Inspiring work space in a converted warehouse

The more I see of collaborative or shared office spaces the more I feel they are an extremely inspiring and efficient way of working for independent business people! Designer and illustrator Mairead Murphy of Maike Design Studio converted this disused warehouse space in Northcote, Melbourne into a beautiful, vibrant and inspiring work space for independent designers and artists. It's been designed to maintain the natural light and feeling of large open space but zoned to allow both individual and collaborative work. Minamilist materials have been used to allow the original industrial features to shine through. I could work there, could you?!

Photographer: Pictures 1,2,3: Mairead Murphy, Maike Design Studio, Pictures 4,5,6,7,8,9: Sean Fennessey

Mairead has been so wonderful and sent me an extensive list of where the items are from for example, the dining chairs are Thonet 214 (15% discount with code MYSCAN), the sofa is Angelucci, the armchair was found in a skip and upholstered in Kvadrat tonica fabric, the white rug is Jimmy Possum, the pendant lights over the dining table are Lightyears by Caravaggio and the bench and swing are by Pop & Scott. The list is extensive so if you're wondering about anything else just give me a shout below!

Check out another fab collaborative work space here.

PS I'm off to a great friend's wedding tomorrow - so exciting! I hope you all have a lovely weekend. See you Monday!

White industrial style loft in Barcelona

In February I'm off to one of my favourite cities: the wonderful Barcelona!  I wish I was staying in this modern industrial style apartment, originally a textile workshop. Designing an open plan living space can be so challenging but these guys seemed to have planned it to perfection and just look at the 'bones' they had to play with. *sigh* if only.....

Trendland via SF Girl By Bay

The large light filled rooms are so fantastic. I'm telling you, if I owned this apartment I'd cycle the bicycle (by the door) around it all day just because I could!

What do you think of modern industrial style homes and open plan living?

Any fab design tips for Barcelona?

Wishing you all a lovely day!

A pretty, rustic, minimalistic hotel on Gotland

Ever romanticised of owning a B&B on a beautiful island somewhere? Me? Always! Today I'm dreaming of owning Hotell Magazinet which is now for sale on the wonderful Swedish east coast island of Gotland. Decorated in beautiful rustic, minimal style with orginal floorboards and pillars restored from the days when it was a flour warehouse and then a grain depot in WWII, it's already for you to move in and start receiving guests!

Fantastic Frank

Incidentally, Gotland is a fantastic place to go on holiday. Lots of very trendy and arty Swedes flock there each summer. Some of the summer cottages available to rent are just beautiful. Well worth an internet search!

Hej heeej.