Keep Dreaming, and Creating
Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour continues to check in with its design community of industry leaders as they work from home, adjusting to the new normal while striving to stay connected and creative. These aspirational workspace environments that allow us to daydream, as each designer shares their recommendations to inspire us to push design boundaries, whether it’s with colour, texture or embracing our own personal style.
In LA, Timothy Corrigan has just moved in to a new home and is adjusting to the makeshift office in his dining room where he has commandeered the dining table to lay out plans for his current projects which feature brands such as Schumacher, Perennials, Iksel – Decorative Arts, Stark Carpet and Samuel & Sons. His tips for operating from home include adding a personal touch: “A vintage or antique table or desk adds personality. I also recommend you accessorise your workspace with personal photos, travel mementos and collections.” In true LA fashion, Corrigan also recommends we make the most of the sunshine: “Ideally choose a space near a window with natural light. Bonus: A view to the outdoors will lift your spirits!”
Tim Gosling is closer to home, working from the library space of his London house where he is surrounded by books, which act as a constant source of inspiration. His thoughts are in France as he continues to work on a chateau project from afar, using a model he created to design all the landscaping and oversee the build. Gosling advises recognising the importance of creating a comforting space: “I would recommend task lighting moved on to your desk surface (any bright lamp will do) so at night it creates a pool of light you can feel focused in – it’s also amazing how it makes you feel protected.”
Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen are reflecting on the future of the home office: “Many moons ago we would have given strong guidelines on how to make your home office beautiful, spectacular, cosy or whatever you wanted it to be. There might have been 10% practicality included but it would have focused on how to make it look right. Today, the world has changed, and the home office has become the centre of operations.” Their key takeaway is to add some delight to the space: “Please include one object, painting, fabric or piece of furniture that puts a smile on your face every time you look at it.”
Henriette von Stockhausen advises a playful approach when it comes to setting up your workspace at home. “Enjoy the process, don’t take it too seriously and try not to match everything too much,” she says. “Adjust positions in the room so that the elements complement each other. Try not to do it for the sake of doing it; it all needs to gel together harmoniously. You’ll know when it’s right as the pieces will work together seamlessly without being bland or boring. They’ll create a certain energy, a buzz whishing around.” She is currently working on three country house bedrooms; the samples pictured on her desk include those from Lewis & Wood, Samuel & Sons, George Spencer Designs, Phillip Jeffries and Watts of Westminster.
Images, left to right: Timothy Corrigan, Tim Gosling, Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, and Henriette von Stockhausen.
