"Although I have a dry basement, it does get "humid" down there when it rains. So, we have a good humidifier to deal with any dampness. To avoid emptying the bucket all the time, we mounted the humidifier on a platform about eye-high so we could run a plastic tube from the humidifier over to the set-tub we have in the laundry area. Works great!"

QBeth-sure hope you meant de-humidifier and not humidifier. Lol, if you have a humidifier down there, no wonder you have so many problems with moisture.
Smart thinking on the positionong of it.

Thanks for catching my goof! Yes, it's a DE-humidifier. Good grief. :-)

As for humidifiers, which are greatly needed during the winter months, I wish I could devise a system where our two small humidifiers could receive a constant water supply (the reverse of what we did for the de-humidifier). Will need to think more about that unless someone has a solution???

As to which space to use: I have to have lots of good light. I have S.A.D.D. and light is very important during any time of the year. I had the basement at out old home and found I was hardly ever down there even tho the lighting was really good it was florescent(sp).
Here, I have a lovely picture window that looks out to the chickens, barn, and woods. I placed my machine so my back is to the window. I tend to do too much daydreaming, bird-watching, and critter-watching when looking out the window.

I don't like people walking through my area when I am working, so it is in the corner of the Great room. Make a path for DH to follow going to his shop. Can any odors, dust, or anything else not wanted on/in/near your fabrics come out of his shop? ie: paint, thinner, wood shavings, etc.

Unless the walls were primed with a primer that has a mildew / moisture / odor resistant barrier, you may still have the problem's.

Running back and forth from upstairs to downstairs could get really old.

As to the plastic bins in the basement, just take a small drill bit in the drill and drill a bunch of tiny holes in the top and a few around the upper sides. That way the fabric can breath. My DD has two bins we used for something else like this for some of her fabric.

Since your floor is concrete, it will be cold and hold moisture, too. Prime it before putting anything down.

Good luck.

Bigger room sounds great but sometimes get a little antsy being in a basement for long periods of time, I need a window. May in Jersey

I too suffer from S.A.D.D. and thats my main concern about moving downstairs and probably why I haven't. I keep trying to convince myself I can over come that for more rm but not so sure and darn thats ALOT of work moving/reorganizing everything to find out I just can't work down there in a windowless world and my Honey wouldn't be happy if I got all moved then changed my mind....hmmm think I am answering my own problem here...see i just needed all of you to chat it out with...thanks so much for letting me go on & on.
dee
p.s. I have my machine in front of front windows, I can see the birds at the feeder, cars driving by, neighbors wave if they see me seating at the machine....ya i would miss all that...besides for some reason my cats won't go downstairs....gosh that should have been my first clue...lol
This pic is a old one, just wanted to show my front window, I traded places w/ the fabric stash-moved the sewing table in front of the window[under the yellow table cloth are rubbermaid drawers just for solid fabrics]

Stairs, knees, up and down, getting older. I'd stay up stairs. Sunshine! For me larger means more clutter and I have enough But that's just me. I like the idea of having a cutting table downstairs. My JAs table fold down so out of site until I need them.

Just a suggestion. It's you space. You do want you want.

I so agree!

Hi April, well it's totally your decision.

For me I'd have to claim BOTH spaces. I like being upstairs where I can see what's going on in the house. I like being about to jump up and check out something going on outside. I like the sunshine. I like being close to the bathroom and the kitchen for fixing dinner, etc.

I wouldn't want to go through another loss in the basement. If you put anything down there I would make sure it's up off the floor and put in containers on shelves above the last water level.

I would stay in the bedroom since you're back there now and then expand to the basement when more room was needed. Didn't the insurance claim include enough to cover the LA? lol Something to save room for in the basement.

You might be willing to share part of the basement with DH so he can have a small man cave area for a new tv room, right in line where you can watch when you do want to be in the basement. Two spaces, two sewing setups sounds like a plan to me. (lol)

Pam M

It would depend on which room you enjoy the most when sewing. More room is great as long as you are happy with the lighting, the color of the room and the amount of visitors you get in your sewing room. I would prefer a small bright room that has a happy color on the walls to a bigger, darker room that does not have a happy color on the walls. Also, does one room make you feel isolated from everyone more than another room. Do you want to have that isolated feeling?
Those are the questions I would be asking myself.

I would not want to be alone - isolated - from the rest of the family - husband and dog - I have teal striped wallpaper with a white background and wood trim. I have teal carpeting, I look out an east window. It all makes me happy and within the family circle. My area is all of 6-1/2' by 11'. Sure I am a little cramped here, but I know where everything is and I couldn't be happier where I am. I believe you are right - it depends on which room you enjoy most for sewing. Edie