Thursday 25 June 2015

The Tale Of Two Studios...One His, And One Hers!

 
 
 
It was one very difficult decision. One day I would follow my heart. One day I'd follow my head.
 
When we moved into our home, 13 years ago, I always envisaged a long building at the bottom of the garden, a place to relax. Back then, in my head, it was a summerhouse type building, with a deck and veranda...bit like The Waltons. Loved that program.
 
When I finished work a few years ago, I shelved those plans. It was never going to happen now. I started to save for a downstairs toilet, you know, for the time when my legs won't let me go upstairs.
 
This year however, I realised I was quite a few years away from being able to get my downstairs toilet, (which by now was a downstairs wet room). But I wasn't that far off a garden studio. Hmmm. Dilemma.
 
So what's a girl to do? Go with your head, keep saving...get that downstairs shower room? Or go with her heart, live for today. Forget planning. Think about now, think about the enjoyment, think about being happy...right now.
 
I am always sensible, I am always careful with money, I budget...that's why we were able to pay off our mortgage a whole ten years early. But I didn't want to be sensible. A garden room felt right. It felt like that's what we should do. So we did!
 
So lots of research was done. We looked at what we wanted, what we could stretch too. We found a fantastic local company, Crusoe Garden Rooms. We met Trevor and worked out our design..two studios, one for myself, to sew, read, entertain. A smaller studio for my husband, who's a musician. Separate entrances too...I know the music studio won't look very pretty!
 
The build went smoothly, Trevor and his team, were brilliant throughout. It was exciting to see the changes each day, to watch our dreams come true. It's very well insulated, so we shall be able to use the rooms all year round too.
 
I'm sat here in my garden studio as I'm writing this. It feels calm, it's light...I can hear the birds, people cutting their grass. I can look out onto my garden, the bees are busy on the chive flowers, and I can almost see the courgettes growing out of their bed.
 
It feels like the best place in the whole world. I'm so glad I followed my heart. I don't know what the future holds. I don't know what my mobility will be like in the future...I do know however, that at the end of my garden, down that steep hill, there's the most amazing place to be. And do you know something, I think that will keep me going, for some time to come!
 
 
One very happy,
 
 
Amanda :))))))))
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

81 comments:

  1. I'm so envious - enjoy every moment -it's good to have a place to escape.

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  2. It's a Grand Design!!!! I hope to have a studio one day!! You totally deserve this xxxx

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    1. Thank you so much my dear, you will one day, I'm sure :) xxx

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  3. It is utterly amazing and I absolutely love it.
    Definitely the right decision x

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  4. Oh my, it's absolutely gorgeous, what a good decision. I look at the garage (which is full of stuff) at the end of our garden wistfully sometimes and imagine it with French doors and a couple more windows and a bit of carpet. And a desk and a chair maybe. A plant or two. Sigh. It's good to dream isn't it, and I'm glad your studio has come true, I know you'll have many happy hours in there. Brilliant that it's insulated for year round use as well. CJ xx

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    1. It really is a dream come true, keep looking at your garage, make it happen! :) xxx

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  5. You are so right! Seize the day and all that ... :) It has become such a beautiful little house, both inside and out! You can always put a mobile toilet thing in your garden if necessary.... ;o)
    Enjoy!! Love from Mirjam.

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    1. I'll use a bucket if necessary ;) we only really have now, don't we :) xxx

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  6. A beautiful studio space. I love how you decorated too. Enjoy!!

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  7. That looks just wonderful! You clearly made a good decision there. I adore the white floor. Wishing you both many happy hours in your studios.

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    1. Thanks Freya, just white paint...I'll just touch it up as and when needed! :) xxx

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  8. It's beautiful! And I love that you painted it black! That's a dream I have too ❤️ I'm gonna have to work on that .

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    1. It was inspired by the wooden houses near Warbleswick in Suffolk :) xxx

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  9. Well done Amanda for taking the plunge with your studio, it's beautiful.
    I wish you many, many hours of calmness, bliss and relaxation.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you Irene...biggest plunge in quite a few years! :) xxx

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  10. Looks great. Wishing you many happy hours in your space. x

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  11. Ой как красиво!!!! ))

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  12. Congratulations! What a fabulous studio and space to retreat to. Sometimes we have to throw sensible thoughts out the window and follow our heart, because, it makes us happy and it makes us feel good and after all now is what matter. I'm sure you will have figured out things by the day you desperately need that wet room downstairs. IT will still happen even though you might have put those plans further down the road for now. And you are so right - this space will keep you going for some extra time. This must be the best decision made! I'm so happy for you! And green of envy! This would be a dream of mine as well. My very own place, not in the house. A place to go to.
    Xxx
    Annette

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    1. Thank you so much Annette, it's definitely the best decision I've made in a long time...and I know it's going to help me manage my MS, a place to relax and de-stress! :) xxx

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  13. I am glad you went with your heart. It looks wonderful.

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    1. It's the only way to live really Zoe but like most I often forget that! :) xxx

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  15. That is so lovely Amanda, I am really pleased for you, so relaxing to be able to sit and sew or crochet as you look out on your garden. I am sure what you gain from this space mentally will keep you going a little longer physically. I have the same problem of no downstairs loo and nowhere to put one if we did have the money. On a really bad day I crawl up and bum shuffle down, not ideal but I manage. I also take advantage of friends' downstairs loos if I go out for coffee and go before I leave :-) take care and enjoy every moment in your beautiful space. I shall be interested to see the projects you come up with to add more of your own touch to it. take care. Sharon x

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    1. Bless you Sharon, it's not until you can't do something that you realise how much you took it for granted. You're right, I'm sure what I will gain mentally and emotionally will really support my physical wellbeing too :) xxx

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  16. Wonderful! I love your garden room. What a great idea to have a his and her with separate entrances. I also love your vibrant yellow Lloyd Loom chair. I bitterly regret getting rid of the lovely lemon nursing chair I had when our children were born!

