A space of my own
See inside Rachel’s familyfree spare bedroom hideaway
Rachel, 36, is a digital marketing manager and blogger. She lives in a modern detached house in Cornwall with her husband, Martin, and their children Annabel, six, and Thomas, two.
‘One of the reasons we moved from North London to Cornwall last year was that we needed more space and couldn’t afford it in London. Living with my husband and two small children in a tiny two-bedroom flat in London left me craving a space that I could call my own. I just wanted to be able to have a desk which no one would touch where I could do the things that I like doing – writing (my blog, thelittlepip.com), crafting and photography. It isn’t just for work; it’s a space for me as a person, not just me as a wife and mother.
Before I had my daughter I was a lawyer and, although I went back to corporate life for a bit, I quit when my son was a year old. I felt like my identity had to be rebuilt – and I’m still working it out. My room is part of that. My children know this is my room and always ask before they come in.
I wanted it to feel cosy and familiar. Everything in it is inherited. I use my great-grandmother’s dressing table as a desk; there’s a G-plan table, sideboard and bookcase from my grandparents; a vintage filing cabinet from my lawyer days and cabinets built by my father-in-law. My grandfather was an artist and some of his paintings (which my husband isn’t mad keen on!) are on the walls. There’s one of a Wiltshire village that used to hang in my grandparents’ home. I like all of that history.
My husband prefers a minimalist, clutter-free life, and doesn’t collect ‘stuff’ like I do. Having my own space
“My husband likes a minimalist, clutter-free life and doesn’t collect ‘stuff’ like I do ”
has made a difference to our lives. We still have ‘that’ discussion about the piles of stuff around the house, but less often than before. When
I’m in my room, I feel immediately peaceful and content. I love the fact that anything I can’t find is of my own making rather than someone else having moved it. It’s my haven away from the chaos of family life.’