Back in January, we shared the “before” photos and inspiration for our new studio space that was currently in-progress. Well, like most renovation projects, it took a teensy bit longer than expected to get it all photo shoot-ready, but I’m so excited to finally share it here in all its white walled, wood floored, marble counter topped glory! I asked our resident interiors expert, Claire Zinnecker, to help me with the project, especially getting her advice on choosing the finishes and furniture pieces. She has such a great eye and our aesthetics are really similar — plus I knew that working with her would make it a really fun, collaborative experience. Click through all the photos to see the BEFORE shots (yikes!), how it all came together, and the special details that make it such a great place to work and be creative (honestly, I kind of want to move in…)
photos by Jessica Pages.
*sources: parsons desk with drawers and bentwood office chairs, both from west elm // satya rug from lulu and georgia // chandelier from lindsey adelman.
When we stumbled upon this 1930’s bungalow in downtown Austin, it needed a lot of love, but I immediately fell for its charm as well as its close proximity to so many of my teams’ favorite restaurants and watering holes. It had great bones, but I knew that the yellowish cabinets, tile backsplash and carpet in the back half of the house would have to go. Oh, and all the light fixtures, too.
A fresh coat of white paint and clean, modern fixtures went a long way in transforming our studio space. This room thankfully had the original wood floors that just needed a bit of polishing. Since our studio is the scene of frequent photo shoots, food styling, and recipe testing, we needed a space that would photograph beautifully and could be transformed to fit whatever we’re shooting, so we kept the bigger furniture pieces simple and classic. Windows on each wall let in tons of beautiful light.
*sources: metal truss work table and industrial pendants, both from west elm // flowers by the nouveau romantics.
A bar cart in the corner of the dining room adds a decorative touch and a much-needed surface for storing entertaining essentials. We can wheel it around, and deck it out in different ways depending on what we’re shooting. If you’re on the hunt for one of your own, these are our 10 favorites.
I stock mine with items I know we’ll actually be using for shoots so that they’re within easy reach… ditto with ingredients I know I’ll want to use for mixing up a happy hour cocktail.
On to our workspace! We chose these white lacquered Parsons desks from West Elm and added interest by layering on plenty of pattern, texture and metallic touches that could be added or subtracted to fit the mood. Now when I walk through the front door, the entire space feels like a breath of fresh air, and I’m inspired to get to work and be my most creative self.
*sources: parsons desk with drawers and bentwood office chairs, both from west elm // satya rug from lulu and georgia // chandelier from lindsey adelman.
I think that indoor plants are the quickest and most cost-effective way to transform a space. A cactus is great for those with a black thumb (me) since it requires nothing more than monthly watering.
Every creative space has got to have an inspiration board! Don’t get me wrong, no one loves Pinterest more than team CS, but there’s something to be said for doing it the old-school way and ripping a gorgeous page out of a magazine, letting it greet you when you walk through the doors each morning.
Wish we had flowers by The Nouveau Romantics on our desks every single day!
On to the kitchen! We wanted to make this space as light and bright as possible for our cooking and cocktail shoots, so out came the granite countertops and tile backsplash…
… and in came a coat of bright white paint, wood floors, marble countertops and new stainless appliances that completely transformed the space into a clean canvas that would let our more creative touches take center stage. I love this shot of our designer Claire and me — you’d never know the countless hours, trips to Home Depot, physical labor, and phone calls to contractors that made this space come together. So worth it, though!
*sources: accessories and serving pieces from west elm, anthropologie and serena & lily // all appliances are electrolux.
One of the biggest changes we made was tearing out all the upper cabinets and installing floating shelves in their place. It opened up the entire kitchen in a major way, and allowed us to display our prettiest props and serving pieces as decorative touches. A mix of marble surfaces and wood accents blends earthiness with a luxe vibe.
*sources: accessories and serving pieces from west elm, pottery barn, anthropologie and serena & lily
I wanted my office to feel light and happy, incorporating more masculine, organic pieces (like this table) with feminine details displayed on the open shelving behind me. It’s amazing how much energy I get from working in surroundings that I love.
*sources: metal truss work table and bentwood office chair, both from west elm // hitch bookcase from blu dot // pally cowhide rug from lulu and georgia.
I usually have a really clean desktop, but there’s always room for a few pretty embellishments. Peonies, a great-smelling candle, and vintage scissors add a touch of romance while still letting the beautiful wood of this table shine.
When working with a massive bookcase like this one, I divide and conquer. Smaller groups of books get broken up by interesting objects to keep the eye moving — and help you find your favorite titles more easily!
*sources: agate bookends, wood object and brass sculpture, all from west elm.
I have a little collection of natural statement-making pieces like shells and wood objects, and mix them in with books, candles and other objéts for a rich-feeling vignette. Incorporating items in varying heights adds a sense of balance.
A full-length mirror for last minute outfit/makeup checks before photo shoots is a pretty, practical addition to the space.
*sources: etched chevron floor mirror, martini side table, and mini geodesic table lamp, all from west elm.
An eye-catching nook can go a long way in making a small room feel luxurious. When I stumbled on this emerald velvet settée, I knew it was just the bold statement I was looking for. Claire sprayed the mirror gold to add a touch of glamour (get the DIY here), and layered an eclectic mix of vintage pillows for a bohemian vibe.
*sources: elton settée (on sale!) from west elm, pillows are vintage, plant stand DIY here, mirror DIY here.
Our marble-topped meeting table gets a touch of glamour with this sculptural sphere, and a mix of simple succulents and a couple of blooms is both pretty and earthy.
The entire process has been fun, challenging, occasionally stressful, and most definitely a great learning experience in so many ways. It’s been really exciting to see our original inspiration boards come to life! Get ready to see the space as the backdrop for all kinds of photo and video stories we’ll be telling here on the site, and feel free to leave comments with any questions you have about the space or furniture pieces – happy to answer!
To see more of Jessica’s work, click here!
