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A creative space, a little reinvention, and a whole lot of sawdust.
What began as a small studio eventually became a space I’d outgrown — along with the size of my canvases, apparently.
This page follows the journey of creating my new studio, from the original space and early renovation plans to the finishing touches. I documented much of it as it happened, so you’ll find the excitement, the decisions, the occasional change of mind, and all the little details that made this space mine.
The renovation is finished now, but I’ve kept the story because sometimes the making of a space is just as interesting as what happens inside it.
BEFORE THE MOVE
A little look at the studio I loved before my creative ambitions outgrew it.
I began with this lovely little space, and for a long time, it was everything I needed. Beautiful light, a chandelier, and a place to create. What more could an artist ask for?
Well… apparently, more space.
Everything had a place, and everything was in its place. For the most part.
Until my creative work started expanding, and suddenly, so did everything that came with it!
And then the branches of my “branching out” took over!
I loved my tabletop easel, but as I began working on larger canvases, I needed something it couldn’t give me: a dedicated wall for those big, beautiful pieces.
My new studio would have exactly that. And a little breathing room wouldn’t hurt, either!
I'm moving!
I'm moving!
There is one great thing about being an empty nester, and that’s MORE space! Don’t get me wrong, I miss my babies, who now have babies of their own. But that extra space? Highly desirable real estate!
My previous studio was beautiful and perfectly suited to my needs when I first designed it. But as my creative work expanded, I needed more room. Soooo… another renovation it was!
I could have taken over the entire basement for my studio, but without a walkout, it was the usual dark space with small windows. And I’m like a flower. I need the sunlight! So I traded all that basement square footage for a bright, sunny room upstairs, twice the size of my previous studio.
Of course, there were a few adventures along the way, including waiting for lumber prices to come down before tackling the flooring. But I had a vision, and I was determined to make it happen.
And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll move into a chic, stone-walled studio in downtown Kingston.
If you’re gonna dream, honey, dream big! ❤️
So much planning went into this studio, and I loved finding new homes for pieces I’d collected over the years.
Those sconces? I bought them at least five years earlier for my ensuite. Fast-forward a few years, the ensuite still hadn’t changed, and the sconces no longer suited what I had in mind for it.
Soooo… voilà! They finally found their home in the studio. Some things are worth waiting for.
Every artist’s studio needs a proper water station! I can’t tell you how many times I washed my brushes in the ensuite sink, which meant it was almost always covered in paint.
For bigger jobs, like cleaning my palette after collecting the leftover paint, I had to walk down two flights of stairs to the basement washtub. (And no, you don’t want to send all that paint down your drain!)
That washtub became extremely colourful. And, for the record, it was NOT where I washed my delicates.
Having a dedicated sink right here in the studio has made such a difference!
It's done!!
It's done!!
The renovation was finally finished, and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out!
Remember the flooring dilemma? I originally planned to install a finished floor, but once I saw the raw plywood beside that beautiful area rug, I changed my mind.
It had an artistic, slightly imperfect feel that suited the space beautifully. And as a bonus, I didn’t have to worry about dropping paint on it. An artist’s dream, really.
Funny how often we think we know exactly what we want, only to discover that something entirely different feels right. There’s probably a life lesson in there somewhere, but I’ll save that for another day.
And the chandelier? UP!
I even found a simple plastic ceiling medallion that looked the part without the ridiculous price tag of plaster. No judgement. I had a studio to finish and art supplies to buy.
Adorable lighting
Adorable lighting
How sweet are those sconces?
They don’t provide enough light for painting, but that was never really their job. They bring a soft, romantic glow to the studio, especially when I have an old movie playing in the background.
And they’re on a dimmer!
Because apparently, even my paintbrushes deserve a little ambience.
Behind these doors....
Behind these doors....
One of the things I was most excited about during the renovation was having a dedicated water station.
No more carrying brushes and palettes through the house or making trips down to the basement wash tub!
Behind these beautiful doors is my very own studio sink, complete with a quartz countertop and white subway tile.
Practical can be beautiful, too. Who knew?
Details, details, details!!!
Details, details, details!!!
I believe the spaces we spend our time in should reflect who we are, right down to the smallest details.
And these door handles? They practically screamed “Linda!” when I found them.
A little vintage character, a little drama, and absolutely no interest in being ordinary.
It’s the little things.
MAKING IT MINE
The best part is filling it in!!
The best part is filling it in!!
No one likes moving out, but moving in? Now THAT I love. Figuring out where the furniture belongs, finding new homes for old treasures and making a space feel like mine — that's the fun part. ❤️
This antique table has been with me for over 25 years, serving all sorts of purposes in various rooms of my home. It now sits beneath the studio windows, soaking up the daylight.
The chair came from a garden terrace set I bought at auction. I originally planned to paint the set and sell it. Adorable that I thought I’d be able to part with it. The table ended up on our back patio, while the chairs found new homes around the house.
This little corner is where I research new techniques, take online courses, write and dream up whatever creative project I’ve decided to get myself into next.
