I'm in Paris again at the moment, but when I return to the UK in mid-March there are some exciting changes taking place.
As some of you may know, since splitting with my long-term boyfriend in early 2009, I left the home we bought together - and lived in for eight years - and moved back to my mum's house. At the time, my brother was also living there too, so space was limited. I had to take the smallest bedroom, which is a decent size, but when you consider I've been using it to sleep and work in...well, you can imagine the problems this causes. Since July 2010, I've been dividing my time between the house in Suffolk and my (new) boyfriend's apartment in Paris.
I would love love LOVE a home of my own again, but that's not happening in the near future. I could probably afford a small place of my own in Suffolk - but do you know what? I don't really want to live on my own (especially as I already spend the majority of my time working on my own), and I also don't feel like using my 'nest egg' savings to help pay for it. It's expensive to live alone, even in a small place, and I'm only going to be there some of the time (but I'd have to pay the rent all of the time, obviously). It's also pretty costly travelling back and forth to Paris every few weeks, and at the moment I can't imagine paying for both things.
(The images below are interiors I've found via the internet over the past few days - I'll be using these as inspiration for my rooms.)
Image via www.furnnish.wordpress.com
Anyway, long story short - my brother has now moved out and into an apartment of his own - so his large room is now available again. It's a beautiful room with wooden floorboards, two windows, and sloping ceilings, and PLENTY OF SPACE! So mum and I have hatched a plan: I will now rent two rooms from her - Cris's large room, and the smaller room I'm currently occupying. The large room will become my bedroom and living space and the smaller will be my studio and workspace. You have no idea how much this will change my life at the moment. I can work on really large canvases again! I can have all of my possessions around me for the first time in three years! I can organise my life so that I'll be able to work more efficiently! I will finally have a place that I can truly call 'my studio'. There will be space for my easel, my art supplies, my packaging materials - heck, I'm even going to have a designated work table in there too! (This is particularly exciting because it means I will no longer have to work on the stones or smaller paintings on the kitchen table, fending off cats who like paintbrushes and jars of water every few minutes...)
The artist Cathy McMurray's home via the Etsy Blog.
Before you ask, "What's going on here - don't you and Leon want to live together?!" Let me tell you: Yes, we do. We are in a situation at the moment that doesn' t allow for that for several reasons, and it's part of our long-term plan of course, but not right now. So renting two rooms to live and work in whenever I'm in England - and keeping my costs as low as possible - is the ideal interim solution.
Image via Apartment Therapy.
Sooooo...you know what I'm loving about this scenario? THE CHANCE TO DECORATE! I haven't been able to get my hands on a paint roller for several years (I used to be a prolific decorator when I had a house) and I can't wait to get started again.
Image via www.homeklondike.com
Both rooms are going to be massively freshened-up and given a totally new look. Over the past week or so I've been thinking about what I want to do with them, and at the moment I'm in love with grey walls for both rooms. A lighter grey for the studio space and a darker, dramatic grey for the large room. There's plenty of white (both rooms have white ceilings and sloping walls), which will look great with the grey, and in the case of the larger room, it should mean that the dark grey I want to use won't be too overpowering.
Image via www.indecorat.com
I have most of the furniture I need (but I do have to buy a new mattress for my iron (double) bed - could be expensive) so I'm hoping I can renovate the two rooms without it becoming too spendy-spendy. I know how quickly things like lampshades, bed linen, throws, cushion covers etc. etc. can add up though, so I'm aware that this is likely to take a fair chunk of my hard-earned dough. I'm not going to stress about the cost too much - if I feel like splurging on a couple of items I will. After all, it's been a long time since I've had the opportunity to have a space that totally reflects my tastes and who I am. That kind of thing is important to me.
Image via www.ollieroseblog.com.au
I'm going to document the redecoration of the two rooms here on the blog, with 'before', 'during', and 'after' photos, because I know how people love that stuff. Ok, I know how I love that stuff, and judging by the amount of interior design blogs out there, I'm guessing I'm not alone. ;)
Image via www.forme-foryou.com
After finding so many inspiring images of grey walls (just Google 'grey walls' and you'll see what I mean) on the internet, I'm now ready to go! Now I just have to find the perfect shades for my rooms...
