When art takes over the house
For Leah, painting had outgrown the home. "It literally took up two rooms," she says. "It started to overtake the living room and I was just like — oh my god, something's going to change."
The answer wasn't a bigger house. It was a dedicated creative space at the bottom of the garden — somewhere with the light, the warmth and the freedom to work on her own terms.
Why InSheds
Leah was looking for more than just a building. "The reason we came to InSheds was because they were friendly. They sustainably source their wood and materials. And there was a great 3D design pack — you could see your bespoke creation on screen. You know what you're getting, basically. The whole process I found was really, really easy. The team was amazing."
The build
Once the design was signed off, progress was fast and visible. "Every week I just see the changes happening — and they were really quick as well. They did an amazing job. I was really pleased with it. And I was like, right — let's get moving in."
A space of her own
The studio hasn't just given Leah more room — it's changed how she works. "It's changed the way I work tremendously. I've got a whole new thought process going on. It's mine. I'll come down here, I'll blare out music when I want, put paint on the walls. At five o'clock I'll go — I'm done. I'll just leave, and I don't really tidy up, and there'll be a few cups and paint brushes."
"It's given me a kind of power of my own that I didn't have before. My favourite feature is the many windows that let all the light in — the roof, how it goes at an angle. I love the outside lighting all around. I love being really warm. I really love the AC unit. I've got all my paintings in here, all my paints. It's a place where I can come and just be creative."
