creative spaces :: chase and wonder

Chase and Wonder make gorgeous screenprinted stationery and home accessories from a converted cowshed in rural Worcestershire. Well, if that’s not worth a creative spaces post, I don’t know what is!

It was a shell when they found it, no electricity, no wall panels – it didn’t even have flooring. Having bravely evicted the spiders, they set to work cladding walls, scraping and painting every surface and even making their own desks and chairs – the desks from reclaimed gym flooring from a school and the chairs from cinema seats. This sofa is made from cinema seats too.

One half of Chase & Wonder, David Aspinall says: “I think that because we made everything ourselves, it immediately felt like our space, which helps inspire us to work. The studio is fantastic, the only downside is that in winter it is absolutely freezing! The rural setting is definitely different from our previous locations of London for me and Philadelphia for Faye but we really like it.”

Faye Pearce, is a keen gardener and so likes to surround herself with all things green for inspiration.

This is Faye’s desk (David’s was too disorganised!). She has useful things like files and pre-mixed paints close at hand and more inspirational items at eye level but out of the way. Walls are covered in things Faye and David like, which often spark ideas for colours.

This is the part where I start to get really excited. They have their own screen printing bed, which they use to hand print almost everything they produce. David says: “We really like screenprinting ourselves as you get complete freedom and control over everything; thus maintaining quality. All of our products are made in Britain, which we are extremely proud of.”

The shot above is of ‘Ride Above it 2012,’ which is being printed as we speak – watch this space.

More converted cinema seats form a more relaxed seating area. David and Faye started their business, including the cost of the studio conversion, with only £1000. It just goes to show what can be achieved with a bit of upcycling.

And I love the storage unit on the right of this image…

Chase and Wonder will be on stand LP1 at Pulse 2012 at London’s Earl’s Court from Sunday 10th – Tuesday 12th June 2012. Pulse is a design trade show focusing on five key areas: home, gifts, fashion accessories, wellbeing and Launchpad. I’ll have a stand in the Launchpad section selling my book, so make sure you come and find me too if you’re going to be there.

Further reading for the especially geeky:

• interview :: zeena shah
• creative spaces :: foodie bugle
• creative spaces :: jonathan adler
• creative spaces :: stockholm furniture fair