Converting the Potting Sheds into an Office

The Man Shack

For the past ten years my husband has been working from offices in town.  I practically threw him out of the house ten years ago just before our daughter was born when he mentioned that I might have to shush a crying baby if he was on a call. It's amusing to think that pre children we thought that a baby might be shushed! 

Things have changed and three children later we realized that our time with them is so short. They are growing up at such a pace we decided that they should have as much childhood as possible.  We both wanted them to climb trees, run, laugh and play outside and have the chance to have an old fashioned way of growing up.  With a postage stamp of a garden that we had it just wasn’t possible. We needed a bigger house and garden. 

The sink unit was given to me by my fabulous hairdresser John Billington

 When worked out our budget we realised quite quickly that the rent and travel costs Alastair paid would go a long way to paying towards making it happen, so when the opportunity came up to buy a house I had always wanted to live in came up we went for it, especially when we saw that the potting sheds were tucked away quietly by what would become my kitchen garden at the side of the house and could be renovated. We couldn’t have afforded the house had it been done up, although most of our family and friends thought we’d taken on a mad project and looked on in utter horror at our purchase!

So for the past six months we have been project managing a renovation. Its so good for Al to have his own space to work in, he moved in last week and it's as though he's always been there. The house is full of my cookery things and the children's toys and books.. this is his space and now his commute is a stumble via the laundry door into the kitchen garden and he's at work.  It's already making a big difference to family life, he works very long hours and he saved enough time to take a half day last Friday and came out to Oxford for the afternoon to picnic in the park. It was the first time he's ever taken an afternoon off work to enjoy some family time. It was magical. 

Painting with Farrow and Ball paints. 

It has been a good six months to get the sheds converted and I really recommend if you are going to undertake a project to write down the quotes from builders, plumbers, decorators, plasterers and carpenters.  Do NOT get estimates .. get written quotes.  It might sound obvious reading this now, but trust me;  if forget what was agreed months later you can refer back to it. 

The outside light I rescued from being chucked in the skip!

I'd also say to use the best paint to finish. There is no point skimping on the bit you will see day in day out and I love Farrow and Ball paint, not only because of the luscious finish but because I care about the ingredients that are used and Farrow and Ball paint is made in a really positive way using natural pigments. It's the right thing to use if you care about the impact you have on the world.  I once used a cheaper copy and had a long time to regret it. 

I used three colours.  Castle Grey on the doors, All White on the windows and ceiling, which gave it a fresh clean vibrancy and then inside calming, almost serene Cornforth White, and it looks beautiful 

Enjoying the space. 

 I don't ugh like buying new things.  I tend to rescue, recycle, renovate and reuse. Partially because my budget doesn't allow me to just splurge, but mainly because I love the imperfect. I like things to look as though they have always been that way.  I think though that with a new space it is good to invest in some key pieces and the room will come together.  I’m a huge fan of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture and adding  the Warrington Console and a large squishy chair the whole room just came together as though it had always been there.  Pascale, from the London Rachel Ashwell Shop came over and helped me put it all tougher right from the start.  It seems a bit surreal now remembering standing in a shell with no roof deciding what paint colour to use. 

The stable doors are painted Castle Grey by Farrow and Ball

You can imagine the looks we got from friends and family as we showed them around.

A Visit to Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture Shop in London

Taking on a house that needs renovating is so exciting,. It’s also hard to get a balance and sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed.  I want to renovate .. but truthfully there is comfort and beauty living in what is effectively real shabbiness!  I joke about feeling quite aristocratic on a rainy day because  breakfast consists of "pass the marmalade darling ..oh  .. and could you move the bucket .. there’s a new leak!"

That said  I do feel really at home when it’s not quite perfect. The paint is worn, the carpets are fraying and the windows rattle when the wind blows .. but unlike my last house the untidiness here seems romantic .... as opposed to slovenly!

