Decorating Guides

Studio Tour: Creekside Appeal for an Artists' Workspace

Before starting construction of the house, this husband-and-wife artist group decided they needed a studio first. Mark and Kelli McDowell both needed space to function — he, on product design; she, on photography and interior design. But no ordinary studio would do. “We are very diverse in what we do and needed a room to allow for that,” says Kelli.

Working closely with Jason Bekebrede of Monticello Homes & Development, the couple created an 800-square-foot studio which simplifies and respects their beautiful Springfield, Missouri, land. A nature-inspired exterior and also an industrial, antiques-filled interior supply the twosome with plenty of room to conquer their next projects.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

The McDowells’ studio sits on 20 acres next to a creek that flows into a big pond. They wanted to make the most of the scenic place and to have a material and color palette which will blend in with the environment. Perched over the pond, the studio overlooks the opinion without interfering with the landscape.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Though the McDowells had functioned with Bekebrede to design the main house, they started building the adjacent studio instead so Mark would have somewhere to work. Both simple sloped roofs will mimic the roofing of the main house. The design works very well with structural insulated panels (SIPs), which the couple used for efficient heating and cooling.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Corrugated metal and antique fixtures lineup the front entry of the studio, and concrete floors add to its industrial style. The crucifix on the wall is a 200-pound iron antique piece they fell in love with.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Kelli and Mark have an affinity for flea market finds, as you can see from this wall of old yarn bobbins. Displayed at a grid of 12, the unique pieces serve as hat and coat hangers.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

The galvanized metal wraps around the corner, where a toilet door sheathed in metal blends to the wall. Light beige paint (Sherwin-Williams’ Loggia) adds heat to the industrial space.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

The McDowells functioned with Bekebrede to fill the toilet with more finds. Bekebrede altered a cupboard from Restoration Hardware to make a dressing table. Kelli found that the poured concrete sink to get a buck on eBay. A classic exterior door serves as a shower partition, even while vintage commercial bread pans hang the shower wall to maintain soap and shampoo.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

The most important interior is a large, open room with concrete floors. A scarcity of built-in furniture and accents keeps the room at the McDowells’ disposal for whatever project they need to work on. “I enjoy the huge area,” says Kelli. “It is exactly what it is, and we can be free to do whatever comes to us.”

The bunch has had the gears close to the toilet for quite some time; they had a neighborhood blacksmith make stands to get them so that they could serve as sculpture. A classic gaming wheel along with two vintage globes sit over the flea market locker set.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Mark picked a glass garage door; it not only extends the studio space to the outside, but also allows fresh air indoors when the McDowells paint. Both seldom utilize the air conditioner due to this feature. When closed, the door lets in plenty of light.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

A cement terrace provides additional workspace and room to lounge. The same community blacksmith who left stands for the gears made the outside fire pit and many planters, also.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Board and batten exterior siding in an earthy taupe contrasts with cultured stone accents.

Siding: James Hardie batten board; stone: cultured, Centurion

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

Kelli and Mark love many distinct styles of architecture and integrated many influences to the studio’s design. Mark is half Japanese, therefore certain elements — such as the slanted entrance and offset concretework outside the door — pay tribute to that aesthetic.

Monticello Custom Homes and Remodeling

The front entrance and deck were inserted throughout the construction process as an elongated outdoor space. The cedar decking is prestained for a weathered appearance. When built, the most important house is going to be retrieved via the entrance gate.

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