Beach chic

We’re aware we’ve been a bit window-mad lately, but we had to show you The Conran Shop’s new-look Chelsea store.

The Conran Shop Chelsea’s new windows

Down at the bottom of the garden…

We’ve gone a bit shed crazy this spring. Why? Sheds are for tinkering and for making. They are functional and informal — all of which appeals to our sensibilities.

They are also ripe for design. We think design isn’t about prettifying, but about the marriage of form and function. Sheds are functional spaces, but they needn’t be as spartan as they have traditionally been. Moreover, you can do bolder things with a shed than with bricks and mortar.

To that end, Vicki Conran, celebrated interior designer and wife of a certain Chairman, has designed an Artisan Retreat for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

She’s sent over a photo of the retreat-in-progress:

Vicki’s retreat will be inspired by the idea of childhood dens and hideaways, and for adults, a need for space. The interior of Vicki’s retreat will recreate a Bookbinder’s studio, full of interesting materials, papers, textiles and beautiful hand tools. There will be a selection of books in varying stages of binding and casing, together with a library of reference books. For the retreat Vicki has chosen a predominately green palette, to bring the outdoors in, and as green is a restful colour for jobs involving close scrutiny.

Read more on the RHS site.

Not to be outdone, The Conran Shop are at it too: their new Chelsea window displays (below) feature some very special sheds, and they are having a book signing with Jane Field-Lewis, author of My Cool Shed, from 2-4pm on Saturday, 26th May.

My Cool Shed celebrates sheds from the modest to the lavish, from artists’ studios to beach huts, and the diverse ways in which owners are styling them. It features 35 beautifully-photographed sheds, small cabins, garden rooms and beach huts.

So there you have it: we are very well shod.