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Will people want a “proper” study now if working from home more often?
Indigenus pots
start working from home indefinitely, but
making sure that we have ergonomic,
functional spaces at home will mean that
we can all be more flexible in our work/ life
balance. We also saw much more clearly
what the kids needed from their desk and
storage spaces. The challenge was getting
them away from the screen, so a bigger
desk or table for project work is something
we will consider in the next round of
Tollgård home design. More space in the
house to store stationery as well!
One of the revelations for us was the
proximity of nature to our home and family
rituals. We discovered beautiful walks that
had literally been around the corner from
us. We waved to our neighbours after the
Thursday night NHS clap, chatted and
eventually made friends with other dog
Nature on our doorstep
walkers—from a safe distance of course.
We learned that you don’t have to go very
far to escape. Our vegetable garden has
been just such an escape. We planted
potatoes, sweet peas, corn, radishes,
beetroot and tomatoes at the beginning
of lockdown. It’s just about time for our
first harvest now. The children were
initially sceptical and a little bored, but
now race to see the changes at the bottom
of the garden. For our London clients
with terraces we are going to suggest
these beautiful pots from Indigenus to
plant micro edible gardens. We are also
always going to suggest outdoor rugs for
terraces. What a difference it made when
we unrolled our Limited Edition rug on our
top floor terrace. It transformed the space
immediately into an outdoor room—much
more cozy and inviting.
As we emerge from the lockdown period,
blinking slightly, into the wider world, we
are holding on tightly to the life lessons
that we’ve learned. That offices should
feel a lot more like home given how long
we spend on them. The understanding
that life can move a lot more slowly and
be even more fulfilling; the revelation
that nature is on our doorstep to be
experienced, not a plane ride away; that
genuine connections with family only
happen when we have a lot more time
than we know what do with.
Daily walks
Our top floor terrace
A great family life is grown slowly—in
much the same way that our vegetable
garden demanded masses of
backbreaking work, gave us nothing for
months, and then gorgeously and quite
dramatically burst into life—seemingly
when we turned away for a moment.”
Visit their three showrooms: Tollgård
Belgravia, Grosvenor Waterside;
Tollgård Chelsea Harbour and Ceccotti
Collezioni, Centre Dome, The Design
Centre Chelsea Harbour
www.tollgard.com