The studio / home of a Danish carpenter and designer

Happy Wednesday! It's more than likely you're reading this on a coffee break at work, so I thought it'd be apt to offer a little office / studio inspiration - in case you feel like shaking things up a little. It comes in the form of Københavns Møbelsnedkeri a carpenter's studio in Copenhagen owned by former guitar maker and graphic designer Kim Dolva. People are queuing up for Kim's high quality bespoke wooden fittings and furniture and I can totally see why after taking a peek inside his studio and home which he shares with his wife - interior designer, illustrator and ceramicist Mette Bonnavent and daughter Lucille. Could you see yourself working in a space like this?!

Photographer Gyrithe Lemche, Stylist Mette Bonavent. Shared with kind permission from Kim Dolva.

Would it actually feel like work here?!

In case you're wondering what that fabulous chair in the last image is  - it's the PP130 Circle chair by my favourite designer Hans Wegner. A true Danish classic. 

More incredible studios to inspire a new work space include the creative Swedish space of Katrin Bååth, the Brooklyn home and studio of a creative couple and the industrial style atelier of a Swedish illustrator.

Or if you feel like jumping ship completely I spotted this beautiful land in the Swedish alps for sale - it lies in the mountainous countryside just outside Åre, one of Sweden's largest ski resorts. Could you imagine spending your winters here - what a lovely life?!

A quick reminder that the wonderful guys at Design Collectors are offering everyone 15% off with code MYSCAN!

Have a lovely day! 

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The lovely, light-filled workspace of a blogger and nutritionist

How're you feeling today? If like me, you're in the middle of a looooong working week you might enjoy this inspirational home office in Northern Virginia, USA created by Carlene Thomas and her husband. The space was converted from a second story front porch into a beautiful office for Carlene to write her blog and work as a dietitian nutritionist. Three out of the four walls have french windows and it's a long narrow room which presented quite a challenge when it came to working on the layout. However, the clever use of a mirror and handmade furniture helped to solve the puzzle and the result is a beautiful uncluttered, clean home office. I could work from here today (especially with that little doggy curled up at my feet), how about you?!

Carlene Thomas / Heathily Ever After with kind permission

A quick guide to where a few of the items are from: vintage Eames chairs (there's currently a beautiful one in cream for sale here), antique mirror (find a similar one here). The black door is painted in Benjamin Moore Onyx. Black and white painting by Meg Biram. The floating desk was built by Carlene's husband. Bin from H&M home. Thonet chair. original Inslee watercolour. Anthropologie pencil holder.

See before and after pictures as well as more info about this space here.

For more inspiration you might want to make a pot of coffee and scroll through these home offices and studios. After all - if you find the right job and create an environment you love, you'll never have to do a days 'work' again! So they say...

....but no matter how wonderful work is, I'll always prefer travel and the great outdoors, how about you?!

Thank you so much to Carlene for submitting the images for today's post! If you have any images of your home / studio /atelier / outdoor space you'd like to share I'd love to hear from you!

Have a lovely day!

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Ordinary attic to a fab work studio in Holland

Do you see work as a necessary evil or hop out of bed like the joys of spring on a Monday morning (actually, does that person actually exist - I mean on a Tuesday yes, but a Monday?!). Either way, most of us have to put our heads to the grindstone for quite a few hours each week - so we may as well make it a happy place!  It was in this vain I decided to share the home studio of (the very lovely) Holly Marder from Avenue Lifestyle blog in The Haague. Holly recently transformed an ordinary attic room into a flexible, mutli-functional and inspiring modern space where she can sit and work and meet clients. Oh and did I mention it's packed full of Dutch and Scandinavian pieces, vintage finds and the odd French masterpiece?

All photography / design / styling: Holly Marder. Shared with kind permission.

It's really not surprising that Holly has created such a fab space, that girl is sooo talented (see her recent bedroom make-over here, and some of the homes she's styled here, here and here)! Even so it's incredible what you can do with an attic room....I might just have to set up a meeting so I can go and hang out there for a day or two...

Is this your kind of studio?

Tips on where items are from: wooden push pins (moodboard) / vintage persian rug / Natural rug / Iumi Steckdesign pendant light / IKEA Docksta table / side cabinet is BESTA from IKEA which has been souped up with doors, brass handles and top from Superfront / Buy similar hanging planters here (20% discount with code MSH20 right now) / Isaac plug-in Sconce task light in brass / Nude study oil on canvas (Henri Matisse) / ALEX desk storage.

Take a peek at the complete before and after. 

More lovely studios / work spaces include this industrial warehouse, a Danish / Norwegian space and and a entire moodboard here. And for the kids - I love this cute black and white creative corner.

Have a lovely day!

PS back by popular demand - the archive labels (to the left), I've realised over the past three years I've posted over 1200 home tours!! Crazy! 

PPS Thank you so much to Elegance magazine who listed me in their top ten favourite European design blogs!! Such an honour!

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The fab Brooklyn home and studio of a creative duo

Recently I've shown quite a few makers' spaces. Having made the leap from the corporate world to starting my own business at home (tea, toast and laptop in bed on a snowy day - now you're talking!), I am intrigued by the worlds of others who combine their living and work space. Today's art-filled Williamsburg warehouse in Brooklyn is home and studio to creative duo Jessica Barensfeld and Simon Howell and cat Kooks. Jessica (a jewelry designer) and Simon recently founded Lynn & Lawrence - a shop dedicated to selling hand-knit alpaca and wool hats. The light, airy loft, beautifully captured by Emily Johnston, is adorned with surf boards, large-leaved plants and handmade pieces for a truly inspiring, characterful environment.

