I LUV this thread -- just learned that I'm not the only one to have a "studio" in my living room -- mine is a 42" table, located behind the sofa, and holds my sewing machine and serger full time -- except when I'm quilting something big, when the serger is then stored in a plastic bin beside the table, allowing an area for the sewing machine extension table -- the quilt itself will drape across the sofa when working on the binding, etc. This allows me to stay in the "heart" of our home. There are just two of us here now -- with 3 bedrooms upstairs, so this was a choice we made to share our time together. I use the dining room table as my cutting space, and an upstairs bedroom has ironing and stash area (a huge 1850s dresser). By keeping the ironing board upstairs, I qualify by quilting as "exercise". Nice to know how we all love the artistry and construction of quilting, in our very different environments.