Mrs Shak

I have to sew on the kitchen table and my stash, etc is thrown in a corner (in clear containers or baskets) or in other rooms. I would love to set up an area in the basement but it is too damp (when it rains hard or when the snow melts, we get water down there).

I'm looking to see if anyone would have any ideas of how to better organize because I have to dig through everything in order to get what I want. I do keep current projects in their own totes. Or how to use a damp basement? I don't have any extra space except the basement.

My family (and I) are tired of having to look at my sewing stuff whenever we use the kitchen! TIA!

Tartan

If you have room, purchase a standing pantry unit with doors from Walmart. Put your stash on mini bolts and fill up the shelves. The unit will look nice and all your stash will be easy to see. It will just look like you added a cupboard to the kitchen until you open the doors.

dlsnaples

Similar to Tartan's idea, I have an old armoire that used to hold a TV. It is in the living room. Closed, the armoire is just another piece of furniture. It holds everything including my featherweight.
There are many pinterest ideas on how to restyle these into new workhorses. Some show how to build a pull down table for additional workspace too.
The thrift stores around here have them at a very reasonable price. Most people do not want them anymore because they are not large enough for the new TVs.

Sandygirl

In regard to that damp basement, you should call a basement waterproofing company for a price to waterproof it. We had our oozy stinky farmhouse basement waterproofed this past spring and it is wonderful now! They installed a french drain. They dug around the perimeter of the INSIDE of the the basement (more efficient) and installed the piping that directs the underground water to the new sump pump pit.

I never dreamed that we could use this basement. Water used to pool in places and now, no more! "Expensive" but so worth looking into! We were actually pleased at the price quoted, the quality of the outcome and the result we now enjoy. Our mental "guesstimation" was much higher than what it ended up costing. DH got busy and painted the walls and the floor. My DH is moving his hobbies to the basement! Such a difference!

oh, while we were at it, we had the basement windows replaced for new efficient windows. We still came out lower than our guesstimated price. So pleased!

I would call for quotes and advice, pricing. Sounds like your situation is not as drastic as ours. (It is raining now....no pools!)

sandy

Sandygirl

In regard to the sewing area, i love the Closet Maid shelving with the fabric cubbie drawers for storage. Or look into storage drawers on wheels. Mobility is key for me. I like to be able to move my stuff around. Wheels are a must.
sandy

Mrs Shak

Thanks for the ideas, I'm not sure if hubby would like another piece of furniture in the house, but drawers on wheels, he might go for. I'm so used to folding my fabric, I didn't think about bolts...

I wonder if I could really bother him and go vertical. Hang some towel bar type things on the wall and hang the fabric.

Sandygirl, we checked into have new drain tile, etc done to the basement, the problem is that there is concrete on three sides of the house so removal and/or replacement of the concrete is where the financial problem is. We have a stone foundation and it's starting to get tiny leaks which we keep patching but we can't control it.

pocoellie

I think that the first thing I would do, is to take care of the basement problem, because eventually that will become a MAJOR problem.

Aurora

You could also install a sump pump to remove the water.

LynnVT

Another possibility in some areas of the country is spray foam. A friend showed us their basement where foam was sprayed on walls and ceiling which made the house warmer and the basement dryer. We also have an old house with round rock foundation walls and we are going to look into doing that. Since our basement floor is dirt, only concrete under the furnace, and part crawlspace, it still won't be usable for much, but I think it would help the dampness from going into the house. Of course sump pump or dehumidifiers can also help in some situations. Good luck. Be as creative in your storage as you are in your quilting. I just found good size underbed storage boxes with casters at a very good price at Family Dollar. This is not a "$1 store" but a discount chain in some areas. I'm rearranging my stuff into the "Harry Potter space" which is a closet under the stairs in the living room. Some stuff will go under the beds. Not ideal, but much neater than it was before.

carolynjo

Maybe you could get a free-standing cabinet that you could put a fold-down bar on which would hold your machine and then use the rest of the space for fabric and iron, etc. Good luck. I have seen such arrangements in Better Homes and G. magazines and Southern Living.