Studio Diary: Glow Up Part I
Two years ago, we converted an old garage into a creative studio space and added 54sqm2 to our property's footprint. Our contractors had lined the interior surfaces in tongue-and-groove plywood, which, initially, I thought I'd leave unpainted.
This was the before state of the garage before it was converted into creative studio space. Bare bones and dinghy. It was wasted space and used to store junk.
After the garage-to-studio conversion.
However, after working in the space for two years, it still felt a little unfinished. Despite everyone's advice to paint the walls and ceiling white, I listened to my gut and chose a rich, moody hue: Highlands by Porter's Paint, a muted grey-green with warm undertones.
I was determined to paint the entire studio myself, naively thinking it would be a straightforward project. After my first attempt at prepping the beams, I realised it was a bigger project than expected - too many different surfaces to consider (wood, aluminium, concrete, etc.).
After chatting with the folks at our local Guthrie Bowron, who explained the do's and don'ts of painting metal to me, it became clear I was out of my depth.
Calling in the Professionals: better house painters
Enter Bianca and Sam, the dynamic duo behind better house painters, a local professional painting company based in Matakana.
From the get-go, I knew I was in good hands. They explained to me the process of painting the different types of surfaces and what would work best for the overall look I had in mind.
I was glad that they convinced me to paint over the not-so-pretty beams instead of keeping them bare, as they weren't in the best shape and were covered with the manufacturer's stamps.
Bianca and Sam are knowledgeable, with over a decade of experience, and have worked on a range of commercial and residential projects of varying scales and complexities.
Bianca & Sam in action.
Among their projects was The Farmer's Daughter, a much-loved café and restaurant in Omaha, as well as a long list of luxury residential homes on the Matakana Coast.
I'd seen their sign-written van around town, and the graphic designer in me loved their branding. A visit to their website revealed that they're committed to eco-friendly practices, including the responsible disposal of leftover paint.
This was the first time I'd gone through professional painters for a house painting project, and honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I am so relieved that I bit the bullet and handed it over to better house painters to manage.
At every stage, Bianca and Sam have been absolute professionals: friendly, calm, reliable and conscientious. I appreciate how they are highly transparent about the project's costing, providing an itemised list of each expense at every stage. I can't recommend them enough! I have so many more house painting projects on our reno to-do list, and I'll definitely be turning to better house painters for these.
Needless to say, I have gained a deeper appreciation for professional painters and their craft; you can really see quality in the finish of their work. Having their years of knowledge and experience in various paint types and painting techniques to rely on means I haven’t had to spend hours watching DIY videos on YouTube and still somehow messing things up myself. They’ve given me peace of mind, and now my studio is looking like something out of a magazine!
We're a hair's breadth from a homerun for the studio interior. It's been quite a process due to the varying painting and drying times of the different types of surfaces. They have primed and painted the walls, beams, ceiling and concrete floor, and have only the finishing touches to finish (i.e., window sills and frames).
After the First Coat
Ceilings, beams and walls prepped, primed and painted in Highlands - the morning after the application of the first coat. So happy with how it’s coming along!
It's looking even better than what I had envisioned. Check out the transformation video on my Instagram page.
Stay tuned for Part II of my Studio Glow Up series.
P.S. If you live on the Matakana Coast or a nearby town, and need professional house painters who are not only experts in their field but are reliable and just downright lovely human beings, reach out to Bianca and Sam at better house painters and follow them on Instagram.
