AN INTERIOR design student proved she has a shedload of ideas after she was selected to take part in Grand Design’s Grand Shed Project.

Julie Holgate was one of five designers chosen to take part in the competition, judged by Channel 4’s Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs, which aimed to show how a 10ft x 8ft Walton’s conventional garden shed can be turned into an extended living space.

The competition challenging designers to come up with new and innovative suggestions as part of the larger Grand Design Live event in London, featuring the work of more than 500 exhibitors.

A keen crafter herself, the 36-year-old UCLan Masters student from Hurst Green, was inspired by her own craft room to design a ‘Sewing Shack’.

Julie used mainly upcycled furniture to create her own little piece of haberdashery heaven at the bottom of the garden.

She said: “I based it on how I would want my own craft room to look with lots of natural light and practical storage space.

“I submitted my design thinking nothing would come of it and then suddenly I’m driving a van to London ready to start styling.

“Taking part in the project, meeting the other designers and getting great feedback from Kevin McCloud was fantastic and has made me feel much more confident in my abilities as a designer.”

Key features of Julie’s Sewing Shack included a cutting table, created from a charity shop find, a cupboard with handy padded sections for storing needles and threads and a wool holder created from an old wine rack.

Julie said: “I only had 48 hours to turn a plain shed into a sewing room so it was certainly a challenge but I really enjoyed the buzz of being part of such a big event."

Based on the Channel 4 TV series, and presented by design guru Kevin McCloud, the Grand Design’s Live event aims to offer all the latest home trends in one place and showcases work across seven sections.