what s on your desk sarah smithers Sarah Smithers, senior editorial coordinator at The Verge, shares insights into her unique home workspace, revealing a blend of creativity, practicality, and personal touches.
what s on your desk sarah smithers
Creating a Personal Workspace
Sarah Smithers manages a variety of operational and administrative tasks at The Verge, a role that requires adaptability and organization. “The simplest way to put it,” she explains, “is that I handle our operations and administrative tasks. Every day is a little bit different. I onboard new employees, send contracts to freelancers (and make sure they get paid), approve expenses, book travel for my coworkers, handle most of our business purchases, and help track our budget.”
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Sarah enjoys exploring various crafts and hobbies. She describes herself as a trivia enthusiast, expressing a desire to appear on the game show Jeopardy, albeit with a hint of apprehension about the pressure of a Daily Double.
Transforming a Small Space
Sarah’s workspace is located in her Jersey City home, where she lives with her husband, Aleks, and their two dogs, Ned and Olive. They purchased their rowhouse in late 2018, and the office is situated on the second floor. Originally intended as a third bedroom, the space measures approximately 8 x 9 feet. Before the pandemic, it served as a reading room, housing a bookshelf, a chair, and some plants, while also functioning as a storage area.
With both Sarah and Aleks now working remotely, they repurposed their larger second bedroom into a guest bedroom and office hybrid for Aleks, while Sarah transformed the smaller room into her workspace. “I clearly still store a lot of stuff in here, though,” she admits, highlighting the challenges of maximizing space in a compact area.
Desk and Chair: A Custom Build
Sarah’s desk is a custom-built piece created in collaboration with her husband. “It was about 95 percent him,” she notes, “but he did hand over the nail gun towards the end and showed me where to point and shoot.” The decision to build a custom desk stemmed from the need to optimize space. A bookshelf was anchored to the wall upon moving in, and instead of relocating it, they designed the office around it. “This was logically the only place to put a desk,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of functionality.
While the desk is small, Sarah appreciates its uniqueness, as it is modeled after their living room coffee table. “I love it because it’s one of a kind,” she states. In contrast, her chair was chosen for aesthetics rather than comfort. “I knew I wanted a green one with gold accents,” she explains, describing her chair from World Market. Although it may not be the most comfortable, she finds it visually appealing. However, she acknowledges that her aging back will soon necessitate a more supportive office chair.
Technology in the Workspace
When it comes to technology, Sarah describes herself as “probably the least techy person at The Verge.” Her primary device is a 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020, provided by their parent company, Vox Media. While she sometimes wishes for a second screen, the logistics of rearranging her workspace deter her. “I’m used to solely working out of a laptop at this point,” she explains, appreciating the flexibility it offers her to work from various locations, including her dining room table or the Vox Media office in New York.
As an Apple enthusiast, Sarah utilizes an iPhone 15 and an Apple Watch Series 10, which encourages her to stay active by reminding her to get up and walk around. She also owns an iPad Air (3rd generation), which she primarily uses as a Kindle. “Sometimes I prop it up on a stool so I can watch Netflix in the tub,” she adds, showcasing her creative use of technology.
Interestingly, Sarah has ventured outside the Apple ecosystem for her headphones, opting for Samsung Galaxy Buds2 after reading a review on The Verge. “I’m not that picky,” she admits, appreciating the comfort of the rubber ear tips and their affordability, particularly since they come in her favorite color—purple.
Office Essentials
As someone who handles many of The Verge’s purchases, Sarah has a few office essentials that may seem unconventional. One such item is an Aurora AS420C Paper shredder, which she purchased to dispose of credit card authorization forms. “It was an entirely unnecessary purchase, but sticking stuff into a shredder is fun!” she exclaims, highlighting the small joys of her workspace.
Additionally, Sarah finds herself frequently engaged in budget-related math, prompting her to keep an old-school calculator on her desk. “Of course I can access a calculator using my laptop, my phone, or my watch, but I still like having an old-school one on my desk,” she explains, illustrating her preference for tangible tools amidst a digital world.
