Studio Progress: 24 Hours Later....

Yesterday I shared that I was going to go bold or go home and paint the focal wall of my studio in a deep gray, Intellectual by Behr.  As a reminder, here is what I started with....

After I got done hitting publish on my post yesterday morning, I went straight to the studio and started painting.  No turning back.  Let's do this!

One coat later....

{we all love a messy "in progress" picture right?}

Holy bananas!  It was suddenly a completely different space.  Like 100% in yo face different.  So dramatic.  So intense.  So scary fun.  My instagut told me I loooooved it.  And I would find myself running back into the room to gaze and oooh and ahh....  Amazing what a quart of paint can do.

Two coats later and it was done!  With the exception of some touch-ups of course...

Some things to note:

• We added a new cap to the cabinets to extend them all the way to the ceiling {post on that coming soon}.
• The upper cabinets are getting new shelves.  They originally came with one.  Half the reason I didn't like the initial storage is because one shelf wasn't enough.  We are making our own shelves to add a second one to each cabinet. 
• The cabinet doors are also white.  Once we install the white shelves and doors, it will break up the gray in the backs of the cabinets.  I am contemplating leaving the middle door off, but we will see how it all looks as we go.
• The white is such an amazing contrast to the deep gray, it's so nice and crisp.
• The gray will act as a sophisticated and bold backdrop to all of the accessories and storage that will come in next.
• I updated the lighting in the studio to three daylight bulbs, and that made a world of difference.  I was really, really concerned that the deep gray would be too "heavy" and the space wouldn't be able to accommodate the update.  But amazingly, all of the white cabinets, counter and other light furniture really balance it and the room still feels nice and bright!   

I am so happy I took a risk and finally just did something down there!  It wasn't what I initially envisioned or planned, but I am really happy with how it is all playing out.  Finding that swatch and looking at inspiration photos really gave me the push I needed to do something bold and different and take a risk from my original plan.  And that pink craft cart paired with the new gray makes my heart swoon.  I also love that it works so well with other bright and bold colors, which I definitely will have plenty of as I start bringing in storage and accessories.

24 hours later and the studio is a whole new place!  Here is a quickie before and after of the dramatic difference the paint made.

Now I am even more excited to keep pluggin' away to get this space up and running!  Here is a list of things still on my studio "to do" list:

• Install shelving
• Install cabinet doors
• Install cabinet hardware
• Determine remaining storage needs
• Shop my home and purchase storage for all of the studio itty bits
• Hang art
• Recover thrift store chair 
• Officially move back in and enjoy the space!