Just under a year ago, as we were heading into (or was it out of) Lockdown 1 (or was it 2?!) I sent my builder a scrawled pencil sketch of the garden studio I was hoping he might be able to help me create..
My original moodboard for the project
I am no Neil Buchanan so admittedly it was not immediately obvious from the drawing whether it was a Scandi Rustic cabin or a small shoebox with windows I had sketched. Fortunately Pinterest came to the rescue and I was able to show him something tangibly more building like to work from. I don’t think I could have dreamed that the end result would be so spot on.
This was just after the roof had gone on and it really started to look like the finished article
A few months ago, with the construction work largely complete, I shared with you my plans for the interior. It may have been because I was watching the Studio McGee show on Netflix at the time but I would describe the look I wanted to achieve as Cali-Scandic or Scandi Mcgee (although may I will stick with the former as the latter sounds possibly more like a magicians assistant than a style of decor).
My moodboard for the interior
9 months later and my dream work space is finished
The building blocks of creating the style I wanted were four main material choices. For the walls it was pre-cut MDF tongue and groove style panelling which adds subtle texture and, importantly for a garden building, an extra layer of insulation! We painted them in ‘Shell’ one of my favourite Neptune neutrals which is an off- white with a hint of beige which feels warm without ever straying into cream territory.
Pre-cut MDF panels painted in Shell create a calm neutral backdrop
For the floors I chose Neptune’s Savernake herringbone flooring which has a gorgeous rustic finish. Before we laid it, in a last minute decision, we installed an electric underfloor heating mat which has turned out to be a great decision. The mat cost about £200 and installation £150 and I can honestly say it feels as warm as the house. So if you are considering whether to put it in a garden building I would definitely say do it!
The Neptune flooring is compatible with underfloor heating and clicked into place easily over the top. It comes in three potential colour finishes Chalked (the palest shade), Vintage and Dark Vintage. Because we will be walking in and out to the garden I chose the middle shade and I love the warmth going for a darker tone has added. The Savernake range is also available in a chevron style if you want a more contemporary take on parquet.
The Vintage Oak finish of the flooring has a slightly white washed finish which tones it beautifully with the walls
I knew from the very beginning, to elevate the studio from feeling like a shed/temporary building I wanted to invest in crittall style aluminium sliding doors. I sourced them from ODC Glass (with a small PR discount), a British based company with a manufacturing site down in Poole which means they have much shorter lead in times that many comparable suppliers. From measuring up to delivery took just five weeks and they both look great and really keep the warmth in. When we landscape around the studio the idea is to have a decked area and I am looking forward to opening the doors up and having some inside/outside flow going on!
We chose aluminium crittall style sliding doors that open out from the centre from ODC
I love sliding them open and being greeted by this view!
To add a luxe feel and to make it feel extra cocooned in the winter I have opted for having some curtains. I don’t think everyone necessarily realises that Neptune do curtains and blinds but boy do they do them well from the fabric and linings through to the headings and poles. They have a gorgeous selection of fabrics to choose from in both patterned and plain styles and the curtains are hand stitched in a family-run workshop in Gloucestershire so the quality of finish is amazing. I went for Harry Cloud which is a rough texture linen in a stone shade with a cartridge heading. I could not get over the difference in how the space felt as soon as they went in, they really soften and complete the room
Curtains from Neptune in Harry Cloud linen
Hand stitched in a family run Gloucestershire workshop the quality of finish is amazing
During the day the curtains tuck neatly to the side of the crittal windows with a clean, contemporary black pole
With those core elements decided I split the room into two differently zoned spaces: working and relaxing. For the office space I opted to locate a long desk along the left hand wall. I know a lot of people may have chosen to go with it facing out towards the garden but I wanted to fit two workstations and know myself well enough by now to know I would get distracted looking out into the garden when I am supposed to be working!
