Welcome to the very first installment of ‘A Life Curated’. It would be super easy for me to make this ‘lil feature all about outlandish, crazy-talk day dreams of living in a $1m mountain villa in California, hob nobbing with imaginary celebrity pals and hanging out in fancy bars decked out in the finest couture.  I’ve decided instead though, to daydream in a semi-realistic way!  This life is ‘curated’ keeping  financial constraints, my actual job, where I might like to end up on my wiggly career path and my real-life interests in mind.  I can also assure you that with my practically see-through blue-ish skin and pot belly (size varies), I probably wouldn’t fit in too well in LA!  I can see you furrowing your brow.  You’re thinking, “Well, now.  With the world as your oyster and the internet at your fingertips, why be a party pooper and choose not dive right in to Carrie’s Pretend Life on imagination hyperdrive?”  Well, y’see…  I like to think that maybe these  slightly different, slightly more exciting versions of my life aren’t completely out of the question, I guess.

Right now, I can’t get London Town out of my head.  Until recently,  I had no desire to relocate, no real desire to set up home somewhere else.  Heck – moving to the east side of the city was a big enough leap for me!  But lately? I’ve fallen out of love with Glesga Toon a wee bit.  Were I to pack my bags right now and head off on an adventure – this is (roughly) where I’d end up…

Brick Lane, East London

The very idea of live/work  makes me feel giddy. Imagine!  A combined live/work space!  Now – I’m not coo-ing over the notion of working on the computer from my living room sofa or managing an online store from the kitchen table – I mean effectively integrated yet well defined live/work space.  Better still, imagine how inspiring it would be to set up home and studio in a community of likeminds.  Some people might shudder at the thought of setting up life in an industrial building with a bunch of photographers and film makers, but for me, this is an exciting prospect and one that’s appealing to me more and more.  Beardy would have a cordoned off area for his photography work.  I’d create a little sewing station.  I’d have a proper desk and proper shelves to store my notebooks.  I’d make a giant pin board wall for all my pretty papers and most-loved objects. I’d….  I’d….  !

I love this industrial brick/metal combo with bright green pipework!

I want a front door like this

Openplan living isn’t really something I’ve hankered after.  I do enjoy little nooks and crannies to hide away in when I need a quiet moment – and, I’m pretty sure that Beardy could do without overhearing my renditions of Patsy Cline numbers as I  perform infront of the mirror of an evenin’.  The thought of eating and sleeping in the same space gives me the heebie jeebies.  Let’s face it, I like to leave my dinner time washing up until breakfast time next day and I don’t fancy snoozing with the whiff of baked beans on toast (for this is, of course would be my staple meal as a Londonite!) floating round.  But – all that said,  these are some of my very favourite live/work properties  – most of which DO have perfect nooks and delightful crannies perfect for for singing in, writing things down in and eating biscuits in.

Look at those windows! I adore the idea of living in an industrial building. Harsh and stark on the outside. Cosy and homely on the inside. Dream home.

The ground floor of this factory studio has room enough for dedicated workspace and a slob-around area. Perfect!

Could this be one divine bedroom? Bedroom + hidey nook? Or an amazing, bright, airy workstation?

Now. These might look like rickety sinks. But with some clever styling, I could turn this into a fresh his & hers bathroom!

This may be a tiny sliver of outdoor space - but it's room enough for a pretty pot plant or two. Perfect mag reading/letter writing spot!

To wham dreams up a notch and look at slightly grander (and not really that realistic at all)  prospect, I’d be up for the challenge of sprucing  this baby right on up there…  A lick of paint, a couple of partition walls, a bit of insulation – Beardy and I would be rockin’ and rollin’ all over this warehouse given half a chance!  Not only would we each have a dedicated work ‘wing’ at either end of the property, but our living space would be big enough to host a regular barn dance!

Wow.

I think I’d like this funny little raised area to be my office.  I’d paint up the stairs and colour the window frames bold and bright.  I’d dedicate a whole area of the office to storing the typewriters I’ll buy up from flea markets and car boots.  Oh  and I’ll create a special library dookit where I’ll catalogue stacks and stacks of magazines.

Wheep!

One day…  One day.

(Images by Spaced Up)