November 2014

52
November 2014

description

Packed full of inspiration for the home, this issue showcases a personality filled London home and a new concept home in Sweden. There are shopping tips for a slick modern kitchen and the ever enduring industrial trend in interiors. Plus and extract from Emma Bridgewater's new book, three destination hotels to try, interviews, and a mouthwatering Apricot Cake recipe.

Transcript of November 2014

Page 1: November 2014

November 2014

Page 2: November 2014

In at the deep end...

Page 3: November 2014

Welcome Home

Carole and Arianna

from the Editors

COVER PHOTOGRAPH by PAUL CRAIG • EDITORS’ PHOTOGRAPH by ANDREW BOYD

Now that the clocks have gone back and the nights really are starting to draw in, thoughts naturally start to turn to making our homes as cosy and inviting as possible. Maybe you are thinking of making over the guest bedroom before the holidays next month, or buying some new lamps to brighten up gloomy corners? Whatever the job in hand we hope you find this issue an inspiration.

We have one of our own photographer’s homes on page 8. Brave man. Not only does he have to work with us but he also had us invading his own private territory and we loved every

minute of rifling through his bookshelves and investigating his toiletries!

We also have a new concept home in Sweden to share, which has a warm homely feel but with a distinctly Scandinavian atmosphere. The best of both worlds we say.

If it’s shopping help you need, we have the enduring industrial trend featured and also sleek contemporary kitchens to whet the appetite. Speaking of which, you must try our apricot cake on page 42. Enjoy.

Page 4: November 2014
Page 5: November 2014

The Heart Home Family

JOINT EDITORS IN CHIEF

CAROLE KING

ARIANNA TRAPANI

ART EDITOR

MELLISA HARRISON

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PAUL CRAIG

ÅSA GRAMÉN

GIEDRE AUGUSTINAVICIUTE

OLIVER GORDON

WRITERS

ELLIE WALKER-ARNOTT

KELLY LAVENDER

VICTORIA DOCKRELL

ANNA TOBIN

STYLISTS

KATE BAXTER

RESEARCHER

ROCHELLE COOTE

City Slicker Kitchens p 40

Page 6: November 2014

www.maudinteriors.com

Travel-inspired, contemporary, home accessories handcrafted by global artisans.

Page 7: November 2014

Contents

8

HOMES

Urban Renewal – Paul Craig, one of Heart Homes very own photographers, shows us around his personality packed London home.

Style Steal – Get the look from Paul’s home.

Swedish Living – A new concept in pre-fabricated housing from Sweden offers homeowners a flexible way of stamping their own individuality on their spaces.

Style Steal – Get the Swedish look in your own home.

FEATURES

Little Altars Everywhere – Emma Bridgewater shares her own solution to a bulging china collection.

Young Designer – Teri Munci, illustrator, designer and crafter.

LEISURE

Apricot Cake – Indulge yourself with this months simple teatime recipe.

Eat, Drink, Enjoy – The first of our new series bringing you three destination restaurants to try.

28

21

30

39

24

42

44

22

49

SHOPPING

Industrial Fever – Add a chic and stylish utilitarian flair to your interior.

City Slicker Kitchens – Our tips for a kitchen that screams sophistication and luxurious city living.

News and Previews – The latest and greatest in our shops this November.

40

Apricot Cake p 42

7

Page 8: November 2014

Heart Homes

8

Heart Homes

Page 9: November 2014

Urban RenewalPHOTOGRAPHS by Paul Craig

WORDS: by Anna Tobin

Paul Craig, a freelance photographer and regular contributor to Heart Home magazine and his partner Tim Dawson, a lawyer, moved into their four-bedroom Victorian terraced house in South London in 2004. Whilst the property was perfectly liveable, Paul and Tim couldn’t wait to inject their personalities into it.

9

Heart Homes

Page 10: November 2014

‘There was little wrong with the house when we bought it,’ explains Paul. ‘The guy who we had bought it from had only recently done it up, it was all very functional, but neutral. He’d done it up to sell it, and although it had lots of period features, it had no soul.’

