The dark before the dawn – studio makeover progress
Author: duhbe // Category: My Creative Path, bungalow redoThe dining room to studio transformation is nearing the end. The walls and ceiling are freshly painted, the baseboards are refinished, there is a new light fixture and new electrical outlets, as well as new cabinets and shelves. This weekend the furniture was moved in. Now the real work begins.
Look at this mess! Can you guess what I’m doing this week?
Organizing and decorating. That’s the hardest part!
I’m not even sure where all the stuff came from? Although I did find some lost treasure in my stash that made me very happy. And I’m purging some stuff, but not much.
Now I’m up to my eyeballs trying to organize all this mess. There are still more shelves to hang, as well as curtains on the windows and curtains to hide some storage, and pictures to hang, and … so many things left to do. But at least now I can see how it’s going to look. I wanted to share a few of these photos – after everything got moved in but before it gets put together and organized. This is my “darkest before the dawn” zone of studio remodeling.
Speaking of dark, what do you think of this free light fixture above? It was a throw-away my husband brought home while helping his brother install new light fixtures for a client. I would like to drape this thing with floating silk and strings of beads to really glam it up.
The decorating of this space might be the most challenging part. I have some things in mind, like the dress form who is getting a makeover soon. (she got a dent in her hip area, so she looks like her boobs and butt are both on the front – it’s not pretty). Then there’s the vintage scale I found recently, as well as some vintage porcelain dolls.
Look at the dolly face – isn’t she sweet? I like that she’s just a little dirty.
I want to decorate with vintage items, as well as an ethnic gypsy feel. Sort of like a gypsy who collects American vintage items. (because that’s pretty much what I am.) I’m planning a trip to the Kane County flea market in 2 more weeks. I’m setting aside a chunk of my money to buy decoration and storage items at the flea market. Kane county in Illinois is said to be one of the bigger vintage flea markets in the USA – full of junk and rickety, rusty things. I can’t wait!
I hope my teenage daughter will join me at the flea market. She likes to browse antique malls with me. Some teens collect centerfolds of celebrities, mine prefers sepia photos of handsome men. How cool is my kid? The daughters room with antique furniture should be finished this week when we pick up her dresser – so I’m thinking she might like some flea market decoration in her room as well. She made the honor roll last quarter – maybe I’ll reward her with a flea market budget.
There’s another room being reworked in our house. The spare bedroom where my studio used to live? It’s becoming a guest room / library / computer room. Mostly it will be the room where the dog and cats hang out. I want to make the twin beds into a daybed sort of thing full of cottage chic pillows and maybe the pink quilt still sitting in my basement? I’ll have to remove the cats first – they’ve already claimed that bed for themselves.
I’ll return with more studio photos when things are looking better. I also plan to shoot photos of the flea market in 2 weeks – so stay tuned for that. And then…. I hope to be back to my regularly schedule program of sewing things and upcycling things and sharing tutorials when I have the clean studio space for it. I hope you’ll stick around for that and thanks for indulging me during this sewing hiatus while I spruce up my surroundings!
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Looks good! Once again, you’re making me feel like I get need to get myself better organized. That upstairs room is calling to me.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 am
A new studio to organize – what a treat! And the flea market sounds pretty great. I’ve been doing a lot more sewing lately and feeling the need for a spring cleaning myself. I love my workroom but it’s crowded and in need of thinning out. Can’t wait to see the new digs!
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
This is amazing, Luci! It already looks great, even with organizing left to do. I like all the natural wood in the space.
This part made me laugh: “Sort of like a gypsy who collects American vintage items. (because that’s pretty much what I am.)” I think our styles are pretty different, but I appreciate how defined your tastes are!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Love your studio wall color – against the light wood – perfect!
Thanks for stopping at my blog and sharing your love of the StoryPeople. I get their emails too!
February 24th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
So many comments on this.
Great color choice for your paint; it gives your studio an atmosphere immediately.
I, too, like the wood trim and floors in your house. Looks rich.
Your cubby stack with drawers is so tempting and useful.
Do you end up moving around your rolling shelf units much?
I like the light fixture and think you’ll turn it into an intriguing element with your additions.
I also keep hats on my dress form. My form has been in the living room while I’ve been reorganizing and shelf-building and my husband keeps catching sight of it out of the corner of his eye, thinking that someone is there.
Sleepy black kitties are the best kitties!
Thank you for sharing your remodel progress, especially of the awkward, in-between stages since those can be the emotional low points of the whole thing.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
HI,
You asked if you I could mail you if wether you could post one of my pictures. You don’t have your email activited so I am leaving you a message this way.
You are welcome to repost a picture from me as long as you properly link back and let your readers know where you got the picture.
Thanks for your interest and compliments for my blog and work. Marianne
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I will come stay in your guest room and gaze longingly into your studio. While I am there you may make me Baklava and Chicken with rice, yogurt, and cucumber. I will try very hard to supress my envy. And I have not met those kitties, yet.