For six years, I quietly pinned images of my perfect living space to a secret board on Pinterest. Zen-inspired, modern, light-filled rooms. Worn wood floors, salvaged furniture, rustic tiles. Outdoor terraces and courtyards — the kind of space where you could breathe, make art, and feel completely yourself. But sometimes, dreams hang around long enough to take root.
This studio — my studio — was once a stable. Over forty years ago, my dad and grandad built it from scrap timber for our beloved ponies. It was functional, full of character, and a little rough around the edges. Over the years, it fell into disrepair — but the bones were good. And when the pandemic struck, and my life in Menorca came to an abrupt end, it was the only place I could imagine transforming into a home for myself and my five rescue cats.
What started as a necessity — a place to land during lockdown — became something much bigger. With my dad waiting for heart surgery and the world on pause, I came home and got to work.
A Lockdown Project with History in the Walls
The original structure still stands. Some of the supporting beams were left exposed on purpose — an ode to my dad and grandad’s work. Behind one of the plasterboard panels, there’s even a little tuft of horse hair: a quiet reminder of the ponies who lived here long before paintbrushes and canvases took over.
I learned CAD drawing.
I tiled. I plumbed. I learned how to fit windows.
I plasterboarded the ceiling with my mum — who was 78 at the time.
The roof and electrics were professionally done (some things are better left to experts), but everything else was a labour of love shared between family and friends.
Concrete Tiles and Spanish Light
The space is full of small details that carry my past with them. The tiles — handmade from concrete — were inspired by my time in Spain. It started with the kitchen, making them with my friend Julie. That was addictive… so then came the hearth. And then, naturally, the bathroom.
It took two years to finish the walls. And while I sometimes joke that I should’ve just gone to Topps Tiles, every time I walk into that bathroom I feel transported.
Like Its Origins — Salvaged Interiors Became a First-Class Choice
Almost everything in the studio was sourced second-hand — or gifted. On my budget, it was essential. The fixtures, the fittings, the shelves, even the toilet (still wrapped, I promise!) came from Facebook Marketplace. It’s a space of reclaimed life and careful intention.
A Space Fit for Me
This studio isn’t polished or perfect — but it’s true. It holds my work, my cats, my quiet mornings, my messy afternoons, and a lifetime of dreams. It’s not just a place where I make art — it’s a space that reflects the life that made me an artist.
My Pinterest board helped me visualise and manifest my perfect space so that I live in reality.
