We are planning to build on our retirement property in the not too distant future. Right now we are in the design stage. Dimensions, shape, which trees do we HAVE to cut down, what is essential (his and hers studios) and what is optional (guest bedrooms).
So, my question is what size should my studio be (his will be much the same for his leatherwork and model railroad).....
I know I want lots of built in shelving, plenty of windows, a huge table, built in ironing board, design wall, but keep wondering what size it really needs to be. I'd love to have it truly enormous, but cost is a factor too.
How can I get the most usable space without breaking the bank?

20' x 20' sounds about right.....just kidding! It's not how big, just a comfortable space to make you happy :lol:

Try putting it on graph paper, deciding the size of cupboards, tables, ironing surface and a cutting area and then add walking room.

If It were me designing a studio, it would be a minimum of 500 Sq ft. similar to Alex Anderson's space. A small sitting area with storage for books , small stereo, tv. a wall of storage components. A design wall good lighting, work stations that aren't shoved up against the wall.... I'm there right now........

Decide what space you need for the items you now have plus cupboards to be installed, and add for future add-ons. --Then make it bigger. You didn't mention a quilting frame or longarm. This may be something you may want to have room for. I too will be planning a retirement home soon. I will include space for all my sewing needs. I use 2+ rooms in my house now. The main room is 8' X 16'. The other one is 12' X 9'. I figure with all that I have and may add, the minimum space would need to be 18' X 14'. I would like it to be bigger but cost will have to be a factor. -- My husband gets the barn. I will just need a little space for the garden supplies.

My room is 15 X 30 but I have a LA in it. My suggestion, don't have too many doors to break up the space and keep the windows high enough to put storage or workspace under them. I live in a house over 100 years old and have 3 big windows and 3 doors to contend with. Still I know I have more space than a lot of people and I'm very happy with having the room,just if I could build I would do it differently.

Would you consider having room for quilters to come in small groups ... so they could have mini-retreats ... to help defray the cost of the studio.

Just wondering.

ali

That is certainly an option as I already have RV space(s) planned for visiting family/friends. Thanks for the great idea!

Greensleeves - I currently am in a home from the 1920's, grew up in a home from the 1940's, and also lived for several years in a Victorian home, plus all the base housing and mobile homes we lived in, so I am very conscious of door and window placement and making storage available everywhere possible!
I'm even planning on my living room having built in storage under all the windows.
How much space does the longarm actually use? I mean footprint as well as necessary surrounding space . I've not seen one set up except at a show, which was very hard to judge space needed.

The only good thing I can say about my small quilting "studio" is that it's set up like a "U" - sewing machine on one side of U, ironing board at the bottom and cutting table on the other side. I rarely have to get up from my chair once everything is cut! Also helpful is a 4-shelf unit starting just above the cutting table. I wish my sewing machine table was about 2 feet longer, but still with enough room to the right of the machine for stuff. The sewing machine table butts up against another large book case to the left. I have two "bi-fold door" closets and I've taken the doors off. One holds my stash in cupboards, the other hold a small desk and skinny shelves for projects in waiting. I've seen other much-larger set ups that I think aren't as efficient as mine.

I would like my quilting room the size of a two car garage. But then I have always been a BIG dreamer. In my room I would have a small camper frig, a daybed, mock or real fireplace, camper stove, and a large picture window over looking Mt Rainer just to stare at for futher insperation. Did I mention that I also would never have a need to come out of this room. LOLOLOL

You forgot the bathroom and alittle sink so you can keep the coffee pot going.

I am interested in seeing what folks say. I will never be able to build on....but a girl can dream. :mrgreen:

I have a Gammill LA on a 14 foot table and I devote 8 X 16 foot space to allow working front or back and walking around easily. On the wall behind the LA is my design wall and a rack for hanging a roll of batting so the space is not just for the LA.

Just plan on it being the size of your living room. and large enough to accomidate 3+ machines and a long arm set up. with one wall dedicated to fabric and a roll or two of batting. this wall can be set up with your long arm on it. then the other wall is your design wall on the opposite side. your machines will be three feet out from this wall so that while you are sewing you can look at it every now and then. the third wall will be where cutting and ironing will take place. this would be a shorter wall, if you want. I would make sure that the design wall and the short wall has windows. I would also make sure that there is an outlet every 2-3 feet. and lots of pot lights and eyeballs that can be turned in different directions to help illuminate what you need it too. a good 9-10 foot ceiling is also very helpful. just my two cents.

