By Amanda Duckstein, founder of Shadowbox Pilates:

Starting From Scratch 

I'm very lucky that my parents were available, capable, and knowledgeable about renovations.

When I first acquired this space, it was not in great shape at all. My dad had a clear vision when I couldn't picture it looking any better.

The space had potential — beautiful windows and just enough room to fit 10 reformers perfectly — but required significant work to transform it into what I imagined.

The Night Sky Inspiration 

While planning the studio, I developed this unexpected obsession with the night sky and watching stars. That inspired the studio's color scheme — I knew I wanted navy blue as the signature color.

It was my dad's idea to get the blue tube light covers, which perfectly complemented the aesthetic. Navy felt distinctive yet classic — it's sort of a Hamptons neutral with its nautical associations, but not the typical white and beige you see everywhere.

I wanted an accent wall to help the studio stand out while still feeling appropriate for the location.

Even our crystal selections in the powder room reflects the blue theme, with lapis and similar stones incorporated throughout the space.

Hands-On Renovation 

We tackled every aspect of the renovation ourselves. My dad and I spackled walls, fixed the ceiling, installed new lights and blinds, and deep-cleaned the entire space.

We painted every inch of the studio, which required extensive spackling first. I spent hours scraping paint off the floors — you can still see some spots we couldn't completely remove.

The bathroom was falling apart when we arrived, so we completely renovated it, expanding the vanity to four times its original size.

Contact

🌐 Shadowbox Pilates

About Amanda

After teaching Pilates for 15 years, Amanda created Shadowbox Pilates to return to Joseph Pilates' original vision of control, precision, and core-focused movement. 

Her Southampton studio features specialized wooden reformers with towers and jump boards, while her popular Shadowbox in the Wild series brings classes to iconic locations like Gurney's oceanfront deck and Wölffer Wine Stand.

Amanda Duckstein lives and enjoys life on the East End after many years in New York City. 

Lead-in Image

@shadowboxpilates / Instagram