A Creative Haven: Inside Our Newly Redesigned Studio Space

It feels like just yesterday – though it’s been a little over a year – that we excitedly
unveiled our previous studio space. Bathed in sunlight, it was a sanctuary where
creativity flourished, and work life found its separation from home. Its location was ideal – a quiet
escape a few blocks from home and a stone’s throw from the kids’ schools. However, a change in building
ownership and looming renovations forced our departure, a decision that tugged at our heartstrings.

We embarked on a quest to find the perfect new space, soon realizing that perfection is not found, but
created.

So, we packed our belongings, endured countless trips back and forth between the old and new locations,
vowed to hire movers next time, and never looked back.

Today, as I sit in our new studio crafting this post, I can confidently say it is magnificent and flawless.
However, reaching this point was a journey. Until recently, it was primarily a collection of organized
boxes, a single styled shelving unit, and a couple of desks accompanied by rolling chairs.

Deciphering the design of the space was challenging because of its expansive size. While I adore an open
floor plan, I grappled with defining distinct zones within the large L-shaped room. The obvious area,
situated away from the street, seemed ideal for our workspace. We set up our desks there, and it immediately
felt right. However, much of the L-shaped space remained, and to be honest, I lacked a clear vision for its
flow and purpose.

Lounge area (above) and lunch table (right).

We began experimenting with furniture arrangements, reminiscent of
Ross, Chandler, and Rachel struggling
with their couch. We envisioned a cozy lounge area and a space for meetings. Initially, I planned to
keep these areas separate, but they organically merged, and I now appreciate their harmonious combination.

A significant portion of the space remains open and airy, precisely what we require. Our work often involves
messy projects, DIY endeavors, and photography, which necessitate flexible and reconfigurable open space.
That’s exactly what we have! While certain areas may appear chaotic, the rest maintain their beauty. Words
cannot express how much my mind appreciates this balance.

Here’s a brief overview of how we organized the space, along with some techniques we employed to create a
cohesive feel:

• The entire space feels unified, open, and airy thanks to neutral walls and consistent flooring. We opted for
  a soft gray on the walls (Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice 7647). It offers the clean aesthetic of white but the
  versatility of gray, shifting from warm to cool depending on the light, allowing the artwork and mirrors to
  stand out.
• We chose a much darker tone for the floors. The planks have texture and a slightly rough surface. The rich
  brown tones warm up the entire room. Initially, we considered cement or white floors, but I’m continually
  grateful that we went with wood.
• The light fixtures are the most stunning and attention-grabbing elements in the space. They are sculptural,
  modern, and subtly industrial. The two metals, oil-rubbed bronze (which appears black) and bronze (which
  appears gold), complement each other beautifully and make the fixtures stand out. Every visitor comments on
  them, and I commend the designer for their stroke of lighting genius. We chose round bulbs instead of the
  traditional teardrop shape, giving the fixtures a distinctly modern feel.
• We used a large area rug to define the lounge area. Our beloved Loloi Anastasia rug was moved from the old
  space and found a happy home here. It anchors the sofa and coffee table (I could write an entire blog post,
  even a novel, about my devotion to that coffee table and its warm wood charm).
• While the area rug frames the horizontal space of the lounge area, the combination of the sofa (flanked by
  a plant and lamp) and a simple gallery wall visually frames the space vertically. I love the way the
  gallery wall came together: We broke many rules about symmetry and balance in its creation. It’s quirky,
  a little off-kilter, but utterly delightful.
• The meeting area came together effortlessly. It’s separate from (but within sight of) the work area. It
  receives plenty of sunshine, and the bar cart and walnut chairs create a cohesive and inviting feel.

Product List: Get the Curbly HQ Look

Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice (SW7647)

Chandeliers: Hawking Bronze Pendant Chandelier

Desks (and Legs): LINNMON Tops
(Small and Large) + Prettypeg Legs

Wall-Mounted Paper Roll: Up Against the Wall Paper Holder

Desk Floor Lamps: Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamps

Desk Table Lamp: Mid-Century Tripod Table Lamp

Bookshelves: FJALKINGE

Curtains: Leno Weave Sheers

Desk Chairs: Upholstered Desk Chair

Rug: Loloi Nyla Rug in
Slate

Sofa: Landry Dark Gray Sofa

Floor Lamp: Telescoping Floor Lamp

Toss Pillows: Global Lumbar Pillow

Side Table: Discontinued, but this one is stunning!

Coffee Table: Dwell Studio Newell Nesting Cocktail Table

Wicker Accent Chair: Vintage

Tulip Table: DOCKSTA

Walnut Accent Chairs: Ranger Mod Walnut Accent Chairs

Bar Cart: Discontinued, but we love this one!

Wicker Mirror: Discontinued, but this one’s a beauty!

Record Stand: KALLAX +
Prettypegs

Round Mirror: Brass Mirror

Gallery Wall (+Prints): RIBBA Frames
+ assorted prints and photo prints from Unsplash.com

We are incredibly excited about our new studio and hope to call it home for many years to come.