One of the big projects on my list for this year is a major overhaul of the shop/studio and office. It’s been several years since any changes have been made in there and it’s no longer meeting the needs of my business today. I started a makeover in the small office that ended up falling a little flat, but after the pandemic and a year of B using it as his work-from-home space, it’s in need of a refresh and I’m needing a change of scenery too.
The project will be starting in the small office. Getting that space done first will allow me to finally move back in there so that work can begin in the main studio / shop area. Here are some of my initial thoughts and some inspiration.
The Overall Vision for the Studio and Office
I’m ready for a big change, not just in function, but also in appearance. I love the light and airy look especially in a creative space but I’m ready for something new. I’m picturing something leaning toward a modern traditional feel. More color is a must and I’m even thinking of going dark. The space gets a lot of natural light (the shop window faces south) so I’m leaning towards a darker, more bold color palette with a more classic look overall.
The Office
The office space is tiny so my plan is to make the most of every inch. After shopping around for desk, I’ve decided the best course of action is to do a built-in desk with a wall of cabinetry and shelving on one end. This will maximize the vertical space and give me plenty of open shelves for books and closed cabinetry for art supplies and other random things that don’t necessarily need to be out all the time.
The office has lots of natural light but because the room is north facing, I’ve been hesitant to go too dark. Back when we did the kitchen, my first love was black cabinetry but with in a room that has almost no natural light, we knew it would never work. While I’m not sure the office can handle black built-ins, this is what I keep coming back to.
The Studio / Shop Area
The main shop / studio area needs a lot of work. All the mismatched furniture and shelving units make the space feel cluttered and cramped so I’ll be starting with a major decluttering session.
The counter area will remain but new paint and a reworking of the shelves above will make it feel updated. I’m also planning to change out the pendant lights to fit in with the new, overall look I’m wanting.
On the outside wall, I’ve been dreaming of floor to ceiling built-in cabinetry with a mix of closed and open shelving. Now is the perfect time to see that vision come to life and it should allow me to get rid of some of the extra furniture and shelving in the shop.
We’ll also be replacing the cheap laminate flooring with solid oak like we have installed throughout the rest of the house.
Now that I’ve gathered plenty of inspiration, it’s time to finalize the design plan. We’ll be splitting our time between home and the beach house so I’m really pushing to get all the details planned out so that I can get started as soon as possible. Can’t wait to share more with you and the project unfolds!
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