Studio Tour: An Art Salon in the Heart of Las Vegas

After years of working solo, artist friends Daria Riley and Sabrina Cofield reached a state of limbo in their creative lives. Artwork had taken a backseat to the call of motherhood, and they needed something to kick-start their creativity again.

Their idea: establish a community salon where they could make art, host workshops, display local artwork and hold gallery events. BLVDS LV magazine owner and publisher Jan Craddock was sympathetic to their idea. She offered to let Riley and Cofield share her studio space, a three-bedroom bungalow. Inspired by the Tea House Art Studio in Berkeley, California, the friends spent about $3,000 on improvements, decor and art supplies for the studio. They call their new venture Selah.

Studio at a Glance
What it is: The BLVDS House, home to Selah, BLVDS LV magazine and InVision Creative Business Coaching
Location: Fremont district of Las Vegas
Size: 1,800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Decorating budget: $3,000

Riley and Cofield created a studio in one of the bungalow's bedrooms. It's a bright, open room outfitted with three waist-high craft tables, minimal seating and lots of task lighting. Mason jars on the desks hold a variety of paintbrushes, scrapers and palette knives.

The chalk wall calendar started with a desire to stay organized in planning their art classes and workshops. "I was not quite prepared, however, for how long it would take me to paint the wall," Cofield says. "It took three days! It was a lot of work — all those lines and squares — but we absolutely love it."

Due to the bumpy nature of the bedroom walls, Cofield could not use painter's tape to create the calendar. Instead she outlined the squares in pencil and painted it all by hand. She then mixed her own chalkboard paint with unsanded tile grout using an online tutorial to create the colored squares.

Desks: Craft Space Table, Home Decorators Collection, Martha Stewart Living


Cofield offers three tips for making a DIY chalk wall calendar:

1. When mixing the chalk paint, make sure you buy a new bag of grout; don't use one that's been sitting around in the garage. Make sure you use unsanded tile grout so you don't end up with lumps.

2. Be patient. Painting the squares by hand is very time consuming, but the finished product is very rewarding.

3. Once the wall is finished, use dustless chalk rather than chalk markers. You can find these at any local school store or office supply store. Chalk markers will not wipe off the wall.

Chalk paint: Rust-Oleum Tintable Chalkboard Paint


Because the pair would be working with paint and ink, one of the first things that had to go was the carpet. Riley and Cofield were hoping to lay a hardwood floor, but due to budget constrains, they decided to sand and stain the plywood underneath. "People love the floors," Cofield says. "I only see all the blemishes, but then again I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things like that."

Riley is pleased that their studio has a door that leads to a side porch. Airflow is important when working with paint. She also likes to take her work outside. "Sometimes a change of scenery is all I need for a little inspirational oomph," she says.

Mirror: Home Goods


Riley prefers a tall craft table to a standard height, so she has the option to sit or stand while working.

When asked about sharing a studio with another artist, Cofield says, "We have a really beautiful and peaceful energy between us, and we can feed off each other. It’s a perfect partnership, because where one of us lacks the other picks up. I can sing. She can paint. She can dance. I can write. I am an actor and a wannabe interior designer. So I just need a quiet space, a computer, a stage and a mirror or a blank palette. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had at work."


Riley makes mixed-media art using acrylic, old papers, books, pastels, watercolors and India ink. "I like drawing with bamboo, and my fingers are the best brushes I’ve ever used," she says. "I usually work with small pieces, under 20 by 20 inches, but lately I’ve been inspired to take on some big canvases, which requires room to maneuver."


Most homes built in this era are short on closet space, so Riley and Cofield made good use of this built-in wardrobe. Baskets and wire boxes keep art materials organized.

Art: Daria Riley


An open living room with vaulted ceilings, white walls and gleaming hardwood floors greets visitors as they enter. The room is part workshop space and part art gallery.

"I am really into clean lines, simple palettes with pops of color, comfort, flexibility and a space that inspires," Cofield says. "The space is so inviting — people always tell us they wish they could move in. What a compliment."

Stool: Christopher Knight Home's Lucian Rustic Iron Top Stool, Overstock.com


Matching window seats flank a wood-burning fireplace. Riley and Cofield wanted the simple beauty of the architecture and floors to take center stage in the community room, so they intentionally left the decor sparse and the walls open for incoming artwork.

"I love our workspace, but there is something about the real-wood burning fireplace in the main room that warms my heart," Cofield says. "It is such a beautiful room with so much character. We’ve taught dozens of classes in that space, and every time we design it for a new class, I am always amazed at how charming, warm and inviting the space is."

Lanterns: Target


An updated galley kitchen lies at the center of the house. Workshop participants have morning coffee and a light breakfast here. Local artists who use the space during the day can also bring their lunches or prepare a meal. The kitchen also has space for wine and cheese prep when Selah hosts an open house or a gallery night.

Knife holder: Fab.com


The kitchen leads to a breakfast nook with natural light from three directions.

Table, chairs: Lynn's World Consignment


French doors, original to the 1940s bungalow, lead to a back patio and detached garage. "The green accents around the house provide a splash of color without detracting from the work at hand," Cofield says. "Green is a nice, fresh neutral."


The landlord agreed to update the exterior paint and trim for the Selah transformation. A dusty brown base mirrors the surrounding desert, and citrus-green trim matches the interior green accents.


The front door has a peephole with two rampant lions that doubles as a door knocker.


Business partners and friends Daria Riley (left) and Sabrina Cofield outside the bungalow's front door.

Riley offers the following advice for others interested in creating a similar creative space: "Keep overhead low. Making a budget helps you determine what is most important. And only go into business with someone you fully trust and admire."

Cofield adds, "Make sure you have enough capital to last at least 18 months; two years would be ideal, especially if you’re doing something new. Our aim is to educate people in Vegas about the importance of nurturing their creative core, and that takes time and money. Go into business with someone who balances and complements you, and someone with a similar work ethic and passion for the business. That is huge. Daria and I are in this together, and knowing that makes all the difference in the world."

See more photos of this creative space

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