Mid-Century Modern Studio Remodel

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn adds mid-century modern flair to his dull, cramped bonus room to create an exciting new space.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Refreshed Styling

From the ceiling all the way down to the floor, every detail of the room was changed to create Brian’s dream design studio. To keep the rest of the home's silver and dark brown palette present in the space, the designer chose dark wood kitchen cabinetry outfitted as workspace storage. Since red-orange is the branding color both for Brian’s residential design business and his website, Decor Demon, he chose it as the room's accent color used in the floors, upholstery, seating and a custom bulletin board.

Dark, Cramped Beginning

In its original state, the basement’s bonus room was dark and cramped. The dated carpet and stippled effect ceiling created a disconnect from the home’s overall mid-century modern vibe.

Bold Design

Originally referred to as a bonus area, it was important the new space function as a studio workspace with the warm feeling of a living room. To achieve two different feels---one for work, the other for reading and conversation---he opted for the workstation to sit at counter height and the meeting/lunch table to sit at table height.

1960s Flair

To play up the mid-century modern architecture of the house and its 1960's decor, polished chrome was the finish of choice for hardware.

Convenient Storage Solution

Entirely giving up the room’s closet space meant squeezing every inch of storage possible out of the newly installed cabinetry. Pull-out doors conceal three-tier drawer systems which house business cards, flyers, paint fan decks and samples.

Custom Display Shelving

Brian Patrick Flynn displays some of his treasured collectibles in three pre-fab, melamine bookshelf units. The back of the shelves is painted a bold red-orange tone, and 1X2 trim nailed to the front of each shelf create a custom, built-in look.

Useful Item Display

Flynn, a prop stylist, displays some of the items he uses in shoots alongside design necessities like fabric bins.

Vintage Accessories and Collectibles

The 1960s and 1970s are present in many details of the space, including design books, vintage toy robots and ceramic Star Wars keepsakes.

Exciting Closet Transformation

A reach-in closet was transformed into an upholstered sleeping nook that can be used by guests.

Soft, Quiet Upholstered Walls

To soften the sleeping nook and make it a quiet place to doze, its walls and ceilings were lined with two layers of batting then upholstered.

Vintage Lighting

A vintage, chrome and Lucite pendant light fixture from the 1970s replaced a single, flush-mount ceiling fixture that lit the room poorly.

Clean, Refreshed Ceiling

The old popcorn ceilings were sanded off and clad in bead board sprayed with flat white paint.

Original_Brian-Patrick-Flynn-designers-studio-fabric-bulletin-board_s3x4

A custom bulletin board made of oriented strand board covered with batting and upholstered with a white and orange print fabric gives a place for the designer to post the elements of his projects as he works.

Luxurious Upholstered Door

To transition the dark brown and silver tones from the rest of the house into the studio, the hollow-core, contractor grade door was replaced with a designer upgrade door upholstered in dark brown faux leather and adorned with bronze nail heads.