Over the last two years we’ve interviewed a good few designers about their desks – check out Lisa Stickley, Gillian Kyle and others here –  but it’s been ages since I had a proper desk of my own. It’s such a personal space, and I’ve missed it. I’ve been using my yellow kitchen table, but now I need a table for Christmas I hatched a plan to get something that could serve both purposes.

This 88cm alcove was really the only space in the flat for either a desk or dining table. This drop-leaf Ercol table from eBay is a perfect fit, with one leaf folding out (the mechanism underneath is satisfyingly sturdy and ingenious) to make a desk for when I don’t have guests. All that’s left is some shelves for up above (not for books, just for some inspiring trozzle) and maybe a box underneath for hiding crap.

Doll Ebay: the idea with legs?

My Friend recently shared some ideas we had for our own online magazine, but was baffled to find the words ‘Doll Ebay’ in her notes. Well, allow me to shed some light. To feature celebrities without a photography (or indeed magazine) budget, we planned to doctor Barbie, Ken and Sindy dolls to look like the […]

Purchases and passes

On our day out at Ardingly, as My Friend said, we got rather too overwhelmed with browsing, chatting and eating cheese toasties to take any proper pictures. But just quickly, here are a few pictures of what I bought, and the one that got away. Because yes, I finally got my hands on this Ercol […]

How’s this for a fabric sample?

And so I find myself here once again, winter in the living room. The sofa spot I’ve sat in all year has become the coldest place in the house and I still haven’t sorted out curtains. Here’s a picture so you can empathise. Now imagine someone blowing cold air on your neck all night and […]

What did you do at 26?

” I felt that if large blocks were to be accepted and loved, as a new way of living, they must try to replicate the best characteristics of the terraced street; that families of different sizes and age groups should intermingle, as their needs and strengths would be diverse and complementary.” Anyone living in the Dulwich/Forest […]