Chalk Path Studio story: Making lighting and homeware from natural materials

Inspired by the natural world, Chalk Path Studio designs lighting and homewares that connect people to nature. The use of sustainable materials to handcraft each piece offers an antidote to mass production; allowing reflective consumption for interiors and considered design practices to be part of the everyday.

Recycled paper, hemp, limestone, and chalk with gentle, low energy processes such as air drying are used to create calm, elegant pieces that embrace mindful and meaningful design.

Celebrating conscious decision making, Chalk Path Studio creates their products solely in ways that have a minimal impact on the earth’s limited resources.

Here we chat with its founder, Amy Murrell, about the story and journey of Chalk Path Studio so far..

Can you tell us the backstory of Chalk Path Studio? When and why was it started?

I launched my first lighting collection in 2022 and that was the start of Chalk Path Studio as it is today. Prior to the lighting I had been experimenting with making smaller scale, sculptural pieces, from paper, limestone and gathered natural materials. I developed this practice and brought it through into my lighting collection.

I started making these smaller scale pieces towards the end of completing my KLC course in Residential Interior Design. It was during my time on the course that I fell completely in love with the world of interiors and had this really strong sense that I needed to be designing and making products for interiors rather than be an Interior Designer.

I make beautifully crafted, handmade lighting with a focus on texture and the use of natural and sustainable materials like paper, limestone, chalk and sand. My collections bring a fresh approach to lighting for interiors, with each design being a sculptural piece rather than just a functional item.

What is unique about your brand?

I create work that has a minimal impact on the earth’s limited resources, conscious decisions guide every aspect of my practice; I use natural found materials, recycled paper, practice low energy forms of making like air drying and use plant based binders. Recently I have also been experimenting with natural dyes.
Using natural processes and materials allows for the beautifully unexpected and creates organic form, colour and dimension to my work.

How important is sustainability to you?

I choose to make work sustainably to try and have a positive impact in the interiors industry by giving designers the option to use consciously crafted pieces in their schemes.

What’s your favourite lighting piece and why?

My current favourite is the Camber Sands shade, it’s the largest shade I make and it has such an impact with its organic shape and waved edge it creates a beautiful silhouette, a real focal point. This design also now has a table lamp in its series, which I hope to expand upon.

What are some of the plans for near future…

I am currently experimenting in new ways of working with paper and using natural dyes for a table lamp that I am designing. This project is the first time I have collaborated with another craftsperson and I am so excited to bring it to life.

For more information please visit chalkpathstudio.com

The portrait is credited to the photographer Justyna Kulam

Instagram: @justynakulam

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