Review by Emma Rafter
'A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction' wrote Virginia Woolf back in 1928, although I think this quote rings true for any creative endeavour or indeed sanity. Having tried, with varying degrees of success, to run a creative business from my tiny kitchen table in my tiny house, I can whole heartedly vouch for the importance of having a designated space in which to work and allow that work to breathe without the threat of it being used as an impromptu place mat etc. We have recently moved to a normal-sized house (as opposed to the doll's house that was our home for 7 years) and I have commandeered the spare room for strictly creative endeavours (and paperwork storage zzzzz), so the timing of this inspirational and practical book is perfect.
The author, Caroline Clifton-Mogg, stresses that a suitable creative area doesn't have to be an entire room: it can be an alcove in the dining room, a desk under the window in the lounge, or under the stairs – as long as its purpose is clear and other inhabitants are aware that it is your own private space, that's all that's needed.
The ideas here have thrift firmly in mind: an office after all doesn't need to be furnished with 'office' furniture – how about using a kitchen table or console for a desk, for example. Practical can be aesthetically pleasing and comfortingly eclectic. As she says on p138, 'The one thing that is not essential when setting up your own studio is buckets of cash.'
There are a variety of styles within this book: it's not all ramshackle shabby chic for the bohemian crafter, but there are ideas here to wet the decorative juices of the minimalists out there who crave order and fear frippery distraction.
No element is left uncovered, from the importance of suitable light/lighting to chair/desk ratios via adaptable storage and floorings, allowing you to start organising that abandoned room/dusty corner. There is also a good chapter on creating study areas for children that adapt to their changing whims and needs.
Even if your current living arrangements leave absolutely no free space in which to realise the suggestions within this marvellous book, it's still worth a look for the sumptuous photography for one thing. Besides, situations change so start dreaming: one day kiddo, one day...
Links:
ISBN: 9781849751568
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