A place to work, rest and play

Mar 15 2007 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

Debbie Johnson meets a businesswoman in her dockside apartment

NATALIE REEVES has a room with a view - with several, in fact. As well as a spacious lounge, three bedrooms and an office, the attractive businesswoman also has a room set aside as a home studio for her other great love - music.
 
Her Waterloo Warehouse home is set in the unique surroundings of the historic building's tower area.
 
"It's where the pulley system used to be to haul goods off the ships," says Natalie, "hence its very unusual shape. Even though it is in a building of apartments, it has five floors, each with different rooms on them."

Natalie recently moved into her new home from elsewhere in the warehouse. She enjoys the just-about-in-town feeling, and the location on the riverside.
 
One of her business interests is Chione Investments Ltd, through which she owns a shipping company - giving the river a particular appeal to Natalie.
 
She is also business partners with Bruce Stimpson, well-known businessman, and has several projects on the go - developing educational board games, liaising to put on football friendlies between South American and English teams, and introducing Rocket Fuel, a South American energy drink, into the UK.

The Rocket Fuel project is one where Natalie, formerly frontwoman of the Liverpool band Chione, can put both her business and creative talents to good use - she is going to write a theme tune for promotional use for the drink.
 
"I don't see why you have to be one or the other," says Natalie, "that's why I need an office and a studio. You don't have to dress or behave in a certain stereotypical way to be a businesswoman, nor do you have to be lacking in intelligence to be a musician.

"My home is also always going to be a mix of the two - I still love elements of the lifestyle of being in a band, having parties and being sociable, but that doesn't mean I am not serious about, and good at, the other aspects of my life."