Inside the Home Office of Memorandum’s Mary Orton

Mary Orton is a busy woman. As the force behind the popular style blog Memorandum, she’s become a lifeline for women in need of sartorial advice both in and out of the office, dishing out styling tips, and chronicling her own smart outfits. But her work doesn’t stop there: The ever-talented Orton recently created and launched Trove, an addictive mobile fashion app where users can search and discover outfit inspiration from influencers, save their favorites to a digital closet, and shop the latest pieces from top bloggers.

Naturally, Orton’s endeavors require serious hours, so a home office to keep the motivation meter running is a must. Here, the workspace in her NYC apartment, much like Orton herself, is as high-functioning as it is fashionable. Take a look.

Walk us through your new office. What do you love most?
The space is quite eclectic, which I love. It's a mélange of masculine, feminine, mid-century modern, art deco, transitional, traditional, and even some industrial pieces. I think the balance created when pairing competing styles makes for an interesting space, and it really gets my creative juices flowing. Sprinkling the office with things I love—whether it’s my favorite well-worn Dickens novels or the masks my husband and I brought back from our honeymoon in South Africa— makes for a true sanctuary where I can really focus and get things done.

What was your design strategy? Where did you begin?
Before solidifying any specific plan for the room, I always think it best to find two or three pieces you absolutely love. In my case, it was the burlwood dining table and oriental rug. Typically, neither would be ideal for this space because the room is too large for the 5’x8’ rug and the space needed a desk not a dining table. However, by starting with pieces that really inspired me, I was able to get creative. I came up with the idea to layer a larger area rug under the small oriental rug, and for the dining table, I realized taking out the extension leaf made it just the oversized desk I was looking for—an area where I can really spread out and be productive. For storage, I found a nightstand that fits perfectly beneath the table where I can store pens, extra cords, and office supplies.

Bottom line—once you have a few pieces that you're really excited about, you can fill in the rest of the space around them and the room will really start to come alive and take shape.

Was there anything you absolutely didn’t want?
I wanted the space to be a true reflection of my personal style, and didn't want it to feel "cookie cutter" in any way. The room is quite masculine, with lots of touches of femininity, but I didn't want anything "girly." And, as you can see, I really love color! I definitely didn’t go for the stark look.

It’s clear you have a knack for fashion. How does your personal style translate to the design of your home?
I wanted the office to be somewhat consistent with the decor in the rest of our home, but I also really wanted it to remain a singular, creative space. In the end, I think it is certainly aligned with my personal style which I would describe as a mix of classic and polished with a dash of edge and quirk.

What’s the key to creating a functional, inspiring office space?
Most days, you will find me running from meeting to meeting or having conference calls and team meetings at our Trove offices in SoHo—the hustle is real! But since the work of an entrepreneur is far beyond typical 9-to-5 hours, it’s critical to have a dedicated space at home where I can continue to work. I designed it to especially to keep my energy up and stay inspired, which is why you see pops of color throughout. I definitely did not want the space to feel too retiring.

On your blog, you stress the importance of dressing appropriately for your work environment. What is your ideal work outfit as a CEO and entrepreneur? It varies widely across industry, geography and roles, but for me personally, I'm a blazer fanatic, so my go-to work outfit often involves a classic blazer and wide leg trousers. I also have more midi dresses than I’d like to admit, and there’s nothing easier or more comfortable than throwing on a classic midi for a long day at the office.

Pulling together a room—easier or more challenging than pulling together a professional wardrobe?
I'm an interior design junkie, so I absolutely love both! However, I think there’s a bit more pressure when designing a room, because unlike your outfit, you can’t just change the whole thing tomorrow! But, I strongly believe that form and function can seamlessly co-exist, whether you’re looking for great workwear, or decorating your home. Find pieces that you find inspiring and exciting, and find creative ways to make them work for you. Especially when it comes to creating your own unique space, as evidenced by this room, I’m all for throwing convention out the door!

New York apartments are notoriously tiny. What are your tips for making the most of limited square footage?
It’s all about thinking creatively with the space you have. For instance, due to the fact that I also run a style blog, I have an inordinate amount of clothing and accessories coming in and out of the apartment. The existing closet space in our home simply wasn’t adequate so to remedy this, I made one wall of my office this sort of exposed closet area where we mounted these wonderful industrial display units to create additional hanging space and storage. So, aside from trying to be the best possible Marie Kondo you can be, there are so many amazing storage solutions that can maximize space in every nook and cranny of your apartment. You just have to think outside the (small NYC) box.