Much envy here! I love that you are able to make a dedicated space for your artistic inspirations. Wish I had done something similar decades ago, instead of giving up. Not that I am totally failing to attempt any artistic efforts, but just the thought of getting supplies in order & finding space that would be handy makes me just want to take a nap, lol.

But Grandma Moses didn't lift a paint brush until she was 70, and look what happened for her! Might I entertain beginning again at 80? LOLOL. Ah, pipe dreams...

Eighty is NOT too old for anything — one of my fave golf buddies just shot her personal best golf game st age 85! For me the intensity of creating something is a kind of a relaxation—of the executive function.

While I have been painting in oils and acrylics for years, I just started painting in watercolor last summer. Nearly three weeks of daily instruction and practice on the Queen Mary and I was hooked! I’m still using other media (taking a n acrylic class next month to do a portrait of our dog!) but watercolor is now 90% of my focus in art. Honestly I was afraid that if I did not devote some physical space to this endeavor I would not give it the mental space it deserves.

What great natural light your studio has! It is already looking great.

Yes the light is fantastic! This is the view

And this is one of the Flor carpet tiles I am looking at

Shown here in a kids’ playroom😎

What a great and useful studio! I especially love that you added the chair and ottoman, looks so cozy.

Such a pleasant space!

Just the thought of assembling any Ikea piece makes me want to go on vacation. I admire your willingness to take on the task.

Do you need carpet or is it to prevent paint stains. The present carpeting is a nice neutral.

The Flor carpet is 18” x 18” tiles tiles, easily changed if one is ruined. i’m also looking for a little lighter look. The stripes are very busy so I probably would not use that exact pattern, it’s more the feel I like.

It will look splendid!

It looks amazing KSWL! What a perfect creative space you’ve put together in a blink of an eye.

Very nice! Really like the lamp and the pressed hydrangeas.

Putting together furnitire is awful. I feel for you there!

Brava! Highest and best use of a spare room for you! I have always wanted to use FLOR but it was never the right thing somehow.

Can you do a wall of corkboard over your drafting table?

I love watercolor paintings - I've enjoyed seeing the little cards that you've posted from time to time. The light in that room is very nice. Now that you have set up that space, I hope you share more of your art with us!

I've never bought anything from IKEA - however, I've heard that the instructions are all pictures (no words) - and a bit frustrating. Congrats on getting your pieces constructed. I know someone who has that storage piece (she liked it so much that she's purchased a few more of them for her craft room).

pssst, i love assembling Ikea furniture

Thank you everyone for the positive feedback! I am absurdly pleased 🥳

Mtn I considered a cork board but the table is too wide to reach easily so it wouldn’t be a good use of space. Looking at options for something more colorful! adding.…..where where you Thursday and Friday?????

Loving your new studio space! And you worked at "Sue" speed to put it all together. No notes.

Love it! We put a chair and ottoman in our office room. It's a nice spot to read, etc.

The only thing I might change is the flooring. What flooring is in your other main rooms? When we built, I made the mistake of putting hardwood in the main rooms (dining, great room, master bedroom, hallway, foyer) but carpeted the other two bedrooms. It wasn't long until we wanted the carpet gone and the hardwood continued into those rooms. Easy to maintain and if you were worried about spills, you could use an inexpensive rug until you move your studio downstairs. Just an idea. (PS - corkboard is a good idea!)

Love it! I suspect this could double as a craft room when the grands visit? If so, the Flor is essential. Or will this be solely your room?

Nothing is solely mine in this world, lol. The grands will def be in here!

I do plan to change the flooring if I am here a year or more. Or if I find something great. Unfortunately the exact wood flooring in the rest of the house is no longer available and I think attempts to match a new floor to an old are rarely successful. We have another bedroom just across the hall from this one that is also in shades of blue, so if I change this room I will change that one with the same stuff.

I could never rival Sueb for speed— what took me a week would probably take her 48 hours! My saving grace was that as soon as I emailed a request to the women’s shelter thrift store for a pickup they came the very next day, and the furniture was also delivered that day. A confluence of good luck!

And this evening, the first paintings in my new space!

A 6x8” vase of flowers. I am working on painting glass— windows, vases, etc. (hint: hard!!)

A new birthday card still drying and taped to a board. These small paintings are my happy place!