BACK

Inspiration

Workroom Profile: Bridie Hall at Home

Beginning a blog featuring our many and varied suppliers has been at the pinnacle of my ‘to do’ list for the last three months. I must admit to suffering from ‘blog block’ and am anxious to do everyone justice.

I’ve been stuck too, on finding a way to concisely yet lovingly describe my visit to the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent last year and what it meant to me. That blog will come, it’s half written, but because of my failure to write anything more, it has set back this whole project.

So, I’ve decided to start with something I know a lot more about, is even dearer to my heart and much closer to home. My studio! It also occurred to me that it is an excellent opportunity to introduce myself.  Although I’m sure the more regular readers of Ben’s blog and visitors to the website will know that I am the Bridie often referred to and I am the Hall in ‘Pentreath & Hall’.

Obligatory apron hanging off door. Also the malachite wall and a gorgeous reproduction Irish Mirror by David Turner that I haven't found a place for in the shop yet. I wonder why?
Obligatory apron hanging off door. Also the malachite wall and a gorgeous reproduction Irish Mirror by David Turner that I haven’t found a place for in the shop yet. I wonder why?

Ben and I are old friends and we began the shop together back in November 2008. It wasn’t until early last year that we had the idea and indeed I had the means, to separate the shop from Ben’s architectural practice and make it, its own business. Boring details for you, but the opportunity to take on a vested interest was so the right thing to do at the right time. I’d had some pretty intense family bereavements and had lost all enthusiasm and focus for most things. Forming a business partnership with Ben was a tonic for this.

At the same time that we were fleshing out our partnership agreement (crucial!) the flat above the shop became available. It was as if the stars were aligning. I needed a studio to base my self and my homeware range, where better to be? After years of working on my range at home, the wheels finally fell off. I was spending more time hanging from the fridge door wondering what to eat rather than working out what the next decoupage design would be. And I had developed a great fondness for a boozy lunch out.

Having an office and a creative space above the shop was the key to making it all work. As far as how I thought my studio space might work, I knew I needed a lot of storage and a lot of work surface. I make most of my range by hand in my studio. The candles, decoupage, intaglio boxes, scholar’s sets, stamp collection on a string , are all made on site. To store all the materials for these many different disciplines, I had an entire wall fitted with shelves from floor to ceiling and I was completely seduced by this double-ended plan chest from Drew Pritchard. It was commissioned in the mid 1950’s for the Welsh National Library and it seemed perfect for more storage, 16 huge drawers, and a massive surface to work on and around.

A beautiful thing, currently in storage. It needs a new home.
A beautiful thing, currently in storage. It needs a new home.

Love is blind and I had completely overlooked the fact it needed to be dismantled to be brought into the room by three builders then reassembled taking those same three men half a day to complete the task. It looked fantastic. There was barely more than a couple of feet spare to move around it. It was good to work on but its dominance ruined the space. The studio could really only cope with one person at a time and it was awful to move around, I had to resolve this.

Studio Profile
Nice, but big. Size really isn’t everything.
P1010844
See what I mean about the surrounding space?

The only thing was to take it on the chin and call the builders back to dismantle the plan chest and start all over again.

I wanted two working spaces that were long and high but not too deep.  A lot of floor space was important, to help with flow moving between workstations. I wanted one wall clear that I could wallpaper from time to time with different colours and patterns on which to hang and style out my work and see how it all looks.

IMG_0137
Now there is ample room for Max to pose in with his stupidly oversized bed.
IMG_0138
The right-hand side of the studio. A little colourful.
IMG_0143
Some display cases I am currently working on. Lacquering the frame to a high gloss in almost primary colours (scary) and painting the interiors with the flattest of gouaches. I plan to put intaglios inside. They might also make nice mirrors.

 

IMG_0145
Believe it or not, Ben & I need to design this years Christmas crackers now! In fact, we might be behind on this…
IMG_0147
A detail of the shelving. What I don’t have, you don’t need. Do you like the pineapple plates? You might need some of those.
IMG_0136
My favourite corner. Reference books, display cases, plates to be decoupaged and piles of antique prints. Do you see the 5 litre tin of Briwax? One of my greatest possessions.
IMG_0140
Not all pen pots are created equally, or paint brushes, or rulers.
IMG_0141
Ongoing testing of new candle scents. I am sent the samples from my perfumer Hiram Green who is based in Amsterdam which I make up into candles and subject every one to for weeks at a time.
A small selection of the decoupage I make in the studio.
A small selection of the decoupage I make in the studio.
Batty Langely Blossoms meets Fornasetti Malachite.
Batty Langley Blossoms meets Fornasetti Malachite.
IMG_0142
Do you like my Picasso? I bought it on eBay. Next to it is a picture of Luke and Max. Luke thought we could take pictures of ourselves in front of the malachite wall and call them ‘Fornaselfies’.

