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Stu-Stu-Studio

At the end of last year, Scott suggested a very scary thing. Over dinner, he (very nonchalantly) asked, why haven’t we turned the office into your studio yet? This caught me off guard for many reasons, and here’s why:

  1. I love our office; it’s blue, and it’s pretty.
  2. I always sort of assumed it was Scott’s space. Yes, I work from home more than half of the week, but I have my painting table, you see. I have my laptop and the kitchen counter, and everything’s been working just fine, yessum.
  3. My studio? This has been our ongoing inside joke for the last year – it wasn’t meant to be real. Not yet. Every day, I dramatically discuss my plans for my studio. My future studio in our someday home. The one with more space.
  4. But most importantly, he told me (in not so many words, of course) what I never had the courage to say out loud. Operation Pet Shop has outgrown it’s headquarters in the kitchen nook. It is real. It’s my real, legitimate job, and it’s working out. (Amazingly so. Thank you.) Moving into a space of my own makes it that much more real. And I got really excited (and scared!) about that.

Now, why he acted so no big deal about it was beyond me, especially when last week, he took his bikes off the ceiling and relegated them (with chains bigger than my head) to the basement. Yes, points 1 through 4 whizzed through my brain on repeat for the last several weeks, but my initial response to his dinner chatter was, uh, what about your bikes?!

Yet without thinking twice on his part, they were gone. And point 4 played over again (and again) in my head. To Scott, there’s no question that I’ve graduated to the office. He trusts me and this unconventional path I’ve chosen. He’s the cheese to my macaroni. Which is why a few short hours after those bikes came down, the office looked like this:

Over the course of that same week, we primed the blue (Distance by Behr), the trim and the doors. We painted the ceiling bright white, and we contemplated thirty shades of pink.

Now, in point 3 of my dream studio, the walls are pink. Did I not say that before? I also have a shaggy rug for my toes, large, expansive spaces for stuff, and ridiculous amounts of framed artwork. While I may need to reconsider my choices on rug and forgive the space shortcomings (this room is a pint-sized 8’x10′), the pink was a must.

First, a few close calls: Belle of the Ball by Behr (too fleshy), Reverie Pink by Behr (pretty in tone, but too much saturation for my taste), Pink Sea Salt by Martha Stewart (too peachy-cream), and the first runner up, Naiveté by Olympic. However, saying naiveté made me cringe, and so while it could have been the one, we tossed it.

The winner? Diana by Olympic. Can you see it? Soft and clean, it’s just the right touch of pinky-lilac for the future home of my inspirado. Which, ironically, is totally the opposite of her dubbed nickname, Dirty D. (You might remember it from Renee’s bedroom redo of yore, too.) Only the top half is finished in this photo, with more coats to come on the see-through bottom:

But as Scott boldly announced on Monday, we will not be a slave to this room. After a day of misfortune – between a failed crown molding install, a lack of base paint for more Dirty D and more arguments than I’d like to publicly admit – we’re taking this one step at a time. Sure, I’m writing this update from the kitchen counter, and yup, I’ll be painting your kiddos from the same table I’ve been doing so for the last year for a few more weeks, and that’s okay. I’m coolio with this table, and until completion, we’re having fun dreaming and sketching up the end result.

As for what’s on the to-do, here goes:

Prime the walls, trim and doors
• Paint the walls, trim and doors (halfway completed)
• Install crown molding and chair rail
• Paint the painting table for the new room (yes, really)
• Sell and/or donate the unnecessary furniture (halfway completed)
• Design, build and install a storage wall (similar to our media wall)
• Decide on artwork for the room
• Clean, paint and prep thrifty frames
• Frame, mat and hang inspirational artwork (using this technique)
• Decide on lighting
• Decide on textiles: rug, curtains and upholstery for seating
• Buy the decided upon things. Budget. Install them.
• Re-stock painting, shipping and packaging supplies
• Pull it together like we own it
• Return to normalcy (we can only hope)

The first item had been checked off, but trust that we’ve dabbled (and have been continually dabbling) in the first half of the list for the last several days. In this between time, our hallway has been, um, fun to live with.

We’ll be chipping away one day at a time, and while we plan to take off some of our self-imposed pressure, we also hope to have a functional space by February. (Famous last words?) Regardless, I’ve slowly begun to realize that Scott was right – even in all his casual hey, why not? glory. With the office being known as “the room we store the bikes” for the last several years, it was no longer catering to our evolving needs. While it’s only beginning to make sense to me now, I’ve been pinning – with caution; this girl doesn’t like a cluttered board – my little heart out for the last three weeks. (Not to be confused with Sussudio, mmkay, Phil fans?)

The goal? A functional, inspirational and organized room. A room that makes me smile, surrounds me with creativity, and makes me eager to start my work day. A place for everything and everything in it’s place. And certainly no more of this working-from-the-kitchen-counter bull.

Because we’re curious, how would you design your “dream” room?

