PLAYGROUND MEETS Wendy Chung London's Founder and Creative Director

Wendy Chung is both artistic and a perfectionist. Wendy Chung London is a design firm across multiple disciplines, interiors, architecture and furniture.

Due to lockdown, Wendy can no longer work from her office in the city and is at home with her family, husband Lawrence, son Joshua (9yrs) and beautiful little girl Willow (2.5yrs). 

As we head into the fourth week of lockdown, we catch up to see how she is getting on with this major life change. 

How is Corona virus affecting you right now?

The virus has both of us working from home, which is a struggle, trying to manage homeschooling, entertainment and our workload (which hasn’t decreased).

We have had to create some routine to the weekdays to allow us to get our work done. Trial and error is how we have to figured out what works.

How are you coping with the change?

I’m finding it all quite stressful, as I’m used to working in a very organised and quiet environment, so it’s been a huge test of patience and endurance to manage all the demands and chaos that’s inevitable with children around.

Any tips to survive the next few months?

I’ve signed up to some virtual pilates classes which gives me a reason to escape up to the loft. I hope to do this every 2-3 days, giving me 45mins of time to myself to keep sane. 

What have you learnt from the experience so far?

That it is impossible to be a full-time working professional and a stay-at-home mum at the same time!

I have needed to learn to compromise and accept that not everything is going to go to plan, no matter how detailed that plan may be.

Also, to plan in time for enjoyment as well, to remember how rare it is to have the opportunity to spend all this time with them every day.

What do you miss?

I miss the freedom of moving around and to be in a crowd. There is a greater sense of being when you’re a part of something that’s greater than your immediate surrounding.

There is something to appreciate - to be insignificant (when out in the crowd) rather than always be in demand (when at home).

Top three things to lift the spirits

Video calls has been very helpful to stay connected and to share our days (as we are all in the same boat), both locally with friends and oversea with my family.

Find some time (and a room) where you can escape for an hour every other day (or as needed), to read or meditate or do a yoga class. 

Have a lie-in in the morning or take an afternoon nap!!

What’s the best thing that’s happened since you've been in lockdown?

I have time to watch movies!

First thing you’ll do when out of isolation?

Book a holiday, which will be a belated birthday getaway for me!