Creating a space to create in

and the return of Create Ensemble explained through video

After returning from a month in France, I’ve slid straight back into client interior design projects and a special project that I’ve been excited about for some time.

My very own studio.

It’s taken a long time to get to this point. Since moving into this tired, Edwardian house in November 2017, the room at the very top of the building has been our dumping ground. Whilst the rest of the house experienced a significant transformation, the top floor wasteland was an area we rarely ventured up to, unless there was a pile of things designated to go to the charity shop - I’ll just put it on the top floor, for now - was a regularly uttered phrase which meant said items were destined to be up there for many years, gathering dust.

And then in the spring of this year, it became clear that we really did need to do something about that space. I was now working from home for half of the week which, combined with J working from home almost full time, meant that we needed two office spaces.

For the past year, my desk has been set up in the spare bedroom. It works fine, but whenever we have guests to stay, I have to move some of my stuff out of there and visitors are increasingly finding themselves surrounded by boxes of fabric samples and a growing number of design books. Sorry family and friends. You will have your room back soon, I promise!

In April we made the first step to clear the room of detritus and finally took several boxes to the local charity shops. Next, we worked out which trades we needed to get in and which work we would do ourselves, and over the next few months the space slowly began to transform.

Most of the trades were finished by June and we were able to book in the carpet fitting for early September, with the possibility of bringing that date forward if we were ready for it sooner. Before going to France I got halfway through the painting and since being back, I’ve cracked on in earnest to get the remaining prep and painting finished. There’s quite a lot of woodwork to paint which is taking a while, but I love the process of transforming this previously unloved part of the house.

I’ve included some photos in the gallery below, starting with how this space looked when it was a dumping ground, up to where we are at now. I always document projects and I love to look back at the evolution of a space.

Whilst it’s not yet complete, I’m now at the stage of choosing and bringing together finishes. I’ve created the board at the top of the post to ensure that all of the choices work together before going ahead and ordering items. This is exactly the same process I go through with my clients, so it’s nice to afford myself the same service!

Creating a space in which to create in myself is an interesting task. In the past I’ve been guilty of spending too long setting up a space to write or compose in and not enough time actually doing the creative work. There’s been a mindset shift recently though; I am so excited by my work designing and writing that I’ll actually do it anywhere. But, that said, it’s nice to be able to set up my new studio in a way that makes it as conducive to creativity as possible.

During the time I was away in France, I bought a beautiful candle and hand cream specifically to go on my desk in the studio once finished.

I’m on the hunt for a couple of plants to go into this space. I’m thinking one large statement plant to go in a corner of the room and a smaller trailing plant to go on a shelf. I have to have plants near to me and have over 30 in my house.

A large bookshelf is going to be very important for this space. I’ve got lots of design books that I want to have easy access to, but also fiction and non-fiction that I want to keep close at hand - books that I like to come back to regularly. I’m planning a trip to my local vintage and antiques warehouse to see if I can find something suitable. I don’t mind an up-cycle project, especially if it means getting the ideal piece for the space for a bargain price.

There will most likely be a trip to Ikea at some point. Whilst I don’t buy many items from the big blue Swedish shed, it can have it’s place for sourcing affordable bits and pieces. I usually browse online first to get a sense of new products and then brace myself and head there making sure I have room dimensions and relevant measurements before I go.

A new chair is on the shopping list too. I’ve been working on an old dining chair for the past 12 months and it hasn’t done my back any favours. I’m going to invest in something comfortable and hopefully stylish too because I really should look after my body!

What I am most looking forward to in the new studio is sitting by a window. My spare room desk faces a wall. A nice wall, but a wall nonetheless. Walls are not particularly inspiring but I hope that sky and treetops and rooftops will be.

What are your top 3 essentials for a creative space if you could have anything?

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Create Ensemble

Create Ensemble online sessions are back! The next one will take place on Tuesday 27th August, 7-8pm UK time (BST). I’ve made a video explaining how it works!

Create Ensemble sessions are for paid subscribers. You can upgrade your subscription by clicking here:

I hope to see many of you on 27th August and I will be back soon with an update on studio progress. Hopefully the September Create Ensemble session will be live from the new studio!

Have a lovely Sunday ☀️

Hannah x