Paper Cloud was started in 2006 by husband and wife team Matt & Ariana Broerman. They design and produce handmade pillows, lighting, apparel, and journals in their home studio in Cincinnati, Ohio.

When I was small – 4 or 5 – my family visited my grandparents in Florida and I found a shoebox in which I neatly organized all the things I thought were important. I now have lots more to organize, but the same desire to keep things tidy has stayed with me.

STUDIO & WORKSPACE
When we set up our home studio, we realized that we needed storage that could double as workspace. We bought filing cabinets and big metal drawers at an overstock liquidation outlet. Then Matt bought plywood which he finished and screwed onto the metal pieces to create long work benches. The solution was cheaper than custom cabinetry, and it provides the right amount of storage and tabletop area.

TO-DO’s & IDEAS
I think the intangibles are harder to keep organized than a houseful of stuff, so I always write down and post everything in plain sight. Along one wall of our studio we put up cork-board where we tack up orders, swatches, and sketches. I have a smaller version above my desk. It’s a mishmash of inspiration, quickreference information, and Post-its. I keep deadlines and daily to-do’s in my weekly planner (I’d be lost without it), and luckily we always have plenty of Paper Cloud journals for brainstorming or taking notes.

ODDS & ENDS
Organizing small items is easy in small compartments. A bead organizer is just the right size for keeping earrings in a dresser drawer. My desk drawer stays neat with a similar organizer with removable dividers that allow for larger and smaller sections. A wire desk tray keeps a bathroom shelf tidy.