PMQ for two

Bold, Bright and Colourful Home Decor & DIYs

  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
    • POLICIES
  • BUSINESS BABES
  • PROJECT GALLERY
  • PRESS
  • WHAT IS A PMQ?
    • THE DUPLEX
    • The Row House Tour

Blush & Brass Studios

February 14, 2018~ House Tour, studio

I’m done teasing y’all, it’s finally time to share the studio! Blush & Brass Studios has been months in the making, and on my mind for even longer. Come catch a glimpse of the space where all the magic happens. The before photos are daunting, but full of potential, and the reveal photos show me just how far we’ve come since starting Blush & Brass Studios. Shout out to Homesense Canada for providing such lovely pieces that served as the foundation for our space.

I have a full source list at the bottom

* Homesense sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

I share the space with Kassidy, another military spouse and local portrait photographer. You can check her out here // Kassidy Dawn Photography //. When we first connected last fall we were immediately on the same page about decor, size, location and budget. We needed a bright and airy space that could be divided to suit our needs, and allow us to work in the same space at the same time. Not too hard to find, right?

Our initial budget was 400$ each (all in – taxes, utilities, internet etc.) but we shortly found out that if we wanted to stick to that pricing we’d need to bring in a 3rd person, and that’s where things got tricky. After looking at spaces with an initial 3rd, we were resolved to stay just the two of us.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

I was not prepared for how expensive a studio space near us would cost. We are in Oromocto, NB not Toronto, so I didn’t anticipate having such a hard time finding a studio space within our budget. We quickly discovered that most places around us had a storefront, and therefore wanted to charge way more because of that. We extended our search radius to the North side of Fredericton (about 30 mins away).

That’s when things got interesting! The Ville Cooperative is an old school that has been turned into a cooperative with affordable office space. I had actually rented a space in The Ville last spring for my Easter tablescape // here // and was already kind of familiar with how the building worked. We found a big ole’ classroom with lots of potential that met our sizing and budget restrictions, so we took the plunge and started the process of opening the studio in late November. While we weren’t able to stick to 400$ a month, we’re relatively close, so I’ll take that. We are getting 700 square feet of space after all.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

We were given access to the space as soon as we signed the lease — even though it didn’t technically start until January 1st — so we were able to start painting and prepping before we took off for Christmas. That was nice, but all the upstart costs like paint, furniture, and shelving have been heavy. Thankfully Homesense was kind enough to provide a few of the key pieces, and we were able to DIY the rest, like DIY IKEA Hack Desks // here //.
Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Kassidy’s side of the room is a little less developed than mine, but only because she doesn’t do all her work from the studio. I do though! As many IG stories can confirm, I am at the studio almost all day every day.

Since she does portraits, her set-ups are less complicated. By shooting against the windows she has beautiful back-light for almost everything she does, so the hanging wall of curtains and bed are permanent fixtures.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

From my desk, looking back at the other wall I’ve got these beautiful bamboo pagoda style shelves. I styled them facing the desks, because on the other side, the hanging frames and couch hide everything else.

We snagged them from Homesense and love them just the way they are, although a good paint job one day isn’t out of the order.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

When you walk in, you’re immediately faced with the living area, but if you turn to the left there’s a bank of big tule curtains that are actually cleverly concealing my craft and prop storage.

We used utility shelving from Canadian Tire and a bit of fresh paint to brighten it up. Mostly though, it hides the mess that I had somehow crammed into my very tiny guest room/office at home.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

And that’s just one set of shelves. There are countless things hidden behind there like paints, fabric, vinyl, table linens, photo backdrop sheets etc. It’s a miracle I had managed to contain it at home, but as Dan so lovingly says “you’re like a liquid, you expand to fill a space.”

Back to the pagoda shelves though. We’re using them to help frame and delineate the space. The DIY room dividers are like movable walls, and help provide privacy for Kassidy’s clients when she’s shooting, so we’ve got one up between the “dining area” and where she shoots.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Shortly after starting PMQ for two (5 years ago!) I knew I wanted to eventually move into a space, if only because PMQs are so darn small. I’ve been stymied for years by the lack of natural light, awkward floor plans, and small rooms. My photography has flourished despite it, but the range and quality of what I can offer has always been limited by those factors. Since moving into the studio, the type of project I can create has dramatically changed for the better, and I feel creatively freed for the first time in a while.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

You know how I roll – champagne 24/7, but only on the top shelf, because that’s all I can afford, and a fully stocked champagne fridge is just in the cards at the moment hahahah the struggle is real, am I right?!

