover lurks on the horizon).

  12. #12 On February 7, 2005 04:41 PM Rob McMichael said:

    Just to remind you not to work too hard!

  13. #13 On February 7, 2005 04:50 PM Neko said:

  14. #14 On February 7, 2005 04:53 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Grant Broome: Yes, and if you're really bad, I'll make you face the wall ;)

    @ Matthew: Not seen that for a while.

    @ Jon Hicks: Nice, but does it go with my eyes?

    @ Neko:
    That is FANTASTIC!

    @ Josh Jarmin: ’50 and you'll get a guided tour! ;)

    @ Veerle Pieters: Just too groooovy man!

    @ Sean Fraser: Hey! Where is she? If I'm gonna work on a beach, I need Britney Spears!

    @, @ and Rob McMichael: Like the words! Have you got I must finish my dissertation, I must finish my dissertation etc. on your walls? Or I must remember to send Malarkey a copy? ;)

  15. #15 On February 7, 2005 05:12 PM Malarkey said:

    OK, what if Britney was like... ;)

    Keep 'em comin'...

  16. #16 On February 7, 2005 05:32 PM Jess said:

    It's been a long night.

  17. #17 On February 7, 2005 05:38 PM Jess said:


    I'll be the first to not follow directions. Like I said, long night.

  18. #18 On February 7, 2005 05:52 PM Alex said:

    I had a few other ideas, I'll post them up a bit later on.

  19. #19 On February 7, 2005 06:15 PM joel schou said:

    You didn't explicitly say that we couldn't alter the foreground, so I suppose someone had to do it...

    My platform bias isn't showing through too strongly, is it? :)

    Enjoy the new Powerbook!

  20. #20 On February 7, 2005 06:22 PM Joshua Brewer said:


    Nothing like a party at work, eh?

  21. #21 On February 7, 2005 07:25 PM Joshua Brewer said:

    Okay.... one more....

    Couldn't resist.
    Check out the .psd to see more details...

  22. #22 On February 7, 2005 08:18 PM Feaverish said:

  23. #23 On February 7, 2005 08:50 PM Rubber Duck said:

    Well the first name is the same, so why not.......

    Sorry about the perspective, it all went a bit strange...

  24. #24 On February 7, 2005 08:58 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Jess: I 'spose I'll allow a table in this room ;)

    @ Alex: #work {position:reclined} might be more accurate.

    @ Joel Schou: Lovin' your work! And I get a new iBook! Fab!

    @ Joshua Brewer: How did you know I had mirrored balls?

    @ Feaverish: Spooky

    @ Dom (Rubbber Duck): Even I'm not that vain! :P

  25. #25 On February 7, 2005 11:29 PM Andrew Hayward said:

    Don't know what the view's like where you're working, but if it's anything like mine*, you could just knock a hole (or several) in the wall, and have done with it. Hang a few random tapestries, and... mmm, Malarkey Castle.

    *This is actually nothing like my view, and I don't live in a castle (or an {insert Gothic style building here}) either... but that's not the point.

  26. #26 On February 8, 2005 12:13 AM Sean Fraser said:

    Or, you may prefer that fine English tradition.

  27. #27 On February 8, 2005 12:50 AM dotjay said:

    I'm really sorry, Malarkey. Jo (girlfriend) was bored and commandeered Photoshop.

    It looks like the girl from accounts has been around. I'm quite disturbed by the photo on your desk (it's of me). And those office chairs look like they've been upholstered by Mr Blobby!

  28. #28 On February 8, 2005 06:30 AM NickM said:

    For the noisy and calm moments ;-)

    (Ed: Image vanished :( )

  29. #30 On February 8, 2005 01:48 PM Jon Hicks said:

    wow - I want Andrew Haywards for my own!! I love it!

  30. #31 On February 8, 2005 02:15 PM David Dickerson said:

    Dude! I've got the exact same pc as you! That's a Hypersonic Aviator ZX7, right? Good machine, but I need a memory upgrade. Screen is the bomb.

  31. #32 On February 8, 2005 06:07 PM Rob McMichael said:

    How about a window to check up on all the stuff and nonsense workers!

  32. #33 On February 8, 2005 06:56 PM Brent said:

    First, I put in two windows. Then I went ahead and slapped a new coat of white on the walls, which brough the color of the decks out! Lastly, I took the photo of the room, added a nice dali-esque background and framed it with one of my grandmother's old picture frames. And vaola, we have this!

  33. #34 On February 8, 2005 07:01 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Andrew Hayward: Umm, classy!

    @ Sean Fraser: Very Vera Duckworth.

    @ DotJay: Is that a bra hanging over my laptop?

    @ Gfunk: Many Bothans died to bring us that wallpaper.

    @ David Dickerson: It's a Pico PC, one of my various machines. (Are you the tanned David Dickerson from the telly?)

