Before & After: Basement Turned Light-Filled Art Studio

Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold is the Executive Editor of Cubby, and one of Apartment Therapy Media’s first full-time editors from way back when. She was The Kitchn's founding Design and Lifestyle Editor as well as Managing Editor of Re-Nest, Apartment Therapy’s late '00s green living site. She…read more
updated May 6, 2019
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Cluttered basement with exposed pipes, storage boxes, a red snowblower, and an American flag on the wall.
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

This basement makeover, submitted to us by Re-Nest reader Sarah of cafe + dish, shows just how transformative a few coats of white paint can be. As she writes: “Living in Boston, space is at a premium. The studio is in a “garden-level” part of the basement, so I used lots of white paint to brighten the space. What once was a very dark and dingy corner of a basement is now one of my favorite spaces…”

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BEFORE (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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tan sofa on pink chair

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“The renovation took about a week combined to complete. I had to spend a few days cleaning and prepping the space first (we have a 100-year old condo and the basement shows its age). Then my (carpenter) father traveled 900 miles and built the wall, installed the door, and installed the electrical outlets in 2 days. I spent several days after that painting, painting, and painting the space bright white to reflect the natural sunlight.

I would encourage people interested in carving out a creative space to think beyond the obvious. When space is at a premium, consider attic spaces, walk-in closets, corners of dining rooms, or dead-end hallways. Don’t wait for perfection, but embrace what you have!”

• Read More: Art Studio: Before & After at cafe + dish

Thanks, Sarah!

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before & after
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