Having bought Rachel Ashwell’s new book a couple of weeks ago I decided to go to her London shop called Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture .. She also has shops in New York and Los Angeles. 

 Going in to London from the countryside it’s quite a trip and I had all three children with me and I was quite apprehensive Of course working the hours I do it’s not always practical to leave my children behind for a day out .. so I was worried that the staff in the shop might not be happy that I had my children with me.  As I travelled up on the train I thought about why else I felt apprehensive.   Rachel’s book is so gorgeous and I suppose a part of me was worrying that it just wouldn’t be as lovely or that it would be really too expensive for my limited budget, or that the style that I love just wasn’t practical for a real family, with chickens, cats, mischievous children who will sneak a slice of chocolate cake to eat on the sofa .. and a husband who sometimes forgets to take his boots off. 

I needn’t have worried.  To my delight the shop was even lovelier that I had imagined. The branch manager Paulina was completely taken with the children, and the prices seemed affordable and the style really will work in a real family home.  


I ended up coming home with lots of lovely things.. but more exciting than that is that I learnt about the home design service on offer.  It's exactly what I need and so I've booked a visit in a few weeks time from the team.  They are so friendly and have amazing creativity and it now feels more like I have a girlfriend with great taste coming for a chat and a coffee and  I've stopped feeling quite so daunted by everything. 

My children were made to feel welcome too. 

Add Instant Romance with Vintage Candlesticks

I’ve spent this morning with the children baking sourdough and scones .. they have started their own village bakery.  This article by Rose Prince inspired us and the children named the bakery in honour of Rose Prince calling it The Rose Blossom Bakery....  it's only their 2nd week and they made a profit! 


Now that the kitchen is finally flour free,  the sun is going in and my delighted daughter is practicing her violin in the background I just have time have a cup of tea and write about these gorgeous candlesticks I found before friends arrive for supper. 

I’ve been memorized by Rachel Ashwells new book  .. it has captured the feel for our new home exactly. So when I spotted these candlesticks I instantly fell in love , they add instant romance. I know that they don’t match, they are slightly battered and not polished and one of them wobbles slightly but that only adds to their appeal.  They were on sale at Most Marvelous the new retro and antique centre in Northampton and had been reduced to £4 each.  How could I resist?  

So as I have guests for supper this evening I thought we'd skip pudding and just have a beautiful candle lit cheeseboard  .. it will will look amazing, but modern candles just didn't go with this look so I’ve used these gorgeous tapered dinner candles made from 100% beeswax.

 I love that they are hand-dipped by people with learning disabilities mental health problems and other special needs .. they must be so proud to produce such fabulous candles ( they are made at Camp hill)   They are made available to buy courtesy of this wonderful site with all sorts of artisan British gifts called The Hen and Hammock. 

The only down side is that they are so lovely that I almost don’t want to light them!



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Inspiration

A friend sent me some flowers last week.  They are starting to fade. What was last week a tight bud full of promise became a beautiful full boomed rose and is now fading, 

Wispy brown curls form around the outside petals. I love this point .. the faded elegance.  I suppose it really captures a style I want for the house.

Rather than tackle the project from the minute we got in we’ve sat back and lived with the 1980’s décor, carpets, and popped buckets out to catch the rain because despite getting it repaired as best we can there are holes in the roof.  This spring will see the 140 year old roof come off and we will reuse as much of the original slate as possible and put a new one on.

When the new roof is on I can set to on the more interesting side .. painting, stripping the floors,  and all the creative bits.  The recipe book I am working on now is inspired by my house and the vintage feel and so l have been looking for inspiration to decorate and stumbled upon a fabulous book Shabby Chic Inspirations in Waterstones about three weeks ago by Cambridge born and bred Rachel Ashwell. I opened the book and instantly fell in love. 

I’ve since found out that she has a store in Notting Hill  .. so I am off to have a look later in the week.  In the mean time I have been inspired to make some rose marshmallows.