apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Pieces from IKEA's kitchen rail systems and home organization section would coordiante nicely. You could probably eaily hack most items...magnet board/white board/chalk board from any store to hang from the rails. Or there are some fairly similar all in one units too.

organizers here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10366/10551/allitems

rail systems here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10379/10485/

I would suggest heading to the local hardware store and picking up the following:

1 - piece of thin trim molding
1 - piece of thin plywood or even particle board
1 - box of hooks

From the local fabric/craft store track down:
3 - yards of ribbon
1 - yard of your favorite coordinating fabric!
1 - box of upholstery tacks
1 - bottle of white craft paint (or color of your choice)
1 - sponge paint brush

From the local office supply store find:
4 - Plastic/acrylic wall mount file folders
1 - dry erase board containing days already gridded out
Dry erase markers

You should be able to assemble most of this yourself, just take one piece at a time so it's not overwhelming!
Nail down your wall mount file folders, you can paint them (I suggest pray paint if you don't want clear) up to match your trim so they aren't visually intrusive. Kilz makes a fantastic plastic spray paint if you can find it!

With the money you save doing it yourself, you can afford to buy the table to go under it, or the lamps to go over it!

I agree with Ikea, or even Target . also you could try to piece things together from with used furniture...take out the old drawers of a dresser and paint it. and then the little odds and ends like a mail organizer and cork board are available at target or walmart.

Also another note, places like Pier1, Pottery Barn, all those chain "boutique" stores...DO overprice.
I really like the store Wood U for quality wood furniture....you can stain and seal it yourself too

Has anyone see something similar to the mail bins in the above photo in stainless steel?

I second sarahrae's suggestion.

You could make a *much* cheaper version that would be suited to your specific needs and space. You may be able to find a cheap table to use at a flea market, even if you have to repaint it.

I actually really like this solution at IKEA called ASPVIK. If you have a laptop that is.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20134942

What you could also do to sort of mimick the Pottery Barn idea is buy a MALM 3 drawer dresser and above it on the wall, buy the IKEA ESTETISK organizers (ie. chalk board, box set, storage compartments, magnets, etc).

mdeathstar- Pottery barn did those bins in steel in their catalog... they were a catalog/online purchase only, although I'm not sure they still carry them. They do pop up on Craigslist now and again though!

Thanks sarahrae.

great idea, sarah rae! i'm printing that out :)