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Holiday

Maria’s Studio Dressed for the Holidays

By 12/13/2012January 28th, 201729 Comments

Every day I step on this plywood step that was made by my contractor for the interim until the Spring when all the concrete will be removed.

Every day I imagine what it will look like with a real stone step, bushes and a fabulous stone walkway from the house. Here’s what the exterior looked like before.

Inside though, we have made some progress. The reason why I’m not showing you an interior photo of our desk area is because we still need art on either side of the mirror that you can see. It looks very bare at the moment.

We gutted the inside which was a workshop when we bought it. This is what it looked like before.

Here’s what this end of the studio looked like for a little too long. That’s Markus who found chocolate on my desk and hid behind this desk to eat it, little rascal!

And here’s the after. I installed the cabinets, sink and faucet (from IKEA) so we could make tea, store drinks in the fridge, etc.

You can see that I continued the countertop to the 4″ on the backsplash because it was so close to the window sill. A row of tile would have looked silly.

 

 

I thought my kelly green tea in a tiffany box styled specifically for this photo was particularly inspired, haha.

If you are installing a laminate countertop I would choose grey or black. I chose grey because I’ll have a black tray on the counter with the polka dot mugs in it, etc.

And here is the before picture of the other side of the studio.

Here’s the fake, flocked tree I bought last year in January at 1/2 price.

 Love the blue poinsettia I found!

These acrylic reindeer are from Superstore. They look like they are made from glass.

 

I love my fake candles.

Hope you enjoyed the tour my lovelies!

Related posts:

Inspiration and my Tiffany Blue Office (in my last house)

Maria’s Office Organization: Before & After

Wreaths on Bookshelves

If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.

Download my eBook, How to Choose Paint Colours – It’s All in the Undertones to get my complete step-by-step system on how to get colour to do what you want.

To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!

If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.

29 Comments

  • Elise says:

    Where did you get your bookshelves? I love them. I need bookshelves for my house that are not too overpowering, but I have a lot of books.

    • Maria Killam says:

      These were from IKEA but they don’t sell them anymore.I love how thick the shelves are it looks more like built-in millwork especially because I had my contractor build a pedestal for them. Maria

  • I am inspired by your emerald green baubles with the tiffany blues..love that combination. I like your blue poinsettias too.

  • It all looks really stunning Maria. I think you will be able to work well in there 🙂
    Ruthie

  • Cherie says:

    I bet you just sit in there all giddy with joy. It’s a lovely place to work and entertain clients. I am not crazy for pastel colors used in Christmas decor, but you have made it look so beautiful, I may have to rethink that opinion. Merry Christmas!

  • Bonnie says:

    What a lovely pleasure it must be to go to work in such a nice setting.

  • I love it Maria! You are always so inspiring!!

  • wow…beautiful..I can barely get my house decorated never mind my office. Very impressed Maria esp. knowing how busy you must be. Merry Christmas!!

  • Jennifer Smith says:

    I love your office. I just bought a flocked tree myself and don’t like the way it looks decorated with my ornaments that I’ve collected over the years. I love your colors you’ve chosen. Thanks so much!

  • tara dillard says:

    Can’t wait to see the double axis shots.

    House to office. Office to house.

    Garden & Be Well , XO T

  • Susan@Susan Silverman Designs says:

    It is wonderful and so beautifully styled. So envious! You have this amazing studio to work in and I sit at my breakfast bar (it actually is an extra deep counter that extends into a 42″ breakfast round) with all my samples in my kitchen sideboard. This is what happens when you downsize. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Maria!

  • elaine says:

    you do gorgeous work! i am inspired! Elaine

  • Betty says:

    JUST WONDERFUL!!!!! Your clients must feel so comfortable and this is such a great example of your talent!!!! They can SEE that they will want YOU to help them! Where did you find those little candle lights?!!!! LOVE THEM and all you do! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXO
    Merry Christmas, Sweet Girl!

  • Diane says:

    Love all the blue and green. Now I wish I had an office like yours for all my interior design stuff!

  • Charlotte says:

    Great minds think alike! I have been using the same colors for my holiday decorations and LUhV them…though, you do them better, of course!!

  • Fran says:

    What a beautiful workspace, Maria! Love that polka-dot china!

  • Elise says:

    Another question: why only grey or black laminate? Curious.

    • Maria Killam says:

      Because it’s the most versatile, there are so many colours that would work with them both. I don’t like countertops laminate or stone that restrict you to a colour palette forever and ever. Maria

  • vgjohnson says:

    Absolutely stunning. Clean and Crisp. Love all the blues and the ribbons on the Christmas tree gifts with the flocked tree. I appreciated your advice about formica. Is that still your opinion if my cabinets are a dark Danish walnut stain? I’ve procrastinated some of my holiday decorating and you’ve inspired me to finish and be creative with it. Love your inspirations!

    • Maria Killam says:

      No if I had dark walnut stained cabinets I would choose something creamy with a cream backsplash. Maria

      • Mary says:

        Can I join this discussion? I love white counters with walnut cabinets. The high contrast looks so crisp to me. Thoughts?

  • karen says:

    Looks absolutely stunning Maria! Love the color combination and I also love the blue pointsettia. Wishing you a lovely Christmas season in your new updated home and Happy New Year.

  • mrsben says:

    LOVE your studio Maria. Well orchestrated! Would like to invest in a flocked tree, however having three trees now and not planning to put even one of them up this year ‘the hub’ would not be too pleased. 🙂 Even with the colours and decorations you chose, it looks very festive.

    Made a promise to myself that Xmas decorating would be kept to a minimum so only the outside has been done. Am far too busy, stripping wallpaper and priming each room, so decided to give myself a reprive BUT the shopping is all done and wrapped! Baking is next on the agenda.

  • teresa says:

    It’s stunning and looks so Scandinavian! Are you making your rice goodies again this year? So where did you get those little candles and how do they light up? I have the real ones which, of course, I can NEVER light! 🙁

    • Maria Killam says:

      HI Teresa,
      The candles are from a nursery called Art Knapps. And they don’t light up at all, they just have clips on the bottom to attach them to the tree.
      Thanks for your comment, I love the idea of real ones!
      Maria

  • Lindy says:

    Where did you get that awesome geometric mirror in the entryway to your studio?

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