Converting a Walk-In Closet Into a Divine Art Studio

By Candice Olson

So, to start, I ripped out a closet area and painted the whole room in a soft, creamy shade of paint. I even painted the cabinetry and added beautiful, new gold hardware. I then chose wallpaper for a feature wall that inspired the color choices and finishes for the room – a serene aqua-blue- and gold-patterned paper with a handcrafted quality.

I then created three zones in the room: a creative area, a computer station and a relaxing lounge. In the creative zone, I installed a 12-foot, continuous work surface in brushed gold with storage above and below.

In the work area, I installed a second work surface, complete with under cabinet lighting, with room for a computer and chair.

In the lounge area, I put in a sitting area with two canvas chairs, two mirrored cubes and a bunch of throw pillows. I grounded the seating arrangement with blue and cream carpet tiles that provide a splash of color and can be replaced if paint splashes on them.

For some extra elegance, I took the room’s existing wall of windows and mirrored doors and made it more sophisticated. I created a small bench seat in soft velvety blue upholstery, and I kept the mirrors but added transfers of Ashira’s favorite artist’s quotes in gold lettering. I then designed a drapery system that framed both of these areas with three, columnlike panels of lush, exotic drapery.

To further lighten up the room, I added movable track lights and even a funky helix-shaped fixture with teal and purple crystals in the lounge area.

I then added a miniature gallery of Ashira’s paintings and her kids’ creations, put in a host of vases, pillows, photos and other accents, and the room was complete.

This walk-in closet was wasted space in need of creative intervention. So I blended luxurious fabrics, unusual finishes and stylish details, and now Ashira has a room where she can relax, unleash her inner artist and create masterpiece after masterpiece. Now that’s divine!