We converted my hubby's old garage into a wonderful studio for me. It is 20x20. The only think missing is a bathrrom but then if there was one I would never leave!
I ahve a few pics attached......

I don't think you could ever have too much room. More room, more storage. I would love to have a room big enough for a proper sitting area, with a bookcase full of all my quilting, sewing, crafty books.

I would love to have room to spread out and be organized.

Louster399, your studio is fantastic! I love it!

I have a small quilting machine on an 8.5'X3' frame. I put the frame on a base to move back and forth. As the room it is in is only 16'X8'. I plan to upgrade to a larger set up when I have more experience on it. A larger room is definately required for the quilting frame.

Right now I'm using the dining room which is probably close to big enough, but with double doors to the living room, a door to the hall and a door to the kitchen, plus a wall of windows that go nearly to the floor, the area for storage is limited to say the least. I do have 2 thrift store dressers (one used partially for Thanksgiving/Christmas placemats and tablecloths, the other primarily for yarn and ribbon and other crafty stuff), plus a big bookcase and similarly sized cabinet as well as 2 sewing machines in cabinets, an ironing board on the hall door, and the huge dining room table...barely room to walk. So I'm definitely thinking bigger and more storage. Not sure about the need for a longarm setup as I primarily hand quilt in my lap. So far I've not been too happpy with my meager attempts at machine quilting, and definitely not happy with doing the binding totally by machine.

When one of my friends had this kind of opportunity, she and her husband structured the attic of the garage so that they could build rooms up there. She got the back half (with the great view) and he got the front half....his entrance was through the garage, hers was off the kitchen....there is a door between the two sections that is usually left open, but it gives them each their own space. When they first built it, they didn't have much money so they just added the right trusses and beams, then added on and finished it as they had the money....it has worked out really wonderfully for both of them. Have fun.

I think if I was designing from scratch I'd put in a walk in closet for my stash.

I agree. Protects from light.

10x12 up to 12x20 I think a L shape might be nice too. You want something that is roomy but also fun to be in. Lots of natural light and storage.

How can I get the most usable space without breaking the bank?
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Look into getting to know someone who designs for ships, yachts, mobile homes, and RVs. In these there is a massive amount of storage that you would never dream of until someone showed you. My sister and her DH lived in one for years after they retired, and I never tired of seeing where she could stash stuff. From the bed itself capable of being raised for underneath storage, to roll top desk like covers over storage over doors and windows, all over the place. Just visit someone or look at RVs online and check out all the storage there.

I'm even planning on my living room having built in storage under all the windows.
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There're called Window Seats, and are in most of the more expensive decorating mags nowadays. They are also rather old fashioned, which is good because the older houses had very little storage. Usually they have the seats which have doors under them, or else the cushions come up and you can pull up lids to the storage underneath. I would suggest the doors or sliding doors myself, since I have a Persian that sheds all over the house and pulling the cushions up all the time delights the cats!. The sides of the windows are generally book cases, but even then they can have drawers built into them, later if you can't afford them right now.
Shelves to the roof on one side in closets. Closets around the outside of the walls for added insulation, built flat so you could hang over them a giant quilt for checking last minute details.
The same with a big flannel area.
Makes me want to have something like that to build...not that it'll ever happen but I love to dream.

AND LIGHTS, LIGHTS, LIGHTS. Can't say enough about light. Paint the room some bright, light color that will reflect artificial lights.

I have a gorgeous stand alone (1/3 of huge garage) built with all the bells and whistles, don't forget room for a little fridge and seating for visitors. All my friends stop over to visit in the studio!! No matter how big you make it...it will be too small!! LOL...We are picky people,us quilters!!!

I love the room repurposed from the garage! Nice job. No matter how big you make your new spaces, they will eventually be too small. Make the new rooms so they can be repurposed when you eventually sell the house. I sew in a room that has a rolling door and I can look into the rest of the house and am not excluded from what is happening there but my cutting/stash room is to the side of that room so that nobody can look in there without intentionally going to the door. I can leave a mess as long as I want!--(usually longer).

