I’ve been enjoying house projects lately. They keep my hands busy, and my mind still. We’ve been in our current house for six years, and over that time, our project list has accumulated. We’ve done some big things, like replacing the windows and AC unit, and painting the exterior. We also installed a theatre system in our basement, because we’re major streaming addicts. Most of the remaining projects are small and pertain to the second floor of our house, since the first floor was renovated just before we moved in.

We’ve considered moving several times, and even looked at houses. However, the more we looked, the more it became clear how much we love our current house. It’s cozy, bright, and feels like home. We love the nature in the neighborhood too. We have plenty of space, but it’s not too large. It feels just right. I love the overall design of it too. Fun fact, our house was featured on Apartment Therapy before we moved in.

Our only complaint, and it’s a big one, is that our home doesn’t have great workspaces. It isn’t ideal for two people who work from home full-time. It’s ironic, because our house is probably too big for us at the moment. Despite that, it’s missing a dedicated office. Two would be ideal. Our last house, which was smaller, had a huge workroom off the family room. It suited my needs as an artist perfectly. At the time, Ryan was working at a corporate office full-time, so we didn’t need a second workspace.

Right now, I’m working in three different rooms of our house, and Ryan is working in an upstairs bedroom. My printers are in the basement, because it’s climate controlled and there’s plenty of space. While I print, I have to camp out down there to monitor printing. I make and edit my artwork in an upstairs bedroom. That’s about all I can do in that room though, because Ryan is on the phone all day next door and I don’t want to make too much noise. Then, I package my prints in our upstairs loft, because it’s the only space that has shelves. The loft isn’t very usable though, because it’s poorly insulated - freezing the winter and hot in the summer. Needless to say, this work arrangement has been wearing on me for years. As my Etsy shop has grown, the amount of space I need has too. Over time, I’ve realized how important it is to have a functional space as an artist. I used to just need a desk, and now I need so much more. For someone who is visual, I know this current situation isn’t helping me produce my best work. I would sacrifice so many other rooms in our home just to have a workable art studio. Pretty much every room, if I’m being honest. I spend the majority of time making art, so it’s technically the most important space to me.

I’ve mulled over the idea of renting space, but I really like being home with Ryan and our dogs all day. We love spending time together, taking breaks to walk and eat lunch. We considered building an addition, but that seems silly since there’s only the two of us. Maybe that’s a future project, because we really don’t need more space right now. We just need to make better use of our current space. After years of doing nothing, I realized I finally just needed to make a decision. Now is the perfect time, because I feel energized to do the work. It’s also been a tough year, and this is probably the nicest gift I can give myself. So, we decided to redo my packaging room and turn it into a full-on art studio that can house my daily operations. I recently moved some desks into this room to make sure the space works, and it does. So, now I’m guns blazing, ready to tackle this project.

First, we’re going to fix the heating and cooling issues in the loft, so I’m able to put my smaller printers upstairs. Those are the ones I do the majority of my printing on. The nice thing about my packaging room is that it’s an addition, so it’s pretty sound proof - away from Ryan’s office. That way, I can make as much noise as I want filming videos, cutting paper, and playing music. Then, I’m hoping to use some major space saving techniques to fit all my supplies in there. Top it off with a coat of paint, some additional lighting, and window treatments, and I think it could be the perfect space. It’s not huge, but it does have all the storage I need. I think it could work.

As I continue working on this project, I’ll keep you all posted with updates. So far, we’ve met with an electrician and insulation company. I’ve also ordered a rug and a light for my space (below). That’s about it so far. My goal is to have the project completed by November, because that’s when my busy season starts with shipping art prints. I’m just hoping I can hold myself accountable. I have a bad habit of letting projects fall by the wayside. Along with this project, we’re also renovating our upstairs bathroom, which is just off of the loft. I’ll share updates on that as well.