Okay ladies and gents!
I have a dilemma and would love some feedback. When hubby and I first bought our home my sewing room was one of the bedrooms. I then moved it down to the basement after hubby finished everything but the celilings. Well we had a bit of an issue with water after having 14 days of straight ran and some of the fabric became ummm shall we say mildewy smell so away it had to go. I since moved back up to the bedroom (which I am currently trying to organize and get in order) but hubby has also gotten the water issue fixed. Our basement has been dry (knock on really thick wood) for over 2 years now. The people who owned the house prior to us never had the gutters done correctly so the water poured down the back of the house and sat against the foundation. We repiped the gutters and put in an outdoor subterrain water pump that leads into the gutter drain which pumps out to the front of the house..anyways I digress. Hubby just told me if I wanted to go back downstairs I could have that space back. The bedroom is about 10 x 10 the area that is available to me in the basement is about 14x20. Where would you make your final sewing cave?
Hugs
April

I definitely would go into the larger area. Invest in some plastic tubs for your stash -- will keep it clean, bug free and DRY!! :D

I'd go to the larger area IF it had good lighting and heat and a good electrical supply. Use wire shelves and/or Rubbermaid or other plastic bins to hold fabric, and keep stuff off the floor unless protected, just in case.

Cricket

the basement bigger place and less noise!!!!

The chance for a larger space? I'd move! Unfortunately we don't have many houses with basements in California, and my husband grabbed the garage first!

Thank you for the input! I want to go back down there but that means moving..again :-( But it is bigger space and it is fairly quiet and it is nice and cool in the summer. It has great electricity and heat (the basement has its own zone for heating so I can set it to whatever I want when I'm down there)
Perhaps I will look at it again tonight and see...
Hugs
April

Prime opportunity to Clean, Clear and Declutter. Go south young quilter!!!!

i'd jump on that basement. store the fabric in bins.

I agree with everyone else...Downstairs!!!!!

And like K said, this gives you the chance to go through everyone and set it up the way you want :)

Get a DryRid hanger and hang it up down there too....just in case there is any residual moisture. It smells good too.

I think I would move to the basement again too. But, protect that fabric! Rubbermaid tubs and other such items will help to keep things dry if it gets damp again. I'd also get some of those, I don't remember what they are called, but they are containers that absorb moisture. Keep an eye on them to see how much moisture they are absorbing.

I had the samething happen to me at our last house! The sickening part is I had to THROW EVERYTHING AWAY. My entire sewing room including machines! We had HEAVY rains one year and we had 4' of water in our basement. Luckily our homeowners insurance covered everything because everything was a total LOSS!

I would go for the basement and store everything in bins and put a couple of wooden pallets on floor so that your bins will be off the actual floor. Hope this make sense.

Good luck! :)
Liz

Youi can use large pieces of styrofoam to lift items off the floor and they don't look too bad. This is what I do with my Christmas tree box.

Oh honey - claim the cave. Make it pretty, make it yours. The move will be a pain but soon forgotten. You will be fighting with the little room forever. (Mine is less than 11x11) I understand. Although, not having a room versus having a room - well, I don't need to spell that out, do I?

Guess I'll be the one dissenting vote when it comes to the basement. I'd stay upstairs! Mine is on the second floor, the sunniest of the two bedrooms. Great light during the day. Also, gets me out of that "cave" environment; i.e., I work in an office building all day.

Another reason... we've all been griping about our over-stocked, messy, disorganized sewing rooms. Mine's the same, plus some. What better way to limit yourself and enforce organization than staying in a better defined space? Why not use the basement when it comes to pinning and quilting large tops?

Just my opinion.

SO what you are really saying is to claim both spaces. I love the way you think!

