The title of this post isn’t related to my state of mind before I have my double shot mocha early in the morning, nor does it have to do with gray clouds descending.  The title of this post simply has to do with a color of paint.  A color of paint I carefully chose over 2 years ago. A can of “morning fog” paint that I chose so that I could freshen up my new home studio office when we moved into our house almost 3 years ago. Why make a blog post about the color I wanted my office to be? You see, I have finally arrived!  After a few years of just taking up space in my office, I officially get to “move in”.  Our home, which is also home to my newborn/baby studio and studio office, was built in 1836.  It is an old Victorian house that has great bones, amazing character, but many flaws due to bad remodel jobs and lack of care over the years.  Avid DIYers, we were up for the challenge.  The fact that it had an ideal place for a studio for me to photograph newborns and babies, as well as an attached office for me to work in and meet clients made it even more perfect.  When we moved in, I just plopped down my boxes, set up my desk and had to get right to work.

That can of morning fog paint unfortunately got put on the back shelf as my photography business and our family grew over the last 2+ years.  Last fall when I decided to take a sabbatical from photographing client sessions, one of the top “to do” items on my list was to finally pull out that can of paint (crossing my fingers that it was still good after a couple of years!) and be able to “unpack” and move in to my office.  I had intended to just to a little face lift so that my office was inviting, creative, cozy and reflective of my style, brand and the quality of my work I produce.  That little face life turned into a full gut remodel of the room–much to my surprise!  My wonderful husband wanted to do it “right” the first time and have us be able to check this room off of our remodel list.  While I was away visiting family last month he hired someone to gut the room of all the old plaster and put in drywall. He then proceeded to update all the electrical and do all of the panels and modeling.  When I arrived back home I was very happy–and was promptly handed a paint brush.  Time to apply that morning fog paint!  With so many levels of molding, I am STILL painting, but we are almost there.  In a few weeks the studio office should be complete and ready for me to get down to work–and ready for clients to stop by. For now my computer is set up on a plastic table in the living room with a myriad of toys surrounding me and 3 little girls running in circles.  Not perfect or ideal, but it will do for not–and will be well worth the wait of the final product. Check back for pictures of the completed room!

Something else very exciting is that we have decided to put other house projects on hold and gut the newborn studio in late August! YAY!

Pictures of before: my studio office has been in various states over the last couple of years and more often than not it looked like this!  I always made sure it was as squeaky clean and organized as possible before clients came for a session or to pick up an order but, it was FAR from professional and creative like I wanted it to be! P.S. These are really BAD iPhone shots that are totally out of focus!

Pictures of Progress: We are almost there!  Walls were gutted and insulation put in, we closed up a door to add some more usable space, put in new electrical, drywall…and lots of paint!  The light fixture is a taste of what is to come as far as the setting and decorative elements go.  I can’t wait to set my desk up and get in there to work! Again, BAD iPhone pics!

I sometimes hesitate to show family images because they aren’t ALWAYS possible. There are many factors in play and a newborn and toddler don’t always both cooperate at the same time.  But…we got it and I just love how happy mom and dad are, how sleepy baby sister is and the big soulful eyes of big sister.