The couple had previously lived in an apartment with a kitchen diner and they’d enjoyed cooking and eating in the same space. They wanted to not only replicate this arrangement in their new abode, but to grow it so that the whole ground

floor became a living and entertaining space spilling out also on to the garden beyond.

Permitted development rules allowed them to extend into the redundant space of the side return and part of the garden and, what was a cramped narrow kitchen has become a spacious cooking, eating and living space.

‘What we have now is exactly what we wanted, an extra special kitchen encompassing a large dining area, which in the summer opens fully out on to the garden,’ explains Paul.

‘What we have now is exactly what we wanted, an extra special kitchen encompassing a large dining area, which

in the summer opens fully out on to the garden.’

10

Page 11: November 2014
Page 12: November 2014
Page 13: November 2014

What was a barren patch of grass out back has been transformed into a tranquil outdoor room so that on a warm day the indoor and the outdoors flow seamlessly into each other.

‘We also went to great pains to ensure that the new extension flowed naturally into the original Victorian part of the house,’ describes Paul. ‘This is why we opted for a bespoke kitchen, rather than buying one off the shelf. We called in a designer

who’d come very well recommended by friends of ours, Sean Cochrane of Cochrane Design.’

Sean Cochrane came up with a design for sleek white handleless units wrapped around with oak sides and worktops. These have been teamed with natural slate floors and splash backs to link the room to the rest of the house, where grey continues as a theme.

13

Page 14: November 2014

The kitchen opens out on to a library area where Sean designed a series of low cupboards with open shelving above. ‘I am a big fan of good-looking shelving units,’ reveals Paul. ‘We have it in the kitchen and it ensures that it takes no time to put the crockery away. And we’ve carried it through to what we jokingly call the library, where the painted shelves display our books, items collected from our travels and some of my favourite photos.’

The shelves continue into the more formal living room and although these two rooms appear to be painted the same colour grey, the ‘library’ which has less natural light is actually painted in Farrow & Ball Manor House Grey, which is a slightly lighter shade of Farrow & Ball Plummett, that the main living room is painted in. ‘It’s so subtle, that the two rooms look the same colour, but it really does lighten that middle room,’ Paul claims. ‘We also opted for a shiny silk material for the lounge curtains to reflect more light into the rooms.’

The ‘Spiky Man’ sculpture has pride of place in the lounge. Tim and Paul commissioned sculptor Anna Gillespie to create this for them to remind them of their civil partnership, which took place in a Cornish Hotel containing her work.

‘We like to ensure that every bit of our home has personal touches,’ explains Paul. ‘The hallway for example, has become a gallery for some of my work.’ Sean Cochrane designed the panelling for the entrance hallway which continues upstairs. Whilst in the master bedroom, he designed the wardrobes either side of the fireplace with the same panelled design, again subtly linking different spaces within the property.

‘I am a big fan of good-looking shelving units’

14

Page 15: November 2014

15

Page 16: November 2014
Page 17: November 2014

‘We carried the grey theme into the bedroom too, with Farrow & Ball Down Pipe,’ continues Paul. ‘This whole room was quite a challenge as we needed to work around our large bed, which made it tricky to find free-standing furniture to fit. In

the end, I designed the bedside tables, tallboy and chest of drawers myself in conjunction with furniture designers SixNineThree, who are based in East Dulwich.’

‘This whole room was quite a challenge as we needed to work around our large bed, which made

it tricky to find free-standing furniture to fit.’

17

Page 18: November 2014

18

Page 19: November 2014

The guest bedroom, meanwhile, was designed around the vintage 1940s office drawers that Paul and Tim picked up an antique warehouse they chanced upon in Bermondsey. ‘We gave this room a little bit more of an eclectic retro feel to fit around this piece of furniture as a result,’ says Paul.