I would have to agree with you Mad!!
Thank you ladies for your input. We have put a dehumidifier down there as a precaution (have yet to use it :-( ) and I picked up one of those containers that absorbs the moisture too just to see. I just went down when I got home from work and re-measured the space and it is 14 x 30. Decisions..decisions
Hugs
April

I see a large cutting table, another large ironing surface... a murphy bed style drop down table to use for pinning/spray basting larger quilts :D:D:D
Sorry...talking about MY dream space LMBO
I would go for the bigger area :D You will have room to grow, and if DH is handy, think of the storage and nice large work surfaces you will be able to have :D:D:D Plus, if company does come, or you need to use your other room it is always available :D:D:D If you don't claim this space now, DH may decide to turn it into a man cave...and where will you put that long arm quilting system in the future??? :wink:

LOL Amma you are too funny!
DH already has the man cave along with the tool shop and the garage! He can't have any more space lol
And you are right where would I put that long arm if I don't claim the space now!
Hugs
April

Oh my goodness, wouldn't we all love to have these options? I'm thrilled for you! April, you don't say if the basement is a shared space...at least, I didn't read it. My point is that if you are making the bedroom work for you and it is a totally dedicated sewing room but the basement would be shared...I'm just pretty sure that I'd stay in the cubby hole room that is all mine all the time.
I'd be giving the water issue no more consideration...I'm sure you've done everything to correct that unfortunate situation. It's about happy in the overall...which place makes you the most happy?

You know his man cave is on the other side but it is almost completely closed off. However I did not think of the all mine all the time. Everyone would have to walk through my sewing area to get to the man cave and the tool shop :-( Perhaps I need to ponder more...thank you for making a very good point. Although I do not mind hubby being there I am not sure I want lots of other people traipsing through lol
Hugs
April

14x30? Get down there quick before someone else claims it! We'll all be over when you get our studio complete!

Sweet little Izzy may decide to claim it as a play room LMBO or when she gets older a teen center :shock: Stake your claim quick!!! :D:D:D

LOL Chele! Come on over-the more the merrier. We can have quilt fests and block parties :-) He even told me he would put a bathroom in the tool shop in case I did not want to run all the way upstairs.....hmmmmm
Hugs
April

No way amma-Izzy can have her old bedroom back as the playroom if I decide to move out :-)
a teen center? :shock: :shock: :shock: my daughter a teen? :shock: :shock:
Hugs
April

See..the way I see it..if hubby gets two rooms...you should get two rooms! lol

He has the man cave and tool shop...you should get the stash shop and the quilt shop LOL

Can you swap the man cave with your area? Then you walk through HIS area to get to your private one?

I like the two room idea...that is starting to have real appeal!!
Amma the man cave is smaller...he can keep it lol
Hugs
April

I would go down to the basement.

Oh QBeth! you always sounded like such a nice person! and now you talk about decluttering, and getting rid of things?! Is someone making you say that? LOL! I'm with you, my sewing room is less than 10x10.. maybe closer to 9x9, and 8 foot table fills most of a wall; but I vote for the safety of higher ground.

Sorry Hon....but it will happen LMBO I tried stacking books on their heads...telling them birthdays after the 12th one you start counting backwards...but it is inevitable...:roll:

Don't forget the fridge and snack cabinet. A wine rack maybe? Boy are we going to have fun!

I know Amma :-( But she will always be my little girl.
Chele,
We can raid the man cave fridge teehee and of course we will have snacks-any particular preferences?
Hugs
April

I'd go for "bigger is better" myself, with all else equal. Moving again is just an opportunity to reorganize.

I also use big plastic totes in my sewing room for stuff I know won't be used for a while. No chance of damage.

Anyway, have fun!!!

I have plastic bins but everyone states they are no good as the fabric needs to breath..the ones I have are the drawer type bins so they are not air tight..are these ones ok?
Hugs
April

Shoot Fire what's wrong with you guys? She needs to take BOTH rooms. An upstairs room for storing fabric and a downstairs sewing room for sewing.

That is what I am beginning to think about more and more!! I am sure my little one wouldn't mind sharing her playroom with my fabric :-) (although I'm not sure where she would keep her toys! lol)
Hugs
April

Chance of a larger space - I'd move. Just make sure everything is well off the floor. Try not to have carpet.

Bellabo right - go for both rooms ;)

All you ladies forgot to claim a bathroom or is that understood??? ;-)

You will have the larger room filled up in no time. My sewing room is on the second floor but is quite large, so DH can have the entire basement!!!