Samantha Humphreys

I have had the most productive of days. First of all, I bagged up a load of cardboard for recycling that I have been meaning to do for months. With the recycling sorted, I set about making some important decisions on my soon-to-be miniature arts centre.

I enlisted the help of my husband, as he is the one with the know-how when it comes to using the tools needed for the job, and, come to think of it, he is also the one with the tools themselves!

The roof came off in two pieces, but that was to be expected. Removing it revealed a whole new world of possibilities inside. Once it was off, I started to wonder how I could raise the roof. My Gaga had made a pitched roof to make the house more special, which adds character and charm, so I wanted to retain that essence; yet, I also needed the ceilings upstairs to be higher to look more authentic. I want this miniature arts centre to be as close to 12th scale as possible, and it will be, as long as my inhabitants are no taller than the average height!

The doors were all far too small, which led me to opt for a more open-plan design. This choice is not only practical but also more suited to an art space, allowing for a flow of creativity that echoes the environment I envision. Where doors are necessary, such as for the toilet, I decided it will be a non-opening door, as I want to retain the internal walls as much as I can. This kind of design strategy is integral to the atmosphere I’m trying to create.

As I explained in my previous post, I want this project to represent what my life is now, and the person I have become. An arts centre or an art school is a little pipe dream of mine if I ever won the lottery. Like I said, a dream. Yet, I believe in nurturing dreams, and I decided I would surely need to include a teaching space in my building—after all, sharing creativity and skills is what an arts centre is all about.

I am so looking forward to taking this project forward; my mind is swirling with exciting ideas and also with a growing list of things I need to procure!

I have started to prepare the interior for decoration. The atmosphere is taking shape with paint pots, protective dust sheets, and a tray loaded with fresh white paint sitting in the gallery space, all ready for tomorrow’s ventures. The prospect of bringing colour, life and stories to the interior fills me with inspiration, motivating me to push through each phase of this project with the enthusiasm and passion I am filled with.