So far so good. Recently I’ve had an obsession with malachite, so I chose the Fornasetti pattern by Cole & Son to get the ball rolling and painted the other walls Farrow & Ball ‘Stone Blue’. I love the malachite but I’m pretty fickle with these types of thing and can see a wall of marbled paper, maybe lightly lacquered, starting to gain momentum.

IMG_3831

IMG_3906
Some recently finished intaglio boxes.
I thought it was beginning to get a bit serious.
I thought it was beginning to get a bit serious.

As I mentioned earlier, a lot happens in my studio, from making up gesso to blending the ingredients for my range of scented candles. Things are going well and I have a couple of exciting projects in the pipeline. A series of decoupage plates using images from the Soane Museum archives has been talked about and I’m working with a set of Piranesi prints that Ben owns for a little collection of Pentreath & Hall decoupage. Two new candle scents are being developed. The first, to conjure a woodland in spring (if you pop into the shop this week you’ll smell one of the prototypes burning), the second, a piney sweaty smell. It has the working name ‘Hunt’ which is the vibe.

I am always looking for interesting stores and boutiques to work with, so if you are a shopkeeper and if anything strikes a chord here, please do get in touch.

I’m also on the look out for a bright and enthusiastic part-time studio assistant.  If you would like to see the job description drop me a line at info@bridiehall.com and I will forward on the relevant information.

I’ll look forward to posting again soon. On reflection it wasn’t so bad. Look out for my profiles on the workrooms and time-honoured processes of some of our best-loved products soon.  I think a visit to Peter Hone’s should be next. If you have any questions or ideas on who I should profile, leave a comment below.

What do you think, shall I go and see what make Peter Hone tick?
What do you think, shall I go and see what make Peter Hone tick?

 

 

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Latest Arrivals

  • 1920’s Biscuit Tin

    Vendor:
    Rebecca Christie-Miller
    Regular price £ 180.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 180.00
  • A Late 18th Century Cabinet Maker’s Sample Board

    Vendor:
    Rebecca Christie-Miller
    Regular price £ 850.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 850.00
  • An Early 20th Century Mahogany Sunburst Mirror

    Vendor:
    Rebecca Christie-Miller
    Regular price £ 185.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 185.00
  • An English Vision - Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today - Signed

    Vendor:
    Ben Pentreath
    Regular price £ 45.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 45.00
1 of 2
1 of 4


Best Sellers

  • L'Horlogere - Wrapping Paper

    Vendor:
    The Pattern Book
    Regular price £ 3.95
    Regular price Sale price £ 3.95
  • Classical Creamware Mug

    Vendor:
    John Julian
    Regular price £ 40.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 40.00
  • P&H Creamware Lidded Urn with Handles

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 265.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 265.00
  • Rocque Plan of London, 1746.

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 300.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 300.00
  • The P&H Ionic Column Table Lamp

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 375.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 375.00
  • P&H Creamware Loving Cup

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 195.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 195.00
  • Diana Soap - Cardamom & Mimosa

    Vendor:
    Bridie Hall
    Regular price £ 22.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 22.50
  • Limited Edition Large Check Throw - Strawberry

    Vendor:
    Ben Pentreath X Johnstons of Elgin
    Regular price £ 304.00
    Regular price £ 380.00 Sale price £ 304.00
    Sale
  • Waste Paper Bin - Black Diamond Daisy

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 73.50
    Regular price £ 105.00 Sale price £ 73.50
    Sale
  • Bloomsbury Tray - Large

    Vendor:
    The Lacquer Company
    Regular price £ 375.00
    Regular price £ 0.00 Sale price £ 375.00
  • Alphabet Brush Pot - S

    Vendor:
    Bridie Hall
    Regular price £ 40.00
    Regular price £ 0.00 Sale price £ 40.00
  • World Map - Wrapping Paper

    Vendor:
    The Pattern Book
    Regular price £ 3.95
    Regular price Sale price £ 3.95