For a Soulful Home

On responsive design and a little help to get there.

I see designing an interior as a conversation with the room.  As in a conversation it can’t be fully planned out beforehand - it must respond to the other participant - here that other participant is the house whose input can lead you in unexpected directions. Taking the time to get to know the place before settling to any design, being responsive to the direction that the spaces lead you as the rooms unfold, will ultimately lead to the place feeling fabulously well settled, slow grown and charming.

In this process frugality and modesty play an intrinsic role in creating spaces that are sympathetic and soulful. So many of the most beautifully preserved houses in this country are still beautiful entirely due to there having been no money to spend on them in the past - with money comes the ability to be lavish and impose one’s own ego on a place -  being frugal and austere preserves originality and modesty.

In a world that seems to insist that newness, straightness and flatness are de rigeur in renovation I’d like to encourage you to find your own way to a style that is less proscriptive and clinical, full of character and charm.

This is what my Design Workshops are all about; I’ve just launched a new date for an in person workshop at my place in North Herefordshire in January but also at long last I have created an online version of this workshop so that those of you unable to join me in person can enjoy it at your leisure.

Both workshops are now live for you on the Ridge & Furrow website.

As always those of you who follow me here on Substack are the first to know.

A bit about the new online workshop: I run the workshop through a dedicated private Instagram account - this seemed the simplest, most user friendly and community orientated location for it.  Once you've placed your order for the Online Workshop I will send instructions to join the private account (including how it works if you have bought this as a gift for someone else) where you will find an extensive series of posts, reels and story highlights that take you through the workshop. You'll be able to send direct messages to me and leave comments on posts within the group, asking questions about the content and opening discussions with those who are part of this private community. The course is made up of design philosophy, our design process and a series of thoughtful practical tasks which can be worked through entirely at your own pace, in small daily doses or intensively consumed, as you prefer. You will have continued access to the content to return to as often as you wish.

In addition to the online workshop, if you feel you would like some one to one consultation with me during or following the course then you can add this in one hour increments via the shop - listed under 'One Hour Consultation’.

If you’re interested in finding out more on the content of these workshops head to my previous Substack post ‘Your Own Personal Theatre’ for a taster.

Please note. For the in person workshop - these don’t happen very often and places are very limited.