The kitchen area is actually getting it’s own reveal post sometime in the next week or so, which is why I am purposefully avoiding it in the photos.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

Come tour Blush & Brass Studios, and see what all the fuss is about. Furnished with tons of DIY and Homesense finds, you'll never see a shared work space that looks this good ever again.

If you’re local to us, and interested in renting the space for a private function such as a baby shower, bridal shower, client meeting (if you don’t have offices of your own), or other – please check out our page // here //.

Source List

Couch, Bamboo Pagoda Bookshelves, Marble Tulip Table, Accessories, Acrylic Mirror, Neon Lights – Homesense

Bone Inlay Coffee Table DIY – Here

IKEA Hack Rast Desks – Here

General Electric Fridge – Thrifted

Pink Chairs throughout – IKEA’s Leifarne

Green Record Cabinet, Collected Artwork – Personal Collection

Tule Curtains – IKEA’s Lill

All paint on walls – Behr Marquee in Ultra Pure White

Dahlia Prints Behind Couch –  Jenny’s Print Shop

Green Tray Side Table – IKEA’s Gladom

Penguin Classic’s Book Cover Wall Art  DIY – Here

 

✨Are you signed-up for my new post updates? ✨

* indicates required

Email Format

33 Comments

DIY Champagne Bottle Tops »
« Till Sleep Do Us Part

Comments

  1. Lesley Metcalfe says

    February 14, 2018 at 7:29 am

    Ariel!!! Your studio is gorgeous! Love what you’ve done with it.

    Reply
  2. Emy says

    February 14, 2018 at 7:30 am

    Your office space is amazing! I’m jealous of your lighting! You made cinderblock walls look good. This gives me hope for my basement. 😉

    Can’t wait to see all the amazing things that you make in here!

    Reply
  3. Jessica nickerson says

    February 14, 2018 at 8:09 am

    Looks amazing! Congrats!

    Reply
  4. Lidia says

    February 14, 2018 at 9:30 am

    Can I live here?!?! LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! (And the name of it too!)

    Reply
  5. Taylor says

    February 14, 2018 at 9:36 am

    SO pretty!! We are planning to redo our basement this spring… the budget friendly way by painting cinderblocks and putting up room dividers instead of walls. This was the perfect post to get me inspired!

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      February 14, 2018 at 10:08 am

      Thank you! HOT TIP: plaster over the holes before painting. We didn’t, and our paint consumption was like doubled or tripled, because it kept disappearing down the holes.

      Reply
      • Taylor says

        February 23, 2018 at 7:42 am

        Thank you for the tip!! Im assuming it’s going to be a lot bigger project than we were expecting, so allll the tips are welcome! 🙂

        Reply
  6. Joann @ Woman in Real Life says

    February 14, 2018 at 9:39 am

    I love what you’ve done with the space! It looks amazing! Makes me want to go out hunting for a studio… 😉

    Reply
  7. Tan says

    February 14, 2018 at 10:06 am

    Holy Jesus Christ on a cracker. Your studio is freaking GORGEOUS!!!!! Amaz work Ariel. Id spend all day every day in here too

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      February 14, 2018 at 10:07 am

      BOOM! New favourite expression. Thank you! I wish all my blogging friends were nearby so that they could come use it too

      Reply
  8. Monica benavidez says

    February 14, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Ok, so…not to get mushy, but this post made me all emotional! I am just thrilled to see you reaching your goals and just going for it. You’re a bonafide success, immensely talented and I just know this space is going to open up so many doors for you. What a dream come true! I wish I had an ounce of the juju you have to make things happen. So happy for you, Ariel! I also simply love all the chinoiserie vibes and those pagoda bookshelves are sheer perfection all around. xo.

    Reply
  9. Monica says

    February 14, 2018 at 11:24 am

    I love your new space! All that natural light makes me swoon. And don’t get me started on those pagoda bookshelves – what a great find! As always, I love how you’ve put this together and styled everything.

