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Around this time last year I started to feel like my West Loop studio was not where I wanted to be anymore. The commute to my beautiful white walled, high ceiling studio in the West Loop of Chicago seemed to become more and more difficult until I found myself never really being there at all. I decided last July to sublet it and step into a new studio practice - a home studio. I moved to a new apartment in September and have since been re-creating what feels like a new place to exist. A new work space, a new way of working, and a place truly all my own that felt safe. Since moving in about 6 months ago, I've been working bit by bit to merge home and work life and create a space that feels right. BEFORE While my place didn't need much in renovations or repairs, it did need a new coat of paint - white paint. The original color was something close to eggshell that didn't photograph well, and since this space was not only going to be a living room but also a place to create and document work, the walls needed to be white.
The process of getting this place to where it is now took almost three months because I really needed to go slow with the buying process. So for a while my place was just that round table from a friend and a folding chair. AFTER  Ta da! Welcome to my new studio/living room/place where all the magic happens. A few things I kept in mind when sourcing furniture:
PAINTING IN A LIVE/WORK SPACE Going from a studio where I could throw paint at the walls, to one that was not exactly meant for artwork can be tricky and requires getting a bit creative about how your space will be functional and productive, but also relaxing and inviting. Since I need to be more conscious of not staining my floors, I utilize a lot of clear plastic tarps now. Clear tarps are great because they actually photograph nicely in process shots, are excellent for protecting the floors from any liquids, and are really easy to clean and re-use. I designated a corner of my living room to paintings, but when I need to stretch out more and work on multiple pieces at once I roll up my rug, move my coffee table and I have a lot more floor space to work with. My desk is pretty much my catch all. This is where I do my freelance projects, work on small artwork and eat dinner. :) Everything is easily moved, and it can be moved quickly so the painting process still feels easy, which I think is the key to a great at home studio that's meshed with your living space. It has to feel really cohesive, like home and the work aren't fighting for the space. WHERE IT'S FROM Below I've linked all the supplies I used to make this place into a functional live/work space. Nothing is sponsored although IKEA, hit me up because I basically have lived at your store the last few months.
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