I first met the lovely Emma Hopkinson, aka ‘thecrapflat’ back in 2019 at the AMARA Interior Blog Awards, where she and her best friend, Robyn Donaldson won, to everyone’s delight, ‘Best Written Blog’.
Since then, this award-winning pair have collaborated on a self-help book, and I can exclusively reveal, have another dedicated to interiors coming out next spring.
So, when Emma recently agreed to show Nordic Notes readers around her lovely new home, I was super excited to share more with you.
Over to Emma for the details:
“My partner Matt and I have lived in our current rented house in East London for around 18 months.
It was when Covid hit and Matt’s personal training business went online that we knew our existing, and very crap, one-bed flat wasn’t working for us. As you can imagine, as a writer, trying to work while he shouted ‘SQUAT!’, wasn’t the most productive environment.
Since moving in a lot of the focus has been on getting the right furniture in the right place. The first thing I did was to change all the door and drawer pulls in the kitchen, which is my top tip for renters, because it instantly changed how that room felt.
There is still so much still to do, but the dining space is now my wood-and-beige dreams realised, and I have a dedicated workspace just for me. We also have our own outdoor space too, and I’m really enjoying the feeling of calm being in the garden is giving me.
Like me, my interior style is constantly evolving, but the core idea I keep coming back to is making those everyday touch-points feel joyful.
One of my favourite pieces is our Menu JWDA table lamp. It’s minimal in design, but still makes a statement. I know I’ll love it for years and years, and it fills me with absolute joy when I hear that satisfying ‘click’ as I switch it on and off.
For me, where I live, and my state of mind are always connected. I’ve had many mental health ups and downs over the years, and I’ve come to realise living in a tiny, crap, damp flat where nothing works was part of the trigger. It never occurred to me that I deserved or could have more.
Now we’re in this house, I’m learning to unfold into more space, and understand that it’s ok to live somewhere you can be proud to call home. As I get more comfortable with that idea, the house starts to take shape in ways that work for me. Which might all sound a bit “wafty”, but I genuinely believe that home is much more than just great curtains.”
There’s No Place like Home
10 quick fire questions, to find out more about Emma and her home:
- Tea or coffee?
In this heat? Iced coffee. - Chocolate or cheese?
Cheese. With a glass of wine. Consume until you fall down. Then eat chocolate. - Watching TV or listening to music?
Too hard. Life without music would be life without joy, but to quote Joey from Friends, if you don’t have a TV, what’s all your furniture pointing at? - Reading a book or flicking through a magazine?
Book, always. - Bath or shower?
Bath – it’s where I do my best thinking. - Slippers or socks?
Socks! I’d have a new pair every day if that wouldn’t make me a landfill-filling A-hole. - House plants or fresh flowers?
House plants. I feel a bit guilty when flowers die. - Candles or lamps?
Lamps. But also candles. But lamps. - Cushions or blankets?
Blankets. If I’m on the sofa I’m under a blanket, always. - Dog or cat?
Dog! You’ve met my frightening dog cushion, right? But I love cats with my whole heart too.
Want to find out more?
Thanks again to Emma for sharing her home with us, I too feel exactly the same about my Menu JWDA table lamp.
If you would like to see more of Emma’s home and what inspires her interiors, follow her on Instagram and Pinterest.
All images courtesy of Emma Hopkinson.
Enjoyed reading this post? Then head to St Albans and take a tour of interior designer Katie Seidler’s home.
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