I love grey too, I'm hoping to do our lounge that colour. Let me know what paint you use and I'm finding it hard to decide which shade to go for.
That is so great that you will have plenty of space now. Blessings Niki x
Posted by: Niki Jackson | March 05, 2012 at 03:12 PM
My living room walls are light grey with a dark grey carpet on the floor!
Posted by: Jenny | March 05, 2012 at 03:53 PM
Would you be terribly upset if I hated you? Just til the next blog? Why, you might ask- My space looks like a bomb exploded in it- your space looks like it came out of a magazine about perfect spaces- and as much as I sometimes think I want a sort of not-quite-zen space...
...Actually N., I'm with you. I moved back into my father's house (the house I grew up in) when he started to need assistance (I suspect your Mom appreciates not being alone). He has since died & now the place is mine- along with all my stuff, all his stuff, all the stuff he inherited from his parents...minus his clothes & about 30 boxes of books...the house (which is a little over 50 years old) has 3 rooms in need of serious renovation just to make them truly serviceable, much less pretty...
...OK. I don't hate you.
And the back-and-forth relationship? I think there's something to be said about a space that's separate from one's relationship...there's something about being under the same roof for years that turns little things into big things...well, sh*t...TMI
Posted by: Evan | March 05, 2012 at 04:59 PM
...& then I realize...
...stupid coffee...not doing it's job at all!
Posted by: Evan | March 05, 2012 at 05:00 PM
No worries Evan - actually, I'll be delighted if my space ends up looking anything like these photos!
(I've now added a little edit to the blog, at the top of the photos, just in case anyone else mistakenly thinks that these are my finished rooms!)
I hope the coffee has worked its magic by now. ;)
Natasha
x
Posted by: The Blackbird Sings | March 05, 2012 at 05:58 PM
Congratulations on having a space of your own. Right now I am living in a very small space with a kitchen table studio that has to be packed up every day. It is frustrating so I know exactly how you feel!
Posted by: Carolyn A Pappas | March 05, 2012 at 06:08 PM
That sounds perfect! You're right.. almost everyone loves before and after shots :)
Posted by: Cally | March 06, 2012 at 01:04 AM
this will be wonderful for you, a good dedicated workspace makes a huge difference!
As for budget, don't forget secondhand shops, auctions etc for picking up beautiful vintage pieces. I haven't bought anything new for my home or studio for ages! :)
Posted by: suzie | March 06, 2012 at 09:13 AM
How wonderful to have a room of your own to work in! I wish you lots of ideas, inspiration and good hard work!!
Posted by: Laura | March 06, 2012 at 11:05 AM
I had no idea you worked in such a small place, it's going to be fantastic having a room just for a studio! I look forward to seeing the befores and afters!
Jess x
Posted by: Jess | March 06, 2012 at 04:39 PM
It's really interesting seeing these examples of grey together and I like the subtle, warmer tones - Farrow & Ball are very good for muted palettes and some of the paint names are very evocative. I am drawn to the small bedroom example as it perfectly matches your blog! I've always played safe with white after I once painted a whole room grey & someone said it was like a battleship - but seeing grey here it looks calm & sophisticated with the accents of natural wood, vibrant colour etc.
You certainly deserve a proper studio space and the other room project will be a natural extension of your art & creativity. It's a great idea to document the progress of it as for every little design element there'll be a nice back-story. And yes, we all like to see those before/after pictures!
Posted by: Jazz | March 06, 2012 at 04:46 PM
Sounds Exciting! Have fun!
Posted by: Cheryl | March 08, 2012 at 05:26 PM
How exciting! I'm so happy for you, that you'll have a dedicated studio space again. It is so difficult to live/work in one room. I re-did my bedroom in a med/dark grey last year and I love it. It's a very calm/zen feeling. I have a feeling you'll love it.
Posted by: Gwyneth Amy | March 12, 2012 at 03:17 AM
I love gray paint, too. Last summer I painted my hallway and kitchen a dark (ish) gray with stark white trim and I love it.
Posted by: Jules Means | March 18, 2012 at 12:24 AM