Practical solutions for adding storage to period properties while respecting original features. Eleanor shares strategies for working with high ceilings, original cornicing, and listed building restrictions.
Eleanor Hartwell
Senior Storage & Organization Expert
platzgrube Ltd
About Eleanor
Who She Is
Eleanor discovered her passion for storage solutions while renovating her own 1890s Victorian terraced house in Birmingham. What started as a personal challenge—figuring out how to add storage without destroying period features—became a 14-year career helping hundreds of UK homeowners solve real spatial problems. She's studied Interior Design at the London College of Fashion and worked in retail design at John Lewis and Habitat before transitioning to independent consulting. Her strength isn't just knowing design principles; it's understanding the actual constraints of UK properties, from listed building restrictions to compact London flats. At platzgrube Ltd, she shares practical, tested solutions that homeowners can implement without requiring expensive renovations or losing the character of their homes.
Core Specialization
What She Knows Best
Victorian & Period Properties
14 years of experience working with heritage homes across the Midlands and South East. Eleanor understands the unique challenges of period properties—high ceilings with limited wall space, original cornicing, listed building restrictions—and designs storage that respects architectural integrity while solving modern living needs.
Kitchen & Pantry Organization
Kitchen pantry hacks that actually work. Eleanor's tested dozens of organizing systems and affordable solutions to help families maximize cupboard space, reduce food waste, and create functional pantries that make daily cooking easier—whether you've got a spacious country kitchen or a compact flat.
Loft & Conversion Shelving
Loft conversions present unusual spatial challenges—sloped ceilings, odd angles, varying headroom. Eleanor specializes in designing custom shelving solutions that work with awkward spaces rather than against them, creating storage that's both functional and visually appropriate for converted spaces.
Affordable Retail Solutions
She's tested and reviewed countless products from B&Q, IKEA UK, and independent suppliers. Eleanor knows which affordable organizers deliver genuine value, how to combine budget pieces with vintage finds, and where to invest for longevity versus where to save money.
Professional Journey
Experience & Credentials
01
Interior Design Education
London College of Fashion
Completed comprehensive Interior Design degree with focus on spatial planning and residential design. This foundation shaped her understanding of how spaces function and how design principles apply to real homes.
02
Retail Design & Product Knowledge
John Lewis & Habitat, 6 years
Worked in retail design roles where she learned product functionality, quality standards, and customer needs. These roles built her expertise in understanding how furniture and organizing solutions perform in real households, not just in showrooms.
03
Independent Consulting
8+ years, 300+ UK homes
Transitioned to independent interior consulting specializing in storage solutions. She's worked on compact London flats, sprawling country houses, listed Victorian properties, and modern new builds. Each project deepened her understanding of how to solve real spatial constraints with practical, budget-conscious solutions.
04
Senior Expert at platzgrube Ltd
Current
Now sharing her accumulated knowledge through detailed guides that reflect hands-on experience. Eleanor writes about creative storage solutions, Victorian house storage ideas, kitchen pantry organization, and affordable organizing strategies—all grounded in what she's actually tested and recommended.
Writing Focus
Topics Eleanor Covers
Victorian House Storage
Eleanor's in-depth guides tackle the specific challenges of period properties. She writes about maximizing Victorian house storage without losing character, working with original features, navigating listed building restrictions, and creating modern storage solutions that respect architectural integrity. Her articles draw on real renovations and consulting work with heritage homes across the UK.
Affordable & Practical Solutions
Kitchen pantry hacks, affordable organizers from B&Q and IKEA UK, and budget-friendly approaches to storage design. Eleanor doesn't write about expensive bespoke solutions. She focuses on what works for real families with real budgets, combining affordable retail products with clever DIY approaches and smart design thinking to create lasting storage systems.
Why Read Eleanor's Guides
She solves actual problems with real experience
Tested Solutions
Every recommendation comes from personal testing or years of consulting work. Eleanor doesn't theorize—she solves problems she's actually encountered in dozens of UK homes.
Budget-Conscious
She understands that most homeowners can't afford expensive bespoke solutions. Her guides focus on affordable retailers, clever DIY approaches, and smart design thinking that delivers results without breaking budgets.
UK-Specific Expertise
She understands the unique challenges of UK properties—Victorian terraces, listed buildings, compact city flats, loft conversions with sloped ceilings. Her solutions work within British architectural constraints and building regulations.
Practical & Implementable
Eleanor writes for homeowners who want to take action themselves. Her guides break down solutions into clear steps, list specific products from retailers you can access, and explain the reasoning behind each recommendation so you understand why it works.
Featured Articles
Read Eleanor's latest guides on storage solutions
Kitchen pantry organization strategies tested in real homes. From compact flats to spacious kitchens, Eleanor covers affordable organizers, smart labeling systems, and layouts that reduce food waste and make cooking easier.
Designing custom shelving for loft conversions with sloped ceilings and unusual angles. Eleanor explains how to work with architectural constraints, maximize usable space, and create storage that looks intentional rather than makeshift.
A detailed buyer's guide to affordable storage solutions from major retailers. Eleanor reviews specific products from B&Q and IKEA UK, explains which items deliver genuine value, and shares her strategies for combining budget pieces with vintage finds.
Explore More Storage Solutions
Browse Eleanor's complete collection of guides on creative storage solutions, Victorian house organization, kitchen pantry hacks, and affordable organizers from B&Q and IKEA UK.