Shed Glow Up for Grace Alexander

In the summer of 2024, Grace Alexander asked me to help her transform her shed into her dream office/shop space. She had been using this shed for multiple purposes previously but decided she wanted to dedicate the space to her seed business. So we set to clearing it out so I could start the transformation. The first job was to paint the lining paper, but first we needed to choose the colours!

We headed off to Bath to visit Atelier Ellis who have the most beautiful showroom on Walcot Street. Grace chose ‘Bread & Butter’ for the walls, a warm white, perfect for lighting up the space. And then ‘Mollie’ for the woodwork… windows, inside and out.

As I am a creative polymath, I did all of the painting myself. I started inside with painting the walls. I then did the woodwork inside. Atelier Ellis paint gives fantastic coverage, it’s silky smooth to paint with… very user friendly indeed! After the inside was finished, I painted the outside of the windows in the same green. I unintentionally dressed in the same colour the day this picture was taken!

Grace already had the perfect furniture for the space so we didn’t need to source or add any more pieces. The layout also stayed the same with the large desk (made from trestle legs and heavy planks) taking up most of the space. As the shed is small, every free bit of space needed to be utilised so underneath the desk made a nifty storage area. I made a simple gathered curtain (from a piece of linen Grace had hand dyed) to fit across the front of the desk.

After that, a simple sisal herringbone rug and a bit of what I like to call ‘useful’ styling. I found this small metal trough in Grace’s garden and thought it would make a brilliant sting storage shelf.

I really enjoyed working on this project, if you’d like help decorating or styling a similar space please get in touch via the contact page.

Opening the workshop…

After closing the shop my plan was to transform Collate into an upholstery, restoration and soft furnishings business under the same name.

And in April I converted what was the shop base, into a small, but perfectly formed workshop. I call this ‘The Shed’. I officially opened the doors to business in the same month, and so far so good. Work is trickling in, which is just enough to contend with in regards to my other commitments (gardening for Grace and helping to care for my stepfather who has advancing Alzheimer’s) It seems as though there are lots of people looking for upholsterers and lots looking for box cushions to be made!

If you would like to get in touch to discuss your project please use the contact page here

In retrospect… a year on from closing

Collate Interiors was born in 2018 in the form of a bricks and mortar shop in the small town of Axminster in East Devon. It began like a dream, the sun was shining, the locals were unbelievably supportive, and absolutely delighted to have a new, dynamic, classy shop in the town. The cherry on top was to be featured by ‘The Shopkeepers’ blog very shortly after opening. The first couple of years sailed by, the shop went from strength to strength… and I was having the best time - sourcing beautiful stock from flea markets and auctions, I had the pleasure of working with some of the best creatives in the Southwest and my customers were enthusiastic and complementary… then 2020 hit.

The start of the year was slow, as per usual, but by March it was evident something we had never imagined was unfolding. The next two years was a complete blur, was I open, was I closed, were we wearing masks, were people even allowed to touch the stock? In total I think I was probably closed more than I was open! It was an unbelievably stressful time to be running a high street shop, in fact a business in general. But one thing I can wholeheartedly say, is that the continued support from my customers was unwavering. Kinds words, thoughtful gifts, the online support was constant and the special visits made in person when I was actually allowed to be open.

In all honesty, the shop never really recovered after that… just when Covid seemed to be under control, our electricity and gas bills went through the roof and we were left wondering if we were going to be able to heat our houses, let alone buy ourselves a treat from a shop like mine… AND THEN(!) the ‘cost of living crisis’ began to rear its ugly head, and people then became scared to spend money. The shop and I limped through the pandemic, already on our knees emotionally, and then another kick… this was when I realised the shop was probably not going to make it to the end of 2022. I tried other various ideas to keep afloat but it just wasn’t working.

I then moved the shop online, but this did not enthuse me at all. After knowing the delight of having a physical shop, never knowing who will walk through the door, or happen upon you by accident. The lovely (and not so lovely) people I would meet. Watching visitors browse and enjoy the atmosphere… this does not happen online. And it wasn’t what I signed up for… which means that I didn’t really put much effort into the online version of Collate. All I knew is that I had worked too hard to let go of my beloved brand, and it has taken a year or so to realise in which direction I should be headed.

Being a shopkeeper was my dream job… if I could have done it for fun and it not had to pay my bills I would have drifted on without a care in the world. But it wasn’t like that. I have no regrets though. At the beginning of the journey I was incredibly enthusiastic and in retrospect, completely naive about the realities and the trials and tribulations of the independent highstreet! Coming through nearly 5 years and having everything thrown at me, I have gained a huge amount of experience which I will cherish forever, and who knows maybe one day I will return to shopkeeping…

Looking forward to the new version of Collate will see me return to my original training… of restoration and conservation before I got distracted by retail! The new workshop will be launching soon…

End of an Era…

The Bricks & Mortar shop in Axminster has now closed. I had the most wonderful time running the shop, but unfortunately the current economic climate gave me no choice but to close the doors. This year (2022) has been the hardest so far, even worse than Covid… the cost of living crisis has left the independent highstreet out in the cold. The rise in electricity bills is crippling with no cap on business utilities. We have been offered no help from the government. The fall in foot fall was inevitable.

I will remember my beautiful shop very fondly, and I am extremely proud of what I created. But it is now time to move forward to pastures new. Onwards and upwards!

I have always been an advocate for the indie highstreet, and even though I am no longer part of it I will continue to do what I can to support it. I will spend what money I have with the small businesses in my local towns. And I suggest you do them same… Who would you rather give your hard earned cash to, Mr Supermarket who really doesn’t give a damn about you, or Miss Greengrocer who knows your name, will pack your order personally and order you extra locally grown brussel sprouts?

We as a conscious consumers, are far more powerful that we realise…

Who is Great Aunt Maud? →

You might have noticed me talk about Great Aunt Maud, well just in case you’ve missed my explanations on instagram I thought I would put an explanation here in Musings. Great Aunt Maud is, in short, is my alter ego. I am generally quite an introverted person, I’m confident but not flamboyant. This is where Maud comes in. She is the more eccentric side of me, she’ll push me to go the extra mile when i’m out sourcing. Choosing more colourful and sometimes down right gordy pieces, which always without fail look great in the shop.

She’s partial to a needlepoint cushion, a floral tray and a bit of pink lustreware. She’s shabby, and definitely not chic. Chintz is her absolute favourite pattern. Sometimes, the shop has been compared to ‘my grandmother’s house’, which couldn’t be more of a compliment to me. She loves colours, the noisier the better and reminds me not to try and ‘fit in’ with the muted palettes. Absolutely NO grey.

After all, the shop is not about following fashion. It’s about being different. The pieces Maud chooses aren’t always the most tasteful but they always work. She is keen on dried flowers and a few cobwebs too.

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from pinterest

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Here are a few women who embody what I think Maud is… she’s definitely not from any time before the 50s. Slight Miss Haversham, but super stylish like Iris Apfel. But a bit of a rebel deliberately going against the grain, and running full pelt away from the ‘in’ crew.