AtHomeSewing

I recommend that you consider putting in separate electrical circuit just to power your iron (which requires a lot of power).

My hubby added a circuit for my iron and put a light switch for it next to the door. When I leave the room, I flip the light switches off and I know that my iron has not been left on by mistake. Actually he put a total of three power circuits serving my sewing room. One is just for the track lighting so I can add as many as I want, the one for the iron, and one for everything else.

Skeat

My ideal sewing room would be full of windows on my north and south side...I'd have my west wall all sliding solid doors so you could easily see the stash when you wanted to and not at all if you didn't. The east wall would be a huge design wall. My cutting table would be a kitchen bar w/plug ins on each end, drawers on top and cabnets to hold baskets of projects. But for now, I am happy w/the space I have in my dungeon:)Here it is at: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/19004.page

Here is one of my favorite books (I have it to drool thru at any time!) some great ideas and inspirations! I found it in our library too recently...so if you don't want to buy it, go check it out:)Go to: http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Your-.../dp/1564775690

oksewglad

Have you thought of a design wall? I use 2 cheap flannel back vinyl tableclothers thumbtacked to the wall where ceiling meets the wall. Always putting projects up to audition for placing blocks, audition borders for wall hangings. If not enough wall space you could make a room divider backed by a flannel design wall. Also have a flannel backed bulletin board over my machine for my mini's--don't loose the small pieces as easily.
We all envy you. My sewing room is 7 1/2 x 12 and find myself migrating to a larger space to cut fabric and baste quilts together.

elizajo

Since you will be on the second floor, you could easily put some kind of padding under a wood floor installation so that you have a cushioned surface to stand on. I have slate floors that are hard on my back to stand for long periods of time and would love that.

I do Google searches or look in Webshots for images of sewing studios from time to time. One of my favorite ideas is to install one or more decorative curtain rods (with clips on the sliding rings) above a bank of closet doors and hang a flannel sheet for a design "wall". Since you have a lovely view, something like that might be an option. While I am sewing, I would rather have another window to look out of than a big white flannel wall.

I just made myself an ironing table for the area adjacent to my sewing table. On top of a folding 4' table, I placed some plywood , then 2 layers of felted wool yardage, and topped it with some leftover chintz. Soon I'll draw a grid onto canvas and staple the works to the plywood. I put two rolling storage carts under the table with removable drawers for my cut strips organized by sizes.

One of my closets is really a computer station, so the doors stay open unless I have guests staying in there. I installed adhesive hooks on them to hang my rulers. It really makes a difference to have them hanging near your cutting area for easy access.

Something I learned from teaching elementary school for years: organize small tools and supplies by task in mobile containers, then organize the containers on shelves or cabinets. That way, you can grab a work basket instead of pulling tools and supplies out of various cabinets. You may end up needing duplicates of certain supplies such as scissors, but you save precious sewing time.

bearisgray

Is there a bathroom near by?

Lainee

Excellent point on the bathroom!!!!!

OK...since DH will be providing music to quilt by (might I suggest a waltz for freemotion and pokas for piecing) and a parking space plus free maintenance for a cool car in the toy room....sharing is now a good thing!

Barbm

son's bathroom is right down the hall, but I go the extra steps and use ours- he is responsible for cleaning. (get my drift)

I love all these ideas- I forgot about a design wall and I've always wanted a wider ironing board. And that's why I asked- because I would forget things over the excitement of planning.

I might run out of room for hubby's 5 accordians. :)

ania755

Sounds very good...
Good luck!

mpspeedy

I suggest two kitchen type islands for both a cutting area and an ironing area. They are a good height for both cutting and ironing and usually have a built in electrial box for plugging in appliances as well as storage underneath. If they are on wheels that can be locked they are doubly great. Then you can move them if necessary. While a deep surface is great for cutting becareful not to make the ironing surface so deep that you constantly reach to far. Our backs are the first thing to go. If you don't already have a sewing cabinet make one using two or three kitchen cabinet units acting as bases and as well as providing storage. The top can be a door or a laminated surface. You can drill holes in it to thread your machine cords through helping with that nest of cords problem. I would also recommend a hard surface floor. It is nice to have some kind of soft mat to stand on in front of the cutting and ironing surface. Carpeting while pretty is a royal pain to keep tidy.
I wish I had a single room large enough for all of my stuff. Congratulatons. Enjoy!

patp

I know that you must be excited. I just moved into my new sewing room this past spring. A couple of things that I would like to share: one, lamanite flooring is great, and I purchased quite a bit of things from Ikea. Lot's of storage items and their prices are decent.
Enjoy!