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

The home studio is currently on the top level of the apartment, with exposed brick walls and an arched window. Natalie aims to spend time there recording some of her catalogue of 400+ songs, which she pitches to other singers via her manager, Francis McEntegart, of Chime Management.
 
She also plans to return to performing herself at some point in the near future - as well as working on a series of children's fantasy books. "There aren't enough hours in the day!" she says.
 
For the time being, though, making her new place a home is also a priority.

With exposed beams, girders, and spiral staircases, there is a real sense of the unusual to the apartment.
 
Natalie says: "In the lounge, which is really large, you can see the steel girders and beams - it gives you a real sense of the history of the place, the way it used to be."

The lounge itself is painted in biscuit tones, with darker brown and gold soft furnishings. She says: "It is a subtle kind of tiger-stripe effect, and as time goes on I will add to the look with rugs and perhaps an animal print border. The spiral staircases that connect the floors have little lanterns woven in and out of them, it looks quite magical, especially when there are no other lights on."

The master bedroom is en-suite, as is one of the guest rooms.
 
Natalie says: "I love having an en-suite. It is a lovely corner bath as well. The kitchen is compact but very well-equipped - but to be honest, unless someone else comes and cooks for me, it is only used to unwrap take-aways in!"
 
Another big plus for Natalie is the brightness of the place.
 
She says: "It is so light, one entire side of it is really just windows. Also, there is a lovely balcony - you can take bread out there and the seagulls come and eat from your hands."