WORKSPACES: An Organised Life x Carmen Hamilton HQ
This month, we take a tour of our very own Sydney based An Organised Life HQ that we share with the talented Carmen Hamilton.
Go inside our space & hear the story of how our Founder, Beck Wadworth & Carmen met, why it was important to create a functional but inspiring space, their desk essentials & much more.
How long have you known each other & how did you two meet?
CARMEN:
I’ve known Beck for many years! She was one the first new friends I made after moving to Sydney from the Gold Coast. We met through the industry, but our true friendship really formed over regular wine and cheese board catch ups.
BECK:
Carmen was also one of the first friends I made when I moved to Sydney from NZ. We were both in the Bondi bubble & hit it off from our very first catch up. Agreed, we have shared a lot of wine & cheese boards together over the years.
You both moved into the Surry Hills space with your teams in 2019. What do you love about the office space?
CARMEN:
Our office used to be a photographic studio. I had booked it once before, and immediately fell in love with the space when I walked in. I had a smaller office one level down, so when it became available I didn’t want to miss the opportunity! It has a beautiful feel to it and lots of natural light so I knew it would be perfect for us. It’s very open and minimal (almost a blank canvas) so the possibilities were endless in terms of how we could customise it to suit our different business needs.
BECK:
When I moved back to New Zealand, I really wanted to find a space that was inspiring & functional for my small team based in Sydney. The building we are in was at the top of my list as it's filled with creatives (including one of my besties - Sara Crampton from TheUNDONE two suites down from us) & the offices are filled with natural light & have beautiful high ceilings.
Favourite details in the space?
CARMEN:
The large windows, and all of the styling elements by Sarah Ellison. I think we’ve been able to create something really functional that also feels warm and relaxed (like home!).
BECK:
Agreed! The Sarah Ellison furniture reflects both of us perfectly.
Describe your interiors style…
CARMEN:
I always want my spaces to withstand the test of time, so I prefer a more minimalist style - without it feeling too sterile or boring. By sticking to a warmer colour palette and soft furnishings I think we’ve been able to achieve this.
I also think it’s really important for personal spaces (whether that be a home or office) to have a bit of personality. In my opinion, artworks are the easiest way to do this!
BECK:
My interior style is definitely minimal & timeless. I love adding interest through textures & tonal pieces. I also favour pieces that are functional & serve a purpose in the space.
Carmen working in the space daily with the AOL team, what is your top tip for not getting distracted in an open plan office?
CARMEN:
Noise-cancelling Airpods! They’re my life-saver when I really need to get in my zone.
Top 5 songs to work to in the office?
CARMEN:
‘Earfquake’ - Tyler, The Creator
‘Low Tide’ - Drama
‘Charcoal Baby’ - Blood Orange
‘Feel Your Weight - Poolside Remix’ - Rhye
‘Sky Walker (feat. Travis Scott) - Miguel, Travis Scott
BECK:
My go-to playlists are these two HERE & HERE
Talk us through your current desk essentials?
CARMEN:- Coffee!
- Vida Glow Marine Collagen Sachets
- AirPods
- Tatcha Luminous Skin Mist
- Laneige Lip Sleep Mask
BECK:
- An Organised Life 2020 Daily Planner (of course)
- Dr. Barbara Sturm Lip Balm
- Water Carafe
- Notepad & Pen
- HP Laptop
Lined or Plain Pages?
CARMEN:
Depends what I’m using it for! If I’m writing my daily to-do’s, then I like lined pages (because I need all the help I can get when it comes to structuring my thoughts!). But if I’m brainstorming for a creative project I prefer plain pages so I can scribble wherever and let my thoughts run wild haha.
BECK:
Lined! Always!
Go-to desk snack?
CARMEN:
Corn chips! Or Natural Confectionary snakes.
BECK:
Lots of coffee, green smoothie, or crackers!
Feeling inspired? See some of our other Workspace Tours HERE or dress up your workspace with some of Beck & Carmen's stationery essentials HERE.
FOLLOW CARMEN & BECK
Carmens Instagram HERE / Becks Instagram HERE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: