Johanna & Derek’s Airy Live/Work Studio

Name: Johanna Lowe, food and prop stylist, and Derek Richmond, food photographer; together, they are the co-founders of Richmond Lowe Studio.
Location: Logan Square; Chicago, Illinois
Size: 3,000 square feet, with an additional 2,000 square feet of outdoor space
Years lived in: 7 months; Rented

Could there be a more perfect pairing than a food and prop stylist and a food photographer? After moving into this breathtaking and loftlike space housed in a former warehouse in Logan Square, Johanna and Derek began Richmond Lowe Studio as a photography production and rental studio with a food focus, making this place the beautiful hub of their home and work lives.

As a food and prop stylist who is originally from England, Johanna skillfully infuses the industrial space with a sense of home. Metal and wood elements mingle with cozy cupboards and inherited furniture to create a place that feels highly functional but also unmistakably warm. Some of my favorite pieces are the antique and thrift store finds, including beautiful dishes, tins, wood crates, and kitchen-related curios. In addition to her work as a stylist and the studio, Johanna has also used her expertise to found Martyn George, an online shop filled with “curated culinary objects,” a fantastic collection for those that love everything hearth-related.

Richmond Lowe Studio is one of those transformative spaces that makes you feel like you have traveled somewhere completely different than where you’ve just been. It is as though it exists out of time and, to a certain extent, out of Chicago, with its huge and well-manicured outdoor spaces, all contained within thick brick walls, that still create the impression of airy openness. Walking through the front entryway and into the arched main studio area immediately brings a sense of calm and purpose. It’s easy to see why Johanna, Derek, and many others are able to do such excellent creative work here.

Our Style: An eclectic mix of functional design and a time-loved aesthetic.

Inspiration: Life, form and function.

Favorite Element: The radiant floor heat, bow truss ceilings, and 14 foot perimeter privacy wall.

Biggest Challenge: Changing a light fixture that’s 21 feet up in the air!

What Friends Say: Wow! Can I stay here?

Biggest Embarrassment: They’re all in boxes in the garage.

Proudest DIY: Changing a light fixture that’s 21 feet up in the air.

Biggest Indulgence: Restoration Hardware bed linens.

Best Advice: Buy a tall ladder.

Dream Sources: 1st Dibs and the next estate sale

• All white landlord paint

Thanks, Johanna and Derek!

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