When designing my studio, I could have simply purchased all new items, but instead found great joy in re-purposing and doing a complete redesign using things that I have already enjoyed for years. For me, designing a work space is first about efficient function and then all about what makes me feel good. I spend long hours working in my art studio. To make that time a delight rather than a drudge, I love to be surrounded by things that inspire me, by some of my favorite items I’ve created in the past and by colors that will cheer me up on a grey day.
My inspiration for this color palette came from a beautiful, one yard piece of chintz that is a raw silk look. I bought it 5 or 6 years ago as a remnant just because… I tucked it away and found it when we were preparing to move. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any more of the fabric, so I used it as a spring board for the over all design by making three pillows for the daybed/guest bed that is in my room. Like many of you, I love the put together over a long period of time look of mix and match almost “mismatch” elegance. It’s hard work getting to that, LOL! Matchy-matchy is so much easier, but much less fun.
I’m looking for a great source to buy antique glass door knobs or door pulls if you know of one. I want to replace the pegs on a small wall shelf I have with the door knobs for character and bling. My curtain rod has a set of beautiful crystal finials, and I would like to find some crystal bling odds n ends to make tacks for my fabric covered memo board on the closet door. Ideas anyone?
I found the beautifully simple quilt set at overstock.com. (SEE IT HERE) It’s all cotton and linen and has a lovely scalloped edge on both the shams and the edge of the quilt. It’s washable (which is great since my all black cat, Shadow, loves to sneak in and nap on it!) I’ve been puzzling out what I should use for the dust ruffle for the bed and realized just yesterday that our previous home’s living room drapes were perfect to reuse for this purpose. I’ll be breaking out my sewing machine soon to transform them into their new function.
I’ve had white counter tops for the past 20+ years – what was I thinking?!!! Every one has gotten stained with paint and though it started out lovely, became dingy and worn (and not in a lovely cottage way). My sweet husband suggested a granite look formica for this purpose. It’s already spotted and if it gets scratched, chunked or otherwise stained it just blends right in. We have 3 short 1 foot wide bookcases that we found in the barn of a previous home and have housed my magazines in every studio since, they’re being reused and mismatched with a white kitchen cabinet. I’ll tie it all together with fabric under the counter curtains in an old-world european style. Here’s the curtains I bought to use for fabric and the valance (SEE IT HERE) The fabric is a wonderful aged butter yellow that leans almost to tan.
Thanks for peeking in. Hopefully I’ll be able to show you soon how it all goes together. I’m just going to have to paint some new art to go with the new room… hmmm… perhaps my new peony photos might come into play on that?!