Working as a photographer shooting a lot of interiors, Paul is always being inspired by things he sees at work and is always on the lookout for unusual pieces. He was keen to ensure that even the bathroom had a talking point, opting for eye-catching stripy tiles. ‘They are fantastic and they look almost like wallpaper and very masculine, but they were a nightmare for the tiler to grout,’ he chuckles.

Paul and Tim are delighted with their finished house, and although they both travel a lot, it remains their favourite place to spend time in. Paul sums up: ’The whole ground floor, is probably our favourite space, it’s great the way each part flows seamlessly into the next and even outside. It’s a fantastic space to party in!”

To find out about commissioning Paul Craig or to buy his work visit www.pcraig.co.uk,

Sean Cochrane of Cochrane Design Ltd, ( 020 7751 0075, www.cochranedesign.com) designed the kitchen and commissioned Patrick Byrne from Kitchen Haus (020 7350 1222, www.kitchenhaus.com) to manufacture and install it.

19

Page 20: November 2014

‘The whole ground floor, is

probably our favourite space’

20

Page 21: November 2014

Style StealGet the look from Paul 's house

Heart Shopping

Grey Check Throw, £45, Dreamwool Blanket Co • Wooden Monkey, £79, Skandium. • Antiqued Ceramic Acupoint Body, £55, Rockett St George • Harbrook Leather Chair, £720, Laura Ashley • Britannia Cushion, EUR 49.95, Zazzle • Series 7 Chair, £284.75, Skandium • Porthole Mirrors, from £59.95, Graham and Green • Vase Unica 04, EUR 146.67, Stilleben • Smart Stripes Collection Wallpaper, £40.80, Galerie Wallcoverings • Broughton Honey Tall Chest of Drawers, £770, Laura Ashley • Patchwork Armchair, £595, Out There Interiors • Urbo Kitchen in White High Gloss, from £35,000, Roundhouse Design.

21

Page 22: November 2014

News and Previews...

Glasgow-based Timorous Beasties have recently

designed the Rorschach

Tile Collection, inspired by traditional damask

motifs. There are five hand lithographed designs on 12 x 12”limestone ($60 per sqft) or thassos marble ($75 per sqft)

tiles. Cle Tile Co.

Everybody loves Tunnocks teacakes and traditional caramel wafer biscuits.

Scottish designer Gillian Kyle has

decorated these fabulous fine bone china plates

with the iconic packaging of your favourite sweet

treats.  Each plate measures 8 inches in diameter and retails for £14.50. They really do take the biscuit!

Hunkydory Home.

The ‘Meccano Home’ Collection is a revolutionary

new range of furniture based upon the iconic

construction sets we all know and love, and now

enlarged to form modular furniture units. Dining Table

from £470. (available in 2 sizes) and chairs £219

each. Available exclusively from Holloways of Ludlow.

New this season is a selection of luxury giant floor cushions from bluebellgray. Created

from a selection of their most popular designs, these abstract, floral and linen rainbow pieces can be

mixed and matched for an eclectic feel. Each cushion

is 120 x 120 cms and is priced at £220.

Bianca Hall has been

inspired by the traditional textiles of Mexico, Panama and Hawaii for her new collection of Tropica cushions and napkins.

There are four designs in total and the napkins (shown here) retail at £11.50

each.

22

Page 23: November 2014

By Carole King

Bring industrial

glamour to your home with these fabulous

copper stools by renowned Danish brand

MADAM STOLTZ. Small (shown here) is

£68, Mia Fleur.

If you fancy a piece of 1960’s chic you will love the Darwin dining chair

from Galapagos. Available in couture orange and

grey velvets and wools, or choose your own colours to

mix-and-match! From £350.00.

YUKUTORI, one of four new wallpapers designs inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship by Farrow and Ball. The name means literally – birds

flying away in a group. £80 per roll if you want them to fly onto your wall.

British manufacturer, DUALIT is introducing a new Copper

finish into its Classic Toaster Collection; perfectly in keeping with the current vogue for all-things metallic in the home.

