Finding Your Passion…
I had been working as a chef in a Coffee Shop in Edinburgh and my wife called me to let me know she had an interview for an engineering position in Barry. My immediate response was, ‘that is amazing news but where is Barry’. I came of the phone and immediately Googled Barry to realise it was a town in South Wales and well known for the popular BBC show Gavin and Stacey.
After working a long time in the hospitality sector, she had the job of her dreams which made me think about what my dream job would be. We were both so excited about the prospect of change and having a brighter future in a different location but what was I going to do with this fresh start. I handed in my notice and a month later we had settled into our beautiful new home overlooking the old docks where ships many years ago would load up coal and transport it around the globe. Below is the view where many an hour of contemplation was spent. I call it the, ‘Ever Changing Painting’.
My sole focus was on what I was going to do, do I remain a chef or follow my passion for Home Decor and Interior Design, do I fall back on my skill set from years of working in digital advertising in London and Sydney. It was an exciting, yet apprehensive feeling going into the unknown. I’ve always had an affinity for the home, perhaps it is something that came from my childhood, a love of being around my family in homely comforts watching movies together and eating delicious homemade food. Perhaps this childhood memory was what was inspiring me subconsciously. Another reason for the home playing such an important role, could be due to moving around a lot at a young age from the UK, to the Middle East and the Southern Hemisphere. This off course, is why I’ve always liked contemporary minimalist spaces with a touch of elegance. In my mind, there is nothing worse than a cluttered home; it provokes an overwhelming genuine stress response and I am a big believer that anyone passionate about their home should begin the process of uncluttering and then have a vision of how they would like their nesting space to look and feel. When I say minimalist, I should clarify this by saying I love clean lines that include warm materials such as texture, colours and plants to give it a human feel. I do also love the odd, bold, quirky stand out item that catches people’s eye or evokes an emotion of some sort.
Our global situation settled upon us and this gave me a lot of time to focus and have the attitude that something positive had to come out of this situation we all found ourselves in. The uninterrupted time of reflection was where Wink&Beam was formed; a brother and sister duo, both possessing different strengths and a love for home décor and travel that would make us a formidable team.
To give you a brief insight into my sister’s style, I would describe it as classic and timeless and with living in Norfolk has taken a country inspired theme to her home décor. She also has an appreciation for modern design which is reflected throughout her home specifically in her kitchen area. She believes the kitchen to be the most important space in the home to share with her family. It has also been designed for utility as she has two boys who play rugby and are active.
I would say to anyone starting a new journey to be bold, be patient, love what you do, do it to the best of your ability and above all enjoy each day. My sister and I have taken the step and planted the seed and dream that one day Wink&Beam grows to the strength of an oak tree, where we can inspire a community of people to create spaces that are warm, calming and relaxing. I say to all of you out there, ‘just do it, follow your passion and see what the universe unveils. The best is yet to come…