Cambridge Design Rooms
Unit 2, 23-25 Gwydir Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LG
Asked to describe Cambridge Design Rooms, co-owner Janet Scotcher replies, ‘If ‘The Repair Shop’ and ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ had a baby …’. Janet and husband and co-owner, David Scotcher aim to make people think more carefully about their lifestyle choices, by upcycling their interior and wardrobe pieces rather than throwing them away and buying something new, and in the process, upskilling themselves too.
With an impressive career in People, Janet knows all about wellbeing and the potentially isolating effects of remote or hybrid working, so she feels strongly that their new business should offer opportunities for people to gather in a community while reconnecting with working with their hands. There will be classes to suit everybody from the beginner who doesn’t know one end of a sewing machine from the other, to the expert who wants to learn new skills or refresh old ones. There’ll also be open studio times, when people can rent a bench, effectively ‘hot desking’ with a sewing machine, in company with other similarly-engaged people, and with access to someone who can offer skilful advice. Cambridge Design Rooms is a beautiful, lovingly renovated space in which to hot desk, and with the vast library of gorgeous fabrics and leathers that David has collected over his many years running his own upholstery and soft furnishings business in Islington, and the wealth of expertise at the Scotchers’ disposal, they may have trouble encouraging people to go home.
The Scotchers offer bespoke team building and other group activities. This could be as simple as each making something individually to take home, or as intricate as all making something for the office that has corporate significance. What could be more ideal for a small start-up wanting to elevate its premises in an eco-friendly way while doing some all-important staff development?
Outside of the workplace, they will also design group sessions celebrating key life events such as weddings, or big birthdays. Not only a lovely activity together but also creating a sustainable and unique gift.