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    1. The yellow is amazing isn't it...I've never really liked the chair but love it in here! :) xxx

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  17. Absolutely brilliant. What a wise decision you made.

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    1. Thank you, it feels right...even if it goes against all common sense! ;) xxx

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    2. have found I can comment through replies as the comment box disappears as soon as I click on it. Good to see how all this went together and glad to know that you are well insulated, presume you will not hear DH`s music if you do not want to!
      A lovely place to retreat to. Hope you find this posting

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    3. His guitar playing is lovely to listen too, the rest...well let's just say we will take it in shifts! ;) xxx

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  18. Wow how exciting! It looks a wonderful place to spend some time creating beautiful things. It must have a wonderful view of the garden too!! Sarah x

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    1. It is Sarah...or will be, lots of garden work yet to do! ;) xxx

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  19. I love your studio , glad you went with the studio decision. It is a beautiful space xx

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  20. Good on you for treating yourself to something so lovely. One day I hope to have a garden studio too................ Enjoy!!!!

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    1. Thank you my dear...little parcel will be flying off to you now! ;) xxx

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  21. Amanda,
    I, too, am so glad you went with your heart. I love your studio and am sure it will be well worth the expense and you will get much enjoyment from it. I have a studio behind our house. It was a one room house that my husband's great- grandmother lived in almost one hundred years ago and I love it. It could use a good tidying up at the moment, but I still love it.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Mickie from Indiana, USA

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    1. Your studio sounds delightful...think I might just need to get myself a bigger table to get messy with though! ;) xxx

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  22. It's beautiful...a space *just* for you. How proud you must be to have followed your dreams and made it happen! Enjoy xxx

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    1. It feels/felt very indulgent...but actually it's healthy to indulge every now and again! ;) xxx

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  23. Following our heart is sometimes the best thing to do for none of us knows what tomorrow holds so we must enjoy the very present moment. Your studio space is lovely. A little hideaway that is just perfect. Enjoy!

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    1. Very wise words Tammy, hideaway is just what I need some days! ;) xxx

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  24. It's beautiful Amanda, I wish you many happy years of pottering in it making your lovely creations. Hx

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    1. Thank you...I shall potter to my hearts content! ;) xxx

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  25. Ada its a beauty enjoy! so excited for you!
    love as ever Daisy j xxx

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    1. Thank you so much Daisy...I will, promise! ;) xxx

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  26. Well done you , lovely its gorgeous, enjoy xxx

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  27. What a wonderful place
    Julie xxxxx

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  28. This is LOVELY! Follow your dream. Always.

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  29. That is so exciting!...so glad you went with that decision. You will spend some lovely time there, a little day bed in the corner perhaps and you could almost move in! Enjoy your lovely space, you deserve it. X

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  30. How wonderful!!!!! I am so excited and pleased for you!!!! It really is fabulous isn't it!!!! I hope that you love it masses and get to use it a lot and that your husband gets to enjoy his side too!!! The garden looks totally different now - in a really good way! - and you have a lovely view out from the studio too with all the work that you have been doing in the garden!!! Fantastic!!! xx

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    1. The view up the garden is fab Amy, I'm looking forward to getting some height in there, so we can almost hide when we are using the studios, kids won't know where we are! ;) xxx

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  31. How inspiring - you went with your heart and you did the right thing (that happy feeling proves it).
    Your studio looks beautiful. Enjoy it!
    S x

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    1. It's a instant 'stress relief' zone...as soon as you step in you feel like you're on holiday! :) xxx

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  32. How lovely - and Kitty's back! Enjoy.

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  33. Your studio is so lovely Amanda, a place to inspire and also relax. I love your choice of decor, yellow is such a bright and happy colour and I see your kitty is happy there too.
    Enjoy!
    hugs
    xoxoxo ♡

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    1. Thank you Dianne, there's a definite creative area and a relaxing spot too...perfect combo! :) xxx

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  34. Hello Amanda, I'm so glad you followed your dream and your heart and achieved this gorgeous space. I'm certain that you will have much pleasure from it and in it.
    Sometimes we sensible people and carers of others forget how important it is to look after ourselves as well. But actually following your heart can be every bit as 'sensible' as following your head.
    Enjoy!
    Deborah

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    1. You are right Deborah, we need to put ourselves first sometimes...not always easy but essential :) xxx

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  35. Yay so wonderful, I wouldn't be without my Summerhouse, a place to escape to, like you I love nothing more than hearing the birds, while I'm in my shed, living with chronic illness means we have to be sensible for too much of the time so it's great to go with the heart, when we can.
    Clare x

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  36. That's so true Claire, it takes a lot of spontaneity out of things ;) xxx

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  37. AAwwooo, amazingly cozy and beautiful.

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  38. It looks amazing Amanda! I'm SO happy for you - hope you have very many happy times spent there. And fascinating to see the pictures too - we are half wondering about replacing our garage with something similar - one day....many other things on the list too! xx

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    1. It's perfect Zoe, I would wholeheartedly recommend one...the team we choose were brilliant! :) xxx

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  39. I am seriously - SERIOUSLY envious. Recently I realised we are never going to move, so I will never have my garden room/studio/summer hose and it grieves me a bit (feeling guilty having said that, nobody died) But so lovely for you, and I love your yellow cupboard with all my heart! AND your stripy rugs, my favourite kind! Lxxx

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    1. Thanks Lynne, I figured there's so many things I'd planned to do, places to go, that's look very unlikely now...this is my compensation! That cupboard is serious happy inducing, isn't it ;) xxx

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