Studio Conversion Diary

We're off! - June 3, Day 1
 Yes - the time has finally arrived and worked started on Studio THEA today which is great as I was beginning to think I was dreaming it all! Nothing very interesting to show at this point though. This is how things looked when I woke up at the crack of dawn - Christmas has nothing on this you know...


 And this is how it looks at the end of the day...


Much the same but with some tools I hear you say. Well, yes but there has definitely been some activity - I know because my ears are still ringing from the pneumatic drilling that made the entire house shake. The cat has taken refuge in a padded cell in the wardrobe and I might just join her if there's any more of it to come! As a result of all that drilling we now have the footing for the new wall...


And a big bag of waste - not the last I'm sure.


I was quite surprised when the electrician turned up but is seems he has a busy week so we had to grab him while we could even if it was day one - no argument from me as there's nothing worse than coming to a halt because you're waiting on a specialist. Consequently there are also now lots of holes in the ceiling (more drilling!) and lots of cables waiting to be run behind plaster board and under floors.


So as you can see we are well and truly underway - the bricks are coming tomorrow and the window arrives on Thursday and then it will begin to look like something is happening. It won't start to look like a studio until well into next week but I will post regularly to show you what's going on. I'll also set up a dedicated blog page so that all the posts can be read together.

OK - I'm off to remove a film of dust from the kitchen so I can prepare an edible dinner!

Back soon.

Day 4

Strange thing to get excited about I know but after 3 days of dust and rubble the garage door coming out and the wall going up reassures me that my plans are taking shape...

Not even an exciting wall but it's my wall!

 Yesterday I went shopping for floor covering and of course I had to choose something that requires specialist fitters of whom there are not apparently very many. My options for fitting were therefore Tuesday/Wednesday of next week or the 24th of the month, the former being a little tight and the latter creating a long delay for other aspects of the work. Cue panicky phone call to my builder but he is nothing if not a problem solver and instructed me to book the fitting for next week and he would do what it takes to be ready. I am beginning to understand why building work can take so long - it's not the actual construction but the logistical nightmare of getting the various elements and trades to dovetail smoothly.

Anyway the upshot is they will be working all over the weekend to get everything done. I've been told it will be a manic few days so all I can do is keep the beverages and biscuits flowing freely and maybe go out for bacon Butties. This wall between the garage and kitchen is coming down tomorrow so If I attempt to make them myself there may be some added roughage! The window, timber floor and plaster boards will also go in tomorrow - sounds like a good days work to me!



The kitchen will be ripped out on Monday as well which means maybe a week without one which could prove interesting. Fortunately there is a pub 10 minutes walk from the house so at least I won't starve.

I'll keep you posted on the predicted mayhem but in the meantime - wish me luck!



2 Weeks in....

It's been a hive of activity since my last post on this subject. The windows went in last weekend and  everything moved inside the house and took over my life somewhat...


A beautiful sunny Monday saw a very full house with a team of plasterers putting in a long day to get the studio plastered before the fitters arrived to lay the flooring on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sadly the weather deteriorated rapidly thereafter into a grey, wet gloom and that, combined with damp plaster does not make for great photographs...


The flooring went down without hitch but as it's difficult to see here I've borrowed a photo from the manufacturers Amtico - I'm sure they won't mind a bit of free promotion...

http://www.amtico.com/commercial/flooring/wood/engineered-bamboo

The old kitchen also came out on Monday leaving me with this...what do you think - contemporary minimalist?


The fridge has gone as well now so my facilities consist of a tea making area on the kitchen window sill (the builders made sure of that one), a microwave on the dining room table and a cool box. Fortunately there is also a pub five minutes walk from my house so not so bad.

The rest of the week has seen the final fix on the electrics, architraves and skirting beginning to go in, new doors and radiators arriving on site and the start of the decorating. I felt so much better when this primer went up yesterday and brightened the whole room up - I really wasn't feeling the plaster pink!


My building team are once again working through the weekend and by the end of the day today the first coat of colour was on the wall and really brought the room to life. It's called 'Tadpole' but it's not like any tadpole I've ever seen. It's hard to reproduce the actual colour here but it's a kind of cross between lime and melon green - lovely and fresh and hopefully it will be a good colour for stimulating creativity.


I've also treated myself to some new kit this week with a new beading table, a high stool for the workbench and and a gorgeous cream leather ergonomic chair - the latter being a must have since I've spent a large part of this week almost immobilised with a back strain. I'm on the mend now though and hopefully this chair will help me stay that way.


The early part of next week will see decorating finished, doors hung and radiators plumbed in before the studio fittings and new kitchen arrive on Wednesday which means that this time next week (touch wood), it will all be finished and I will be in my new creative home. I'm so excited and I really can't wait!

I'll keep you posted and let you see the final result as soon as it's done because believe me, once I'm in there It may be some time before I come out again!

So Near and Yet So Frustrating...

