Way Beyond Spring Cleaning

Wow, what a big week I had last week!  I am still recovering!  I spent the week in Manhattan renovating the Upper East Side Studio.  We basically gutted the place.  I have to admit, it was an absolute blast and so oddly cleansing.  Our neighbors on the street kept telling me I was crazy for renovating.  They thought the studio was lovely, but it just looked worn and so “yesterday” to me.  It looked cluttered and needed a fresh new look. We painted, tiled the floor and put in new carpeting in the camera room.  We got rid of all stand-alone shelves and put absolutely everything up on metal rails on the walls in our new design room. We covered our frame sample wall in gorgeous belgian linen drapery to further reduce the cluttered look.

CK went green last year in going from film photography to digital. In doing so, we were able to cut our environmental footprint in half!  So for our new furniture, we wanted to choose environmentally responsible furnishings. Our new desk, credenza and 8 foot long communal design table are all made from salvaged wood.  The rugs and draperies are made from natural fibers and all of the metal pieces are made from salvaged metals.  Distressed and salvaged goes well with kids!

New in this studio is our emphasis on very large canvas art in gorgeous simple and modern framing.  When you see the artwork in person you will see the truth in our motto “Your Kids are Art.”  Children are one of the planet’s most spectacularly beautiful things and they are a natural for featuring in signature artwork for your home. We still also love multiple photo sets and those remain featured on the rails in the design room.  It is amazing how a small wall with a very large print on it can be absolutely stunning!  I tend to like my art either really big or really small. Next up?  Our Greenwich studio starts renovations in 10 days!  Woo hoo!

-Julie

Here is our redone design room.  This 8 foot long counter height table is a dream!  It comfortably seats 10! Everything we need for our design work is within a step or two from the table….including a great glass of pinot grigio or a cup of steaming Nespresso!

 

This gorgeous 8 foot long credenza made of salvaged wood has sooooo many wonderful drawers, perfect for all of our price lists, brochures, etc.  The industrial towers are reclaimed metal and wood. See the large Great Dane?  His name is Sir Lexington.  Kids are loving him!  We’ll see how long he stays white!  The newborn portrait is one of Lindsay’s favorites and is 40 x 60!

 

This is our little reception table with tufted armchairs in natural belgian linen. Portrait is 40 x 60 and one of our favorites!

 

This is what you will see when walking in!  No computers, no phones, no cables or wires, just a gorgeous open space with cool art.  We hope our clients will feel so wonderful in our new space they won’t want to leave!  I know I didn’t.  When it was time to return to Chicago, I felt like I had a really long labor and gave birth to a beautiful baby and then had to leave it behind in NYC!.  Let me know how you like it!