How to build your own furniture and home: Q+A with Claire

We recently collaborated with @thatcotswoldclaire to create a stunning dressing room in what was previously a disused area of the home. 

We grabbed Claire for a chat to hear about her inspiration behind the project and tips on sustainable home design.

 

Firstly, we love the dressing room you've created! Can you tell us the inspiration  behind it all?

Thank you- I love it too! It’s a tiny space (essentially a walk- through) between the master bedroom and the en -suite. 

We had the vision early on in our build to use it as a dressing room, so we set the walls at the correct distance for some Ikea Pax wardrobes to avoid the cost of bespoke cabinetry. The space below the roof light was chosen for my dressing table/office space because of the natural light that floods in. I wanted the space to feel calming and ‘grown up’ so I chose a neutral palette. The simple design of the Hairpin desk is the perfect fit with its exposed edge and crisp lines while the wall mural with its muted greens is the ideal backdrop; we have similar trees surrounding the house so it felt like everything fell into place!

How was the experience of building your own furniture? Did it match your expectations or throw in any surprises? Do you have any tips for first-time DIY'ers?

It was an absolute dream. The Hairpin Co have thought of everything to make the process easy from pre drilled holes in EXACTLY the right places and good quality screws that are up to the job. All you really need is a screwdriver! It’s the perfect project for anyone new to DIY because it’ll build your confidence – the first thing a novice DIY-er needs is a ‘Can Do’ attitude! I’d also recommend a simple tool kit, an electric screwdriver and a lazer level… and you’ll be off!

Your home gives a serene, sustainable feel. Can you talk us through how you approach home design? What aspects are important to you when creating a space?

I’m glad you feel that because that was our aim – thank you!

I’m a firm believer in a ‘fabric first’ approach to building & design which means focusing on the build ‘envelope’ – orientation, high levels of insulation, airtightness, high performance glazing etc. If you get those correct your chosen renewable energy sources can work in harmony with those choices.

Next, I consider other large purchases like flooring & lighting; these can’t be changed easily so I recommend investing the most you can afford here.

Only then do I consider final finishes such as colour palettes, furniture & accessories. I like to outline how each space will be used and make a list of non-negotiables – you can refer back to this regularly when things become overwhelming or when the budget gets out of hand, it really helps to refocus you.

I enjoy being led by the surroundings too, whether you’re in the countryside, in a town or by the sea you can include a nod to these without going OTT- the best interiors are subtle, they work because they look effortless but in fact a great deal of consideration is behind them! 

And finally, create a home for YOU, not for the latest trend. Inject your personality by bringing in trinkets collected on holiday, family photos and handmade gifts from your children. Pinterest is great for inspiration but the images we see there are rarely the full story and it’s the personal touches you add that will make your heart sing!

 

We love the self-build focus you have! Can you provide some advice for people wanting to take on their home renovations themselves? What do you wish you knew before you started?

This is our first full house build but my husband and I have done several larger scale renovations previously and thankfully are well equipped with a skill set that lends itself to being able to do a lot of the build ourselves. That said, this build was extremely stressful due to its technical nature and we learnt a lot along the way! 

If you’re planning a renovation, it really pays to be able to tackle elements yourselves, you will save thousands! Be prepared to sacrifice weekends and holidays, even small room upgrades have a tendency to take over your life! 

If you are using trades, don’t be afraid to ask questions and reiterate your own points more than once! It’s better to be crystal clear at every stage than leave grey areas open to interpretation, I'd also recommend following up with an email. 

Remember that everything takes longer and is more expensive than you think so plan a contingency both in hours and pound coins!

 

And finally, what's next? What projects have you got on the horizon for your home?

What’s next? Another build! I don’t think so but never say never ;-) 

Honestly, we have jobs to do here wherever you look but we made a promise to ourselves to get a bit of balance back now we’ve moved in so things are taking longer and I’m (trying to be) ok with that!

We spent a lot of time in the garden over the summer laying the patio and lawn but with the weather on the turn we will bring our focus back inside to finish the decorating. 

We also have a lot to do in the lounge with cabinetry and a woodburner to install. 

Our next big project is the little cotswold stone weavers cottage at the bottom of our garden – it was built in 1750 so will take on a very different feel to our home but I am brimming with ideas already!

 

Claire features the Pastel Green Hairpin Legs with the White Plywood Table Top, the Prism Stool in Black, and the J Wall Hooks in Dusty Pink.