Country charm

Style advice Three simple tricks to try in your own home

BE INSPIRED

Fill your space with things that get your creative juices flowing. To create a calm sanctuary and an inspiring environment, Caroline painted the walls and shelves white to make the small space feel bigger and brighter. Displaying items you’ve already made or putting pretty craft supplies, magazine pages that you like or a fave fabric you can’t wait to use on show will encourage your creative side.

THINK OF PRACTICALITIES

It’s important to have easy access to your workspace, so consider an island table in the centre of your room, like Caroline’s, that allows access from all angles. With multiple projects on the go, Caroline needed a large work surface, so a worktop made from an old door was perfect. ‘If I’m having a paperwork day, I just plug in my laptop, or if it’s a creative day, I clear the space and use it as a cutting and sewing table.’

MODERN HARDWARE

If space is tight, go for wall-mounted vertical shelving to keep all your supplies organised and easily accessible. Caroline assembled a wall of IKEA shelving to fit just under the ceiling, making use of every inch of space. ‘The separate sections make it so much easier to find items and then file away stuff,’ says Caroline. ‘The open shelving also lets me display examples of my handmade work for clients to see.’

Style idea

Create a sense of order and contain loose craft supplies in baskets and glass jars

‘I love the island table. When I’m putting together client moodboards, I have enough space to manoeuvre around and be creative and I can also use the desktop for painting pieces of furniture that I’m upcycling. Originally, I planned to have the table built against one wall, but I’m glad I changed my mind. It’s so much easier to be able to walk around it’

‘I especially love the floor-toceiling shelving and my spacious workstation where I can do my sewing, paint furniture or get through paperwork’ MY EXPERIENCE

We had always said that one day we would turn the old summerhouse into my studio. After project managing the renovation of our own house, friends started asking for help with their interior design projects and I soon realised with all the samples, fabric, moodboards and paint pots I really needed my own dedicated space.

The room isn’t huge, so I wanted to make the best use of the space with a functional workspace and plenty of storage. I needed a big table that could double up as a sewing table and a workstation, and it also had to have space to house the printer and sewing machine. I started sketching some ideas, but it became clear that I needed a bespoke piece. As I was on a tight budget, we decided to make one ourselves from some shelving and an old door for the worktop.

Next, we sanded the floors and painted them a light grey. I love grey; it’s a very forgiving colour and a perfect base for the rest of the scheme. For a streamlined look, we went for spotlights that give a soft glow over the shelves and provide good light for my detailed work. We also cleared the garden in front and Anthony fitted decking that, with the double doors open, makes the space feel bigger; I love being able to sit out there on hot sunny days.

It’s so much better discussing design projects with my clients in a dedicated studio; it looks so much more professional. On extracold days, I use a portable heater so I can enjoy the space and the lovely garden views all year round. The only thing I need now is a good coffee machine and then I’ll be happy!

My shopping list

● Walls painted in Pure Brilliant White, £17 for 5L, Dulux ● Floor painted in Purbeck Stone eggshell, £73 per 2.5L, Farrow & Ball ● KALLAX shelving units, from £45, IKEA ● For similar storage baskets, try Clever Cube seagrass baskets, £12, Homebase ● For a similar ladder, try the Ines decorative ladder in Oak, £44, Maisons du Monde ● For a similar cushion, try the Vintage Foxgloves Summer Flower Garden cushion, £28, Fy! ● For a similar bistro table set, try the foldable bistro table and chair set, £79.99, Woodside ● Grey pigeonhole shelving, £95; Floral cushion, £30; Grey lamp base with shade, £45; personalised White crate, from £10; handmade tweed bag, £48; Seagull-print bag, £48; lavender-filled hearts, £8, all Caroline Borgman Interiors Turn to p128 for stockist details