From ugly office to photo studio, phase 2 - and a celebration

 

My house is really difficult to photograph in. The day has to be juuuuust right with plenty of sunshine. And anyone who resides on the Wet Coast of BC Canada knows that just isn't happening this year yet at all.

So rather than just whine about it, I'm doing something about it.

Remember this room I deemed The Ugly Office, Phase One?

The best thing that ever happened to me was having a work computer crash on me during a power surge. (was that too optimistic? I'll try and tone it down)

You see, I was pinched for room with this new staging thing taking shape, so my needs were changing at a pretty fast rate. I needed room for my stuff. So I cleaned up the desk to get a decent photo shoot of it to sell.

I had it all nice and uploaded to craig's list when I realized I didn't want to sell it at all. So I gave it away to a good cause instead.

And in moved my... junk.

Please don't hate me for my good planning here...

You see, I had planned for the far wall to house floor to ceiling storage for the staging riff raff. But my needs changed in the nick of time yet again. It became apparent that I had to loose the junk room because I REALLY needed the room for a photo studio instead.

This is the best little room in the entire house to take photos. The natural light is the charm.

 The view of the dug up septic tank isn't half bad either!

It really pays to have a good sense of humor, doesn't it?

This beautiful pine ceiling has been in this unfinished state for... 2 years now? Or is it 3? I don't remember. Can you tell painting pine planks wasn't on my list of fun that day? I quickly got the nitty gritty done before the electrician arrived and called it a day year/s.

 

Down came the bulletin board walls. This end wall will be the main background for most photoshoots.

The (woof!) contractor above requested a proof of some potential cool in the room, so I started playing abit...

Hmmmm... yeah, that might work...

My favorite spackle in the whole wide world to date is Shur Stik. It's got a whipped consistency which makes drying time fly and is very easy to sand smooth. LOVE this stuff.

I generally do 2 coats total, sometimes 3, allowing each to dry in between followed by a light sanding with a sponge sander.

This is one sad tale. In a nutshell, the wiring in this room wasn't completed, so I attempted to move the works out of the room. And lost the net connection in the process. I'm not good with numbers nor wires, so back it all came and there it sits, further taunting me.

All primed! Talk about instant sunshine!

And whoever came up with the notion that darker colours make a room appear smaller wasn't here today to witness the opposite effect. Dark colours push walls back. White makes walls come forward. But I have some cool plans ahead. Let's hope they all work out.

And with that wet primer on the roller and brush, the ceiling got hit too.

Helloooo makin' headway! The primer I used as an indoor outdoor latex with a stainblocker, which is best for unfinished wood.

I personally love Cloverdale Paint found in Canada. Any paint suppliers wish for me to try others and talk about it? Call me. I'm FAR from finishing this house. :)

Ohhh, I've been waiting for this moment forever...

Even though the carpet was in PERFECT shape, I couldn't fathom it in every photoshoot. I needed much more versatile plans,  so...

... I cut it and held my breath. And was pleasantly surprised there was no gunk attached to the concrete below! I'll be ripping it up and crossing my fingers I don't find dreadful surprises... eep.

And let's also take a moment of silence to say goodbye to THESE. My (not what you think) Ikea purchases await install day!

Stay tuned for more updates on the photo studio, what I did with my junk and...

what I'm doing with my clothes that are strewn all over my hallway upstairs. I had commissioned my son to help me build a closet tonite. He went to bed at 7:30 instead. Huh... if that's all it takes to get the boy to bed early, I'll buy more closets!

Seriously, he's just excited about our plans. His theory is the earlier he hits the hay, the sooner tomorrow comes. No worries, the closet will wait for him just fine. :)

Curious... do you have issues with photos indoors as well? 

How do you get around it?

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