The first thing one learns in any introduction to photography class is that capturing images with a camera is all about light—the presence of it, the absence of it, the quality of it. Which is why when Vancouver-based photographer Gillian Stevens convinced her parents to turn a carriage house in their backyard into her own photo studio, foremost on her mind was how to get more light into the space.
“There was not very much natural light. It was a practical and cozy space but not really inspiring in any way,” says Gillian of the original structure, which was once a garage. Her solution? Gut the thing. “We added a ton of natural light through large glass patio doors, increased the window size in the kitchen, and added windows to the living and bathroom.”
Speaking of the windows, they are 100-year-old antique windows sourced by her dad through Craigslist for $80. “We had them restored locally, and they completely transform the feeling of the cottage,” says Gillian.
See for yourself. (And to rent the space for a photo shoot or event, go here.)
Above: “The inspiration for the studio is a mix of classic British interiors mixed with Scandinavian minimalism,” says Gillian. “The purpose for the carriage studio is photography, so it was completely designed with that in mind: soft neutral colors, textures, and as much natural light as possible.” Above: Gillian designed the Shaker-inspired cabinets herself and worked with her contractor, Greycor, to bring them to life. On the walls is “Smooth Stone” by CIL, which Gillian had color-matched at Benjamin Moore. The cabinets and ceilings are painted “Stoneware” by Benjamin Moore. The Atlin Table is by Lock & Mortice. Above: “The biggest splurge was the Carrara marble countertop. It was the one element of the kitchen I wasn’t willing to compromise on—and I think it ties everything together,” says Gillian. The antique faucets were scored on Etsy. Above: All the lighting in the studio—including the globe pendant, the kitchen sconces, and the lighting in the bathroom—are by Cedar & Moss. Above: Beautiful light refracted through the antique windows. The Georg Bench is from Skagerak Denmark Above: A perfect nook for a bed. The shelf was custom-made by Will Morrison Studio; the bedding is by Last Light Collection. Above: “The bathroom faucets and taps are a DIY that was originally inspired by a post on Remodelista. I hunted down the components, which I found are quite standard in the UK but not really available in North America. I had our contractor work his magic to make the valves fit with our copper piping (found at Home Depot),” shares Gillian. The Carissa bathtub is by Wyndham Collection, from Home Depot. Above: “I love how the faucets turned out, and the entire thing was incredible affordable. It’s a favorite feature among our renters!”
Before
Above: “You can see it’s come a long way!” says Gillian of the before shot of the kitchen.
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