Thread: Studio Decor - HELP!

I finally have my dream studio space (about 14 x 27), and I need interior design a la arabia advice. What are the essential ingredients for creating great atmosphere in a dance studio? What types of furniture do you use? Any website pictures of really great, tasty, inspiring studios? I'm also creating a guest room, and want to spruce up my bathroom as well. I have ideas, have started painting, but feel at a loss as to how to put it all together.

Thank you!!

Alimah

p.s. I just ordered Ansuya's DVD because I heard it shows her studio spaces!

A nice wooden floor, a small space where students can sit and congregate before and after class with comfy chairs to sit on, a table to put a coffee book on (of belly dance, of course) a space students can put bags, shoes and jackets, and wall of mirrors. Oh, and a high ceiling. Some teachers use their basements as dance space and usually they don't have high enough ceilings. Go to Adrien Rice's studio, it's cute but not high enough ceiling for tall dancers to raise their arms, but really cute.

Hi, A friend of mine opened a party place for girls. I love her designs! We have baeelydance classes there. She ordered a whole Lot of beautiful Sari's and covered the walls and ceilings with them! Decorating with beautiful Silk Sar's really set the mood! Hope this helps! Sukira

I did a very nice (but time consuming) paint treatment on my studio walls - I put a yellowish-gold down as a base coat, then hand ragged over it with a dark bronze glaze. It gives the walls an aged, textured look. I also added a colorful fabric wall hanging, floor pillows, and papasan-style ottoman stool. One or two nicely framed pictures of yourself (either posed or performance) works well too.

I love the idea of the saris! How did she put them on the walls? Are there any pictures? I'm trying to picture how it would look.

Thank you!

Alimah

I have a bit more than 300 square feet of studio space in my basement that I use for private classes.
I decided to keep the approach to the room VERY clean and modern...a dance studio...then I trimmed with LITTLE Middle Eastern accessories...a mini hooka in the corner, sari covered pillows on chairs & benches around the perimeter of the room, silk ivy above the mirror...framed vintage belly dance LPs on the walls...simple so there's little distraction, but enough essence to make visitors comfortable and engaged...
Gia

I have hung my Indian textiles (skirt, cholis) in the stairway that leads up to my studio, which came out fabulous. I also got a door-topper at the rug store, which has long woolen tassels.

Other things are still being worked on - I am planning to hang my orientalist prints, make more tassels, make floor pillows from an embroidered skirt that I cut up, and hang an old suzani (which first needs backing and holes fixed). Too much work, too little time ;-)

I painted my studio in orange (warm color and brightens the mood) All the windows are trimmed with hipscarves instead of curtains. I have a sari used as a window covering for the front door. I have little elephants all throughout the room (hanging from a string, hanging on the wall, on a shelf) The sitting bench has a bunch of sari covered pillows. Hard wood floors (pergo acually) and lots and lots of mirrors. Each year I add a little something else to the studio. My little peice of heaven.

Nilaja

I tucked a coffee table (sorry, Cory!) in a corner, with a piece of velvet fabric covering it and cascading down to the floor. On that, I put some pillows with Middle Eastern designs (two made in Jordan, two made in Turkey), plus a Moroccan tea tray with pitcher and glasses. Another object instead of the tea tray could be a shamadan.

The Diva Soma studio in Omaha has a mural painted on the walls by one of the dancers in the troupe.

Hi...Again... I will take a Pic next Thursday eve and e-mail it to you. Ill find out how she put them up. It really looks gorgeous.... The Saris are beautiful...She also hung a most beautiful Sari and then draped it with a sheer white curtain, You Will Love it! Pics next week! Sukira

Thank you so much! I am so inspired! I'll take before and after pictures and post them. I can't wait to see the saris - and I love the image of the velvet cascading off of a coffee table. How sumptuous!

Alimah

Congratulations Alimah! Can't wait to see the pics

I always like Morroccan colors; burgundy and gold. Or just think of things you find in the Middle East and use the colors that come to mind.

Happy painting!

I would love it folks would post some pictures here. Sound so beautiful.

For the ultimate (what I want when I grow up or hit the lottery) studio with pictures and lots of ideas go to Isis and the Star Dancers

I have seen this studio and it is to die for.

Oh a little touch might be my Egyptian themed switch plate covers found in Decor on my web site at Designs By Janie - home page

Sorry I just couldn't help myself, I had to plug. LOL

Since somebody asked for pictures, I decided to try and start a trend: here are some pictures of our house. The stairway and the door to my studio, a shadowbox from Target in which I keep my favorite jewelry pieces (looks very nifty), and a whacko shot of the corner mirrors with some hanging tasselage and with my new trash can/jeanie urn. Yesterday, I got a beautiful Uzbeki tent band to cover the floorboards. To be installed. Reflected in the mirrors is also my belt collection display.

Steffi - I love your photos!!!!!!! That is just the inspiration I was looking for!!! I'm going to head to the local import stores today. I'll try and post photos after this weekend.

