Taste isn’t something you can buy off the shelf—and if it was, there would be no evolution in design or popular aesthetics. It’s something an individual builds up over time, shaped by key experiences that are deeply personal. Memories unlocked from a childhood holiday—the bright colors of an ice cream stall—or the ridges of rough clay interspersed with thick, glassy glaze from a piece of studio pottery at your grandparents’ house.
The Playful Palette: Bold & Unexpected Combinations
Some makers are drawn to the joy and surprise of working with unconventional colour combinations.
“Every piece made by our makers is genuinely handmade—because there is no other way.”
The problem is that it’s so easy to fall into the trap of a carefully curated homewares collection, mass-manufactured by a multinational, investment-run brand. But when you do, you lose that sense of purpose in an object. It’s no longer something that requires careful handling or passing down through generations. There’s no story behind acquiring it—no memory of how you saved or sacrificed dinners out to afford it. No gentle needling from your partner when friends come round, teasing you for your commitment to a form of taste they don’t quite get (but secretly admire). And when trends change, you won’t give it a second thought before bunging it in a bag for the charity shop.
Every piece made by our makers is genuinely handmade—because there is no other way. There’s no pre-approved budget, no buying team, no shareholders to appease. We just make—for the sheer joy of it. In my case, there isn’t a mold that pulp is poured into every time I want to reproduce a lamp base. It has to be built from scratch. When producing that pulp, I’m not buying ready-flaked bleached paper-I’m shredding and processing it all myself, by hand, in buckets. I’m using a recipe I’ve researched and perfected, and I’m doing it with my hands.
“It’s so important to know the difference between a high price tag that pays for real labour and one that funds a well-connected marketing team.”
Subtle & Natural: A Muted, Calming Approach
While some makers embrace bold contrasts, others prefer a more understated, calming palette.
It’s so important for consumers to know the difference between a high price tag that pays for real labor and one that funds a well-connected marketing team. In my case, you’re paying for my hands to create something truly handmade, hand-painted, hand-designed, and hand-marketed. The money you spend goes directly towards my rent, my materials, and my labor. It costs that much because that’s the true price of craftspersonship in the UK.
“When you understand the true value of craftspersonship, you don’t just buy a piece—you invest in a story, a craft, a maker.”
And that’s when buying something a maker made becomes more than just a purchase; it becomes part of your own taste.
Colour as a Personal Connection: From Sketches to Confidence
For some makers, the colour selection process is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about building confidence in their creative choices.
Earthy & Grounded: A Love for Natural Hues
For some makers, colour is deeply rooted in the materials they work with, enhancing the natural beauty of their craft.
About the author
Annie Strachan, Pulp Sculptuur
A London-based artist creating sustainable, functional sculptures from recycled materials like wood, textiles, and papier-mâché. With a background in ceramics and sculpture from Chelsea College of Art & Design, her work blends influences from Modernist architecture, post-war Hollywood set design, and traditional craft techniques.
Handmade in her garden studio, each piece is built from scratch using layered paper pulp and her signature textural relief. Annie has collaborated with brands and institutions including Selfridges, London Design Fair, and The Museum of the Home, with her work recognized by House & Garden’s Design 100 and It’s Nice That’s Nice List.
Discover more about her work and explore her latest pieces by visiting her Maker Page.
