Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Quilting Studio >

Quilting Studio

Quilting Studio

Old 11-22-2015, 09:19 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 166
Default Quilting Studio

I have an opportunity to design and furnish a brand new quilting studio. It will be in a basement with no windows. I need suggestions on what kind of lighting to install. Also what kind of flooring would you recommend. Any other "must haves" would be greatly appreciated. This is a once in a life time chance for me and I want to do it right!
Jecreed is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 09:46 AM
  #2  
Super Member
 
AliKat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,943
Default

What a great question.

Flooring: something easy to clean, where you can see and easily retrieve dropped objects. Definitely not carpet. I prefer wood, but tile or linoleum work. Concrete floors are just too hard to stand on a lot.

Lots of electrical outlets. Maybe even a couple on the ceilling, especially if you have a long arm or are able to have an ore industrial sized steam iron.

Lots of compact storage areas.

I prefer a cutting island, where I can go around to cut without moving the fabric. The a larger area for laying out the quilts.

I'll let others add about lighting.
AliKat is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 09:52 AM
  #3  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,820
Default

I would definitely have as much light as possible. The LED lights are super bright and don't give off heat. I have ceramic tile with foam mats in front of each work station in my sewing room. I learned to keep a foam mat near my iron too, a hard floor will kill an iron. LOL
I love these floor lights. I have one over each work station with a 100 watt equivalent LED bulb. [h=1]Style Selections Task Lamps 69.49-in Black Indoor Floor Lamp with Metal Shade[/h]

Last edited by Onebyone; 11-22-2015 at 09:54 AM.
Onebyone is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:02 AM
  #4  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
Default

You want the floor to be easily cleaned. I certainly would do some research of what others have done. If you have an IKEA nearby, they have lots of stuff for storage at reasonable prices. Have fun.
ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:04 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 402
Default

This is a wonderful adventure I am also in the midst of enjoying. I put in canned lights, LED because they will be efficient. Daylight bulbs are the greatest invention. You don't want 'soft' light. Some even give off a blue glow. This can change the value of your fabric. Depending on the size of your room, put lights on different switches (I have two) Mostly I stay on one end of the room. But when I use my Sweet 16 I turn on the extra lights at that end of the room and it makes all the difference in the world.

Flooring: We put in vinyl planking. The man at Mendards said it was something new. My husband installed it in one evening. My room is about 15 x 17. I love the ease of rolling my chairs over it and the ease of cleaning it. Swiffer once or twice a day depending on use. I did get all new chair rollers too because my previous ones had been rolled over my broken basement concrete and I didn't want any small chunks of cement gouging my new floor! Pins are easily seen too.

I am using the storage I already had except I purchased ready made cabinetry and put some wall cabinets up--as many as I had space for. We also put base cabinets in the center (6--3 drawers and 3 shelved ones) back to back. These are topped with a 4 x 8 sheet of melamine. Best decision EVER! I have pinned queen size quilts by myself using Cindy Needham's technique.

Many electric plugs. Count your irons and sewing machines and double for your needs. Remember if you have friends over to sew you will need more plugs than if you are in there alone. I even have two 'wall' plugs in the ceiling over my table so I can plug an iron in at either end of my table. I usually use an 18 x 24 ironing pad on top of my cutting table. I made it myself. The table holds a quilt better than a regular ironing board. I also have an ironing board for doing the longer stuff.

After hunting season(January!) my husband has promised to turn his attention back to finishing my space. We will put under cabinet lighting, as I have a long table (just like you see in the sewing machine store) along the wall with 4 machines on it. I will also have my peg board back. I can't wait to use my finished room. In the interim, I am enjoying the heck out of my sewing room. I love, love, love being in there!

Judy

Last edited by Grammahunt; 11-22-2015 at 10:08 AM. Reason: additional info
Grammahunt is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:05 AM
  #6  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: South Central Indiana
Posts: 1,931
Default

Jecreed, take a look at the Smartcore flooring from Lowes. 100% unaffected by moisture so it makes a lot of sense in a basement. Feels great underfoot, we put some in a basement bathroom and will probably do the entire basement in the same flooring as we love it.
QuiltingVagabond is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:17 AM
  #7  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
Default

When wiring the room, make sure as well as lots of outlets, they are on different circuits. Put some of the outlets at counter height. No point in having to crawl under counters to push in a plug. I have power bars mounted on the wall behind my machines.

No windows, that is tough. I would put in a variety of types of lighting and bulbs. I know people have their favourite bulbs, but you need what will work best for you. Overall room lighting, task lighting, lighting over your iron, cutting table and design wall. I prefer to have lots of light around my sewing machines, above, in front and from the left.

I currently have concrete floors. They are hard and cold. My dream sewing room would have heated wooden floors.

When designing a space I like to draw the dimensions on graph paper. Mark all windows, doors, closets etc. Then I make little to scale cut outs of each piece of furniture, or feature I want. This helps me to plan the layout and see where plugs and lighting will be needed. I take a photo of each layout, until I decide which one to use. I do keep the plan and pieces in an envelope until need next time.
Tothill is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:28 AM
  #8  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Default

As Tothill said: "When wiring the room, make sure as well as lots of outlets, they are on different circuits." I would go with a hard surface floor vs. carpet. If you can have some of your furniture on lockable casters, I would go with that so you can rearrange if needed. There is a great sub-forum under Pictures called "Mission Organization" I would scan thru the titles and take a look at the posts that sound pertinent.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/sitemap/f-23.html
PaperPrincess is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 10:39 AM
  #9  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,820
Default

You will have a devil of a time convincing an electrician that yes you do want that many outlets in one room. I fired two electricians before finding one that didn't tell me what I needed. He installed a bigger breaker and put as many outlets and lights as I wanted.
Onebyone is offline  
Old 11-22-2015, 11:44 AM
  #10  
Super Member
 
Gramie bj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Riverside Washington
Posts: 1,508
Default

My DH put all my plug ins at counter height. Very handy, every thing I use , I use at counter height. No carpet, I also have total of 30 foot 29 inch wide counter with drawers under counters and adjustable shelving above. Lg cutting table in center of room. DH also built me a set of 7 1/2 ft tall by 16 foot long cabinets, 23 inches deep, perfect for storing ruler folded fabric. Top of doors are pegboard, more storage. This spread between two rooms. Only thing I old change-wish I had better lighting, and I would like it all in one room
Gramie bj is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Krystyna
Mission: Organization
54
11-25-2015 02:36 PM
Wendy
Pictures
38
04-15-2011 06:34 AM
Wendy
Pictures
6
03-11-2009 02:35 PM
Wendy
Pictures
4
03-06-2009 07:12 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter