The Space by Zone
80 square metres, eleven rooms, seven zones
About The Space by Zone
The usable space is the Manor of Queen's Butler The Studio (2-7-4 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo; 80.11 m²) understood as seven zones by use and furnishing: the dining room, the study, the fireplace room, the bedroom, the wardrobe, the gallery and double doors, and the facilities.
The seven zones let you separate the scenes you show from the scenes of preparation
Choosing a zone is not only choosing a backdrop; it is deciding who enters from where, where they prepare, and through which door they proceed to the principal scene. The butler welcomes you at the double doors and leads you from the gallery to each room.
For photography, you can dress in the wardrobe, make your entrance from the far end of the gallery, and change the backdrop between the dining room, the study and the fireplace room. For a meeting, the gallery serves as reception, the dining room as the main venue and the fireplace room as a place to rest.
The dining room is the heart of the Manor, where the long table and six chairs are framed from above and below by the chandelier and candelabra. The study, with its leather-topped desk and chair, bookshelves and typewriter close at hand, suits conversation and photographs of the hands.
See the scenes you can photograph
Compare the seven zones by size, light and use
| Zone | When to choose it | Principal furnishings | Light | Capacity | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining room | Scenes composed around the table | Bradley table, six chairs, chandelier, sideboard | Chandelier (dimmable) and candelabra | Up to six | Photography, meetings, tea parties, projection |
| Study | Scenes with the desk and bookshelves as backdrop | Desk, leather chair, bookshelves, globe, typewriter | Desk lamp and wall lights | Small groups | Interviews, recording, a day in the study, portraits |
| Fireplace lounge | Scenes using the fireplace and sofa | Fireplace, wine-red sofa, low table | Flames and candelabra | Small groups | Conversations, rest, an angled seat for VVIPs, bouquet presentations |
| Bedroom | Scenes using the canopy and bed | Corbeille bed, canopy, candelabra | Candelabra and night lamp | Small groups for preparation and photography | Morning-tea photography, resting upon the bed |
| Wardrobe | Scenes using the costumes and the mirror | Full-length mirror, costume rail, full butler's dress, bookshelves | Mirror lights and constant lighting | Dressing one at a time | Dressing, preparation, green room, photographs in butler's dress |
| Gallery and double doors | Scenes of doors opening and movement | Hall clock, gramophone, suit of armour, double doors | Wall lights | Passage kept clear | Reception, circulation, the moment the doors open, views from behind |
| Facilities | Facilities for personal preparation | Private lavatory; private shower room provided within Queen's Butler The Salon | White light | One at a time | Green-room preparation, freshening up |
The Manor as a whole is 80.11 m² with eleven rooms. To make the choice easier, this page groups the principal areas into seven zones.
Choose the furnishing you wish to feature, and explore each room in detail
The dining room
The heart of the Manor. The principal setting for both photography and meetings.
Read more
The study
A detective's room. For interviews and recording.
Read more
The fireplace room
The warmest scene. For conversation and rest.
Read more
The bedroom
Canopy and burgundy. For rest.
Read more
The wardrobe
Mirror and costumes. For preparation and dressing.
Read more
The gallery and double doors
Reception and circulation. The moment the doors open.
Read more
Facilities
A private lavatory and private shower room, for preparation and changing.
Read moreThe doors and the gallery become the route for photography, preparation and reception
The double doors and the gallery serve as the route from welcome to the principal scene. Which of the dining room, study, fireplace room, bedroom, wardrobe and facilities you will use on the day, and in what order, is confirmed at a viewing or when booking.
Used as a green room, for example, the sequence might run: dress in the wardrobe, rest in the bedroom, confer in the fireplace room, take tea in the dining room. For six guests, the butler guides movement on the day, taking equipment and luggage into account.
Reception is handled by the butler in the gallery, just inside the double doors.
Principal and supporting zones can be combined for each use
| Use | Principal zone | Supporting zones |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait photography | Dining room, study | Fireplace lounge, wardrobe, gallery |
| Wedding and celebration photography | Double doors, dining room, fireplace room | Bedroom, study, gallery |
| Meeting for six | Dining room | Fireplace lounge (rest), gallery (reception) |
| VVIP meetings | Dining room or fireplace room | Gallery (reception), wardrobe (coats) |
| Green room for performers | Wardrobe, bedroom | Fireplace lounge, facilities |
| Conversations and recording | Study or fireplace room | Dining room (equipment) |
| Location filming | All zones | — |
| A day in the study | Study | Dining room (tea), fireplace room (rest) |
From arrival to departure, the zones can be arranged in this order
Reception at the double doors
The butler opens the doors and confirms your name and the purpose of the day. Coats and small luggage are kept where they will not obstruct the flow of photography or the meeting.
Confirming the sequence in the gallery
The zones to be used, where equipment will go and which angles must be kept clear are agreed at the outset. With several guests, signals for moving on are also decided here.
Preparation in the wardrobe
Costumes are hung and collars and hems set before the full-length mirror. For those hiring butler's dress, the butler helps with tie, coat and white gloves.
The central scene in the dining room
Seating for up to six, standing poses and compositions across the long table are arranged. The butler adjusts the chandelier and candelabra to suit the scene.
Changing the distance in the study and the lounge
The tension across a desk belongs to the study; the softer conversation of facing one another on a sofa belongs to the fireplace room. Varying the distance between subject and backdrop tells a different story in the same costume.
What the butler undertakes
- Suggestions for the order of zones, reception, preparation and rest to suit your purpose
- Opening and closing the double doors and room doors, and adjusting the chandelier and candelabra
- Advice on placing chairs and small items, with the butler moving the furnishings
- Taking coats, preparing costumes and guiding you to the full-length mirror in the wardrobe
- Serving the drinks you bring. The Manor does not provide meals
What we ask of you
- Touching furniture, candelabra, paintings, armour and the like without the butler present
- Fixings that could damage the furnishings, or set-ups that leave marks on floors or walls
- Use by more than six guests, or use of the Manor unattended
- Naked flames, loud sound or effects that affect the neighbourhood; please consult us in advance about the expression you have in mind
QMay I hire only some of the zones?
The areas available and how the fee applies are advised before booking, according to the plan you choose and the purpose of the day. Tell the butler the zones and route you have in mind, and we can confirm together the scenes your photography or meeting requires.
QAre there windows?
No. Everything is composed with interior light, so the space is little affected by weather or the time of day. Please also see the lighting equipment page for the brightness and direction of colour you may need.
QIs there a shower?
A private shower room is provided within Queen's Butler The Salon. When using the Manor as a green room, you can freshen up and prepare before moving on to your next engagement.
QWhich zone suits a meeting for six?
The dining room is the centre. Using the long table and six chairs, with the gallery for reception and the fireplace room for rest or conversation in smaller groups, makes it easy to move between purposes.
QMay furniture be moved during a shoot?
Please always ask the butler for any change of arrangement to suit the angle. The butler checks the weight of each piece and its contact with the floor, and moves whatever can be moved.
QWhat should I check at a viewing?
The distance from camera to subject, where lighting and luggage will go, the order of costume changes and the direction of entry through the doors. The butler will take you through each zone in the order you will actually use it.
About using The Studio
- The manor is never let unattended. A butler is present for every booking, and keys are not handed over
- You are welcome to bring your own food and drink. We do not provide meals
- Please use the antique furnishings under the butler's guidance. The armour, hall clock, porcelain and silver are handled by the butler
- Please consult us in advance about loud sound or the use of naked flames
- Prices shown include tax
You may also wish to read
Come for a viewing, and open each door in turn.
At a viewing by appointment, the butler shows you the seven zones in the order you will actually use them.