Use them both. You can store stuff downstairs but keep the nicely lighted room upstairs for whatever you are currently working on.

I vote for staying on the main floor.

i would stay with the room with the natural light. Looks great!!

I love your studio. I would definitely stay where you are and then maybe set up a storage area downstairs. Great dilemma to have!

OK!!! That is a beautiful studio! Holy cow. That is something to aspire to!!!!

My thinking is a bit different. Would you enjoy painting and putting together a new quilt studio? If you would get a lot of pleasure from doing that, then you might want to go for it. You would have lots more space. Gran of 6's basement studio is beautiful, and the lighting looks wonderful. I wouldn't let the worry of how long you might be in the current house factor in too much.

Of course, I have a small room, and I like to paint and organize. I don't have a basement I could move to. Basements just aren't part of Texas homes. (I am sure there is a reason for that....) But if I could get a larger room, I would go for it.

These answers may help me in my similar dilemma. Although my sewing supplies are scattered all over the three story house, my primary sewing room is upstairs in a former guest room. I have one southeasterly window of which the drapes are almost always closed. This is my largest stash area, so I don't want to fade the fabrics with the flood of light. I use full spectrum florescent lighting, but open the drapes on rainy or cloudy days.

The question I have is to build a storage building for all the "stuff" in the basement, and consolidate my sewing down there, or build a sewing cottage. If I build a cottage, I want a small kitchen and laundry, suitable for hand dying, and half bath, which means a new drain field. However, everything would be in one place, on one level, (not 3) and I'd have natural light which seems to be important to the lot of you.

Thanks sunni for asking this question.

I'm planning to move into an apartment - sometime - and one of the requirements will be that it have windows like you have - so I can look out when I sew and enjoy the light. IMHO stay where you are.

My sewing room is in the basement with no natural light. I would dearly love a window, but there's no other option for me. If it were me, I'd keep the window.

I would stay with the natural light. Cellars and basements depress me.

Put in my vote for this way. I've done both and love the natural light. Much better for working with the fabrics, etc.

I like your studio...if it is small it is still delightful, colorful and practical. My "studio" (I like that word too) is the same size as yours. I have a large window and I love to gaze out looking at the rest of the world. I notice your sewing machine is right in front of your window. My window makes me feel part of the world... I wouldn't trade that for a few more feet of space. Hope you get to stay in your house... many of us feel your situation and hope for better times tomorrow.

Awesome room, love your center/studio desk.

Oh my goodness...Grann of 6, what a gorgeous studio! It is wonderful to hear and see a dream come true. Enjoy!

Well, it sort of depends on when you do your sewing. If you sew a lot during the day and make use of the natural lighting it may be nice to stay where you are. If on the other hand you sew into the evening when the shadows abound, you might do just as well by moving down into the family area and use the "natural" kind of light bulbs. I have a window in my small room and I love to look outside every once in a while and enjoy the flowers and the sky! I notice your sewing machine is right in front of the window so you must do this too. I would miss the scenery and on the nice days when my windows are open, I would miss the fresh air....but then I've never had a chance for "MORE SPACE". I think I would still stay with the view, if it's a nice and relaxing one!

Oh my gosh, I am so :mrgreen: ! What a drop dead georgous room. I see you do have a little bit of natural light. If I had a bathroom and a fridge down there I would never leave! LOL Just seeing it made me want to sew!

As the new space seems to have an outside door, you could add a window....

I think I would stay where I'm at. As said before, try it out. But, it sounds as though it would be a great storage area.

I, too would go for the natural light over more space. Also, moving and re-settling workspace isn't as easy as it sounds, paint job aside. That, plus the possibility of your moving, makes staying put with the natural light a better choice in my view. Maybe you can use the larger space as a sorting/organizing room to make the smaller natural light space work better....?

If what you have is working and you like it, why change?

Save the downstairs room for the future longarm. You know, you want one.

Natural light and accessibility to the rest of the family beats more space in my book.....

grann of 6: Your studio is to die for!

BUT:

I would go with the natural light. I am very much affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and when the sun shines it just puts me into a much nicer frame of mind. Just my 2 cents worth...happy quilting wherever. :lol:

Tough decision. I've had both, but both rooms also had at least one full-size window to look out. When both kids were home (not the boomerang time they were both home - they leave, but they boomerang back) I loved the sewing room in the basement, as we had a split entry house with full size windows in the basement. I could "escape" there and quilt by myself and pretend I was all alone in my world. I had office and sewingroom together once - didn't work, I couldn't relax to sew when I saw my work sitting there on the desk and vice-versa. If stairs are a problem - go with what is best for you. Like someone suggested, you could put a machine down there for a while and do a trial run. Good luck.

Love your room and think you should stay right there. It's so neat and clean and very bright. More time for sewing!

Did you consider the quilting time that would be sacrificed if you spent time painting and moving? I think the suggestion of placing a long arm downstairs is a great inspiration.

I have to have natural light. I would not do well in a basement unless it was a walk-out and had lots of windows. I am planning a craft room for organization and storage but I sew in my dining room. You have to do what is best for you.

OMG OMG OMG Gran of 6 your studio is GORGEOUS!!! and guess what? You don't live that far from me, I am coming over and never, ever leaving!

robin (who is pretty sure there is now no reason for this debate, my machine is in the car and my bag is packed)

I just feel more connected to my sewing when I'm more connected to my fAmily.

If you've managed this long I'd stay put and save your energy for quilting :-D

Your room now is beautiful. Love the light. Thought of going down into a dark basement would really depress me. Think of all the quilting time you would miss while you are getting the basement ready. It seems like the basement would seperate you from the main part of the home. I get no work done when I have to be too far away. Don't like to be isolated.

Whenever I have been allocated a room "down stairs" I feel like I am in a dungeon....

If you plan to sell your house the craft/sewing room would be better in the basement. The house would show better with a bedroom on the main level. buyers have trouble seeing a bedroom with alot of sewing things- no matter how neat they are.
But if it is for you then stay where you are comfortable. To another sewer the room looks wonderful!!

With the uncertainty of how long you would be there, I would stay put. Current room looks great.

I am the odd ball here.After reading all the responds and seeing the pictures of your lower lever, it is no dungeon If you are planning to sell, a basement bedroom does not show well. You would more than likely be advise move it to the upper level. (would you buy a house with a basement bedroom?) As for painting --there paint on the market that are low lever odor and one coat (primer and paint) all in one. There also natural light bulbs. With good planning you could be up and running in 3 to 4 days. Painters in one day, movers(from a moving company) day 2, putting your stuff away day 3. Because of the up-scale area (vacation homes, $$$$ income level of the poconos) consider the move perprep while you enjoy the addition space.

Your current sewing studio is just beautiful and in my opinion you would miss the natural light.

I have a large sewing room in the basement and I don't mind being down their but I would much rather have a place with natural lighting..In the winter I bring my machine upstairs to sew, even thou I have heat. My suggestion is stay where you are ..it looks like a beautiful room.

looks well organized and like you are not lacking for room; its when you need more space that you need to move. the natural light is a plus, too. if you need to spread out, you can always hang some florescent lights above if the regular lighting isn't enuf.

looks well organized and like you are not lacking for room; its when you need more space that you need to move. the natural light is a plus, too. if you need to spread out, you can always hang some florescent lights above if the regular lighting isn't enuf.

The room that you showed looks very convient. I think the nice light is an added boon. besides all the time you are moveing stuff downstairs and painting you could be creative with your materials.