Too, too funny...that's the dimensions of my sewing studio! My DH and I were able to build our dream home about 4 years ago. The room has gi-normous windows that overlook the lake we live on too. Plus I have a long-arm/home quilting set up room right behind that one. No long-arm or home quilting set-up. I have to finish school first.
Now, I realize that not everyone can have this much space. I'm spoiled and know it!
One whole wall is all fabric and kit stash--with barn like slider doors that cover it (protect against light and dust). Another whole wall (and part of another) in the 20 by 20 room is shelving for books, another wall (over-looking the lake) is for huge L-shaped desk that I have. Oh yeah, I have enough room here for at least two quilters, possibly three to stitch all at the same time. I'm such a brat, I know.
:wink: :wink:

My DH build shelving on on wall top to bottom to house my stash, then we found slider type barn door mechanisms and huge 6 feet by 6 feet beaded board wood to use with them. This whole business protects my stash from light and dust.

No, she is pretty accurate about this size. You will be surprised at how quickly you fill the space up.

My sewing room is small but the closet in it is quite big. That's a bonus. I also put in three ceiling canned lights in addition to the fan/light fixture. For evening sewing the extra lights make a huge difference.

Think about what you are going to put in your sewing room then add 12 to 20 more feet. I like big rooms.

Having been an Interior Designer for the past 35 years, start with an inventory of all the things you want to include in the room, Machines you own or plan to own, storage requirements in linear feet (think vertically here), work/cutting table, will it be permanent or folding. Etc! Once you have the needs switch mode to the nice to haves including how you want the room to look, ie windows, doors etc. Start with a list of everything you can imagine, then see how much you can fit in without getting too large, consider zoning the room into 2 sections, one for sewing, and one for other activities and how they will work together. Will the furnishings be built in (less flexible affects resale someday) or will you use furnishings that can be moved around. Rectangular rooms such as 12 x 18 , 20, 24 work well. The more time you spend planning the more efficient and wonderful the room will be. Good Luck, sounds wonderful already!

I think this is the way to do it. Decide on your furniture, built ins, etc. Make a diagram/ That will tell you what your space needs are need.

A lot will depend on how much fabric you have, how many machines, and if you plan to have a LA in the room. Sometimes too big is as bad as too small.

I got the book "Creating your perfect quilting space" sewing room makeovers for any space and budget,by Lois L. Hallock, and it is full of wonderful ideas! and there are some really great sewing rooms right here on the board, just do a serch of sewing rooms or studios, good luck

My husband built on a 12x24 room for my sewing space and said you will never fill this one up!! Well he finished it in July and I got moved in it in August and its full,LOL
He laughed and said oops,but we didnt have roon to go wider but he said maybe next year he can go longer,I have a longarm in there too so that took up room. But I love it!!! Its better than my little 10x 11 room I was in. But go bigger if you can.PS dont forget a closet!! We did.

Give yourself a nice big design wall with no cabinets, shelves, etc. I use a Block Butler, and I love it, but you do need a space for that. Sometimes it loses its stick, but I just spray it with water, and it comes right back. Whatever you decide, you'll want a blank wall to use.

HeeHee! As big as you can make it. I have a friend who has a big ne and she has it set up with a small kitchen so she can make coffee and tea, warm up something in a small microwave, etc. She also has two comfy chairs so her hubby can come and watch TV and visit with her while she is sewing or doing hand work. She has a special spot for all her sewing machines because she invites gals over for a sewing fest. She has a large walk in closet for all her fabric and big bookshelves under a window for all her books. she has a blanket on the lower shelf where a heat vent is so her kitty can sleep there anytime she wants, which is often. Big design wall also. Jan

There is a free design web site called Sketchup.com I haven't tried it but saw it ona DIY program called This New House. Looks interesting and perhaps worth a look.

One thing to make sure of is outlets, at least 2 on every wall.

Lucky, lucky woman! Lots of good ideas here. Inventory and measure what you have and what you'd like to have. We've designed and built two homes; both times I used graph paper and furniture templates to the same scale for my furniture placement. Let's me know where to put doors, windows, etc.

Also consider electrical outlets at table top height for easy access.

I'm dreaming and scheming for my own sewing area (fell to the budget axe when we built :-< ) so this is very interesting to me!

One of the things I've been thinking about is a way to screen at least part of my mess from visitors - maybe face the back of my machine to the door/sitting area with a partial height wall.....plus I like to know when someone comes in (my back is to the door now and my husband thinks it's very funny to sneak up on me - yikes!). I also prefer my natural light coming from the side rather than facing a window or having my back to it.....

Track lighting!!