Art stuido & Office Makeover

My Art Studio and office makeover is finally done and I am so excited to share it with y'all! As you may or may not know, Chris and I purchased our first home last September. We didn't move in until mid-end October and at that point in life I was still very much so in the process of finishing up my book. I was just overall exhausted. Buying a home (once it is over) is very rewarding, but the process can be complete hell, especially if you're two artists trying to prove yourself on paper. [Thats another story, for a different day- just dot your i's, cross your t's and set yourself up as a real business that pays yourself. That's the best advice I've got on that topic.] 

Needless to say, I was just happy to finally be homeowners, thankful that we were able to find a cute place that we could afford in a neighborhood IN the city that we had lived in for the last decade and wanted to stay in [the Atlanta market is very competitive]. As much as I wanted to get to decorating EVERYTHING, I needed to catch up and rest and let our bank accounts do the same. 

Also, even though we were going from a small loft apartment to a 3 story townhome, in my studio space- I was having a really hard time figuring it out. I kind of did (and still do... a little bit) feel like I don't have enough room. I went from a corner in our loft, to a full room. AND still ran out of space as soon as everything was moved in. The only thing I added was the desk. It had been in storage since we moved into the loft. Previous to the loft, we were in a two bedroom apartment and that's when I got the desk [from Chris' parent's basement, it was his grandparent's]. The reason we 'downsized' to the loft was just because we loved the space and location so much better, and we didn't really need an extra room at the time. You can see old pictures of our first apartment together here. 

Anyways, after living and working in the house for a while and knowing how I am truly using the space and needed it set up, it was easier for me to have a 'vision' for the space. I finally made some purchases, got to painting (with the help of my sweet hubby) and brung it all together. I really  didn't want to rush the process and I am so HAPPY I didn't. I truly love the space and feel like it is cute & functional and that is all I could want.  

The Process 

It always gets worse before it gets better. 

Here you can see my sketch of what I had in mind for the space. I did this before I purchased anything, In my mission to find a leopard rug, I found a round one I liked better. I honestly have plans for different furniture/desk and work space. Kind of like built-ins all on one wall, but that will be in the future. I really didn't want to spend too much money, other than paint and a few accessories, right now. 

Before & Afters 

The befores and afters aren't that much different, but enough to (I think) show a transformation. I think it shows how much just a little bit of time & paint can truly transform a space. 

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Much didn't change here, either. I just rearranged a bit and added the pillows . I got the 'black out' curtains off amazon to try and help with the temperature. In the winter, it was getting to be like 50 something degrees down here, so these curtains helped a little bit. Same in the summer, it kind-of gets hotter down here so they help when the sun is hitting the hardest through the windows.  

The steps might be my favorite in the space. I mean, if you're going to have this many steps in your home, you might as well make the most of it, right?! Rainbow steps for the win! 

My cute little Olive girl running around the new space. 

The secret to success/luck :: working hard !!!

I hand painted the black spots. It is a half wall, so it honestly didn't take me that long at all and I just used a regular ole brush that I paint with normally. No stencil or anything, just free hand. If you're not down for that sorta DIY, below I linked some peel and stick wallpaper that is very similar.  

I absolutely LOVE this industrial DIY ladder that Chris made for me. I wanted a better and 'cuter' way of getting up to the top of my closet for extra storage. The industrial pipping is simple + functional and exactly what I wanted! We just got the supplies from lowes. It wasn't a kit or anything like that. Chris figured out where the studs were in the wall and that is how we decided how wide to make the ladder. It was the easiest way to go about it. 

The pink + peach + yellow + orange vibe is pretty strong throughout. From the stairs, to the pillows, to the walls, that is how I pulled it all together. Not trying to be match-matchy, but mixing in those colors consistently with black and white gives it all a cohesive look. 

This is the less ''pretty' but super functional side. Here is where most of the work happens. Where I make my leather handbags and paint my paintings. I have a 'vision' for this side of the room too, but for now I want to use what I have and save that investment for later. I put my work table [which is a kitchen table my mom's dad made] on risers to be standing height for me. To the left of that table is the closet, that stores all of my products and to the right is my easel.

This is the view looking down into the space. Behind me, there is even more steps to the entryway. Then another set on the main floor. This is the home of many steps, I get my workout in daily. 

Cheers to finally being done with this space! I can't wait to see how it inspires me & what I create in it! Let me know what your favorite part is. 

P.s.: My Book Playing with Paints will be in stores next month, have you pre-orderd yours on Amazon or Barnes and Noble yet?! 

“This is NOT a sponsored post from the brands + products mentioned but does include affiliate links to the products on Amazon. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”