Classic Kettle, £129.99 and Classic Four Slice Toaster,

£199.95. Available exclusively from John Lewis  between October - December 2014 and direct from Dualit.

Established by ROHAN BLACKER founder of sofa.com, Pooky is a new lighting brand aiming to offer stylish and affordable table and floor lamps. And very pretty they are too. The resin group shown here start from £70.

A roundup of the latest and greatest products in our shops this November...

23

Page 24: November 2014

We have an unending problem. Both Matthew and I buy more china than any kitchen can hold. Every likely place has rows of extra jugs, plates, mugs, coffee pots. There was – is – continuously so much china in the house that it is silting up in boxes, in cupboards, and even spilling outside into the barn and sheds. We tried to call a halt to the shopping but it was no good, neither of us could pretend to be indifferent when passing a new junk

shop or market. And besides, we realised that if we stopped feeling acquisitive about it, this had a negative effect on our designing; it seemed to be a vital part of the creative process to keep one’s eye in and keep shopping. Indifference to an antique shop, even if completely feigned, is reflected in stilted design and much less of a feeling of happy anticipation at sitting down to create anything new.

Little altars everywhereBy Emma Bridgewater

24

Page 25: November 2014

25

Page 26: November 2014

One afternoon after a muddy day out on the marsh, we stopped at the house of an old friend of Mum’s. The children were prompt to wash their muddy feet and legs and shed their filthy plimsolls, as Mary’s standards are high and her teas legendary. Once they were all munching on home-made scones and jam around her kitchen table, we took our cups of tea next door into her lovely sitting room and flopped into her extra comfy sofas and chairs…

As we talked I noticed for the first time that the room had an elegant, narrow shelf running all around it, about 7 feet from the floor, above the picture rail. It was filled with Mary’s collection of beautiful china, including a lovely dessert service, with assorted hand-painted flowers and deep green borders, as well as copper lustre and other pretty things. She said that the china had belonged to her mother and she liked having it out or harm’s way, well above grandchild level, and not in the kitchen where it was likely to be put to use.

This was an idea to be copied as widely as possible…26

Page 27: November 2014

Extract from TOAST & MARMALADE AND OTHER STORIES by Emma Bridgewater, published in hardback by Saltyard books, priced £25 and also available as an ebook.

27

Page 28: November 2014

Scrumpy Kitchen Table, £645, Loaf

28

Page 29: November 2014

Industrial Fever

1.

8.

6.

2.

Work wire baskets and lighting together with antique factory finds to add a chic and stylish utilitarian flair to your interior.

By Kate Baxter

5.

4.

7.

3.

1. Leman Lounge Chair in Brick Leather, £626.50, Camerich

2. Brass Tripod Lamp, £129, Darlings of Chelsea

3. Low Lamp Table, £89, Hampshire Furniture

4. Benjamin Bookcase, £49, Mobius Living

5. Wire Log Basket, £38, Decorator’s Notebook

6. Vintage Style Twist Stool, £108, House Envy

7. School Chairs, £45 each, Pierre et Coco

8. Iron Bed, £695, Alexander & Pearl

9. Galvanised Planter Set, £48, Quince Living

10. Rustic Painted Trunk Set, £269, PUJI

9.

10.

29

Page 30: November 2014

Heart Homes

A cast iron stove sits between the living room and dining room, creating a homely ambience.

Page 31: November 2014

A new concept in pre-fabricated housing from Sweden offers homeowners a flexible way of stamping their own individuality on the space, with Scandinavian styling helping to create a contemporary, yet far from minimal finish

Swedish livingPHOTOGRAPHS by Åsa Gramén

WORDS by Kelly Lavender

Page 32: November 2014

Large glass doors separate the various living spaces on the ground floor, while ensuring the open plan feeling remains.

32

Page 33: November 2014

When you hear the phrase ‘Swedish home interiors’, it can be difficult to not think of a certain blue and yellow warehouse full of clever ideas for making the most of our compact living spaces.

