CREATE by Emily Henson

Sitting at my kitchen table with candles and coffee on a dark wet January morning I’m lucky enough to be writing about this beautiful inspirational book by Emily Henson.  The beginning of the year can feel rather bleak but between the pages of this publication are colourful homes, ideas, reinvention and ways to make your home feel unique without breaking the bank.  Giving you the inspiration to plan ahead and change things up a bit making these winter days far more enjoyable.

“This is a book about creativity, reinvention and sustainability, not just for the sake of the planet, but also for the joy and satisfaction of creating a home that is truly unique”

How wonderful a statement is this, I couldn’t have written it any better, it sums up the book and Emily too.  If you follow Emily on her instagram feed @lifeunstyled you will already know how true this is as she is currently renovating her home by the sea with great aplomb doing it her way.

The whole book is devoted to the topic of creativity before consumption which in the current climate that we all find ourselves in is so very useful.  Some of us already have the ideals and update our homes in this way but new ideas are always welcome. Some of us are just starting out on the path of sustainability and reduction of buying things brand new and need a guiding hand, Create is a simple guide for both.  Consuming less and buying more consciously may be a slower way of decorating but taking the time to get the look you want without the price tag.

The book is divided into two sections the first, Discovery where Emily shows us how to create a home with style, dash and personality without relying on acquiring more stuff.  How using paint effectively can transform an unloved space, to being inventive with basic materials such as scaffolding boards and copper piping.  Using texture, textiles and colour to bring your home to life.  By reusing, reclaiming and reinventing by repurposing objects and giving them a new lease of life such as old sinks from school laboratories and haberdasher units as kitchen cupboards. You just have to have a little imagination and to think outside the box to be unique.  Finally, in make your own, Emily gives you easy yet imaginative ways to update your home by making or updating things yourself.  For instance I have just re covered some chairs in my kitchen where the seating had worn through, a metres worth of fabric and a staple gun was all I need to reinvent them rather than replacing them.

In the second part of the book its the stories, the real life inspiring homes of people who have the same ethos and creative zeal that Emily does which reflects in their own style and commitment creating beautiful spaces to live.

This book is definitely becoming a firm favourite of mine that will have well thumbed pages before too long as I wholeheartedly believe in creativity before consumption and simply love the research and finding new ways to repurpose spaces in my home.

With thanks to Ryland Peters & Small for gifting Create for the purpose of this post

Create by Emily Henson

Photography by Catherine Gratwicke