"Story of Started Studio Interior Renovation Part 7"

Finally, we have finished the cosmetic work on the ceiling, and it's looking quite impressive. When I see the completed ceiling, I can't help but think, "Wow, it looks stylish!" It almost feels like someone else's achievement, but personally, I'm really satisfied with it.

I am truly grateful to our talented team members who came up with the design. Thank you so much!

Having a wooden ceiling in a studio is not something you see very often, so it gives a fresh and unique feel. Maybe it's not a common practice in Japan, but once we made the decision and purchased the materials, there was no turning back. We immediately started working on it, although I must admit, I feel a bit anxious about whether it will affect the sound quality. But since we've already started, there's no other option but to move forward, even if it's a bit reckless.

The process itself isn't overly complicated. It goes like this:

We sourced pre-processed wooden boards.

We applied color and various clear coats.

Once dry, we applied wood glue to the back.

While fitting the boards, we used a hammer to firmly fix them in place.

Finally, we secured them with a pin nailer.

That's the general idea. Since I don't think many people reading this article would attempt to build their own studio, I'll skip the details about which processed wood we used (there were about three options) and the tips for each step. But if anyone is interested, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out!

I must say, painting the colors and applying the clear coats was quite time-consuming and tedious. I struggled to find ways to pass the time during those stages.

Also, cutting out the openings for the ventilation fan and lights was incredibly challenging and time-consuming.

Here are some work-in-progress photos. We carefully work on attaching the boards, adjusting their lengths to ensure that the seams are aligned properly, row by row. Cutting out the openings for the lights requires extreme caution because any misalignment could be disastrous. We measured meticulously and carefully made the cutouts.

This is the work scene of the ventilation fan position. We removed the cover to work on it, but the inside was quite dirty, so we put the cover back on for the photo... Ventilation fans can get really dirty during construction. (The first photo is before cleaning, and the second photo is after cleaning. It was dirty before cleaning, right...?)

And this is when we were halfway through the installation. At this point, I decided to check the difference in sound between the exposed drywall on the right side and the wood paneling. The wood paneling produced a much softer sound, not just in the high frequencies but also in the mid-range. It confirmed that choosing wood was the right decision. I was amazed at how much the sound changed just by using wood, even with this thin layer.

I have to admit that we haven't touched the ceiling in the booth area or the entrance area yet, but I feel relieved now that the largest section is done. Once we finish that part, we'll work on the floor and then do the finishing touches on the walls.

I'm so happy to see the end in sight... It has taken about 11 months to get to this point. Just a little more effort, and we'll be done.