moving from A to B

After six months in our studio, we've realised the grass is greener at the front of the building so we are moving again.

In the photo above you can just see the studio in the middle of the building (big white bulkhead & stacks of succulents) and we'll move into the space at the front (decorative verandah & red bricks). It is the empty office and showroom for a local airconditioning company but will soon be transformed into the vintage prints studio/shop.

On the pros & cons list its a no-brainer decision: street frontage with windows on two sides, a lot less industrial looking than the current studio, better interior layout, not as hot and dusty, less direct sunlight and glare, two dedicated car parks for the shop, signage, and a smidge cheaper in terms of rent. Plus, we still get to keep our lovely neighbours - mookah.

We sign the lease this week and then we can get to work with a makeover and fitout. Having the current studio and shop for six months, I now have a better idea of what works in terms of layout, display and the divide between the working space and shop. I've done a floorplan, a furniture list, and worked out zones for different activities. There'll be a main shop space, an office/business space, a large workroom/storage space, a kitchen and a bathroom.

We started painting today, having picked three shades of grey. The image below was my inspiration – all my vintage and wooden shop furniture will look great against the grey backdrop. Plus it will really make the the paper products – most printed on white paper – pop. At least that's the plan.

* I wish I remember where I got this image...

I'm taking lots of BREFORE, DURING, AFTER photos as a record of how much the space will change and just in case some fabulous design blog wants to do a feature on vintage prints and the new studio. A girl can dream!