Home-owner: Jessica Barensfeld and Simon Howell / Lynn & Lawrence. Photographer: Emily Johnston (with kind permission). For: Urban Outfitters Blog.

Could you work/ live here?

What does your work space look like?

Although I love working from home, my ultimate dream is to share a creative work space. Is there anyone with the same dream? Or perhaps you're already there? Some of my favourite studios include this collaborative workspace in Brooklyn, the light-filled studio of Camille Styles and the industrial style atelier of Love Warriors. One day...!

For those of you looking for home office, atelier, and studio inspiration - there's a ton more inspiration here. Who needs open plan anyway?!

It's never wrong to take time to pour over a few converted warehouse homes too!
 If you'd rather think about anything but work today check out this camper-van / trailer with an unbelievable twist! Something for the summer holidays?!

Have a lovely day!

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The lovely home and atelier of an artist

This Friday I'm part of the  'Makers Spaces' blog tour, a new book by Emily Quinton. And it got me thinking about the wonderful creative spaces people live and work in. Johanna Bradford  and Kristin Lagerqvist shot this simply beautiful home and atelier in Varberg on Sweden's West coast a while back. With a sea-view on one side and forests on the other, it's the perfect place for Lisa Burenius to paint and enjoy life with her family - Petter and Eddie. The artist describes her interior style as 1930's with a personal twist, and loves to surround herself with personal objects, books and ceramics. Her advice is to 'listen to the house and trust your instinct. A home should be personal and warm, it should tell a story about who you are'. I feel her home is a perfect example of this, don't you?

 

Stylist: Johanna Bradford (with kind permission). Photographer: Kristin Lagerqvist

It's wonderful to see an entirely unique home where the personality shines through. It's got soul.

Lisa has some great ideas too - I love the way the books have been arranged so that some are facing outwards and piled high. I also like the simplicity of the fern leaves in jam jars and the retro set of garden furniture outside. All in all, a truly inspiring home.

What do you love most about this space?

You can see more pictures here if you'd like. 

It's well worth checking out Lisa's website  too- I love the video showing her at work in the atelier.  Her work is available here.

I often dip into the art studio archive for ideas. And my office Pinterest board has oodles of work space inspiration. Hey, if we've gotta work we might as well make it pretty, don't you think?

Have a lovely day!

PS do you have a wonderful maker's space I can share on the blog this week? If so, drop me a mail!

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The fab light-filled studio of Camille Styles

Happy Monday! Is there such a thing?! Well yes, if you work in a space like this. Designed by Claire Zinnecker  for Camille Styles, the studio is filled with natural light, pops of bright colours and lush greenery. There's also plenty of meeting / social spaces where I could see myself drinking tea and chatting - I mean, brainstorming- which include a fab sofa, round Tulip table and grey marble kitchen.  I'm sure I'd look forward to my Monday mornings would be if I worked in this studio, how about you?

 

Owner: Camille Styles. Designer: Claire Zinnecker. Shared with kind permission from the photographer: Jessica Pages

Is this your kind of work space?

Items I know and love: Eames DSR side chairs, kilim cushions/pillows, rustic wooden stool, Tulip dining table.

A lot of thought has gone into this space. Not only does it look great but everything is designed to stimulate productivity. Take the table -research suggests having items which are curved rather than straight create positive emotions which in turn stimulates creativity. Round tables also encourage people to work together (if ever there was an excuse to invest in a Tulip table).

In turn, research has shown that the presence of greenery can help employees recover from demanding activities, lower stress levels and reduce office pollution levels. Time for a little indoor gardening?!

See more pictures of this fab studio here. I also love this, this and this studio and all of these images for office/atelier/studio inspiration.

I also found this piece interesting about why large open-plan offices are so not cool.

Have a great start to the working week! 

PS Thank you so much to everyone who entered the weekend give-away - the winner will be announced here later today! 

PPS I am in the process of making a few improvements to my blog design, please bear with me! if you see anything strange it would be great to hear about it in the comment section. Thank you! 

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The creative studio of Katrin Bååth

Hello Monday! Back to work - woohoo. Or, perhaps not?!  Which is why I thought I'd kick off the working week with an uber cool studio! Katrin Bååth is a self confessed multi-tasker, describing herself as an 'art director, stylist, event coordinator, designer, creator and everything in between'.  She works out of her Jönköping studio in Sweden. And looking at how she has decorated the space tells us a lot about her sense of creativity and personal style,  I could work from here, how about you?!

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

Studio owner: Katrin Bååth. Photography: Sara Lanstedt with permission. 

I really love the neon lights. I'm often trying to think of somewhere I could install a set in my own home. Source individual neon letters to make up your own words here. I also love light boxes like this one (something for the entrance hall?!) or this one for the bedroom (sweet!).

Favourite office stationary and organisers of late (after all - it's all in the detail!): HAY scissors, notebook and box set, Normann pocket organiser,

You can see Katrin's wonderful portfolio here and follow her latest work on her blog.

Other studios / ateliers I love include an Italian designer space and a relaxed art studio.

Have an inspiring start to the working week! 

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