Visit an Artist's Backyard Studio and Guesthouse

About three years ago, interior designer Beth Dana bought her coastal California house as her own pet project. The success of the whole-house remodel inspired her to tackle other facets of the property, namely her garage. “It was a two-car garage built in the 1920s that I thought would make a perfect studio,” she says. “I often host overnight guests and figured a studio would work well for them while doubling as an inspiring work space for me.”

When Dana isn’t designing for clients, she’s either illustrating or writing. In fact, it was in this very studio that she completed her first children’s book.

But before any of that could happen, we need to rewind to the beginning of this structure’s transformation, which involved gutting the garage down to the studs.

All that remained afterward was the walls, concrete floor and side-by-side double doors. “It was important to leave those facets as they were,” Dana says. “The concrete floor has so much character with its nicks and imperfections. The doors have new paint on the outside, but the inside remains as I found it, down to the old handles, locks and chains. They remind me of old barn doors. Even the climbing rose and trellis existed long before I arrived.”


The only thing that wasn’t negotiable was the replacement of the door frames, which were riddled with termite damage. But the new wood was kept bare to age naturally.


This juxtaposition of old and new is a theme that resonates throughout the studio. Inside atop new rugs is a combination of new and vintage furnishings from her former home in Ashland, Oregon, that Dana has collected along the way. “It’s a mishmash of things that make me happy, plus nothing cost too much,” she says.

The green sheer curtains are backed with white ones to hide a wall full of industrial shelving dedicated to her creative endeavors. The curtains are tied to a wire for easy sliding. “This feature allows me to change out the curtains to whatever color I’m in the mood for,” she says.

Under the handmade knotty pine ladder is Dana’s desk, which she believes was a grain storage bin. “It was a hand-me-down from my mom, who used it in her plant shop in the 1970s,” she says.

As much as she loves each piece of handpicked furniture, her favorite studio feature is the Venetian plastered walls. “It wasn’t what I had planned,” she says. “I asked the drywall guy to do his regular thing, and when I came home, I found he had done this for me instead. It’s so smooth to the touch and beautiful to look at that I didn’t dare cover it with paint.”

Industrial-style desk chair: Cost Plus World Market ; white sofa and gray rugs: Ikea; striped chair: Prize; ottoman and sisal rug: Pottery Barn; side tables: Mexican antiques; lamps: Bed Bath & Beyond; pillows: Cost Plus World Market and Dana’s own collection


The newly constructed loft fits a double mattress and box spring wrapped in crisp white sheets creating a clean, inviting ambience for guests. A crate turned upside down acts as a bedside table.

The wood shutter above the little table covers a vent. When opened, this and an opposing wall vent create a nice cross breeze, further aided by a ceiling fan.

Given the California coast's year-round temperate climate, the studio never gets too chilly. Though new insulation and weather stripping were added to the old building, "you can still see daylight through the doors," Dana says, laughing. "But it’s OK. On the occasional cooler days, a heater does the job just fine.”

Two new skylights let in some of the abundant Santa Barbara sun as well.

Lighting: Barn Light Electric and Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.


Patio set: Cost Plus World Market; hydrangeas: Dana's garden


The studio features an efficient kitchenette that centers on a reproduction sink — “a treasure,” as Dana describes it. She found it at a local plumbing supply store.

Dana found the stainless steel counter in the perfect width but had the lower shelves modified to fit a small-scale refrigerator. Ikea hardware holds up a shelf of yellow pine next to the garage’s original windows.

The glass door at the main entrance draws in more light.


Though petite, the newly constructed bathroom packs a punch behind a door taken from the main house’s kitchen.

“When I was planning the bathroom,” Dana notes, “I envisioned a green wooden antique mirror. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Sure enough, I walked into a shop in Ventura and saw an exact replica of what I had conjured.”

A tall, antique metal basket holds extra towels.


Shelving in the bathroom uses the same yellow pine boards as the kitchenette, but with pine brackets for a softer look.

Towel hooks throughout studio: Anthropologie; sink: Kohler; mirror: American Home & Garden


Because the studio no longer functions as a space for cars, the driveway also has a new life as a patio. Concrete planters allow Dana’s green thumb more gardening opportunities while separating the grilling zone from the studio space.

There's no telling what great work will manifest from this artist/guest studio next. Regardless, it’s a happy environment for both Dana and the guests lucky enough to stay here.

More: Homeowners share 6 more inspiring garage conversions

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