The desk was constructed by my husband from an Ikea ekbacken laminate worktop
It has a subtle marble effect finish
Locating the desk along this wall means we have been able to fit two workstations in
The desk is one of Mr Malmo’s DIY triumphs constructed from an Ikea marble effect laminate worktop and black pin style table legs from the internet. To add storage I also bought two sets of Alex drawers from Ikea. They are one of the things I find myself buying time and again because of their simple slick style and price point! The longer term plan is to add proper office chairs but for now I am perfectly happy parking my bum on our Neptune Wardley dining chairs which, because if their high back, are actually really comfy.
My favourite side of the desk with a mood board to inspire me featuring bespoke artwork from the talented Dapper Franks
One of my favourite features of the desk space is the quick and easy mood board I have made to inspire myself using 4 adhesive cork tiles from Amazon. The plan is to keep switching it up with the seasons, am wondering if I can pass a picture of Tommy Shelby on there off as Autumnal inspiration?!
The Scandi pine forest picture was gifted to me by lovely Dapper Franks
The other side of the room is less about working and more about relaxing with a dreamy cream linen sofa anchoring this bit of the space. It is the Issac from sofa.com which I have featured on so many mood boards so am really happy to have finally included in a room. The fully washable covers mean that it is not as an impractical choice with three boys as it may initially appeared! I have gone for a lovely soft, classic calico linen to mirror the curtains but they have a huge range of other fabrics to choose from as well from boucle through to velvet and many more choices in between. I love curling up on it for 15 minutes at the end of the day to unwind with a magazine and if I ever wanted to go the whole relaxation hog and take a nap it incorporates a sofa bed as well.
The cream corner sofa of my dreams is the Issac from Sofa.Com
Taking a break from working over in the relaxing side of the room. I love the rustic feel the Neptune Stanton teak bowl adds to the coffee table
The coffee table is from the Casper range at Neptune with a nod to industrial styling
To finish off the space I have added a simple coffee table and shelving set from the Neptune Casper range, I like how the simple black steel work echoes the crittall windows and adds a little bit of industrial punch to the space. I am using the shelf set as an impromptu tea and coffee station but you can also wall mount then for display.
Neptune have a great selection of baskets this season at really good price points, I am using the Arbroath jute basket for magazine storage.
For lighting I have added some warm brass wall lights gifted to me from a lovely independent Irish brand The Wilds Ireland and the overhead light is a B & Q bargain I spotted on My Best Laid Plans stories. I think it was £35 but looks easily more high end. It is interesting without dominating the space which does not have soaring enough ceilings to go with a massive statement pendant light!
Gorgeous brass wall lights are from indie Irish interiors shop The Wilds Ireland
My long term aspiration is to have an indoor Olive Tree in the corner by the sofa - as when the deck is down outside it would be easy to take it outside for some sunshine every now and again but, for now, my trusty Ikea faux tree is adding a welcome shot of greenery!
My favourite spot in the room - the blue stripe basket is from Neptune and comes in various sizes.
The final piece of the puzzle for the interior was to add some artwork and I was lucky enough to find talented Norfolk artist Jo Lawrence on a recent trip away. She paints beautiful coastal landscapes and I immediately fell in love and snapped up this pair of pictures when I spotted them tucked away in the corner of the studio.
I absolutely love the muted seascape created by Jo Lawrence. I am already saving up to buy another, larger picture from her!
This is the first time I have ever built and then decorated a space from scratch and it has been so much fun to make decisions literally from the ground up. Although Tony my builder may disagree with how fun it was when I was whats apping him many different types of guttering in the search from an unobtrusive option. Scandi style guttering is in criminally short supply!
My moodboard of the finished “Scandi Mcgee” styled space
This is however, but one half of the studio space. Next door in the integrated shed Mr Malmo has been designing his very own interior from scratch. It is safe to say we have been working from very different moodboards. If my inspiration is Studio McGee I suspect his is Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation! In this side of the studio Cali-Scandi has made way for Sawmill Chic. If #IhaveAThingForTiles then he #HasAThingForOSB . My finishing touches are candles, cushions and rannunculus stems, his will be a dartboard, beer fridge and hooks for his hammer. But at the end of the day both of us has a space that we love!
The interiors for this project have been created in a paid partnership with Neptune. The Issac sofa was gifted by sofa.com
Photography by Tia Talula