A centre for creativity has opened its doors in Swanage, Dorset, bringing a home interiors store, pottery studio and bespoke kitchen showroom together under one roof.
A shared love of travel, design and handmade crafts inspired two friends Andrea Carter and Rachael Johns to open their unique new business, Kiln and Grain in Commercial Road in the Heart of Swanage shopping area, behind Station Road.
Rachael Johns (left) and Andrea Carter (right) have just opened their new creative hub Kiln and Grain in the Heart of Swanage
Long held dream becomes reality
The new venture showcases carefully curated handmade products from local makers and sustainable brands, while also providing a creative studio space for classes and workshops in pottery, silversmithing, basket weaving and other crafts.
Andrea, an experienced interior designer who has brought inspiration to homes across Dorset for many years, is also using the premises to showcase the work of her husband, Paul Carter of Rempstone Joinery, whose bespoke kitchens are on display in a dedicated showroom for the first time.
Meanwhile, ceramicist and teacher Rachael is running regular pottery classes and workshops from an airy, light filled studio on the building’s upper floor, while also selling her own handmade ceramics in the shop.
Rachael at work in her studio and workshop in Commercial Road
“We are obsessed with interior design!”
Rachael Johns said:
“We couldn’t have picked three better services to work together in the showroom, with Paul’s superb bespoke kitchens, Andrea doing interior design and me doing ceramics.
“Andrea has done all the design, the concept and the styling, I’ve been making the ceramics to go in and Paul has built the kitchen.
“Andrea and I have been friends for a while and we do a lot of travelling together, especially around Europe and we love the same aesthetics, as well as being obsessed with interior design!
“So we have been travelling round the UK and Europe going to tile museums and lots of different home interior stores, so that we can be inspired and recreate everything that we see and love.”
Andrea with some of her favourite pieces in the kitchen which husband Paul built for Kiln and Grain
“I’ve always felt this area is special”
Andrea Carter said:
“Rachel and I, both went to Majorca and came back wanting the same things. In our heads we had this dream about what our perfect store could be, although we never thought it would be a reality – but in reality, the actual idea came about very quickly.
“This shop in Commercial Road came up and that’s what inspired us – I looked at the outside, and its position in town, and I thought what an amazing shop that could be. We went to have a look together and what really sold it to us was the amazing upstairs space.
“As someone who was born in Swanage, I have always felt strongly that this area is really special with its independent shops and when I saw premises in this area I knew it was the perfect place for us and we would fit in really well – there was nowhere else we wanted to go!”
Much of the stock at Kiln and Grain has been inspired by holidays taken in Europe
“It gives us a chance to celebrate craft”
Andrea added:
“It feels slower, visitors spend more time perusing the shops, and our stock fits in with that. Most of the items in here are hand made, from chopping boards made by my husband, hand blown glass, and of course all of Rachael’s ceramics – it gives us a chance to celebrate craft.
“The Heart of Swanage has already started a programme of enhancement with the roads being resurfaced, we have had postcards printed up with all the wonderful independent shops, so that people can find us, and everyone has wonderful ideas for the future to enhance the area further.
“We already feel like part of a community here, the shops in the Heart of Swanage are really supportive of each other and have been really kind to us. It feels like how towns should be, how shopkeepers were back in the day.”
Guest artists will get a chance to show off some of their work in the shop
Guest artists will exhibit monthly
Andrea, Paul and Rachael spent weeks renovating the former fireplace shop after taking over the premises in April 2026, which is just along the road from the chocolate shop Chococo and next door to Andy Knill’s art studio and shop.
Work included replacing woodwork, repainting interiors, installing new flooring and fitting the bespoke kitchen display before opening to customers.
Within the first fortnight of opening, Paul secured appointments for bespoke kitchen projects, Andrea has booked in interior design consultations, and Rachael’s first pottery classes have sold out.
The craft studio, which accommodates up to 10 people at a time, has been designed to provide plenty of room for creativity, and local silversmith Elly Harvey has already booked the space to run ring making classes.
Other ideas in the pipeline include wreath making at Christmas, lampshade making, willow weaving, leatherworking, printing and additional seasonal crafts, while downstairs guest artists will be exhibiting some of their work for sale, changing monthly.
Pottery workshops give everyone, from absolute beginners to experienced potters, a chance to be creative
“Pottery is fun, tactile and therapeutic”
Rachael Johns said:
“When I saw the space of the workshop upstairs, I knew it would be perfect. It brings a very relaxing environment where people are relaxed, where there is plenty of natural light and where people can be creative.
“We are putting together a programme where people can come and do pottery tasters and if they like it, book on to longer classes. We feel really passionate about giving people the opportunity to give it a go.
“There have been a complete array of ages and abilities in my first classes, from new mothers to grandmas, couples who are sharing the experience and lots of guys who have been inspired by The Great Pottery Throwdown – pottery is no longer a craft for retired ladies, it’s for everybody.
“When you hold a piece of clay it is drying out, so you have to work the clay, shape it and form it. You switch off from everyday life and have to focus on what you are making.
“There are times during class when there is a lot of laughter and chatting, but then there is complete silence as people are completely engaged in what they are doing. That’s what clay does, it is fun, tactile and therapeutic.”
Driftwood and seaside inspired items are everywhere you look at Kiln and Grain
“Change and evolve as we go”
Andrea added:
“Paul has been making kitchens for more than 20 years and is very well established in the area, but until now he has picked up work through word of mouth and the odd social media post.
“I have always wanted to set up a showroom for him as I feel that a lot of people won’t consider taking his work without seeing it first physically.
“And I’ve always had the idea that I would like his showroom to be down here, in this part of town. These buildings were traditionally builders’ yards and merchants, so it feels like the right place and it’s lovely for him to finally be able to showcase his work.
“We are also doing pop ups – Illa Clothing has been here, she has been working in fashion for years and has lots of contacts with designers. She is here most weekends and we have plans for more popups with plants and flowers, as we are really interested in sharing the space.
“We really love going to places where you just turn up one day and there’s something new you haven’t seen before. We are going to change and evolve as we go.”
Drop in, browse the craft and be inspired!
Further information
- Find out more at the Kiln and Grain website
