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Studio Refresh

I’ve been working hard in the basement since the beginning of January. Priming, painting, tidying and today I’m so excited to finally share my studio refresh!

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Are you ready to see it? I think many of you know that I work from home. When I started painting furniture I didn’t have a dedicated space to work but used to paint furniture in our kitchen. I’d have three dressers in there and have to move the kitchen table out of the way. When we found this house, it had the bonus of a HUGE basement with a little area I could use as a studio. It even had a sink. So I was so happy. Many of you had said you wanted to see the basement when I gave our first house tour but I just didn’t think it looked nice enough. It’s dark down there. Lots of knotty pine, cement floors, cobwebs, spiders. You know a basement.

So I’ve never really shared what it looked like except for perhaps some furniture makeover photos. So here’s what my studio area was looking like:

Basement Studio Before

Basement Studio Before

So you can see messy, dark, uninspiring.

I got an email from my friend Matthew Mead and we got to chatting about my workspaces and that he’d like to come photograph my office and studio for a magazine (I’ll share more about this when I can).

I HAD to refresh this space and this gave me the perfect reason.

Sometimes, we all need encouragement to tackle a project. It’s something I’ve just been putting off.

I always thought well, it doesn’t matter because it’s only me who works down here.

This was so WRONG.

Here’s the after:

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

 

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

This post contains a few affiliate links.

I started first by taking everything out of the room and I spot primed all the knots with Zinsser Primer. I applied 4 coats of this on all the knots as I don’t want them bleeding through. Then I applied one coat of Benjamin Moore’s Oil Based Primer to get the walls and shelves ready for paint. Then two coats of Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace on walls and shelves. I opted for the satin finish to reflect the light in the room. I always thought Super White was their most brilliant white by Chantilly Lace is even brighter and I wanted this space to shine and be full of light.

The difference is amazing.

White paint is magic in a can.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

The little black cart is by Ikea and is perfect to store all my brushes, cheesecloth and tape.

 

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Everything is organized by paint and I can find it so much easier.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

I have a section for Milk Paint.

A section for Fusion:

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

An area for General Finishes:

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Another space for Chalk Paint®:

I used woven and metal baskets to coral other supplies like sand paper or smaller bottles.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Now I can find things and it’s wonderful! This bulletin board got a fresh coat of paint and is ready for all kind of inspiration photos. I mixed two different studio metallics together for this.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

I curtained off the area where the sump pump is and this curtain from Ikea which added a softness to the studio space.

The cabinets under the sink also got a fresh coat of paint. I used Fusion’s Heirloom. I did two coats of this. It is one of my favorite colors:

 

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

It’s a luscious blue and you might just recognize it from my eBook:

Finding Silver Pennies EBook and Studio Refresh

To seal the cabinet, I used Fusion’s Wipe On Tough Coat Poly. I love this stuff! It’s so easy to use and it will give this cabinet extra protection from all the products I work with daily. The knobs on the cabinet are by D. Lawless and are so affordable but give a vintage look of crystal.

Here’s a few more images of the space.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies
Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

(this is my favorite brush soap by the way!)

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

The chippy paint and green stool are vintage finds and I’m loving how they look down here in my studio.

I’ll be sharing how to seal this chippy table soon and also share how this roll top desk came out. Luke snapped a photo the other day while I was working on it. I’m painting it in Miss Mustard Seed’s Typewriter Milk Paint.

Working in my newly refreshed studio I Finding Silver Pennies

 

I hope you enjoyed this mini makeover! It has made a world of difference to me and each day I can’t wait to work down here.

Studio Refresh I Finding Silver Pennies

We’re actually tidying up the whole basement and Luke is going to have his own woodworking space. So that is very exciting for us and we’ll be sure to share all the progress and all he’s building soon.

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Lynne
7 years ago

Absolutely one of the best transformations I’ve ever seen! Well done!!!!!

Lauren
Lauren
7 years ago

Love the details you have given for changing this area. I especially appreciate knowing how many coats of primer you had to use. I would love to know the color and finish of the cabinet that appears similar to a robin’s egg blue.

Betty Whatley
7 years ago

Thanks for sharing. I use a extra bedroom to paint, but sure do wish I had a old barn or basement to use. So happy for you, so we are blessed enough to see all the great things you come up with.

Mary Vitullo
7 years ago

Thanks Danielle for sharing this. Your “before” pictures remind me of how my garage looks right now. I’ve been wanting to paint my walls white to brighten it. I see what a difference it made in your basement. I had to laugh when I saw your stir sticks. They look exactly like mine (thick with paint) and funny I use the same Illy coffee container! Thanks for the inspiration.

Kate
Kate
7 years ago

What a difference! It looks amazing (and so organized)!

Cheryl
Cheryl
7 years ago

Well done, you will be even more inspired now you have a wonderful work space.

Kaycee F
Kaycee F
7 years ago

Great transformation Danielle, the white paint truly does make such a huge difference in the space. I think that the space truly reflects you and your coastal style now. I love it

Donna
Donna
7 years ago

Love it Danielle! I’m repurposing a small (former) horse barn into my “Art Barn” studio/workshop. I’m sooo excited! I love how light and bright your workspace is. I also love the curtain idea as an inexpensive and quick way to hide the ugly stuff! Thanks for the inspiration!

Jessica | Petal + Ply
7 years ago

What a difference. What a great space to create in!!

Sharon Hankins
7 years ago

Looks fabulous Danielle! I love the bright airy feel. You’ve inspired me to take another look at refreshing my own workspace.

Lori Merrill
Lori Merrill
7 years ago

Good morning Danielle! I love it! It is nice to have an enjoyable space to work in! Lori

lauralou
lauralou
7 years ago

Now I’m inspired to tackle my scary basement. It looks like an episode of hoarders…where all the stuff I don’t want upstairs goes to die. If I can get it cleaned out I see white paint…and maybe some of that beautiful fusion you used on the cabinet. Swoon.

Cynthia Chilson Finger

You are so lucky to have such an awesome space to create in! The power of paint to the rescue … and boy do you have a lot of paint! LOL Enjoy!

liz kantor
liz kantor
2 years ago

What an absolutely amazing makeover!!! So happy and bright!!! 💙💙💙