The Lone concept house by Blooc, nestled in the

picturesque village of Gustavsberg in Stockholm, is just as ingenious. Most famous for its production of porcelain, and in particular toilet bowls, Gustavsberg is also home to a new idea in housing, presented in a pre-fabricated, modular format that enables owners to stamp their own identity in a flexible way.

Furnishings have been chosen to create a warm, homely feel, with a distinctive Scandinavian atmosphere.

33

Page 34: November 2014

34

Page 35: November 2014

The staircase can be chosen in a colour to suit the new homeowner’s taste and style, turning this necesary fixture into a statement piece.

Designed by architectural firm Concept Stockholm, the collection consists of a few fixed modules, in various sizes that can be used as row houses, terraced, semi-detached and detached homes. Various optional modules can then be combined to suit each owner’s specific needs: be it an extra bedroom, a guest room, a library or an orangery. With different window and roof options also available, each property looks totally unique.

Just as modern on the inside as on the outside, each of the houses in the Lone collection is designed to be contemporary, but not minimalist. The architect’s objective that the homes should grow old gracefully, has resulted in the use of natural materials such as marble, tanned leather and wood, creating a classic, quality finish throughout.

With the house’s permanent fixtures and fittings carefully selected by Nordic design experts, the entrance welcomes visitors with a classic porch with a modern twist. The hall has a beautiful staircase with double ceiling height and a skylight which floods the space with natural light. And although the entire ground floor is designed to be open plan, there is a clear division between the private spaces of the home and the play and social areas such as the kitchen, dining and living room. 

35

Page 36: November 2014

The clever use of space within the Lone Blooc concept home ensures the various areas blend seamlessly

An open dining area located between the kitchen and living creates a social space that is ideal for entertaining friends and family, with large glass doors opening onto the patio to bring the outside in. Meanwhile, a cast iron stove strategically positioned between the living room and family room creates a homely ambience.

With the homeowner able to choose various details along the way, perhaps a statement blue staircase, or black frames for the big glass doors, the Collection’s show home has been elegantly styled to provide further inspiration.

Decorated by stylist Alexandra Ogonowski, this aspirational space features beautiful design classics, with a distinctive Scandinavian feel throughout.

Just some of the features include contemporary furniture from Danish manufacturer HAY, kitchens from Swedish firm Kvänum, appliances from Smeg, soft furnishings from Chhatwal-Jonsson and Ferm Living.

With new homeowners given a blank canvas to which they can add and adapt to suit their lifestyle choices, it’s little wonder that the concept house is likened by architects to the iPhone. It’s just that with Lone by Blooc we’re talking modules rather than apps.

For more details visit http://www.blooc.se/lone or http://www.koncept.se

36

Page 37: November 2014

37

Page 38: November 2014

For more details visit http://www.blooc.se/lone or http://www.koncept.se

38

Page 39: November 2014

Style StealGet the look

Heart Shopping

What a Corker Mirror, £140, British by Design •White Chrome Diamond Retro Chair, £158.64, Not on the High Street •Torres Wool Kilim in Iron, from £47-£659, West Elm •Tom Dixon Etch Web Suspension Light, £855, Atomic • Richard Schultz 1966 Coffee Table, £864, The Conran Shop • Lup Candle Holder, £23.49, Ambiente Direct • Stag Coat Stand, POA, Trett Design • Chair 209 by Thonet, £625.60, Skandium • Innermost Lighthouse Floor Lamp, £535, Heals • Copper Edison es27 Screw Light Fitting, £34, Rockett St George • Dia Throw in Beige/Ivory, £519, Lux Deco • Luxury Chess Set, £229, Artisanti.

39

Page 40: November 2014

Vao Kitchen by Team7, Wharfside.40

Page 41: November 2014

City Slicker Kitchen

Combine walnut doors with clean white, black, and touches of sleek stainless steel for a kitchen that screams sophistication and luxurious city living

1.

