Category: Uncategorized

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Time for winter at 4th Street Studio and Urban Greenhouse

This has been an exciting year as we were able to finish the renovation on our 1915 home located on the property with the studio, barn and the greenhouse. In case you just found us, I’ll catch you up real quick.

In 2017 we purchased this awesome property from the grandson of the original owner. The property has had many good years but recently was truly neglected with renters and tons of dogs scratching up the floors, plants in pots creating stains on the beautiful wooden floors and weeds and cigarette butts and an abandoned car in the back courtyard. My husband and I LOVE bringing these places back to life so the vision began. See before pics on our VISION page.

Today, November 2020, the barn is heated and completely renovated and a 2nd hang out area. The greenhouse is full of succulents, lavender and herbs and is heated year round. The studio finally has the curb appeal that it deserves and is a great place for a little bit of retail and I finally have an area set up for my metalsmithing. Science Loves Art has a place to assemble, store and distribute art kits.

As I move into a place without as much construction projects, it is exciting to bring more artists to our online shop and to put some of my projects on the shop. I’m loving concrete, metal and glass on small scale so looking forward so some fun projects to share with our online friends.

This month is filled with some fun projects and gift ideas from the garden and studio and will be sharing more videos and creating more art kits.

Keep in touch friends!

René

Posted on by — Leave a comment

This week at the studio

Summer is coming to an end in Wyoming and we are scrambling to get everything done before the snow flies!  A new fence and a new greenhouse roof are next, oh and painting the barn!

Art in the studio is still an option and we were happy to host some Art On Demand groups this week.  Everyone has their own inspiration for their glass piece and our recycled glass (compatible tested)  options make for endless options.

2018-02-20 11.18.05

As school gets ready to start, we look forward to hosting more Friday night events, Art on Demand for groups and friends and more tours of the property.

Keep in touch on Facebook and email us anytime you have a question or idea!

2018-02-14 11.03.09

Posted on by — Leave a comment

History through architecture

As we renovate the 4th Street Properties, we discovered some old photos of the greenhouse and the retail shop that was Laramie Floral (originally built in 1926 and  1947. Check out these photos.  We are so thankful that Rudolph Peterson, owner of Laramie Floral and owner of these properties which it appears he inherited from his father.  He took such great care of this property and had the funds to build an amazing, solid greenhouse structure.  The 3 foot concrete base walls and solid steel frame will allow us to recreate something cool to share with Laramie… a downtown urban garden!

As we move forward with our projects here, we would love any photos, history or stories about this property and the Peterson family.

 

studio florist shop
Laramie Floral possibly in the 1970s.  Since then it has been a leather tannery, a suntan shop and several beauty/barber shops.

2017-07-27 09.27.46
The greenhouse in the 1970s?  The shed was removed years ago.  

2017-07-27 09.30.43
Based on the size on the tree out front, this may be taken in the 1950s or 1960s.

painted studio july 2018
Partially renovated art studio.  This week we are finishing up the paint and hope to have a new awning before next summer. 

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Summer at the Studios!

This summer is BUSY at the 4th Street Studios!  The “Studios” include an art studio, a barn and a greenhouse.  We are getting construction done before the snow falls, beginning new science, art and gardening collaborations that are community based, and having fun hosting children groups (and even traveling) so we can experience art and science with communities.

We look forward to opening up the barn and the greenhouse for a fall open house and begin planting a fall garden!  We want this place to be for community as much as possible, so if you want to come play or enjoy art or garden workshop/events, let us know!

 

Check out our Art on Demand Menu for 24/7 art options for community!  Glass fusing and more.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Building and design…4th Street Studios up next!

Summer at the 4th Street Studios will be a big one!

I’ve loved remodeling houses and designing unique features. In 2002 after living in France, we bought a house and I expanded my love for architecture and design by completely remodeling our house and adding a studio/workshop and 1,000 square feet of living space.  Learning about tile, stucco, wall texture and concrete was so much fun!

Since then, I have remodeled and designed commercial and residential properties for others but mainly for our own properties.  (www.MyAirbnb.blog) Most houses we have kept and rent them to short term guests that visit Laramie, Steamboat Springs and Austin, Texas.  My husband, David, has an eye for finding houses that are solidly built.  Together we come up with concepts and the personality of the houses and then I get to work with the design and bringing in the electricians, plumbers and framers to help out.  We do the rest!

summer studiogreat room 2

Some of our work.  Stained concrete floors and stucco exterior texture.

concrete stairs 2

Through time, design, hosting guests and construction have become my full time job and I love it.  We use recycled materials in all of our projects especially doors and bathroom fixtures and lighting when possible.

After purchasing this historic property in the fall of 2017, we’ve been finishing up work on other properties in Steamboat Springs and Austin Texas.  Now that we’ve got those properties where we want them, we are focusing on bringing this unique and historic property back to life!

 

2018-05-29 10.33.49
The front of the Austin property.  Main house and guest house before landscaping.  

We have enjoyed opening the studio to the public for workshops, an art exhibit and for jewelry and sculpture retail sales.  Jeff, the studio manager, has been busy painting and working on much needed TLC around the property.

We are bringing some features back to the house from 1915 by bringing back a claw foot tub, restoring all of the light fixtures, refinishing all of the wood floors and restoring the boiler heating system.

2018-05-08 18.34.16
The greenhouse after clearing out the brush. We are just getting started!

2018-05-18 14.23.20
From 1915, we will polish and reuse in the house. I love these!

2018-05-06 15.49.07
The neglected property.  Watch this transform into something special!

The barn has rotten wood and some awesome wood so we are reinforcing the entire building and then reusing original barn wood where we can and adding back electricity and insulation/heating to the barn for year round access.  This barn is a gem that was ignored and not seen as having any value but we are so excited to bring it back to life!

The greenhouse is amazing and we look forward to spending time and having guests over to enjoy this place all winter.

Give us some time and be patient as we work on this gem.  Enjoy making art when you can (see the Art on Demand Menu) and look for updates on our progress.  We look forward to sharing the property and hosting fun events in the future.

René