A Good Vintage
Historic Building Renovation - Creative Hub and Gallery Offices
While SYH is primarily a residential firm, this project was too good to pass up: reimagining an historic Bloomington building as a creative hub for a pair of inspiring local entrepreneurs and friends. It’s not actually their home—but it had to feel like one. The building now hosts private offices, meeting and event space, a working photography studio and workroom, annnnnnnnd a fully equipped apartment on the top floor, intended to house visiting resident artists. We took it on for two reasons: the clients (awesome), and the brief (residential comfort in every square foot, with loads of color and a rich and completely delightful photography collection). This project proved what we’ve long believed: that good design isn’t confined by labels like “home” or “office.” It’s about how thoughtful spaces should feel like coming home, if you do them right.
Client description
These clients—gallery and restaurant owners, passionate collectors of contemporary photography—brought equal parts vision, warmth, and wit to the process. Their artistic sensibility pushed us to elevate every detail, while their sense of humor kept things joyful. They needed a space as multifaceted as they are: one that could flex between quiet creative work, energetic gallery openings, and restful hosting for visiting artists. Their collection deserved rooms that could hold it—and they, in turn, deserved rooms that could hold them.
Design solutions
We honored the building’s history where possible, keeping original bones and character wherever possible, then layered in the clients’ distinct creative identity. On the main floor, we designed spaces that shift seamlessly from workday to reception-ready. Lighting was planned with intention, to preserve the original plaster ceilings and spotlight rotating installations without sacrificing ambient warmth. Custom built-ins maximize functionality while maintaining a distinctly un-officey feel. Upstairs, the artist apartment is a thoughtful retreat: adaptable, light-filled, and comfortable, with just enough quirk to spark inspiration. Even the basement—home to a full photography studio and workroom—balances technical needs with aesthetic ease. Throughout, we used color, texture, and collected pieces to ensure each room feels curated, not staged. Personal, not polished.
Outcomes & testimonials
The final result feels like our clients in building form: artistic, sophisticated, and endlessly inviting. It’s an efficient and welcoming business hub, and the apartment was occupied as soon as the contractors cleaned up the last bit of construction dust. The space works—day in, day out, a place where creativity lives and breathes.