2.

3.

6.

8.

9.

1.Wood effect coasters, £12.50 for a set of six, Meadows & Byrne

2. implehuman Sink Caddy, £14.99, Occa Home

3. Cenote grey Kitchen stool, £229, Boqa

4. Otis bulb pendant, £35, BHS

5. Christian Lacroix Sol Y Sombra Charger Plate, £105, Amara

6. Puravida Electronic Kitchen Mixer Tap, £1,782, Hansgrohe

7. Nespresso Magimix, £220, Debenhams

8. SP57 salt & pepper mill, £128, Tamawa

9. Elegant Living 26cm Stockpot, £22, George Home

10. Diamond Look Wire Basket, £4, Tiger Stores

5.

7.

4.

10.

41

Page 42: November 2014

Apricot CakeBy Giedre Augustinaviciute

42

Page 43: November 2014

Ingredients

2 cups plain flour

½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup Greek yogurt

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp fine grain sea salt

450 g ripe apricots, cored and diced

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tbsp. lemon zest

• Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan.

• Butter and flour a 10 x 5 x 3 inch loaf tin.

• Sift together the flour, baking powder,

baking soda and salt and set aside.

• In a medium bowl beat sugar and eggs,

gently mix in the yogurt.

• Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in

apricot chunks. Scrape the side of the

bowl, making sure that all the ingredients

are well-blended but do not overmix.

• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin.

Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, or until

a toothpick inserted into the center of the

loaf comes out clean.

• Cool in the tin on a rack.

Page 44: November 2014

Eat, Drink, Enjoy By Ellie Walker-Arnott

It would be unfair to call Sketch a restaurant. It is an eating destination. A central London townhouse transformed into a dining experience, where each and every room has an entirely different style, atmosphere and menu. We ate in The Gallery, Sketch’s homage to modern art – a grand dining room designed by illustrator David Shrigley.

The candy pink walls, which match the velvet seats and copper detailing, are covered with 239 new, original Shrigley drawings. And the focus on design doesn't stop with the walls. The plates, the menus, even the salt and pepper shakers are in on the act. As is the food itself, which turns up stylishly settled on your plate. Not that The

Sketch Conduit Street

44

Page 45: November 2014

Go: If you want to impress a date, or anyone for that matter.Eat: Chantilly Lace – a black rice and lobster bisque starter.Pay: Around £30 for a main course.

Gallery can be accused of favouring style over substance - the dishes are seriously tasty too.

Don’t leave without a little nosey around the rest of Sketch’s bars and restaurants. And a trip to the futuristic toilets. Seriously, you’ll understand why once you get there.

45

Page 46: November 2014

Who knew environmentally friendly dining could be so much fun?Through the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross, past fast food chains and busy bars spilling out onto the pavements, sits T.E.D. or Think, Eat, Drink, a restaurant where the focus is firmly on serving sustainable and ethically produced food.

Its menu favours British, seasonal flavours, but you could easily eat here without noticing its green credentials. The menu is varied, fresh and exciting – from English lamb and Cornish crab to panna cotta topped with native raspberries and each dish arrives on your plate cleverly styled with passion and flair.

Plus, the food is served up in seriously stylish surroundings – bold, printed tiles, multi coloured glass lampshades and pretty vases full of fresh, wild flowers.

It’s safe to say we are completely converted to their ethical ethos.

T.E.D Caledonian Road

Go: For a stylish and delicious dinner - with a conscience.Eat: Isle of Man queen scallops served with saffron and lemon.Pay: Around £15 for a main course – though menus change on a daily basis to reflect market prices.

Page 47: November 2014

Any café or restaurant on Upper Street in Angel has plenty of competition. The area is teeming with trendy start-ups, as well as established venues and familiar chains. But Vivo, with passionate staff and oodles of laid back Italian charm, still managed to pull in the crowds when we visited on a rainy Monday evening.