Well, the work on the new studio is almost complete - just some tiling and some tidying up to do then it will all be done and, if you'd asked me a month ago what I expected to be doing at this point I would have said charging around manically moving all my kit in and giving the studio (which I love by the way) some personality and pzazz, but I can"t do that.

Earlier this week...things have progressed!

For the past couple of weeks I've been suffering from a nasty back strain which has been extremely painful and laid me very low. Added to the fact that I had no facilities and the house was full of builders it was not the fun time I'd hoped for. My back is much improved now and getting better by the day but I am certainly not fully flexible and can feel it even when I pick up something relatively light. So, I've had to be sensible and curb my enthusiasm for a little while longer...I am not a patient person!

I do have some willing hands coming to help with some heavy work over the weekend and then at least I can get on with some serious organisation. Once that's done I'll be able to show you some up to date pictures too.

But my frustration doesn't mean there's nothing to celebrate so to get the ball rolling I'm having a sale in my components shop THEA Elements this weekend with 20% off all items until midnight BST (UK) on Sunday - I 've got to make some room for the output from the new studio somehow! To get your discount just use Coupon Code STUDIO20  when you check out.


Hope to see you there - have a great weekend.

Lesley

Finished and Ready for Action...

Finally, my new studio is finished and ready - well almost - for action. It's taken a little while longer to get the finishing touches done and a bad back has stopped me from getting things sorted as quickly as I'd hoped but never-the-less, I'm in and ready to start work and I love it!

These are not the greatest pictures in the world as the size and shape of the room make it difficult to shoot. There are also a lot of reflective surfaces and very bright light pouring in today and frankly, that's well beyond my photographic skill.

But anyway, as promised here is a little tour of 'Studio Thea' or 'Tadpole Towers' as it has also been christened (the colour of the walls is called Tadpole)!

This photo is was taken by me standing outside the house and sticking my head through the studio window and as you can see there is a straight line from the studio through the kitchen to the South facing gardening. This provides a good light source but means the studio itself is quite cool as it doesn't get direct sun until later in the afternoon.


The door is fully glazed to maximise this light when it's shut but I can't see that happening too often - It's been scorching here this week and having all the doors and windows open has created a lovely through breeze.


This side has been designed to provide lots of storage and a wet/messy working area with a big deep sink and room for tumblers, pickle pots and such like. Although I've put things in the cupboards I've not really organised them yet as I expect things to find their natural places as I start work and get a feel for what works best where.




Facing this is a work bench area with some more storage which will be where I do my clay production, metal work, enameling and any other process work. The aim is actually to keep this area as clear of clutter as possible but I'm still migrating 'stuff' from the old work room and haven't put it away yet. My kiln equipment is still locked in the shed at the moment as it's been far too hot for lugging heavy stuff around but it will be retrieved next week, although I'm thinking it may be set up outside while this weather continues...


At the other end of the room we have my design area which is where all my beading, jewellery making and component design will take place...if I'm not distracted by staring out of the window all day that is.


To the left we have 'The Goddess' - my jewellery display form, a bookcase for my jewellery books and mags, the essential radio and iPod dock and a little spot on the floor for a certain feline who is also enjoying the coolness of this room at the moment.


The table under that lovely window and at this moment looking very tidy...that won't last long!


Then to the right are the bulk of my bead stash, pretty tins of leather, fibres and silks and my little trolley that houses all the bits and bobs I like to have close to hand but try to keep off the desk - usually unsuccessfully!


I still have an awful lot of paraphernalia to move in so this is probably to first and last time the studio will be as visible as this...I've no doubt boxes will start to encroach on the floor and cupboards will be crammed full but, It's  a huge improvement on the space I was working in before and I'm just so glad I went ahead and did it...Small it may be but it's perfectly formed - for now anyway.


So for the rest of the weekend I will continue to get myself organised - between  ice creams, cold drinks and maybe the odd siesta. I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend too.

Lesley













3 comments:

  1. Your studio is great! Why does it look like the walls are ombre? Are they? I'd love to know how you did that.I really love the color!I wish I had a space other than my basement-I hate not being where all the action is on the main floor!

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  2. I see you like green as much as I do! That's a color well represented in my wardrobe (I have red hair) I also lean toward green in my jewelry making and spend much time hanging out in my tiny garden backyard at my condo. I have always loved color and am having so much fun creating jewelry for friends and family. I find my niche is in wire wrapping and making links. Am launching out into the world with my sister who will soon be joining me in our new home built just for us! We have a website and are planning to host some home parties when we move in next month. I also have made home dec items for a lot of years and will include some of that as well. Good luck to you in your new space, it looks delightful! Peggi

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  3. Lesley: The remodel is fabulous! I've just discovered you, but I've spent the last couple of days delighting in your beautiful hand made ceramic pieces. I love your work! I'm curious, what is the little box shaped piece on the floor under your desk? Is it a little footstool, or a small heater? I painted my laundry room in a wonderful spring green color, and it's so bright and cheerful, I don't mind being in there at all. Thank you for posting the progress on your studio, it's fun watching it take shape. Best regards, Carolyn in sunny southern California, USA

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