The working from home project: cork pinboard panelling

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The working from home project: discrete and beautiful

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.

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?

Big Ideas: A spa-style bathroom

I’m sure we’ve all had days where we’ve wished we’ve had a spa to walk into as soon as we step through the front door, and while that may not always be possible, and we may have to plan our spa visits in advance, there are some style tips we can adopt to make the most of our own bathrooms to make them a haven of relaxation.

The Big Ideas for this bathroom are:

1. Tactile finishes such as natural woods and limewash tiles

2. A neutral palette which enhances the hygge design, but is also easy to update

3. A relaxing vibe, as we all know a calming atmosphere promotes wellbeing.

For me in this bathroom, it’s the tiles that make it. I’m sure they’re the type of tiles that builders love to hate and will tell you how hard they are to put up, but if they can look this good, I think that’s worth it. And if they are hard to put up, then I think I’d recommend a builder than trying to do them yourselves. I’ve said before that MOH and I are DIY-incompatible, and these don’t look like materials that would help with that.

He’d be a big fan of the shower though, even if the tiles aren’t quite his thing.

The other thing about this bathroom is that it’s full of texture. The wood, the tiles, the mats, even the basket with the candles in on the bench. Texture is satisfying for our eyes, and our soul I think.

It’s unusual to have artwork in a bathroom, often because they’re small and steamy places, and so it’s not practical. But if you have the space, then it’s worth considering. I like the picture above even for a non-bathroom space - it’s the type of image that challenges your eyes and brain, but also rewards them with a pleasing image once you’ve really seen it.

Even if we can’t fit all of this into our own more normal sized bathrooms, some of the Big Ideas would be relatively easy to incorporate, and I’m sure the benefit would be ten-fold.