The cute and quirky office space of Alphabet Bags

I was trawling through countless emails last week when my clicks led me to the blog of a brand that I've followed for some time, Alphabet Bags. The post excited me because it features a sneak peek inside their offices (I'm nosy, what can I say).

The whole place just reminds me of an Instagram picture, from the cute designs and messages to an old typewriter and mis-matched but loveable furniture and accessories. Motivational messages adorn the walls while there is plenty of storage to keep things neat and super-organised. This is the sort of place I'd be inspired by and it must make it far easier to get out of bed and drag yourself to work each day.

Top tips from the owners include using IKEA picture ledges to showcase favourite pieces of art, using string and pegs to hang up inspirational cards and making sure there are lots of plants for the feel-good factor. What do you think? Winning worksace or too cute for you?

The benefits of standing up while working

Last week I was in a meeting room for a long training session and by the afternoon everyone started shifting about in their chairs and feeling uncomfortable. Meeting room chairs are often not as adaptable as desk chairs and, as such, are less comfortable when seated for long periods of time.

The idea of a standing meeting room was suggested and I have to admit I can see some benefit in this. A table on hydraulics makes sense so that there is flexibility to use the space in both ways - with and without chairs. I also feel like meetings would be quicker and more efficient as a result as people don't get too comfy and settle in to their seats.

DJs at Radio 1 have adjustable height working spaces and they've mentioned this on air before, why can't we all consider it as an option? Being able to vary your position throughout the day as required has got to be good for posture and it seems some experts agree. Read this article on the BBC website and this one on the NY Times website which talk about the potential perils of sitting at a desk day in, day out. It's worrying to think we're damaging our bodies just by going to work and it's encouraged me to get up and walk about more while at work.

I'm not sure I'm quite ready to take on the Walkstation, below, but I'm up for a new approach. What about you?

REDValentino flagship store in Milan

REDValentino has announced the opening of its new flagship store in Corso Venezia 6, Milan.

'The space and time of shopping is conceived as a fluid, dreamlike experience, charged with the sense of surprise one finds in fairy tales: familiar spaces that suddenly reveal a hidden, parallel dimension; walls move and ceilings disappear. In the blink of an eye, both viewpoint and vanishing point shift perspective and turn reality into magic.' This is the inspiration behind the spatial narrative of the new boutique, designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Creative Directors of Maison Valentino.

The space includes three rooms with the warm, timeless atmosphere of a cosy antique home. Lighting is contemporary which highlights to white walls and surroundings. The boutique is 175 square metres in size, with a large window overlooking the main street. Currently in stock are the REDValentino clothing and accessories collections for Fall/Winter 2012-13 and Spring/Summer 2013.

Ikku's future-friendly office accessories

New Amsterdam based brand Ikku creates future-friendly accessories for your laptop and i-devices. The Burma Collection pictured combines recycled denim and recycled canvas with hand-woven fabrics from Burma.

‘While travelling in Burma, we were drawn into this small weavery by bright coloured patterns. We were impressed by the pride and craftmanship the Burmese weavers put into their work, so we decided to use these fabrics for this special collection’, says Daniel Archutowski, Ikku’s co-founder and designer.

The Burma collection consists of cases for iPhone 4 & 4S and multi featured sleeves for MacBook 13’’ &15’’ and iPad 2 & 3. Visit www.ikkuonline.com for more information.

New Vivienne Westwood store in Wales

Vivienne Westwood has opened her first ever store in Cardiff, Wales. The shop will showcase all Vivienne Westwood collections and be the destination store for her fans and customers in Wales and the South West of England. The new store measures 2,600 square foot and draws inspiration from the original Vivienne Westwood flagship store on 44 Conduit Street, London. Situated in St David’s Centre in the historical and cultural city of Cardiff, the area is an excellent setting for the Avant-Garde and iconic Vivienne Westwood collections. 

 The store features large theatrical windows and a stage adorned with classic Vivienne Westwood mannequins, fawn hoofed rails and a pink crystal chandelier and will stock a full range of Gold, Red & MAN Label, Anglomania, Anglomania + Lee jeans, Red Carpet eveningwear dresses and all accessories including shoes and bags. 

Benetton pop-up store in New York

United Colors of Benetton has just launched a pop-up, store/gallery concept in the heart of New York’s SoHo. Benetton has transformed the 2,200 square foot-foot former garage space into an innovative art/design installation, with a focus on knit and highlights from the Fall-Winter 12 Collection. Showcasing, a collaboration between You Nguyen, Creative Director and Sam Baron, Design Director of FABRICA. I love the colour-themed zones which make this a striking retail space.

Find it on 135 Crosby St, the installation launched on 6 September and be open until December. See the pictures below...

Kirk Originals award-winning opticians

Kirk Originals have won Fashion Frames Practice of the Year, for their Conduit Street store at the Optician Awards 2012. Take a look at the pictures below and you'll see that the brand has definitely given the store a completely new twist on your usual opticians. The design is striking, exciting and new. I'm gonna have to go and see it in the flesh now. What do you think? Have you seen anything similar?