That’s probably got something to do with the platters of mouth-watering food laid out over 14 meters of stone counter, all of which is easily visible from the pavement. There is plenty for you to drool over before selecting your dishes - think rich lasagne, spaghetti and meatballs and stuffed pizzas as well as contemporary salads and heavenly hand-crafted desserts.

Once inside, you select food from the counter and perch wherever takes your fancy - the British weather doesn’t always lend itself to eating al fresco, but Vivo has a roomy roof terrace with patio heaters and canopy to shield you from showers. One thing's for sure though, once you're settled, there’s absolutely no chance you’ll ever feel like you’re being rushed out.

VivoUpper Street

Go: For a casual catch up with friends over dinner, lunch or brunch.Eat: Salmon and venere rice salad.Pay: Around £8 for a main course.

Page 48: November 2014

facebook.com/hearthomemag

twitter.com/hearthomemag

pinterest.com/hearthomemag

hearthomemag.co.uk/blog

hearthomemag.co.uk/mailing

Pho

togr

aphy

by

Åsa

Gra

mén

Follow Heart Home

Page 49: November 2014

Teri always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: “It was always so clear, from the moment I could hold a pencil. Art and design was a bit like breathing for me,” she explains. Having won a Christmas card competition while at university studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern, her interest in the greetings card industry was cemented. “People told me I should probably look at broader options, especially having graduated just as the credit crunch hit but I was like a dog with a bone,” she laughs.

Having gone on to spend five years in-house with Hallmark, a period Teri credits as vital to teaching her about the business of the industry and the “wonderful world of paper and print”, Teri eventually started to feel the creative constraints of working in a corporate culture. So in March 2012 she started her blog, The Lovely Drawer, as “a fun and creative outlet for all the little projects I did and a place to collect my inspirations.”Since then The Lovely Drawer has developed into what Teri describes as “a more focused space that was less about me documenting my design work and more geared up to giving something to the readers, whether that was design ideas, DIY projects or free printables.” As the blog grew, an unexpected but welcome side-effect was the steady flood of unsolicited freelance commissions which rolled in until Teri “realised it wasn’t sustainable to attempt to do that alongside a full time job. I was totally exhausted!” Having first experimented with a four day week and ‘Freelance Fridays’, in March 2014 Teri finally took the “scary leap” into being a full-time freelance designer.

Greetings from The Lovely Drawer

Words by Victoria Dockrell

We sit down with Teri Muncey, designer, illustrator, stylist and crafter, and founder of the beautiful The Lovely Drawer blog and Etsy store.

49

Page 50: November 2014

One of the first steps was setting up a long-awaited Etsy shop. “I rather enthusiastically managed to design the whole collection within four weeks, which included DIY printable wedding sets and art prints,” she laughs. She’s since added three new prints and one new wedding set to the shop and loves that it’s a constant source of feedback for her work.

Teri loves the creative freedom that being freelance brings. “There’s more of an opportunity to try things out and experiment, which undoubtedly means I produce better work.” Although she’s always aware of the need “to get inside the mind of your customers and critically look at your designs. I always question whether people would actually want to part with their money for whatever I’m selling.”Teri loves the individuality that each commission brings and has really enjoyed the recent styling and branding projects she’s worked on, explaining: “Seeing a picture in my head come to life in 3D is one of the best things!”

“I rather enthusiastically

managed to design the whole collection within four weeks”

50

Page 51: November 2014

We’re looking forward to watching her build on these aspects and grow her business, especially her Etsy shop. “It’s still relatively early days but I really enjoy a challenge and love pushing myself;, I’d love to see it flourish,” she says. So would we Teri!

Teri is available for commissions of any type and more information on pricing and services is available on her website.

thelovelydrawer.com

“seeing a picture in my head come to life in 3D is

one of the best things!”

51

Page 52: November 2014

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to read it.

phot

ogra

ph b

y O

LIV

ER G

OR

DO

N

Next Issue Out 4th December