The studio is done (!!) and now we get to marvel at how far we have come and pat ourselves on the back for making some seriously great decisions along the way. Â This was the perfect space to collaborate with you readers. Â We had a great time (although, admittedly, sometimes nerve-wrecking) seeing what you would choose for the ceiling color, the FLOR tiles, the light fixture, the curtains and even what you wanted to see the desk lamp painted–yellow was the perfect choice. Throughout the whole process, the votes didn’t always sway the way we thought we wanted them to, but as things started coming together, Â we couldn’t be happier with each element in the room. Â Thank you for playing along. Â Now let’s get to the goods. Â And by that, I mean a look back at the bad–where we started–the third bedroom upstairs (a seriously creepy, dingy, outdated nursery) that we hadn’t touched since moving in over a year ago:
And here how it looks today as my studio:
I’ll give you a minute to scroll up and down and process the fact that it is, indeed, the exact same room at almost the same angle. It feels…alive now. Â Inspiring. Â Fresh. And like it belongs in our house. Â The other side of the room looked just as stale and eerie when we started:
And here’s how it looks now:
This side of the room is where I will be photographing most of my work, so nothing is actually hanging on the walls, but the 5.5’x3′ chalkboard (showing
this month’s drawing) does take up a bit of room. :)
It’s nice to back up the camera and show you how
yesterday’s post on DIYing that large wall quote plays into the rest of the room. Â Since there are times when I have to work while Greta is awake, I wanted to be sure there was plenty of room for her to keep busy and “work” too.
Her Ikea Latt table and chairs that I revamped a few months ago provide the perfect workspace for her.
I love how the green chairs tying in to the other green accents in the room. Â Woot for happy accidents.
And thankfully, there is also plenty of floor space for her to romp around in. Â Or, these days, roll over. Â She is on a major rolling spree.
And when she gets tired, she can make her way over to her lounge corner and sift through my sketchbooks, or open the canvas box stuffed with other toys and books to entertain her.
My workspaces are just as varied. Â My chalkboard is a big work surface for me once a month, but there is also my desk.
My desk is where I blog from and sketch from and prepare prints to be sent. It’s a mood-board-making place, too…and I have a feeling it will take on other roles as time passes (kitchen planning, anyone?).
Next to my desk is my easel I got for mother’s day (thanks, Chris!) and I can’t wait to give every one of those blank canvases leaning against the wall a ride on it.
This room means so much to me. Â I had trouble even opening the door to this room that we hoped to turn into a nursery (more on that
here) and now, it has become a major control room for creative things to come about. It is useable now and although we still have hopes to one day turn it into a second nursery, as the writing on the wall says, we are open to whatever comes next in our lives. Â This is what was next for us, and we are so, so happy to enjoy the space and our lives as a family right now.
What do you think? Of course I love the big wall quote–it feels all-encompassing to me, but in my opinion, the curtains kinda make the room. Â What’s your favorite part??
For inquiring minds, get ready for a complete source list. Readddyyyy go.
Wall color:Â
Behr Ultra Pure White in eggshell. Ceiling color:Â
Martha Stewart Hummingbird blue. Floor paint:Â
Behr solid color wood stain in Cordovan Brown Area Rug:Â
FLOR’s Roadside Attraction in Dew Light Fixture:Â
Shade’s of Light Springfield Drum Shade Semiflush Ceiling Light Curtains:Â
(2) Urban Outfitter’s Batik Galaxy tapestries Curtain rod and clips:Â
Ikea Studio desk:Â
gift from parents when I was 17Â Studio stool:Â
Target Faux fur throw:Â
Ikea Art easel:Â
Hobby Lobby Desk lamp:Â
Ikea spray painted Krylon’s Sun Yellow in gloss Chalkboard:Â
Chris DIYed Green pompom floor pillow:Â
Ross Canvas box:Â
Ikea As-Is Greta’s play table:Â
Ikea (see revamp tutorial here)Â Quote letters:Â
Hobby Lobby (see tutorial here)Want to look back at the studio makeover process? Â Check out
where it all started,
readers voting on color scheme,
readers voting on ceiling color,
floor planning,
readers voting on an area rug,
 light fixture options,
voting on curtains,
tearing up the maroon carpet,
painting the subfloor,
hanging the curtains and laying the FLOR tiles,
voting of desk lamp color,
installing the new fixture,
the misadventures of lamp painting,
stool buying and messes, and
DIY 3D wall quote.
[…] to break the rules when it comes to paint and really go out of our comfort zone. We’ve painted a ceiling a pretty turquoise, painted our base cabinets navy and in this home a pretty green-gray, did a fun 3/4 pink paint […]
[…] hi, washable. It seemed like the best possible rug for our entry with a dog in house, too. We used Flor tiles in my studio, so this wasn’t our first rodeo but it was exciting all over again seeing a new design come […]
[…] After poking around a little, it felt like a good application for FLOR tiles. We used them in my studio in our last house and loved them and really love the way their Suit Yourself line works with the […]
[…] A few other ideas around the blogosphere include these curtains done by Julia and Chris: […]
Found your blog through YHL and …amazeballs do I crazy love this room. You just want to sit and do stuff in it. It’s really an inspiring space and testimony to your wall quote.