He’s going to line one wall with overhead cabinets with a counter right below it that will have a sewing station for each machine (I have an embroidery machine and a traditional sewing machine). Under the counter will be additional storage cabinets with a set of drawers.

What a wonderful birthday present. You are a lucky lady. Hugs, Mary

Sounds wonderful - what a great gift - can't wait to view pictures. Please share them when it is complete. *4U

Your are a Lucky girl.

Lucky girl. Make sure you post some pictures so we can all see. Suzanne

You are lucky to have a hubby to understand your needs. I was moving and had intended to purchase a house with no stairs, since I watched my husband when he was sick struggle with them. I am so glad my daughter talked me into purchasing the one I have now with a large room upstairs. It turned into my craft room where I can leave everthing in the middle of projects. What a blessing. Once your room is done post some pictures. Would love to see the finished room.

You have a great hubby, but mine went the extra mile for me. He has lived with my stuff for 37+ years. Three years ago, before I retired, we built me a sewing room beside our house. Bought basic storage house 12'x24', then we did all the insulation, wiring, painting, & etc. It was hard work, but fun working together, finished like reg. house. We made a great sewing space. Too bad we made it too small.
He did some great things:
Ceiling light-large restaurant light. Built it down from cathedrial ceiling. Added hooks on side above sewing machine to hang rulers. Added another light above to reflect off white ceiling. Great lighting plus all the task lighting.
Shelves:back wall all shelves for fabric, design wall 3' in front of shelves-on top of finishing boards he cut U shapes to insert copper tubing to store batting rolls, interfacing on rolls, ribbons,
etc.-easy to remove for use & out of way (above me)
have 2-step stool to reach.
Heat-Air:small heat pump type on upper wall.
Above bookcases & cabinet spaces 1 or 1 shelves for less used items but needed.
Bookshelves:nice one for books, others hold labeled magazines, project folders, clear shoe boxes up to 35 gal. tubs are arranged on sturdy wire racks (Lowe's) for easy access for me. Sewing machine in center of room, cutting table on left, ironing area on right a few feet away(so I will have to get up) with serger to back of machine and emb. machine on wall under window (emb.thread on Joann thread racks on right side of window)in front of serger. Also have machine set up in house for those last minute things, repairs, and hand stuff.
Office area:use for computer, new book storage, office supply things, etc. Clocks at each end & 2 stained glass light-catchers hang from ceiling.
NO PHONE by choice...cell phone just for family.
Design Wall-7'x8'-great for displaying
Have TV, radio, CDs on computer. My second home- where I love to play. It stays in a mess all the time as I keep several projects going at a time.

Good luck with your new sewing area. Since you are in the house...don't forget the upper wall space..
great area for less used storage.

2 comments

by shirlener88 15 Nov 2010

OH my - do you have pictures?????

by mhiemstra 17 Nov 2010

Wow! I'd love that, but I could never ask him for a separate building. As it is this is the second area of the home I've claimed. I'm also a photographer and last year he converted the finished portion of our basement into a portrait studio so I could bring clients into a controled lighting environment.
I like the idea of the copper tubing. Not only could I use it for stabilizers, I could use it for wrapping paper too!

Boy are you lucky. This is a wonderful birthday gift. Lots of luck and let us see it when you are done. Arlene

Wow, lucky you! My hubby is all thumbs so I don't get anything built for me. I am crammed in a multi use room. Have fun and enjoy!

Wonderful! That was my plan with a small bedroom because we have 2 guest rooms, but my hubby isn't ready to give it up. We have lots of summer guests and it is nice when families come to visit. Maybe later for me! Congrats to you! *s

It is a wonderful idea! Congratulations by the conquest!

That is great, I am having new closet and cabinets put into my sewing room this week. Can't wait.
I have an L- shape desk, which runs under the window, over looking the pool and back garden with plastic draws on wheels 4 of them under this counter. My machines are at the window, and the other part has a full cutting top, along the right hand wall. On the wall above this I have a pin board, for all my hoops and gadgets.
New cabinets are going above this to the ceiling, with doors, I only have shelving at the moment. On the opposite wall is my computer stand and next to it is going to be a whole new double door closet to the ceiling, with 2 large bottom draws.

Hope some of this helps.

Hugs Yvonne

2 comments

by shirlener88 15 Nov 2010

We will need to see pictures of this - when complete.

by castelyn 18 Nov 2010

Well Shirlene, it is completed. Now for me to sort the things into the new space.
Will show pictures once done.

Hugs Yvonne

Good for you, my hubby did this for me a couple of years ago, works great. What we did was went up to home depot and picked out 2 beautiful counter tops, smooth surface, easy to clean, won't scratch easily, then hubby builds strong sturdy legs underneath. On one (one side of the room) he built a small shelf that holds my embroidery attachment perfectly, then added a 'lift' for my sewing machine (got it from canada)used a smooth stone look paneling for the back of the inside. Then I added those rolling carts. It slides right under, holds my prewound bobbins, specialized presser feet, tissues (allergies) a roll of stablizer,just the stuff I wanted. Then we got several of those thread racks from Joanns and he mounted them on the wall over my machine. Perfectly handy. Now to the other side of the room (kinda L shaped) he built the next counter with legs (no wobbles) on this I have my serger and my cutting board. He hung hooks from the ceiling and we measured string with opened large paper clips on the bottom and that's where I hang my rulers (so handy). Then under this cabinet are 4 rolling cabinets. The kind with 3 drawers and in there is stablizer, templates and all my 'stuff' Works great. Anyway it's perfect for me and wasn't real expensive. Have fun and post us pix when it's done..........

2 comments

by shirlener88 15 Nov 2010

And you could post pix, too.

by mhiemstra 17 Nov 2010

Wow, lots to concider here. I like the thread rack idea. I'll have to incorporate something for all my scissors and cutting insturments. Thanks

That is so nice. What a wonderful birthday gift. I will be happy to have my sewing room back when my husband retires from the Air Force in 3 and 1/2 years. We will be abble to go back to our home in Florida and I can set up my sewing room as I want it.