Magic can happen in a studio. — Benny Green
I’ve been promising a peek into my new studio for awhile now but it’s been a much longer road than we originally planned on but moving day has finally arrived.
A little background
Our home has been reinvented quite a few times over its 125 year life. Each iteration left behind its own reminders. The old wood floors and beamed ceilings hint at its original purpose – the village general store and community meeting hall.
In the 1960’s, one of the storekeepers built an apartment on the second floor. Sometime in the 1990’s the first floor store added a fish and chip restaurant with a separate dining hall outside overlooking the Bay of Fundy. That’s the smaller blue building to the right in the photo below.
Finally, a previous owner turned it into a home and a few years later, we entered the picture.
The Summer House
When we bought this place 2 years ago, we called that small blue outbuilding the “summer house”. We had no idea what to do with it, if anything. It became kind of a catch-all, storing stuff from the move we didn’t have a place for and firewood for the winter
Since our attention was elsewhere, we ignored it that first year, waiting for inspiration to strike.
Making it up as we go
The truth is, since our decision to move here we’ve been making it up as we go. All our working lives we were planners with defined goals and an action plan to get there – most of which didn’t work out as planned. One day we decided to try something completely different and follow that still, small voice of intuition. We would look for where we are being led, rather than running ahead, trying to control the outcome.
I’m happy to report this approach works amazingly well!
That’s why, one morning when I woke up, I looked at my husband and said, “We’ve got the perfect setup. Let’s try a BnB.”
And he replied, “Sure. Why not?”
Seriously. That simple.
The BnB idea worked out so well, we added a second bedroom suite – which meant my studio and his workshop needed new quarters. Luckily, we had the right spot waiting.
Work begins
Last winter, my husband divided his time between the second BnB suite and the studio/workshop. First thing he had to do was level it up because it was sliding downhill towards the Bay.
Then he opened up the sides, rebuilding and insulating as he went along. You can see the beautiful view I have from the studio windows. It’s also north facing so the light is perfect!
In order to echo the Maritime flavour of the buildings and homes around us we went with board and batten siding and a gray stain. I love it and we’ve had lots of positive comments from the neighbours.
The New Studio
The studio area is now dry walled and painted and I’m moving in this week. There’s trim work to be done and closet doors to go on but I can still work with that going on around me.
Once I’ve got things set up so I can paint and host workshops (and lots of paintings hung on that deep red wall) I’ll share more photos. Watch for Part 2 of this post.
Right now I have to run. I’ve got shelves to fill and paintings to hang!
Please share the URL for your BnB listing when you get to it! My husband may not ever get talked into it, but at least I can share it with my traveling friends. The view of the water is wonderful. I love thinking of you there.
Thanks for asking, Elizabeth. The link to our profile page is . From there, people can view either of our suites. We’d love to have you come for a visit!
This is looking great! Can’t wait for my next visit to see the final outcome and to see the woodshed I helped with (well a little bit) 😉
Would love to see you again and show off my new space. I’ve been putting stuff away today but I have the work bench all set to do some painting tomorrow. Colour me happy!
The space and property look so perfect and inviting to share time in a beautiful setting. A perfect place for creative works. My Mother’s place in Barrington, N.S. had the Barn for art projects and the Bay of Fundy right there. I always enjoyed the cool weather, the fresh blueberries, the vegetables from the garden, clean sheets hung outside to dry and the stone fireplace for cool evenings. I can just imagine the haven that you and your husband are creating. And, you share it with guests. Marvelous. Thank you for the pictures.
You’re welcome. Nothing like the tides of Fundy for inspiration!