    Reply
  10. Jess says

    February 14, 2018 at 11:29 am

    Ariel, this space is magical!!!!! All the little touches are perfection and I can see the changes in your work. Congrats!

    Reply
  11. Jessica | Petal + Ply says

    February 14, 2018 at 1:46 pm

    Love it!!! That natural light is to die for. We’re going to start tackling a garage studio redo very soon and I will be pinning this for inspiration! The color palette is my fave.

    Reply
  12. Jane @SustainMyCraftHabit says

    February 14, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    Wow Ariel! This looks utterly fantastic. And you’ve made the space look so bright, fun and inspiring. No reigning in your creativity now! Congratulations.

    Reply
  13. Rachael @ This is our Bliss says

    February 14, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    This is so so beautiful, Ariel!! Congratulations on your new work space!

    Reply
  14. Kimberly ~ swoon worthy says

    February 15, 2018 at 3:37 am

    What an amazing space!! Congrats on your new studio! xxx

    Reply
  15. Maggie Overby says

    February 15, 2018 at 6:11 am

    such a fun space, lots of new adventures to come in here!

    Reply
  16. Janice Harrs says

    February 15, 2018 at 7:45 am

    congratulations Ariel !!!
    Your studio is beautiful ????

    Reply
  17. Jo-Anna Rooney says

    February 16, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    What an Absolutely beautiful space…what a dream!! you have done an amazing job Ariel!

    Reply
  18. Heather french says

    February 19, 2018 at 11:33 pm

    This is so great, Ariel! brilliant job! I absolutely love it!!!!

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      February 22, 2018 at 12:07 pm

      Thank you Heather! I am beyond thrilled to have this space at my disposal now <3

      Reply
  19. Debra Ponte says

    February 20, 2018 at 7:37 am

    wow-such a lovely tour.Simplistic yet cozy and the neutral colors.Thanks,debra

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      February 22, 2018 at 12:07 pm

      Thank you so much Debra!

      Reply
  20. Heather says

    February 20, 2018 at 11:55 am

    Love it. Love love love love love. Creative freedom is an incredible thing isn’t it?

    Reply
    • Ariel says

      February 22, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      Creative freedom is the best – THE best. Thanks for the kind words <3

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Guest Room Makeover Planning With Modsy • PMQ for two says:
    February 21, 2018 at 7:17 pm

    […] previously known as The Green Grotto // here //, but when we opened Blush & Brass Studios // here // we moved all of that out and now we have a space to work with.  I don’t know about you, […]

    Reply
  2. The Studio's Eclectic & Bold Kitchen • PMQ for two says:
    February 22, 2018 at 5:59 am

    […] am proud to say that we are now done with Blush & Brass Studios! // here //. If you saw in last week’s unveiling of the studio, the kitchen are was not done. But […]

    Reply
  3. Pink & Bold Spring Tablescape • PMQ for two says:
    February 28, 2018 at 11:32 am

    […] New Year set-up // here //, but those were all done in the studio before it was complete // the studio // & // the studio kitchen //, so there were lots of angles I couldn’t shoot. This Pink […]

    Reply
  4. IKEA Sideboard Hack with Spoonflower • PMQ for two says:
    July 17, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    […] and entryway table as well. It then worked as a sideboard in our dining room, before finally being moved to the studio. It’s still going strong, but it was looking a little rough. I’ve wanted to cover it in […]

    Reply
  5. Pink & Gold Office Revamp • PMQ for two says:
    July 26, 2018 at 5:56 am

    […] Rast Desk // The Studio // Easy to Install Furniture Power […]

    Reply
  6. DIY Masked Portrait Gallery • PMQ for two says:
    October 5, 2018 at 5:56 am

    […] Because I apply the vinyl to the glass on my frames, I’m not worried about ruining the print once I’m ready to remove the mask. As far as displaying them goes, I thought a fun boudoir gallery wall was in order, and since mine isn’t set-up at home yet – I made one in the studio! […]

    Reply
  7. Prepping For A Halloween Party • PMQ for two says:
    October 22, 2018 at 5:55 am