Personal Touches and Decor
Sarah’s workspace is adorned with an array of photographs and decorative items that reflect her personality and interests. “Most of my photos are of people and things that I love, but two of them are of complete strangers,” she shares. One of these is a portrait of an older woman named Gladys, whom Sarah found in a thrift store frame. “It made me sad to think about how she got all dressed up and did her hair and makeup to sit for this photo and then just ended up in a second-hand shop,” she explains, emphasizing her desire to honor Gladys by keeping her framed in her workspace.
The other stranger is a couple on their wedding day, also discovered while thrift shopping. “I thought they deserved to be proudly displayed in a home,” she adds, showcasing her affinity for preserving stories through her decor.
Embracing Nature with Plants
In addition to the photographs, Sarah’s workspace features numerous plants, reflecting her identity as a “plant lady.” She has developed a passion for pottery and has been taking wheel-thrown pottery classes for nearly two years. “It has been a real challenge for me, but I’m determined to improve,” she states, noting that her handmade pots have begun to outnumber her plants. Currently, she has sixty-two plants in her home, with eleven residing in her office.
Despite the challenges of maintaining plants in a room with only one north-facing window, Sarah has adapted by purchasing a grow light. “I bought a grow light for them a few months ago, and that has been a huge help,” she explains, proudly noting that she has only experienced one plant death in the past four months.
Lighting and Aesthetic Choices
Among the decor, Sarah has a lamp on her desk that holds sentimental value. “Prior to moving in with Aleks, I used to live with one of my best friends, Liz, who has a background in interior design,” she recalls. Liz had a Tiffany-style lamp that Sarah admired, and she eventually purchased a similar one from Amazon. “I wish I could say that I found this at an estate sale or while thrift shopping, but the truth is I just bought it off of Amazon because it’s pretty,” she admits, showcasing her appreciation for aesthetics.
Collections and Unique Items
Sarah also has a collection of spoons, which began when her parents started gifting her a spoon as a souvenir during family vacations. “I had to expand and get a second rack a while back,” she explains, noting that she now keeps spoons from trips taken with Aleks in a separate display. Each spoon carries a memory, including her oldest one from a trip to Universal Studios when she was two years old. “I obviously have no memory of the actual vacation, but I do remember that my grandma used to let me take that spoon off the display rack and secretly eat cereal with it when she would babysit me,” she shares, highlighting the nostalgia attached to her collection.
Quirky Decor: Icarus the Eyeball
Among her eclectic decor, Sarah has a whimsical piece named Icarus, a flying eyeball created by artist Sammy Jane, who practices ethical taxidermy. “I met her at a craft fair a few years back,” Sarah explains. Icarus is part of a series called Optopods, which combines cuteness with a hint of creepiness. “I have three others hidden around my house and have gifted two more to friends,” she adds, illustrating her fondness for unique art pieces. Icarus enjoys watching her work, while her dogs occasionally come in to sniff him.
Meet the Dogs
Finally, Sarah introduces her beloved dogs, Ned and Olive. Ned, a white dog, is around ten years old and was adopted shortly after Sarah and Aleks moved in together. He is a former street dog from Cairo, rescued after suffering abuse. “He’s now the Most Spoiled Dog in America,” she jokes, emphasizing his sweet and clingy nature. “I happen to be his favorite human, which means I am constantly tripping over him and I am constantly covered in dog hair.”
Olive, the black dog, is eight years old and was a Christmas gift from Aleks. “She’s allegedly a husky/boxer/cocker spaniel/pit bull/pug mix,” Sarah describes. Olive has a knack for understanding English, making her a playful companion who ensures Sarah gets her daily steps in. “I have to be careful not to say ‘walk’ during meetings, or she’ll lose her mind,” Sarah laughs, showcasing the joy her dogs bring to her life.
Through her thoughtfully curated workspace, Sarah Smithers embodies a blend of creativity, practicality, and personal connection, making her home office a reflection of her unique personality and lifestyle.
Source: Original report
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Last Modified: November 29, 2025 at 9:37 pm
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