I’m not sure where the time is going at the moment. It’s over a month ago that I shared the first room set from Grand Designs Live at the start of May, so it’s way over due for me to share another. This one was my absolute favourite, and I’ve already earmarked the main design feature as something I want replicate in my craft room of the future.

I spent some time looking at the panelling and cork tiles in some detail, working out how designer Danielle Reales had put this together. The (most likely) MDF panelling was cleverly spaced to be the width of a cork tile. The lower section was painted pale green and it was finished off with a narrow shelf, which also allows for additional display space. Great for an office, and even better for a craft room.

Pale green panelling infilled with cork tiles, a desk and stationery and other walls are pale pink

And did you spot the artwork? How many times have you also found your lost pen on your desk. Yes, me too.

Focussing on the wooden wall desk and chair with rattan seat with the panelled walls in the background

Behind the desk area, is a touch of tranquility for mid morning coffee breaks. The whole space is definitely the functional, attractive and fun work area that the designer wanted to create. She also wanted the space to encourage good mental health, comfort, sustainability and uplifting humour - and the artwork definitely made me smile.

A painted circle on the opposite corner wall with a shelving unit above and an area to relax with cushions, a radio and a cuppa

The artwork on the painted wall - print on newspaper print saying "I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library" from Gatsby

I also liked the noticeboard with its roll of paper on a rail above. Another simple idea which can be easily replicated.

Focusing on the noticeboard - a rail for a roll of paper whichis pinned onto two cork tiles, with a mesh brass magazine rack alongside

I loved this, and even MOH was impressed - and didn’t flinch too much when I said this is definitely something for our new house.

Last weekend we headed over to Grand Designs Live, which was the first time it had taken place since before the pandemic. I’ll share more about the show another time as there was lots to see, but I was pleased to see that the room sets were back - and with a theme that many of us I’m sure have grappled with these past few years. If you’re anything like us, back at the start of the pandemic the working from home thing felt a temporary thing, but yet here we are a couple of years on and it’s still very much part of working life for many.

This design by Monica Gounaropoulos from Spiti and Soul Interior Design sets out to create a multifunctional home office within an existing room. Monica says that she ‘wanted a usable space which can also be enjoyed to the max once work has finished’ - and there are many people that have needed just that. Not everyone has an additional space to use, and so the challenge has been keeping that balance.

Monica’s design incorporates discrete solutions concealing work items and leaving a beautiful focal point for the room, which helps separate work from home life. She uses a colour palette of blue for productivity and orange as a mood lifter.

A round cabinet (desk) against the wall with an orange chair in front

A wooden open shelving unit and alongside a wall painted with a 'mountain range' design

The round wicker 'desk' cabinet, orange chair on a rug which is a green/blue with gold stars

Below the open shelving unit showing the floor with a blue/green rug with stars on there is a small wicker-like storage unit and a framed matisse print leaning against the wall

Now I liked this room set, the rug, the feature wall and the pop of orange - but it’s only when writing this post that I’ve realised that it’s showing the ‘at home’ set-up rather than the ‘working’ element, and that feels like a miss. There’s no doubt it’s been put together well, and the rug and backdrop wall are stunning, but it doesn’t scream working at home to me, or maybe that’s the point?