Desk Tour: Michelle Martin
A favorite bookish Substacker shares her space.
Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. In case you missed it: Marta Cavalho’s Desk Tour from last time. You can also browse the entire catalog of Desk Tours.
Welcome to year two of Desk Tour! We’re kicking things off with a look inside the office of one of my favorite bookish people on Substack.
writes at Literary Leanings and man, if you love thoughtful, soothing book content (or Maine content… or book-ish Maine content), she’s really your go-to gal. Her post “Come along on a bookish Sunday” continues to be one of my absolute favorite posts of… all time? I can’t think of anything cozier. All of her content makes me want to focus on a quiet, intentional life filled with books, and that’s really all I want these days. But enough of my gushing. Let’s enjoy these gorgeous photos (Michelle is also a wedding photographer!) and step inside her Portland, Maine office…
OM: Describe your workspace.
MM: Three years ago, we pulled up to a house sight unseen (besides a FaceTime tour) near the cove in Portland, Maine. We live on the top floor of the house, and in true New England fashion, the house has seen many iterations in its 120+ year history. My office doubles as a guest bedroom and a thruway that brings you from the entryway to our kitchen. After working from a cramped dining room table for most of the pandemic, I was so excited to have a dedicated office space to make my own when we moved in. When we don't have guests, the bed is turned sideways, acting as a day bed (which the cats love!). Then I have my desk, a bookshelf that houses all my unread books, a set of three shelves next to my desk that house all my favorite read books, and a cozy reading chair. My decor vibe is cozy and minimalist. I function best when things are uncluttered and organized but still feel warm and comfortable. I chalk this vibe up to the necessity of it during the many years I lived in small spaces while living in Boston and New York. So, my office reflects that clean, uncluttered, but cozy feel I love.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
MM: Can I say my desk? I switched to a standing desk last year and am obsessed with it! It feels like a true sign of being in your 30s when you get excited about the ergonomics of work. As someone who spends a lot of time editing photos, having the ability to switch from sitting to standing throughout those long hours has made me feel so much better. The second is the art near my desk. I have two prints and a felted jellyfish I made at a class at my local yarn store. The jellyfish doesn't have any deep meaning, but its whimsy brings me much joy. The two art prints make me feel calm when I look at them. The first is a line drawing of cats (cat lover here, if you haven't noticed yet!) that I find so lovely in its simplicity. The second is a watercolor print by a talented New England artist, Lina Gordievsky. Her work is beautiful and inspires me to stop and be more intentional with my own photography work. The third is a wooden diffuser one of my best friends gifted me a few years ago. You put a few drops of essential oil on the top, gently swirl it, and it gives off a lovely light scent all day. It makes my space feel calm and zen for the workday, and I love switching out the scents for the season.
I also have a small love note of encouragement from Dean, my husband, which helped me through a challenging period of self-doubt last year. I like seeing his scratchy handwriting, cheering me on and reminding me I can do hard things.
OM: Do you keep anything specific at your desk that you use as inspiration to stay creative or positive?
MM: I recently took them down to start fresh for the new year, but I keep a handful of sticky notes on my computer with inspirational or motivational notes to myself. They change throughout the year depending on what I need encouragement for. Last year, one had the income goal I was aiming for with my photography business (I reached it!). Another said, "What's the best that could happen?" because I am a worrier and sometimes let that worry prevent me from taking action on big work goals. I'm looking forward to seeing what notes I put up this year. I also have a small love note of encouragement from Dean, my husband, which helped me through a challenging period of self-doubt last year. I like seeing his scratchy handwriting, cheering me on and reminding me I can do hard things.
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
MM: This isn't a specific item but a ritual that helps me have a more productive day. Since I don't have a commute, I have a routine that puts me in the right mindset for work rather than just walking into my office and starting the day. I turn on the lamps and my computer, light a candle, put a few drops of essential oil in my diffuser, and bring a glass of water and a cup of tea to my desk. This helps me mentally settle into the work part of the day!
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
MM: I dream of a day when my office doesn't share functionality as a guest room. I would love to have an entire wall of built-in bookshelves to house all my books. As a child I dreamt of having a room with a bay window and a window seat, and I still hold onto a shred of that dream. So, if I were designing my ideal office, it'd have a wall of bookshelves, a bay window with a window seat full of pillows and throws, lamps everywhere, and plenty of plants.
I worked for several years in an office environment in a traditional career. Since starting my own business and becoming self-employed three years ago, I've had to relearn what work looks like.
OM: Describe your ideal work day at your desk.
MM: Ideally, I wake up around 7:00, have breakfast, stretch, and get ready for the day. I get to my desk around 9:00 and do my morning ritual to mentally prepare for the work day. I spend the first 30 minutes of the day responding to emails, wedding inquiries, and current clients. Then, I work on Substack posts for the rest of the morning. I'm most productive in the morning, so I like tackling any writing or heavy-lifting creative tasks then. I break for lunch around noon, have a big salad or a lunch snack plate (the best!), and read a few chapters of my current read while eating lunch at the dining room table in my favorite sunny spot. Then, back to work for a few hours. If I have anything in my photo editing queue, I love doing this in the afternoon while listening to a few podcast episodes. If I don't have any editing, I work on some admin tasks or lower-lift tasks on my to-do list. I log off work around 4:00 and (if the weather permits) go for a long walk around the cove to mentally transition out of the work day. If the weather is bad, I love to do a dance cardio class through Obe. As someone who is ambivalent about most exercise, it's the most fun and joyful 28 minutes of exercise I've found. Not every day looks like this, but if at least two days a week look like this, then I consider it a success. I worked for several years in an office environment in a traditional career. Since starting my own business and becoming self-employed three years ago, I've had to relearn what work looks like. I often think of this when I have days I might not get as much done as I want. Self-compassion and rest (when needed) is key to being able to keep moving forward.
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
MM: Folks can find me sharing book recs and bits of my life in coastal Maine on my Substack. When I'm not reading and talking about books, I'm a full-time wedding and couples photographer and my work can be found on my website.
Note from Olivia: As a former standing desk evangelist (and current owner of a brand new non-standing desk), this one really made me rethink some of my choices. More importantly, though: Those books, that cat, the light! This entire office space made me feel cozy and relaxed, which is exactly how Michelle’s Substack makes me feel. Make sure you subscribe to her newsletter if you haven’t already!
Be sure to check out all the past editions of Desk Tour!
PS: One last thing before I go… you can order my first novel NOW! If you’ve already read and enjoyed, I would be honored if you would leave a kind review or rating on Goodreads or Amazon. It makes a world of difference. I appreciate your consideration, time, and support immensely.
A portion of January’s subscriber proceeds will go toward those affected by the LA fires.
I love this series, Olivia! It’s so interesting to see where other creative people work. And as a New Englander who lives in an old house, I love hearing how others make their space work for them! Just followed Michelle’s substack thanks to this post ☺️
Awww I loved so much this desk tour! I mostly write from the dining room table of our London flat (not as tidy and minimalist as Michelle's space) and I completely relate to the small rituals that mark the start of the work day: the light, the candle, the tea. So cosy! Thank you Olivia for sharing Michelle's tour, it was one of my favourite in the series.