Janie - I love your outlet covers! How cute! I see my handsome santa claus contacting you in the future!

Alimah

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I tucked a coffee table (sorry, Cory!) in a corner...

Bad Shira, Bad! ..l;, ..l;, ..g.:

Everytime this subject comes up, I post this picture:



You also might enjoy seeing the mural in my instructor's studio:

Lana's Mural

Originally Posted by zorba

Everytime this subject comes up, I post this picture:

OOOOoooo, ahhhhhhh...pretty.....

OMG Zorba what a beautiful studio and mural. Now i'm inspired for when I open my studio.

WOWWWWWWWW! That studio space is incredible!!!!

Rakgirl, I like the quote under your name!

Alimah

On top of all the decorative advice given, I think it'd be great to have some info in the sitting area: white-board and pin-up board for notices; framed or laminated pictures/info that are decorative and that students can read while waiting for class. You could make up some posters of famous dancers, for eg, with their photos and backgrounds. Or show pics of various styles of costuming, or musical instruments, with some matching text. I would love to have a library of bellydance related books for people to browse, and maybe even a tv screen playing DVDs when people arrive. And hooks or shelves for bags so they're not on the studio floor.

Thanks for sharing that bee-u-tee-ful pic of that studio again, Zorba -- it's so inspiring!

Can you provide info on the composition of the flooring? It doesn't look like "traditional" wood flooring to me . . .

Deborah

Hey there,

I have a 400 sq foot studio space that is very small, but it's all mine and I love it! I painted two walls a deep red, and two walls a "latte" brown. I hung gold dupioni-like curtains in the windows and kept everything else very simple due to the fact that I don't have much space. I rent from an artist collective that is on the third floor of a hundred year old warehouse, so I don't have a reception area, just my room. I have pictures of myself in performance on the walls as well as some chinese inspired vintage (read from the local junk shop!) prints in old gold frames. It has a very cozy and intimate feel to it, and everyone who has been there says they feel very warm and welcomed.

Congrats on your new space -- enjoy!!

Magidah

Originally Posted by Magidah

Hey there,

I have a 400 sq foot studio space that is very small, but it's all mine and I love it! I painted two walls a deep red, and two walls a "latte" brown. I hung gold dupioni-like curtains in the windows and kept everything else very simple due to the fact that I don't have much space. I rent from an artist collective that is on the third floor of a hundred year old warehouse, so I don't have a reception area, just my room. I have pictures of myself in performance on the walls as well as some chinese inspired vintage (read from the local junk shop!) prints in old gold frames. It has a very cozy and intimate feel to it, and everyone who has been there says they feel very warm and welcomed.

Congrats on your new space -- enjoy!!

Magidah

Hi Magidah! I love your studio! Very serene and the spinal cord adds some nice scientific whimsy :D

Zorba - that floor and mural is to die for! I'm uber jealous over here!

~Malia

Hey Magida-

Your studio does look super inviting, cozy, elegant. Great ideas with the curtains, simple-yet-effective decore. Love the colors too.

I keep going out to stores and looking for the right window dressings and wall hangings but haven't found it yet. Will make another attempt this weekend!

Alimah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

Thanks for sharing that bee-u-tee-ful pic of that studio again, Zorba -- it's so inspiring!

Can you provide info on the composition of the flooring? It doesn't look like "traditional" wood flooring to me . . .

Deborah

'Fraid not. I just know it as a pretty picture. Looks like the Henna designs were painted on before the floor was varnished.

Originally Posted by Magidah

Hey there,

I have a 400 sq foot studio space that is very small, but it's all mine and I love it! I painted two walls a deep red, and two walls a "latte" brown. I hung gold dupioni-like curtains in the windows and kept everything else very simple due to the fact that I don't have much space. I rent from an artist collective that is on the third floor of a hundred year old warehouse, so I don't have a reception area, just my room. I have pictures of myself in performance on the walls as well as some chinese inspired vintage (read from the local junk shop!) prints in old gold frames. It has a very cozy and intimate feel to it, and everyone who has been there says they feel very warm and welcomed.

Congrats on your new space -- enjoy!!

Magidah

Your studio is just lovely - it's kind of lush and simple all at the same time. Bravo!

Originally Posted by Magidah

Hey there,

I have a 400 sq foot studio space that is very small, but it's all mine and I love it! I painted two walls a deep red, and two walls a "latte" brown. I hung gold dupioni-like curtains in the windows and kept everything else very simple due to the fact that I don't have much space. I rent from an artist collective that is on the third floor of a hundred year old warehouse, so I don't have a reception area, just my room. I have pictures of myself in performance on the walls as well as some chinese inspired vintage (read from the local junk shop!) prints in old gold frames. It has a very cozy and intimate feel to it, and everyone who has been there says they feel very warm and welcomed.

Congrats on your new space -- enjoy!!

Magidah

Ooooooooooo very inviting. Maybe we need to set-up some privates?