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For another client we used a table from
RS Barcelona that doubles up as a ping
pong, craft and dining table for the client’s
three young children. This family space
that leads out onto the garden was a very
precise answer to her questions of living: a
place for the kids to perform mini plays led
to an electric curtain and stage lighting;
bespoke storage for different sized toys; an
open soft space in the middle for playing
with toys and a craft area that could be
opened up into the garden.
The working and studying from home
proved intensely challenging. What
saved our family life was a solid routine
that started with a 45 minute walk in
the morning with our Airedale puppy,
Lilla. Somehow, leaving the house and
returning to a work and school day meant
that we could discuss expectations,
review any tricky lessons coming up,
reinforce things that had gone well. As
well as settle the all-important question
of what’s for lunch. With the mind clear on
the day ahead and a little dopamine from
running after the dog, this morning march
became a non-negotiable starting point.
Working lunches became fairly utilitarian,
with ‘proper’ cooking reserved for the
weekends where we had more time. With
no guests to worry about impressing I
tried quite a few new things out on the
kids—with a fair degree of success. The
first night we ate out on the terrace felt
like being on holiday.
RS Barcelona table
Hideaway desks
Our study with solid wooden doors was
a blessing. We were able to hide away
from the kids and do countless ‘Teams’
meetings. We learned early on that we
needed a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on the
door when we really didn’t want them to
barge in, but that when we were open for
teaching business we left the doors ajar
so the kids knew that they could come
in. The design of our client’s home offices
is certainly going to change following
the Covid era. All of us have seen that
spending more time together at home
is a good thing. We probably won’t all
Our ground floor terrace