Table in the making!
Table in the making!
I found this fabulous red pedestal table for FREE and was ridiculously excited to give it a new home in my studio.
One small problem: the tabletop was enormous. Even removing the leaf didn’t help. It just became a giant circle of wasted space I couldn’t reach across.
So, after a little pondering and some creative MacGyvering, I removed the legs from my existing table and fitted its top onto the red pedestal base. Problem solved!
The plan was to strip and stain the top a deep espresso colour and paint the skirt red to match the base.
Has that happened yet? No.
Does the table work beautifully? Absolutely.
Future Linda can deal with the refinishing. She has plenty of time. Presumably.
Can't avoid the clutter..
Can't avoid the clutter..
The one downside of a working art studio? The clutter.
And when I say “clutter,” I say it with love and appreciation! I use these supplies constantly, so keeping them within easy reach makes far more sense than hiding everything away.
Besides, I prefer to think of it as creative abundance. Sounds much better, doesn’t it?
It's the pretty things!
It's the pretty things!
You’ve heard me say it time and time again: surround yourself with things that bring you joy.
If it isn’t useful, beautiful or doesn’t make your heart sing, why are you keeping it?
My studio is filled with little treasures, vintage finds and beautiful things that make me happy every time I walk through the door.
Practical? Not always. Beautiful? Absolutely. ❤️
Beautiful storage
Beautiful storage
I bought this old chimney cabinet at a live auction on a hot summer night in August 1996. I remember the date rather well — I went into labour in the early hours of the following morning! So yes, this cabinet holds a very special place in my heart.
Chimney cabinets were originally made to fit into spaces left behind when fireplaces were no longer in use. They created a lovely built-in look and were often used to store quilts and blankets.
Mine has a slightly different calling these days. It holds the art supplies I don’t use regularly, keeping everything neatly tucked away behind that beautiful old door.
A little history, a little sentiment, and a whole lot of paint supplies. Perfect.
What every studio needs!
What every studio needs!
One of the biggest frustrations with my former studio was the lack of space for larger paintings. I was limited to canvases around 2′ × 3′, and even those presented challenges!
When designing this studio, I made sure to leave one wall intentionally white, with just a hint of blue to tie it into the rest of the room.
That wall gives me the freedom to work on much larger canvases without feeling as though I’m painting inside a dollhouse.
And because I’m apparently incapable of leaving well enough alone, I’m always on the lookout for an old carpenter’s bench to complete the setup.
There’s always room for one more vintage find. Somewhere.
Vintage boxes
Vintage boxes
I’m forever on the lookout for beautiful vintage boxes.
They’re perfect for storing all those useful little things that aren’t necessarily beautiful to look at. Trowels, scrapers, mark-making tools… you know, the glamorous side of being an artist.
Everything has its place, and preferably that place comes with a little history and character.
Et Voilà!
Et Voilà!
This might just be the most stunning little studio sink nook of all time! From the quartz countertop to the clean lines of the white subway tile, I love every little detail.
There’s even a light and an outlet in there, should I ever need them. And although you can’t see it in the photo, there’s crown moulding, too.
Feeling so grateful!
This beauty has a lovely drying tray for my basins and brushes, and the pull-out faucet makes cleaning up a breeze.
When it was first installed, I almost didn’t want to use it for fear of getting it dirty! I kept reminding myself… that’s what it’s for. That’s what it’s for.
UPDATE: It’s now gloriously messy and covered in paint. As it should be!
The quartz countertop is stunning! It’s easy to maintain, and with a little help from my Bar Keepers Friend cleanser, I’m hoping to keep stains at bay.
And did I mention those beautiful subway tiles?!
A FEW OF MY STUDIO MUST-HAVES
❤️ Beautiful things that bring me joy
❤️ Crystal vessels to hold my brushes and supplies
❤️ Scented candles | oil diffuser
❤️ A crystal chandelier
❤️ Vintage film playing in the background
❤️ Antique tables in lieu of traditional work tables
❤️ If I could control the weather - moody skies and thunderstorms
From a little corner to a studio of my own
When I first moved into this house, all the rooms were spoken for, so I carved out a little space for myself in the basement. It was small, but it was mine. And there’s something wonderful about being able to shut the door and walk away from the mess!
Every square inch of that tiny room had a purpose. Believe me, I could barely turn around without bumping into something! At the time, I was mainly creating design work for The Artist Club magazine, and my paintings were much smaller, so the space suited me perfectly.
But my creative world kept growing. Eventually, I was working on canvases as large as four by five feet, with bigger paint tubes, bigger jars, bigger tools… and considerably less room to move. I began to feel as though I was painting in a dollhouse!
The move upstairs gave me the space I needed, including a dedicated wall for larger pieces, beautiful natural light, and, of course, my beloved crystal chandelier.
Some things never change, though. I still love slipping into my painting clothes, putting on an old movie, and picking up my brushes.
When I shut that studio door, I shut the world out. ❤️
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