Although hubby and I are almost empty nesters, we are always looking for projects. So here is the latest...

an addition over the garage for a sewing/music room. It will be 24' x 24'. I will share room with his accordians and will make a little sitting area too.

I have a lot of ideas already of layout and what my needs are- but I'd like to poll you all-

1) countertops- what type of surface?
2) floors- what type of flooring?
3) lighting?

I have plans for a big sewing "desk" with work stations that I will ask a friend to build, but again, a different surface?

Oh, I want the ceiling open to the rafters and roof- as much as I can living in the NE. We already have central air and vac system, so we will just extend them into the room.

This is payback for the 40' x 48" toybox (a/k/a garage) he got when we moved here. :)

Thanks!
Barb

Oh, I'm so jealous. I can't imagine having all that room. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Electrical outlets - lots of electrical outlets

Wonder how one can put them in the center of a room?

Enjoy enjoy enjoy - and I'll work on getting ungreen.

Floors for almost any room, I prefer in tile or wood... much easier to sweep up bits than to vacuum.
Especially on an upper floor you could run wiring through the floor joists and bring a "block" up in the center of the room and put plugs in it.. If you just have to have them there.. You can also put them right in the floor flush.. but IMHO that's not very smart.. some genius did that in the kitchen of a house I had.. ever spring a leak in a sink...or a pipe in a kitchen.. yep...... not fun, and a terrible combination.
LOTS of shelves.. and track lighting.. what a dream!!

Bearisgrey said:
Enjoy enjoy enjoy - and I'll work on getting ungreen.

Me too, my sewing room is about a quarter of what you will have. I think you will want more storage than you can imagine you needing. Clear bins or baskets for fabric, but with cupboard doors over them to keep out the light. A higher table height for cutting out, to save back ache. (Kitchen counter top height works for me) I hate to sew with my machine on top of a table now, as I have it in a cabinet, with the sewing surface level with the table top. BUT if you can arrange it, have plenty of space behind the machine, and to the left of it to take the weight of quilts as you sew. Hope this helps.

Our garage was converted into a room when we bought it. My hubby had made this for me at our old house...we kind threw it together when we moved in because in 3 weeks he had to go on a 6 month deployment,(Navy). He is going to rebuild it for me...someday. The main thing I love is all the storage under the cutting table.

Some garages have pull-down extension cords from the ceiling. May not look very elegant, but it might be convenient. And avoid the outlet-in-the floor risk of flooding. Of if you have support posts in the room, outlets could be put on them.

You can never have too much lighting :mrgreen:
Countertops are sturdier than tables with folding legs. I know that from experience! Storage storage storage. Good luck & happy quilting :lol:

I agree with others. If we didn't have new carpeting, I'd have tile or wood put in. And storage or shelving is a must!

Here's a picture of my sewing/quilt room. I share it with my desk and computer. I had 2 old legal size file cabinets I'd bought at a garage sale for $5.00 each years ago (or was it $10.00 ea??) and repainted. I bought a sliding door for a closet and use it for the table top. Others have mentioned that the table top wasn't sturdy enough because it's hollow, but I've cut out lots of fabric and have yet to have any problems with it. Oh, I got that for $15.00 at a recycle place!

[IMG]http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...CRAFTROOM3.jpg[/IMG]

I saw a cutting/basting table built in the center of the room with lots of storage underneath. I thought that was genius so you could walk all the way around it. Also be sure the height of it works with yours. Less bending!