A new improved creative space, hooray hooray!
My studio serves several purposes. On top of being where I paint/sew/draw/create, it's also a family room where we watch movies or play Wii, an extended dining room when we have company, and where we take all the pictures of our art. It's not a room that has a door, and it's just off our kitchen and leads to the back door. It's in the center of things, and that's how I like it. However, it has to stay tidy or the whole house looks like a wreck.
Here are some before-and-afters for those of you like me who enjoy such things.
(You can click on them to see bigger images.)
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| After |
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| Before (This area drove me clutter crazy!) |
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| After (I LOVE my new shelves, still have to paint them though. Thought I'd live with them for awhile before deciding on a color.) |
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| Before (Those wonky old particle board shelves were melting I think.) |
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| After (I wish I has taken before pics of this little cabinet. It was truly ugly. Now I love it!) |
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What I bought:
-a big fat wonderful solid oak table from Craigslist. $80
-a new smaller futon, 2 frames, and a lamp from Target. $230
-shelves. I went back and forth on whether to buy the Martha Stewart collection shelves from Home Depot which would have been only $160 but made of crappy particle board and laminate, or gorgeous handmade shelves from Naked Pine Furniture for $370. That's a lot for us, but I just had to go with the handmade. And I'm so glad I did! Not only are they beautifully made they're guaranteed for a lifetime, not destined to become landfill. Plus, FREE shipping and they came fully assembled. And I can repaint them as many times as my fickle heart desires. I went over budget with the shelves, so everything else I made or repurposed from elsewhere in the house. Which was fun.
I'm very happy with my new improved space!
Now I have to get back to it and finish today's list.
Love it Jo! The colors are so clean and fresh! Hope you get LOTS of inspiration from your new space.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving it too. And I really enjoyed the before and afters.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you painted the block of color behind the shelves on the wall. It anchors it on a big wall. Great idea I will be STEALING. ;-) I made some small changes in my space. Mostly those duh moments when you realize your storing stuff on top of the painting surface that you don't need to store there. :-) Makes it work much better.
ReplyDeleteOh! I got a great Craigslist table. Went down a windy camp road to get it, too, all by myself, and then thought..."Gee, I better let someone know where I am..." So I left a message of the GPS coordinates with my husband. It's been a great table. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs I said on your FB wall, LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! You did a fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteLOVE everything! I'm sure you will enjoy your new space! The new shelves are awesome! Great job, and thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL! Looks so inviting! May you have many blessed moments of creating genius amongst those walls.
ReplyDeletecongratulations on getting it all together at last! jealous of your workspace!!! lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful! Just like everything I had seen come out from it! I wonder what the next new wonders will be like :) It's amazing all the things you guys do from that one space and it's looking great and cozy!
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring space! I love the little things like the swan in the chimney of the fabric house. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Makeover... With the new grey rectangle plus colors behind the shelves, I want to see that quilt back in the picture somewhere...it had all the same feel of colors. Looking at the "after" photos I get a feeling of calm and being able to breathe easier. I agree with "rasmalai", it is amazing what you accomplish out of that cozy space! Very inspiring; thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI love it Jo!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel great to have your space all fresh & organized? I'm not EVEN surprised at what a terrific job you did, or of how good it looks! I KNEW you'd make it look wonderful! That little cabinet is so pretty & cheerful, as are the new compartments in your shelving! And that table? WOW!!! LOVE what you did! Happy Easter to you, Dylan, and your lil' chickies! LOVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteA job well done, Jo!
ReplyDeleteI just posted some pics of my own studio so I have included a link to your post..
Love seeing other people's workplace!
Outstanding! Must be something in the air because I've become fed up with my studio as well and am being ruthless as I whip it into shape! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just wonderful!! You're inspiring me to do something about my space, hehe...
ReplyDelete♥ Carolee
It looks GREAT!!! Congratulations and ENJOY!!
ReplyDeleteWarmly,
Cheryl
Well done! I think my favorite is the valance. It is so perfectly Cart before the horse! Happy late Easter!
ReplyDeleteThis is inspiring!! :D I love to see other folks' creative spaces. The banners are so cheery!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing pictures of other artist's studios :) They are usually just as inspiring as their work.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what sort of light you use for your photographing station (I thought I saw one on a tripod but I wasn't sure).
Desiree- We use an Ott Light. Love it!
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