When jewellery designer Matthew Calvin bought this Grade II-listed warehouse in east London in 2015, he was gearing up to launch his eponymous jewellery brand, which now has a loyal following. Like his jewellery designs, the flat – which Matthew now shares with his husband Joe – has a clean-lined and contemporary aesthetic. Here, Matthew talks to us about transforming a blank canvas and how he integrates an ever-growing collection of prints and holiday trinkets into the pared-back space.Matthew: “When I moved from Barcelona to London in 2010, I rented a flat in Bethnal Green, mainly because it was close to the London College of Fashion in Shoreditch, where I was studying womenswear, and I wasn’t sure whether I’d be staying in London after I graduated. “I didn’t actually finish the degree, because I lost my enthusiasm for fashion, and I decided to focus on art and general design instead. I’ve always loved my Mum’s collection of jewellery, and decided one day that I should just give jewellery-making a go. I started off by tinkering at home and doing a few evening classes – it was just simple beadwork and silver soldering. I then got into the 3D design side of it and started making jewellery for friends and family. I honed my skills from there really.
“I decided to stay put in London, so I started looking for somewhere to buy in 2013. I wanted to stay east and went to see this flat. It’s really close to Liverpool Street station and part of what’s now known as the Tapestry Building, an amazing converted 18th century warehouse. It was originally used by the East India Company to store exotic imports from all over the world, such as peacock feathers and – as the name suggests – tapestries. “The building had recently been converted into flats, so I saw a few when I first visited the space. I loved them, but for some reason I sat and thought on it for over a year. After a summer abroad, I decided this flat was the one and thankfully it was the only one that hadn’t been bought. “Unusually for London and in an apartment this size, we only have two bedrooms, which means they are a really good size. The flat is essentially spread over three main rooms – two spacious bedrooms and the large main living area, which incorporates dining and seating areas as well as a kitchen. The amount of space is amazing considering were right in the centre of the city. “I loved that the flat allowed for such an easy open plan lifestyle. When I bought it in 2014, I was just about to launch my jewellery brand and I was working from home. The large living area meant that some of my team could work with me during the day, but it was also great for entertaining in the evening too.
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发表于 2020-11-13 20:01:42
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