Whether you’ve got the corner or a cube, your office is a personal space and bears the mark of its resident worker bee. Your desk is a kind of self-portrait, unique as handwriting. And nothing’s more totemic than your writing implement. Jewelry designer Lisa Salzer has a thing for lead: “I’ve loved these precise, sharp little mechanical pencils since I was a kid; they never need sharpening, erase perfectly, and for some reason, when I write with them, everything is that much more brilliant.” Fashion designer Maria Cornejo opts for Muji’s fine-tip ink numbers “because they are very fine for drawing, totally utilitarian, and minimalist” (Muji Assorted Color pen, $8 at MoMA Design Store, 81 Spring St., at Crosby St.; 646-613-1367; Prismacolor pencils, $47.99 for 48 at Utrecht Art Supplies, 111 Fourth Ave., nr. 12th St.; 212-777-5353; Paper Mate Sharp Writer mechanical pencils, $2.99 at Staples, 699 Sixth Ave., nr. 22nd St.; 212-675-5698; Pentel Arts Sign Pen Set, $18.36 at Lee’s Art Shop, 220 W. 57th St., nr. Broadway; 212-247-0110; Cretacolor Aquarellith pencils, $78.95 at Lee’s Art Shop; Aurora fountain pen, $195 at Arthur Brown & Brother, 2 W. 46th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-575-5555).
1. Tizio Desk Lamp
“Great lighting, great clean form. I have them at home on my bedside tables too.”
—Peter Som, fashion designer ($365 at MoMA Design Store).
2. Gold Lucky Cat
“The cat is meant to bring good fortune. I love that it is so bright and golden and quite kitsch!”
—Maria Cornejo, fashion designer ($2 at Pearl River Mart, 477 Broadway, nr. Broome St.; 212-431-4770).
3. Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
“In old soap operas there was always liquor in the desk drawer. I like this particular brand.”
—Amy Sedaris, comedienne ($47.99 at Manley’s Liquor Store, 35 Eighth Ave., nr. Jane St.; 212-242-3712).
4. Ball-bearing Paperweight
“I manipulate and twist it as my own version of worry beads.”
—Danny Meyer, restaurateur ($180 at MoMA Design Store).
5. Sharpies
“I like that they’re indelible and too dark. It’s as if I can’t take back my word.”
—Susanna Moore, author, The Big Girls (available in May) ($1.09 each at Staples, 699 Sixth Ave., nr. 22nd St.; 212-675-5698; Chinese bamboo brush jar, $1,200 at William Lipton, 41 E. 57th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-751-8131).
6. Canson Notebooks
“I used to steal these sketchbooks from stationery stores.”
—Arne Quinze, co-founder, Quinze & Milan furnishings ($10.99 at Utrecht, 111 Fourth Ave., nr. 12th St.; 212-777-5353).
7. Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
“A delicious substitute for huge lattes.”
—Lisa Salzer, founder and designer, Lulu Frost Jewelry ($4.92 at Whole Foods, 40 E. 14th St., nr. Broadway; 212-673-5388).
8. Chiclets
“I love the old-fashioned paper box and the taste.”
—Kris Fuchs, co-founder, Suite NY design boutique (85 cents at Gourmet Deli, 154 W. 14th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-206-3921).
9. Muji Cardboard Speakers
“I would pick them out of a speaker lineup for looks alone.”
—Steven Sclaroff, interior designer ($42 at MoMA Design Store).
10. On Bullshit, by Harry G. Frankfurt
“It’s a light read on a topic that is easy for me to understand and apply.”
—Steven Sclaroff ($9.95 at Three Lives & Co., 154 W. 10th St., nr. Waverly Pl.; 212-741-2069).
11. Stamps
“I always have stamps on me. They’re a great gift.”
—Amy Sedaris (39 cents each at Madison Square Post Office, 149 E. 23rd St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-673-3771).
12. Slatkin & Co. Bamboo and Jasmine Candle
“With perfume candles, the fragrance stays in the air longer, and this is a wonderful scent.”
—Olatz Schnabel, bedding designer ($28 at Olatz, 43 Clarkson St., nr. Greenwich St.; 212-255-8627).
13. Aalto Vase
“Aalto’s vase has a lyrical yet minimal design that makes me feel smart.”
—Maira Kalman, illustrator and author ($100 at MoMA Design Store, 81 Spring St., at Crosby St.; 646-613-1367).
14. Flowers
“Renny & Reed’s gorgeous arrangements bring clarity in the storm of everything else.”
—Lisa Salzer ($250, 505 Park Ave., nr. 59th St.; 212-288-7000).