    @ Rob McMichael: Wonderful Comrade! Look at all those web developers in grey boiler suits! Perfect!

  34. #35 On February 8, 2005 07:19 PM Reverend Dan said:

    and the award for the least amount of work put in goes to...

  35. #36 On February 8, 2005 07:24 PM David Brent said:

    No no no, that's David Dickenson!

  36. #37 On February 8, 2005 08:14 PM Kyle Stauffer said:

  37. #38 On February 8, 2005 09:01 PM dotjay said:

    Back @ Malarkey: Yes, apparently it is a bra. (Hence my reference to the girl from accounts ;0) )

    (The guy off the tele is David Dickinson, not Dickerson.)

  38. #39 On February 8, 2005 09:50 PM Jason Beaird said:

    Shameless plug for my artwork. (Image fade in thanks to Clagnut) Mpeg is one of a series of mixed media paintings I've done using simple watercolor washes and obsolete electronics. A little color, some dramatic lighting, and some artwork for the walls goes a long way.

  39. #40 On February 8, 2005 10:30 PM dotjay said:

    @ Kyle Stauffer: Is this the one where Malarkey goes to Ikea?

  40. #41 On February 8, 2005 10:33 PM Kyle Stauffer said:

    haha absolutely.

  41. #42 On February 8, 2005 10:39 PM vigo said:

    How's this for Stuff and Revolution's offices?

  42. #43 On February 9, 2005 12:48 AM NickM said:

    Hi, Malarkey...image never vanished its still there, my host just borked my server for some hours. You can add that back now should be ok :-S

    Cheers, Nick

  43. #44 On February 9, 2005 09:09 AM nikki said:

    The real problem being that you move studios too often: take immediate preventative (in)action.

  44. #45 On February 9, 2005 09:34 AM Phunky said:

    Decorate my website...

    As guy hosting its done a runner and left all his clients up Sh*te creek without a paddle!

  45. #46 On February 9, 2005 10:00 AM conn75 said:

    You need HAMSTERCAT!!!

  46. #47 On February 9, 2005 01:48 PM Brian B. said:

    There's no place like...work.

  47. #48 On February 9, 2005 05:18 PM Jay said:

    make a Life Poster

  48. #49 On February 9, 2005 10:38 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Reverend Dan: Yup, you win that one hands down!

    @ Kyle Stauffer: Very Svedish

    @ Jason Beaird: Lovely artwork, I want some.

    @ Vigo: Peter has banned my bust of Lenin and other Marxist stuff from the building :(

    @ NickM: Nice to see it back.

    @ Nikki: I wish!

    @ conn75: (Strange name :) ) Have you been stealing my pills again?

    @Brian B: I'm melting... melting...

  49. #50 On February 9, 2005 11:33 PM Neko said:

    Watch out from Spock!

  50. #51 On February 9, 2005 11:46 PM Kev said:


    This room has been decorated with accessibilty in mind

  51. #52 On February 9, 2005 11:51 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Neko: Yippee! It took 50 comments but Star Trek came through in the end!

    @ Kev: This is a wall.
    It looks like your time at Live Solutions has taught you something. ;)

  52. #53 On February 10, 2005 01:06 AM Cloudwalking said:

    Sorry for the lousy anti-aliasing.

  53. #54 On February 10, 2005 05:11 AM Cameron Moll said:

    Some of these are simply tooooo good.

  54. #55 On February 10, 2005 07:37 PM Peter said:

    The ban on Lenin still holds, but how about a little Arthur?
    I know - you gotta love her:-)

  55. #56 On February 10, 2005 08:47 PM Sean Fraser said:

    It appears The Manchester Vernal Design Co., Ltd.'s Pastoral Settings Group's Joy Division did it.

    Perhaps, you should engage Noddy &c.

  56. #57 On February 10, 2005 10:53 PM Malarkey said:

    @ Cloudwalking: Way subtle.

    @ Sean Fraser: Not sure I'm with you? Waaayy too subtle ;)

  57. #58 On February 10, 2005 11:25 PM Sean Fraser said:

    @ Malarkey: Sorry.

    It all began in 1976 at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester.... Then, Joy Division.

    Still.... Noddy. Noddy Holder? Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill and Don Powell? Slade? You've got all of their 45's, right?

    ;-)

  58. #59 On February 10, 2005 11:56 PM Neil Whiteley said:


    There, that's much better.

  59. #60 On February 11, 2005 05:21 PM dik said:

    back at Uni in Newcastle, many, many moons ago some people had this image wrapped floor to celing in their living room it was fucking awsome (although the image had more landscape in it):

  60. #61 On February 14, 2005 12:58 PM Pete Smith said:

    People will fear you even more!

  61. #62 On February 15, 2005 01:45 PM KLewis said:

    Damn, I don't have photoshop handy so here's an idea for someone to steal...

    Simply a montage of all the suggestions nicely framed on the wall behind the desk...