So, a few here has seen my fledgling studio space from its infancy days, and I think more have seen as its grown..... I thought I'd share my latest iteration of the home studio.
For the last week or so, I have been revamping the studio from the floor up. I needed to cut down on visual clutter and make the space more versitile at the same time.
I organized storage to take less space, built a wall for the changing room, built a surround for the water heater (which was previously covered by drapery). I moved furniture in, robbing it from all over the house, and moved stupid amounts of STUFF.
Before I had storage (props, baby stuff, framing and matting materials, fabrics, costumes, stuff, stuff, stuff) of one sort or another on 3 of 4 walls. I moved all of it to one area, along one wall, which now surrounded by black felt drapes just vanishes. The new available spaces were opportunity.
The furniture pieces are all cool props, but now have a purpose when they're not being used as a cozy sitting area for clients. I added hanging lamps and accesories as if I were decorating a sitting room.
My white vinyl backdrop is being washed so tomrrow I'll have to rehang it. Then a bit more painting and I'll be able to take a break for a while.... yeah right!
After days of hard work, Taylor and her friends helped me prove the new sets work. Here are a few shots from tonight with a look at the "new" space...
This is across the room and what you first see when you enter the door. I can move any of these pieces as needed for a shot.
And around the room...
This: Equals this: Equals this:
This: Equals this: Equals this:
And the black felt covering the stroage area is awesome, it absolutely eats light! :)
My muscles ache so much any enhancing drugs would be a godsend.
Lessons learned:
Drywall is heavy. Very very heavy. Especially when working alone.
One shouldn't undertake construction alone at 2am.
That dust gets EVERYWHERE.
If you get an overstuffed-chair totally jammed in a doorway, someone will eventually come help you move it.
Thanks for sharing with us how the studio is progressing. I am trying to set up a studio area in my basement and your photos and descriptions have given me a lot of good ideas for working with the space I have...
Nice work!
Now can you come over and help me out? I'll do all the heavy lifting, I promise! :D
I need better/more tables/chairs/couches and props (I like your books and candles on the table). I don't have the time to go looking and I'm too cheap to spend the big money on this stuff when I could really use new bedroom furniture.
Nice work!
Now can you come over and help me out? I'll do all the heavy lifting, I promise! :D
I need better/more tables/chairs/couches and props (I like your books and candles on the table). I don't have the time to go looking and I'm too cheap to spend the big money on this stuff when I could really use new bedroom furniture.
PA is a little out of the way..... ;)
Really, you don't need to spend a bunch for props & furniture. Most of my stuff was robbed from around the house for the studio. Some items came from yard sales / flea markets, and the big chair was a trade with a neighbor for something she wanted. The leather chair was $40 from an office furniture store going out of business. The chaise (sofa) is the only piece I bought new just for the studio. I watch clearance aisles at the major stores too. Often they will have discounted items that while I would never use them in the rest of my house, work great in the studio.
Nice work!
Now can you come over and help me out? I'll do all the heavy lifting, I promise! :D
I need better/more tables/chairs/couches and props (I like your books and candles on the table). I don't have the time to go looking and I'm too cheap to spend the big money on this stuff when I could really use new bedroom furniture.
Nice work!
Now can you come over and help me out? I'll do all the heavy lifting, I promise! :D
I need better/more tables/chairs/couches and props (I like your books and candles on the table). I don't have the time to go looking and I'm too cheap to spend the big money on this stuff when I could really use new bedroom furniture.
PA is a little out of the way..... ;)
Really, you don't need to spend a bunch for props & furniture. Most of my stuff was robbed from around the house for the studio. Some items came from yard sales / flea markets, and the big chair was a trade with a neighbor for something she wanted. The leather chair was $40 from an office furniture store going out of business. The chaise (sofa) is the only piece I bought new just for the studio. I watch clearance aisles at the major stores too. Often they will have discounted items that while I would never use them in the rest of my house, work great in the studio.
DAMHIKT, but consider yourself warned.
Be careful buying stuffed furniture at flea markets and garage sales.
What you get may give the term "Flea" Market literal meaning.
I remember them, but not everyone has seen the BEGINNING of the evolution - How about posting a pciture in this thread of the garage in its early stages of growth?
Wow, your question made me look and I found these images from 2 years ago. I believe these were shot the day I laid the floor. It was a celebration day for me because once the flooring I permenantly removed all non-studio storage & equipment. I was no longer sharing space with the lawn mower or a bicycle. Can't believe its only been 2 years since it looked that way, seems like forever ago.
Not long after these were taken I covered and upholstered the garage door and made it inoperable (and not so ugly).
Sorry, dude, but the flag came down today. Even after all the recent changes the Maple Leaf stayed where it started, covering that space that's left when I use the bg that's covering that space. Now there is no reason for 'space covering'.
I got the giant white vinyl washed, spread across the back garden to dry, and back up today (first sunny day in a week). It really brightens up the space. I also changed all of the lightbulbs in the decorative fixtures to daylight balanced (never had so many non-strobe lights there before, but now have 5 lamps not including strobes). Some other trim-work today. Tomorrow = painting and I think I need a short shopping trip too.. stay tuned.
I mentioned in a thread earlier that I am looking for retail studio space. I have decided to write 2 business plans; one home-based and one retail-based and go 100% for whichever can get the funding I need. Either way my remodel of the home studio has taught me much about what works for me, what doesn't, and what clients want. Reading a zillion threads on OurPPA.com from other studio owners has helped too.
I'm still eons from where I want to be, but feel I have a roadmap...
