HELLO THERE
I really do not like the word “blog”, so maybe that is why I stopped “blogging” for a while. But I do enjoy sharing experiences and random thoughts in hopes that someone somewhere gains something from it. So let’s blog then, shall we?
I suppose a good starting point is an introduction to me and my company. My name is Carly and I am the person behind Electric Magnolia Studio, which is a creative space in the small town of Grand Coteau, Louisiana. I am a photographer / videographer / designer / marketer. My husband’s architecture firm is part of the studio (and my team) as well. His name is Kelley Courville and his firm is called E + M Architecture. We work on a lot of projects together and overlap in interesting ways, I think. Space, lighting, and sound are just a few of the things that are super important within both of our professions.
Kelley and I are now incorporating events into our co-projects list too! We thought that this phase would come later in our lives, like closer to retirement days. We had dreams of hosting locals and travelers for unique events like small concerts, dinner parties, or workshops. But the dream seems to have arrived early when this huge historic building became available in walking distance from our little house in Grand Coteau. The charm of this tiny town makes us never want to leave! (So we mostly don’t, haha.)
IT’S HAPPENING
We spent a month painting the 2,200 sq. ft. building white inside (plus the 14 ft. ceilings) so that it could be a reflection of us and our brand. The transformation was certainly worth all of the laborious hours and many, many gallons of paint.
Now I am sitting in our studio writing this “blog” exactly one week after our big grand opening. It’s real, it’s here, and it’s time to make some dreams happen…for us and for clients that are ready for their dream homes, dream businesses, or dream events to come to life. This space is a blank canvas that is ready for anything.
OUR GRAND OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA
Well we stayed up all night painting the night before the party, but that did not stop us from:
Finishing the interior
Having a BLAST! (Thanks Bayou Teche Brewery for the keg! ;)
Being incredibly grateful to our friends and family that joined us to celebrate.
The party continued well into the night. The front porch was exactly as enjoyable as we had hoped for, and the acoustics of the room were A+.
Merci, Olivia Perillo for the following photos! And thanks to all of our sweet, loving people that came together and helped us put this event on. Here are some of the beautiful faces and shots of our studio from that day!
WHAT’S NEXT?
There is still a lot to be done in here. I need to start investing in more camera gear, backdrops and take my lighting kit to the next level. It will certainly be an endless project to build upon until we get everything we need. But we are so happy with the way the interior came out! Feeling good in your work environment is SO important and affects your ability to be productive and creative.
To us, working in design means that it is also vital that our space reflects our brand and our style. We tried to combine our personal taste with a look that clients would want to use for anything from a photo backdrop to an event space for a conference. Customizability is key!
Everything in our studio is easy to move. My desk is even on wheels! We want to be prepared for any kind of event to take over — whether we are hosting or someone else. Kelley and I also incorporated a lot of plant life and sparse bright colors to complement the white walls. Clients will have an easy time personalizing the space for their events. We can not wait to throw some more great parties here too!
Coming up in the next blog…
MANIFESTINY = MANIFEST YOUR OWN DESTINY
I thought I made the word “manifestiny” up…but then I checked Google. It exists! I manifested my own destiny by focusing and pushing for what I wanted in life until it finally happened. I am not here to tell you it is easy...NO WAY. It was not and is not easy today. BUT I am here to tell you it IS possible, and I’d like to share some more about my journey towards “manifestiny” and the power of positive thinking. I want you to realize who is actually in control of your destiny. (Hint: It’s you!)
Until next time…