    […] My shared boss babe office space does not have hardwoods like at home, instead it’s got vinyl tiles – the kind you’d find in a school classroom, because that’s exactly what this space is. We’ve tried all kinds of other floor cleaners, but short of having them waxed professionally, nothing works. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

woman in red dress on counter

Hi! My name is Ariel and I'm the voice behind PMQ for two. I create bright, bold, colourful, and eclectic home decor, DIYs and lifestyle content.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

PMQ for three

Time For A Cocktail

pmqfortwo

Ariel - PMQ for two
Y’all Après Ski is a mood,and it is the spirit Y’all Après Ski is a mood,and it is the spirit with which I decorate for winter. Cozy furry things? ✅ Champagne ✅  Oversized sunglasses? ✅ hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows? ✅ a roaring fire? ✅  what’s on your chilly winter must list?
•
•
•
#apreski #apresski #winterwonderland #winterdecor #winterdecorating #winterdecoration #glamdecor #vintageski #skichalet #bhghowiholiday #vintageholiday #vintageaesthetic #eclecticdecor #eclectichome #cozyvibes #cozyhome
JB’s Montessori playroom is looking pretty good, JB’s Montessori playroom is looking pretty good, especially now that all the Christmas decor is gone. Bear in mind, this is what it looks like before a child has actually had a chance to play in it 😂 
•
•
•
#montessoriathome #montessoritoddler #montessoriinspired #montessoribaby #montessoriplayroom #playroomdecor #playroominspo #playroomideas #bhghome #society6 
#eclectichome #lorenacanals #thrifteddecor
It’s winter. It’s snowing here, and it’s col It’s winter. It’s snowing here, and it’s cold. Time for snowflake shaped tea cup cookie rims, and @jacksonmorgancream in your afternoon tea. ✌🏻🫖🍫
•
•
•
#hyggehome #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #whiskeygram #teatime☕️ #teatime #afternoonteatime #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailrecipes #bhgstylemaker #bhgfood #anthropologiehome
I think we’ve all been feeling a little powerles I think we’ve all been feeling a little powerless these days, but @laybabylay made a great point in her stories the other day: you can always do something nice. You can buy the order of the person in line behind you at the drivethru. You can donate to charitable organizations doing things you believe in. You can make a meal for your neighbour who might be having a hard time with lockdown. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I do something nice, and I bet you will too ❤️
•
•
•
#lookforthehelpers #dogoodfeelgood #dogoodthings #colorfullife #colorfulhome #wallpaperdecor #sodomino #mymitzi #bhghome #eclectichomedecor #rugsusa #atomicranch #retrohome
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” - John Lennon. 😎 As a family who moves a lot, we’re ready for a new chapter/ new house, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to leave all the memories! We brought June home here 😭 she learned to walk here, and said her first words here. I wonder what other “firsts” she’ll have before we move. [pictured, June in a messy kitchen last year]
•
•
•
#babygirl #toddlermomlife #memoriesforlife #lifeiswhathappenstoyouwhileyourebusymakingotherplans #stokketripptrapp #stokke #westcoastkids #behrpaint #wallpaperwednesday #aestheticwallpapers #momlife #mommyandme
We sold the house! ✨ After 2.5 years were moving We sold the house! ✨ After 2.5 years were moving on. No, we’re not posted. We’re just ready for a new adventure! 😎✨ big thanks to our dedicated realtor @ang.ripped.realtor ✨ We’ll be staying local, and can’t wait to share our plans and next steps (once they’re more firm) And yes, the chickens come with us. 
•
•
•
#movingontobetterthings #movinghouse #movinghome #behrpaint #targettswindowsanddoors #atomicranch #houseandhomemag #midcenturymodern #bhghome #bhgstylemaker
*insert pun about light* AD: our Kai sconces from *insert pun about light* AD: our Kai sconces from @mymitzi make this wet bar. Sure, secret thing else contributes to the #retroaesthetic , but lighting sets the mood. These brass sconces blend right in when they need to, but gleefully take center stage after dark. What do ya think? 
•
•
•
#midcenturymodern #midcenturyhome #midcenturydecor #hudsonvalleylighting #mymitzi #aestheticwallpapers #wetbar #wetbardesign #atomicranch #retrohome #lightingdesign #lightingiseverything #brassdecor
Load More... Follow on Instagram

- THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS -

Cookies ????

This site uses cookies: Find out more.