my studio space

They have lived in an old junky desk recovered near a dumpster, the attic, they have been shoved in closets and spaces they really don't belong, and been kicked out of rooms and sent to wait in places knowing they won't be used for years. As my life has changed from a young adult, to a college graduate, to a wife, to a homeowner, to a mom, they have shifted over and over again. But today I can finally say my art supplies have a place of their own. A space where they belong. This is a happy day.

Some things are worth the wait.

As we framed out the basement and planned for this space, we didn't really know what to think. It required what seemed like at the time a terribly awkward shaped ceiling bulkhead, a nook that seemed a little large, and an entry that seemed too wide to close off with a door. (What kind of nut jobs built this house anyway?) We did the best we could and hoped it would look ok. After drywall went up we were pleasantly surprised how the bulkhead and nook came together to create a subtle unique space and were happy to realize that by leaving a doorway out it left more room for hanging artwork and made the space feel larger. We agreed on a warm gray tone for the entire basement space and I could not be happier with the wall color. It doesn't feel too neutral, nor too heavy. It's just right.

We moved a couple of furniture items that I inherited from my dad back home last summer, I thought this large storage cabinet (aka "The big green monster") would be a perfect place for art storage. We rented a Uhaul and were not surprised that it was about 1" too big to fit inside. Isn't that how moving goes? Another one of those moments I was happy to have a handy husband who calculated that he could just rip the top off to get it to fit. We returned home, nailed the top back on and discovered it fit perfectly into the nook in my studio. It was almost as if we had designed the nook around the cabinet.

Before he passed, I mentioned to dad how much I really liked the cabinet and that he should paint it white. His response "Oh noooooo! No No No! This is an antique! You never paint it!" Hmmm. As you can see below it is now white. Sorry dad, but it smelled like it had been in an old musty boathouse for many years (as it had been before he acquired it). However, to preserve what I could of the memory, I took a door off, hauled it into Home Depot and found an exact matching paint swatch so that I could repaint the inside the same color as the original. I felt it was a good compromise; it is now functional and the unique and antique green color will not be forgotten. (Tip: applying a coat of satin polyurethane over paint takes the "sticky" out of it, which allows books and baskets to slide better and doors to shut properly). I am so happy that I didn't just paint the inside white, I know I wouldn't like it as much. In fact I love the green so much that I often leave the top doors open.

before

before

after

after

The easel pictured above was a gift to me from my mom after graduating college. I felt the original light wood color didn't coordinate very well with the room so I painted it the same color white as the other furniture pieces because that is what Martha says to do. I haven't painted much at all since college and it feels right that as I enter a new stage of painting that I start with fresh looking materials.

To be honest, I'm not sure what this metal basket thing is/was. It is an antique store find. Dan spray painted it white and screwed it to the wall for me. Now I can easily access my paints but my children cannot!

paint & brush storage

My new sewing table also was dad's, his Uncle Lester passed it on to him apparently in a rather lucid moment when he realized he had too much stuff in his place (if you knew Uncle Lester or have heard stories of him this may make you chuckle). I contemplated what to do with it for about a year before I finally hauled it out to the driveway and started sanding. I wasn't sure if I was sanding it to re-stain or to paint white, I just had to start somewhere. I removed a lot of the dark stain from the top and beautiful markings emerged from underneath. It occurred to me that consumers pay a small fortune at certain places not mentioning names Pottery Barn for new furniture that has been beat to hell to look old. I was no longer willing to slop paint over it. I also, however, wasn't willing to sand the rounded and detailed legs to a more unfinished state so they could be stained. So, another compromise came to be and that is why you will see the bottom is white and the top is stained. We repaired the drawer and added a new glass pull as a fun detail. Again after painting and staining I applied a coat of satin poly over the entire thing. It wasn't until I was finished that my stepmom Bev reminded me that Uncle Lester had used this as his ever popular (especially among the kids) "candy table." I love it even more now as I can remember each time visiting his cabin when I was a child, visiting the candy table as well. I really really love how everything came together with my new sewing area.

before

after

after

The table below isn't special really, it's just one that we had. At one point I think it was our kitchen table and was neutral. Then it was stained dark but the type of wood did not accept the stain very well so I was never very happy with it. After a little sanding and paint it is now white and serves the purpose that I need and was much more affordable than buying something new. I like how I can sit at it like a desk, or have extra space to lay out projects, or easily slide out from the wall for additional seating which will come in handy for future scrapbooking sessions with my sister Jenny!

I purchased the chair also at an antique store. I think it likely was a school desk chair. I sat in it and it was so comfortable and solid I didn't want to get up. Now I shudder at the thought that weeks before I bought it I nearly purchased a newer lightweight piece of junk for twice the price at IKEA.

project table

frame mats covered with one of dan's old dress shirts

wide hallway entrance to room

my new old chair

Last summer, I was showing this space to some of my closest girlfriends and we talked about how so many of the things in this space belonged to dad at one time. I hope you don't worry about me or think I feel unable to let go or move on, I remember explaining. It's just so much really cool stuff. I wanted these things because I love them. Yes, some of it reminds me of dad, but mostly I simply think of them as really great old things, things that were built stronger with better materials. So much of what I wish to create reminds me of old times.  Times when there was no Target and you were recognized by your handwriting. Times when things were repaired before they were thrown away and replaced. I feel so spoiled to have a whole room dedicated to creating my own art. I'm sure I will continue to add to the space, as my sister-in-law Mel and I have much antiquing left to explore in DM, but as it is now it is so much more than I ever dreamed of having. I love the space and the light (did you notice Dan installed fancy track lighting for me?) What I think I love most is that the true colors in this space come from the materials: paints, fabrics, yarns, and paper from the actual projects and gifts that I will be creating here.

amy