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  • kim1.11.12 - 8:08 AM

    Can’t wait to see it! You and Scott are one talented team. xoxoReplyCancel

  • Emily @ Our Waldo Bungie1.11.12 - 8:37 AM

    First of all, love the Phil Collins reference. Fun fact: I actually thought he was saying “Stu-stu-studio” most of my life until a middle-aged New Yorker I worked with corrected me one day in front of a lot of people. One of the more embarrassing moments of my life…anyways, I love the pink – it looks wonderful! Can’t wait to see the finished product!ReplyCancel

  • I can’t wait to see everything! Your Pinterest board is filled with good ideas. :) You definitely deserve an office space for the fantastic art you do.ReplyCancel

  • Amy1.11.12 - 9:41 AM

    I love that you picked light pink; I’ve been thinking about that for my own office! My room has one window but gets almost no natural light, so I thought something light and warm would feel great in there. I saw this image on pinterest and it helped seal the deal: http://pinterest.com/pin/155444624608110373/

    Can’t wait to see how yours turns out!ReplyCancel

  • Two Grads1.11.12 - 9:51 AM

    This is so exciting! i am so happy for you!! I am following you on Twitter now. Your husband is pretty awesome!ReplyCancel

    • Kim1.11.12 - 10:13 AM

      Thank you, everyone! We’re quite smitten with the pink, too – yes, even Scott!

      Two Grads, sadly, we’re not on Twitter. Did you mean Facebook? Regardless, he is pretty awesome!ReplyCancel

  • Kelly1.11.12 - 11:15 AM

    Looking good so far! Love the pink :):)ReplyCancel

  • Terese1.11.12 - 11:15 AM

    congratulations on making the jump to an official studio! love the pink.ReplyCancel

  • Lauren L.1.11.12 - 12:52 PM

    This is so exciting for you guys! I love that Scott is being so supportive and that your pet shop is booming! (Not that I am surprised.. you are an amazing and talented artist!) I can’t wait to see how it turns out.ReplyCancel

  • Erica1.11.12 - 12:56 PM

    Awesome! So glad you’re going with pink. I can say from experience that it’s a soothing color to work in, and more modern than feminine. It’s going to be the shiz ;)ReplyCancel

  • Janna1.11.12 - 1:18 PM

    Can’t wait to see the end results. Can I ask – WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THIS ROOM? Thanks.ReplyCancel

    • Kim1.11.12 - 2:31 PM

      Thanks, everyone!

      Erica, I thought of your guest post while picking our pink…

      Janna, the room is a teeny, tiny 8’x10′. We definitely have a challenge to fit all our needs!ReplyCancel

  • Two Pitties in the City1.11.12 - 1:26 PM

    This is so exciting! I was curious about the bikes, and wondering what you were going to do with them. We also have a bike room and we know our second bedroom can become something more useful. I think we will be watching you guys for inspiration…ReplyCancel

  • Liliana1.11.12 - 2:15 PM

    This is so exciting! And how awesome of Scott to give you the space. After all, it is still for you both =) I’m not for pink on the walls, but I must admit, the color is really nice. I bet it would look lovely in a baby girl’s room. I know your space will be great and will inspire many to take on a similar project. On to check your Pinterest board = )

    ~ L.ReplyCancel

  • Kirsten Nieman1.11.12 - 3:16 PM

    So pumped for your new studio! Cannot wait to see the transformation…I know it will be both a pretty and functional space:).ReplyCancel

  • Amanda1.11.12 - 3:18 PM

    Okay, so I think it’s confession time.

    I started to tear up while reading this. Yes, I’m very emotional in general, but mainly to read how well you’re doing with your Pet Shop, as well to read how much Scott cares for you and your passions. You are one lucky lady missy!

    On a lighter note, I love the wall colour (pun intended)! It’s so pink! + it makes me happy.ReplyCancel

  • kat1.11.12 - 4:25 PM

    am so proud of & excited for you, kim! to be painting portraits for a living & having your very own studio — ooh la la :) looking forward to the final reveal.ReplyCancel

  • Andrea B1.11.12 - 4:30 PM

    I love it! Very exciting. I am a big ol’ cheerleader whenever it comes to someone realizing their dreams one day at a time, so this is fabulous. I especially like that your hubby thought of it and pushed you to make the change. Good man. :)ReplyCancel

  • Melissa // thefauxmartha1.11.12 - 6:40 PM

    Have I told you I love your style? Pale pink, yes please. Can’t wait to see the end result!ReplyCancel

  • We met briefly at Jess Constable’s Business in the City in October, and I remember you two talking about how helpful a dedicated workspace would be in defining some sort of work/life boundaries. This looks like it will be perfect! Congrats on a big step for your business :)ReplyCancel

  • Sarah1.13.12 - 8:30 PM

    How exciting! I love having an in-home studio – create when inspiration strikes.ReplyCancel

  • Sara Grace4.15.12 - 4:33 PM

    Having the bikes up top is really cool! I love love love the mirror in the first 2 pics!ReplyCancel

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