All posts tagged: just me

Making Space

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve uuhmmed and aaahed about whether to write and share this with you today (and I mean my finger has hovered over the the publish button for two days). Today’s post isn’t about interiors at all, it’s about what’s been going on backstage. Please do feel free to click away if you’ve not got the energy for someone else’s life right now (I totally get that) but if you’ve been thinking, “I wonder where Karen is, she’s not posted for 5 weeks” then the next few paragraphs will answer that. Making Spaces has grown to become bigger than I ever could have imagined, and I have to admit, I feel a sense of pressure, duty almost to keep up this illusion of being some kind of “interiors super hero”. But it’s still only little ole 5’3″ me, i’m just a sole-trader. I think sometimes people forget that, in fact I think sometimes I forget that. Whatever illusion i’ve managed to unwittingly create, i’ve always said to anyone that will listen is; it’s all smoke and mirrors. Nobody’s …

Planning a build? When do I get an interior designer on board?

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve always hated the job title, interior designer, most people still don’t really know what we actually do, but as i’ve mentioned before, paint colours and cushions really are about 0.6%. Cushions in the Upper Brook Street Project I’ve noticed more interior designers referring to themselves as ‘interior architects’. I can’t class myself as that by any means, i’m certainly no architect, but I do make decisions around spatial planning, flow, lighting plans, first fix wiring and plumbing… Here’s what Google has to say about Interior Architecture V’s Interior Design: Interior architecture is the balancing of the art and science of designing an interior space taking into account all elements of the build. Interior design is a broad ranging profession taking into account all aspects of planning and designing interior spaces in the built environment. I kind of see myself as being somewhere in between the two. One of the things I get BIG kicks from is solving layout problems. It might be as simple repositioning a dining table so it runs lengthways instead of horizontally, …

Third time lucky?

Published by Karen Knox

Disclaimer – If this is your first time reading my blog, then i’ll warn you that this isn’t probably the best one to start on. I mean, you’re free to read n’ all, you’re in charge. But this post is less about interiors and more about life stuff. I write these kind of posts a couple of times a year, so if you’re not in the mood to read the ramblings of a stranger, then I really won’t be offended. Otherwise, please… I’ve been nominated for an award at this year’s Amara Interior Blog Awards. I wasn’t sure whether to accept the nomination or not as I have mixed feelings about these kind of things really. I’ve had to quash my ludicrous levels of cynicism and put down my safety blanket in order to accept the nomination and take part this year. The Drawing Room This will be the last time I throw my hat into the ring, so I felt the need to write a post about what the Amaras actually are and why …

Your Top 5 Versus My Top 5 for 2017

Published by Karen Knox

It’s that time everyone!! What, more cheese? Mulled wine? Charades? No, you daft bugger, it’s time to look back on and reflect on this year’s happenings. Because 2017 certainly didn’t fail to deliver. It’s been a good year for Making Spaces overall, and despite still being as skint as a third year university student, 2018 looks set to be another fun year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karen Knox – Making Spaces (@makingspacesnet) So for my final post for 2017, I wanted to share with you the blog’s top five posts. Twice. First up are your top five, the ones you clicked on and read the most. If you missed any of ’em throughout the year, it’s worth a catch up as they’re as relevant today as they were when I wrote them. Here are the Top 5 as chosen by you dear readers: – YOUR TOP FIVE POSTS FOR 2017 – No. 5 The Loft Bedroom – Final Reveal After the epic 17 week build that was the loft conversion, …

Help Me Help You

Published by Karen Knox

Ok guys, I need your help. Can you? Will you? I’ve been writing this ere blog for about 2.5 years now and it seems I’ve gotten away with a spontaneous (unplanned), eclectic (random), stream of consciousness type approach. I don’t think my blog will ever win any awards, because it’s not my full time job, but I would like to get a bit of continuity going (if I can). So I need your help to make some decisions. My plan is to do a monthly #designupnorth post. Because us northerners need it. I’d like to continue writing about my projects, the good bits, final reveals because it actually really helps me with my work. And hopefully it’s remotely interesting for you guys to see the design process too!? I also enjoy writing a good product sourcing round up from time to time. I spend soooo much time searching for hard to find pieces, it’s a brilliant way of sharing all my finds with you guys. I mean, we’re all still looking for a bath screen …

How did I get into Interior Design?

Published by Karen Knox

I get a couple of emails a month from people that might have found me via a blog post or an Instagram pic, asking me how I got started. How did I set up Making Spaces with no formal qualifications in design? And in my head, I just kind of go, erm… I just built a website and got started…. but then I have a proper think and find myself asking the same question. One Year Later, October 2015 “I’ve never had “a job”. The concept of “a job” scares the shit out of me. I’ve always been self-employed and been my own boss and worked myself hard. But having the freedom to make creative decisions is something I hold very dear. In fact it’s my air. I genuinely admire people such as my OH that can commit to a full time job, working for someone else. I tried to convince myself that I could do it too, get a sales job in an interiors shop or something, but if i’m honest with myself, I was just …

One Year Later

Published by Karen Knox

When I was little, I used to dream about going into people’s homes and sorting, reorganising and moving things around in order to make them look and feel better. I flippin loved those dreams and always woke up feeling excited after i’d had them. **knock knock** “Is Karen coming out to play?” “Kaz! Do you want to go and play out? Your friends are here…” “No, i’m making a coffee table from an old washing powder box and a bit of old wallpaper left from my bedroom walls.” or “Not now, i’m just organising all of my teddy bears. In height order.” True stories. Along with many others of a similar vein. Me on the left in Disrupted Context choreographed by Wayne McGregor at NSCD. It was about a year ago, September, 2014, I finally decided I wanted to move into interiors. After taking a couple of years off work to have a baby and readjust to the reality of being a mum (losing my mind with a poorly baby, hallucinations, serious PND, medication, relationship at breaking …