She shed or addition?
#21
The dumb waiter sounds like a great idea. There are a lot of pros & cons to both ideas but if it were me I would build a she shed. The reason I say that is because that is what I plan to do. It will be a pain to go out in the winter but if it is close to the house & the walk was shoveled it won't be too bad. Good luck with whatever you decide & let us know
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Normal, IL
Posts: 563
I have a bedroom for my sewing room and another one for my cutting room. someday I hope we can build over the attached garage. Then I'd Have all my stuff in one place. Right now I have my fabric, books and magazines down in the basement.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Gaylord, MN
Posts: 3,943
I don't know your age but steps become a liability as we age. I am 70 and 5 years ago we added a main floor bedroom, bathroom and laundry room. The whole upstairs (5 rooms plus a bathroom) is now my sewing, etc space and I'm fortunate to have that. Yes I have steps but is no problem yet and is actually good exercise. When either of us gets to the point where we can't do steps, I think it will be time for us to move off the farm for reasons other than just doing steps. I like the suggestion about using your current space for guests and have your sewing space within the house.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
If putting in a breezeway and redoing the stairs to your current studio isn't in the plans, then I would go with the addition. Wish fire code would be OK with a dumb waiter sort of set up for you. Maybe one of those stair chairs advertised for the older or disabled person would work.
You may be able to use the existing ac and heat source from your home. Or not.
Since I live down here in the desert I would go with a mother-in-law type casit a with solar tubes for additional lighting as it would positively affect the pricing with resale of the property. A shed, wouldn't help much at all.
You may be able to use the existing ac and heat source from your home. Or not.
Since I live down here in the desert I would go with a mother-in-law type casit a with solar tubes for additional lighting as it would positively affect the pricing with resale of the property. A shed, wouldn't help much at all.
If I had a sewing room in another building, I would never go there. I need to be near what's going on in the house. I do use a timer to remind me that I need to stop sewing now and get ready (for something ? ? ?) to "stir a pot" and just be nearer my hubby, even if we don't really talk for a few hours at a time.
#25
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
#26
I have a nice sewing room in the house, but when I got my long arm, it wouldn't fit. My husband enclosed our back porch and that is where my Gammill lives. My husband loves to build things and has offered to build me a stand alone quilting studio that would be large enough to hold everything. However, I like being in my house. I can start dinner and then go back and forth between quilting and cooking. To me there are numerous advantages to being in the house. Put on a load of wash, dust a bookshelf, pay a bill, check what's going on at the quilting forum, etc.
#27
I use a spare bedroom. That being said, I would definitely go with an addition. Especially in NY where it gets really cold. That way you would have the heat from the house, you could be on the same level without stairs and make it as roomy as you wanted or needed.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 521
I'm going to assume you have a pretty good sized sewing room if it is over a two car garage, much larger than any room in your house. And you seem to be very happy with it. So I wouldn't trade a room in the house and send the guests to the garage (especially if there is no bathroom). I'm not convinced a shed, even custom built, would be cozy in winter with 4 walls exposed. Whether or not the cost would be recouped in sale depends on how long you plan to stay there - if you plan to be there forever, who cares? An addition on the house is OK, IF you want to be that accessible to the house (and occupants) when you are sewing. I am in the house and find I am easily and often interrupted.
I would be more interested in adapting the current space to your needs. A personal elevator may be in your budget, or a dumb waiter, or stair chair, or a set of stairs not so steep. And if you don't currently have a washroom, I would definitely see if it could be arranged! That way you never have to be in a hurry to get to the house! If you love the space and want to stay, there are lots of improvements you can do to make it even more perfect, and you don't have to pack and move or miss much sewing time!
I would be more interested in adapting the current space to your needs. A personal elevator may be in your budget, or a dumb waiter, or stair chair, or a set of stairs not so steep. And if you don't currently have a washroom, I would definitely see if it could be arranged! That way you never have to be in a hurry to get to the house! If you love the space and want to stay, there are lots of improvements you can do to make it even more perfect, and you don't have to pack and move or miss much sewing time!
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bar Harbor, ME.
Posts: 2,911
I agree with Dunster. You would still have to brave the elements to get out there and I'm thinking Stanley, NY must be in upstate where the winters can be horrid. My vote would be to add onto the house and put lots of windows in the addition for lighting.
#30
I think I would go with the addition. You would be connected to the house, but still in your own space. And you can close the door when you don't want to be disturbed. In an addition, you would probably have 4 straight walls. In a she shed, two of the walls might not be tall due to the pitch of the roof. I do love She Sheds. I live in New Hampshire and I am not sure I would want to leave the house in the winter to go sew in the shed. That's why I would go with the addition.
I thought just crossed my mind. Is it possible to build an enclosed walk way from the second story of the house directly to your room in the garage? If possible you could put a sliding glass door in the second story room of the house, or french doors, and have a walkway to the garage. You would probably want to enclose it some how to avoid the wet weather and snow. Just a thought.
I thought just crossed my mind. Is it possible to build an enclosed walk way from the second story of the house directly to your room in the garage? If possible you could put a sliding glass door in the second story room of the house, or french doors, and have a walkway to the garage. You would probably want to enclose it some how to avoid the wet weather and snow. Just a thought.
Last edited by Luv Quilts and Cats; 10-21-2015 at 06:34 AM. Reason: added more to comment
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