The Arena Design Centre is… part of a large community of converted warehouses in North East London. Some of the units here are used as art and music studios, some are used as living spaces and some are a combination of both.

What attracted you to communal living?
I really love meeting new people and surrounding myself with inspiring humans. When I first visited the warehouse, I was fascinated – the concept of being able to live with such a mix of like-minded creatives in a lively and exciting environment is exactly what I wanted from life. I think you can learn a lot from living with so many different types of people. We also often work on collaborative projects and support each other with our work which is a really wonderful thing to have in London.

Who else lives with you?
There’s around 18 of us living here with an age range of 21-36 and everyone is working in different industries. Some people have lived here for a couple of years and others have stayed for shorter periods of time. I currently live with a photographer, actor, artist, set designer, sound technician, make-up artist, event manager, film maker, psychology researcher, structural design engineer, chef, producer and musicians- it’s a HUGE mix! There’s never a dull moment.

This lifestyle has impacted my work-life balance… by helping with my creativity, I live with so many interesting people who are always working on crazy new projects, which is really motivating to be around. It’s also amazing to have a workspace in the warehouse where I can paint large scale pieces and really focus on my work. Although it is sometimes quite easy to get distracted, even walking down the corridor, to get a coffee from the kitchen, could result in conversations with ten different people!

What’s the best part of communal living and would you recommend it?
The best part is the amount of incredible friendships you make. We have such a lovely and supportive family in our warehouse, and it makes living in the city so much fun. There’s always something weird and wonderful going on in this place – I would definitely recommend it.

I became interested in homeware design… after studying Textiles at Loughborough University and where I specialised in Interior Fabric Design. I was there for five years, but had a year out working for a range of different companies and studios which helped me to realise the kind of design I wanted to focus on.When I graduated, I decided to move to London with no plan! I worked in a pub in Dalston and a shop at the weekend, and lived in a funny little box room. I started working on as many freelance textile and painting projects as possible, and had an exhibition at Olympia which was a brilliant way to meet people in the industry. After a few months, I had found my freelance position with Urban Outfitters and just continued to create my own designs and artwork on the side.

My personal home style is… laughed at in the house because my room is like a weird little zen den – everything is very earthy and often khaki green or in muted tones. I always have incense burning and warm cosy lights. I normally have lots of textured fabric draped everywhere, and I love natural materials like wood and bamboo. I like having a selection of really special objects that mean a lot to me, and the artwork on the walls inspire me every day.

I get my design inspiration… bizarrely from old things and the way they age – I love leaves when they are dry and withered, or a piece of old natural wood or rusty metal. I am also massively inspired by plants, nature and folklore. I grew up surrounded by my Mum’s love for art nouveau artists and textile designers, as well as beautiful old illustrators like Arthur Rackham on our walls which have always inspired my work.I’m also massively inspired by my wonderful friends and their creations, I am constantly in awe of the work they produce.

Do you have time to work on your own pieces?
Yes! As well as my freelance work with Urban Outfitters, I spend time working on my own projects. I’m currently working towards an exhibition in July where I will showcase a selection of illustrations and fabrics. I love working on huge scale paintings, and have recently been commissioned to paint murals in East London. I am also currently painting an old table top that I picked up round the back of the warehouse, which will be part of my upcoming exhibition.

Advice I would give to aspiring designers would be… keep creating every day and always stay true to yourself. I take a sketchbook with me everywhere and try to draw wherever I go. I think it’s so important for a creative brain to be stimulated in some form every day, and to enjoy the process rather than worrying about the outcome. I also think surrounding yourself with people who you find inspiring and uplifting is the key to creating your best work!