There’s a secret bunker just outside Carlisle city centre, but it won’t stay a secret for much longer.
Walking up the steps into Rockit Home on Cecil Street, you suddenly find yourself immersed in a Dickensian maze of shop fronts, alley ways and brick facades, housing all manner of quirky goods and hidden gems.
The interior of this space, formerly a church, is quite simply unlike anything else in the region.
It was designed and constructed in the 1980’s, using materials salvaged from the recently demolished housing slum that is now home to The Lanes shopping centre.
From the outside, it looks like any other Victorian-era terraced building that is typical of the city.
Inside, you’ll find a vintage shop, original home décors, an aromatherapy vendor, coffee shop and a workshop space for teaching people how to upcycle old and forgotten furniture.
The property is managed by Ursh Stevens, owner of Rockit Home and alongside her own products, provides space for other creative businesses, pop-up shops and events.
“I wanted to build a space that was perfect for my homeware products and where I could run workshops, but that could also welcome other local creatives to have a secure, affordable space to trade and work from,” explains Ursh, who has run Rockit Home for the last 13 years, and started the business with £50.
Trading from the Cecil Street property since 2020, Rockit caters for people looking for something slightly different, with no two pieces the same.
Ursh designs the pieces and shares a workshop in Denton Holme with her partner Nick, whose background in welding provides the manufacturing and technical skills to bring their ideas to life.
The pair have set up a sister company for their welding and metalwork – Rockit Worx – which provides bespoke metal and welding services to other businesses and individual customers.
“We have a mix of private and corporate clients for both Rockit Home and Rockit Worx, and our aim is to be the go-to destination for custom furniture and quirky home décor in the region,” said Ursh.
A former long-haul air hostess for British Airways, Ursh decided to follow her passion for design and upcycling after moving back to Carlisle with her young children in the early 2000’s.
“My Dad was an antiques dealer and I spent a lot of time travelling between vintage fairs and events all over the country when I was younger.
“That’s where my passion started, and when I wanted some interesting furniture for my kids I just decided to try and make my own,” said Ursh.
Fast forward 15 years and Rockit Home now has a diverse customer base, from hairdressers and innovation centres, to family homes, pubs and restaurants.
Rockit Home’s variety of original designs includes furniture, vintage place signs, artwork and bespoke lighting.
“My favourite piece we have created is a table that is located inside an innovation centre in Fareham.
“The town has a strong RAF history and they wanted me to create a table using an old spitfire engine.
“It was a real challenge but I am so proud of it – taking something from the past and recreating it into something practical, original and that will be useful for many years to come and that reflects the heritage of the local area of the customer is a fantastic feeling,” said Ursh.
The most popular items that Rockit Home sells is the custom furniture and upcycling service, with Ursh often working alongside customers to make their ideas a reality.
Rockit Home is also the only supplier of the eco-friendly Frenchic paint in north Cumbria, with customers travelling from far and wide to indulge in their unique and mineral-based paint ranges.
“The best thing about my job is that I get to use my overactive imagination on a daily basis, and it satisfies my inner quirkiness,” laughs Ursh as she prepares for another upcycling workshop.
There’s something organic about this space – teaching people the skills and techniques they need to achieve their own upcycling goals – whilst providing other creative minds with a place to gain inspiration and run their own businesses alongside Rockit.
“It’s a real collective in here, we all work together and offer something a bit different from what you’ll find anywhere else,” said Ursh.
Rockit Home is a prime example of creating something out of, quite literally, nothing and that if you follow your passion and work hard, you can build a business that is significantly greater than the sum of its parts.
