Our New Studio - Why we moved and what the plans are!

By Jada Parrish

Posted: 03/03/20

Category: News

Location: J&D Studio 1000 - Schoolhouse at Artisan Hill

Guess what guys?! We moved AGAIN! This is our fourth studio space. We never planned to hop around this much, but unusual circumstances and amazing opportunities unexpectedly presented themselves along the way. 

We didn't move far this time though...just across the street! 

For the past year, we had two small poolside studios on Fulton Hill. One studio served as our office and meeting area and the other acted as our studio, where we took boudoir photos and headshots. We loved the light and airy modern feel of the spaces, but having to hop back and forth was less than ideal.

Our leasing company was renovating an old schoolhouse across the street. They were converting  the "classrooms" into large artist studios. At the time we moved into our poolside studios, all schoolhouse studios had already been leased even though the renovation hadn't been completed.

A couple months ago, someone dropped out leaving one space in the schoolhouse available. Our leasing company approached us and asked if we would be interested in the space. After touring the schoolhouse studio, it was obvious that space was a much better fit for us. So, we decided to move!

 

The Schoolhouse

The Robert Fulton Schoolhouse was built in 1916 and named for its artist and inventor. It welcomed students for the first time in 1917. Initially it served as a segregated white school and then became integrated in the 1960's before closing its doors in 1979.

The school itself is gorgeous with 15 foot ceilings and a very art-deco feel.

Years after it closed as a school, art patron, sculptor and Fulton Hill resident, Gus Garber, took possession, with a dream to create an artists’ haven. It survived for years as a boho underground studio and practice space for painters and bands. In the 1990's the schoolhouse came under new ownership and underwent its first renovation.

For two decades, the majestic schoolhouse was home to more than 50 artists’ studios and small, creative businesses. Each artist claimed a classroom that served as their studio.

In 2018, the schoolhouse underwent a second round of renovations. The artists were relocated to studios elsewhere in Richmond, and the renovation commenced. 

The renovation was completed last month and it exceeded all of my expectations. The schoolhouse now has both a historic and a modern feel. We have a full wall of windows with a view of the city, and the space is truly amazing!

 

Our Plan

The schoolhouse studio has enough space for us to edit, host meetings, and photograph all in the same space. It even has a full kitchen!

Here is what the layout looks like.

The Meeting Area

This is where we will host client meetings. We used the same furniture from our poolside studios, and it has a very boho feel. The plan is to add tons if plants and trees. We will also be hanging photos or some sort of installation on the wall.

My only frustration is trying to figure out how to hide that bright red fire alarm in the center of the wall.

 

The Inset Wall

There is a small inset wall that we want to transform into a funky boho backdrop. We have been tossing around ideas, but the leading contenders so far are a flower wall, greenery wall, or floral peel + stick wallpaper.

 

The Main shooting Area

The largest wall in our studio will become our main shooting wall. We will be hanging backdrops for the ceiling and purchasing an array of colors, so our clients will have plenty of options. 

Our boudoir sessions will also take place here. We have been exploring new ways of styling the "bedroom space" and I cannot wait to share what we come up with!

 

The Bathroom

We have a full bath - with a shower and everything! We have alot of boudoir clients in the studio, so I thought it would be fun to go with a boob shower curtain. I think it's equally funky + cute.

We are going to add some photos, a rug, dried flowers, and shelves to make it feel a little more cozy.

  

 

The Editing Station

We purchased a walnut dining room table from West Elm, that we are using as a double desk for David and I. We have our desktop monitors setup at each end and are able to gaze out the window at the city while we edit - so cool!

We chose a dining room table because this studio also has a full kitchen - how crazy! The table provides us with a place to eat and host guests.

 

The Kitchen

It is so wild to me that this space has a full kitchen. It even has a gas stove and a dishwasher! The coolest part of me, is that they preserved the old chalk boards from the school. There are tracks on the floor, so the chalk boards can slide and completely conceal the kitchen - providing us with yet another shooting wall and unique backdrop!