page turner

We all need a place we can call our own - a space where we can work, read, write or simply sit; somewhere we can be alone, where we can luxuriate in peace and quiet, surrounded by objects that give us pleasure or inspiration.

A Space of My Own - Caroline Clifton-Mogg 175 pages Ryland Peters & Small Ltd 950 baht

In order to help us create that ideal retreat for ourselves, journalist and interior-design writer Caroline Clifton-Mogg provides us with a large number of creative yet practical ideas and techniques to transform a corner of your house or apartment into a perfectly cosy place to hole up in.

In her 175-page A Space of My Own, a no-nonsense guide to making the most of one's workspace, she avoids preaching about interior-design theories and concepts. On the contrary, we are given lots of suggestions and advice - on everything from layout and choosing the right furniture to lighting and storage ideas - which can be applied to real-life situations.

The book is divided into two parts - "The Elements" and "The Spaces" - and covers interesting topics like storage and shelving; task lighting; decoration; home offices; shared spaces; artists' rooms; and spaces for children and teens.

The book also features several case studies. They deal with work stations built for individuals prominent in various creative fields in the UK: London-based interior designer Mark Smith; textile designer Neisha Crosland; architect William Smalley; and Emily Chalmers, owner of Caravan, a popular interiors shop in London.

The book even offers on such relatively trivial matters as filing stuff away: what documents you need to store in a safe place, and for what length of time. So if you're in any doubt about how long you need to keep your credit-card statements or whether you should use fluorescent ceiling lighting in your home office, this book is ideal for you.

On the other side of the scarf-curtain is an old metal post-office cabinet, the pigeonholes in which were originally used for letters but are now home to a collection of vintage textiles.

A place where more than one person can study and play at the same time. The edges of the room are fitted with tables and chairs while possessions and tools are arranged in every other available space.

Where two or more people work together, it is essential to have enough lights for all.

Simple beyond anything, this is a perfect working space with the wall behind the desktop used as an inspirational explosion of both colour and creative ideas.

Available at Asia Books.