Friday, March 16, 2012

The nesting instinct

It is strong in me. As much as I say my studio is just a workplace—a place of utility—I keep zhoozhing it up. Prettifying. Cozifying. It is a curse. Or maybe a gift. Well, whatever. It makes me happy. I finally got the loft all organized and stuff stored in the under-the-roof storage space, which looked organized yet chaotic when I finished. I needed to get it out of sight.

When planning the space I was thinking there would be doors on those storage spaces, but doors seem so heavy and so demanding of space. I considered curtains, roll-up blinds, shoji screens and finally landed on something really simple. They are simple, white fabric panels, hung on hooks. I made the panels and put three grommets at the top of each.  When I want to get into storage I can simply push part of a panel aside, or unhook part or all of a panel depending on how much space I need to work with. I rather like the simplicity of it. There are six panels all together, extending down one entire wall of the loft.






Then I recovered the cushion on my old wicker rocker with some fabric I bought at an estate sale awhile back.

And I made a pillow for the back. (It needs one) The pillow was made from a tee shirt my daughter and son-in-law brought to me from Ecuador. I don't really wear tee shirts and this one was a touch snug anyway, but I loved the graphic design! It says, in Spanish, "my Quito has a huge sun and starry nights".

Here is the shirt before I cut into it. I cut both the front and back of the shirt and used both thicknesses to give the front of the pillow more opacity and body. The back and the piping are navy blue linen. I think it makes a fabulous pillow. And it reminds me of Quito—a very happy place for me. I have another tee shirt from Ecuador that will likely become a second pillow.

My reading corner needs a light of some kind and maybe a little table. I think I need a trip to Ikea.

10 comments:

  1. I love your loft. It is cozy and inviting. The pillow is beautiful. I hope you spend many enjoyable hours in your special spot.

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  2. Ooh, nesting and Ikea can be a dangerous combo! I love your pillow though and think your drapes are going to work great. I had stuff hidden behind my design wall/drape and it was always a little dark back there, but with your ability to completely move the drapes to the side I think you've solved that problem. :-)

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  3. Anonymous6:44 AM

    Your loft is decorated so lovingly and is so beautiful. You have done a fabulous job. You have decorated, upholstered, mended...the list goes on and on. Is there nothing you cannot do????

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  4. All your hard work has paid off. It looks great and you have a nice space to enjoy.

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  5. Don't make it too cozy or Ray will try to move the man cave out to the loft!

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  6. Cushy and welcoming. Wish I could go to Ikea with you.

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  7. Julie7:57 AM

    Love the view out your round window

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  8. Love what you have done to this studio space, especially the chair! If my space looked like this I would stay there all day.

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  9. Great idea on the panels. Easy, not too expensive and very clean looking. It looks relaxing. I like your t-shirt idea too.

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