jbj137

***
*** Sounds like a DREAM COME TRUE.
***

MsHeirloom

It does sound like a dream come true. Go as large as you can afford. You will never regret the decision!

blueheavenfla

Don't forget the surge protectors for ALL of your equipment...not just your lap top and you may want to consider an UPS unit for your computerized machines. It gets hot in sewing rooms with your iron on so take that into consideration for summer heat...is the A/c enough or will you need additional vents and/or ceiling fans. Halogen lights are hot so avoid them but the new LED lights are great and they even have them in fluorescent style. Enjoy your new "touch of heaven" here on earth!

one-and-only

Good luck with your new sewing area. Like others have stated go as big as you can possible afford. You can never have enough room. Also when considering the placement of the electric have your plug ins above any counter top so you do not have to pull sewing tables an cabinets out to plug things in. Also have plug ins that you are going to use for your iron connected to the main light switch, so when you enter or leave the room and turn off the lights your iron will be shut off. I had mine changed, so it would do that, it was the best thing I ever did. If I forget to shut the iron off, I know that it is off when I shut the lights off. It comes on when the lights are tuned on and it gives the iron time to heat up while am getting organized to start my projects, which is also very handy. Enjoy your new room.

grandmahoney

Make it as big as you can afford. You never can have to much space for a sewing room.

Sewnoma

I agree!!

I suggest getting some graph paper out and doing some figuring. Computers are nice but I prefer it a little old-fashioned. Decide on a scale, and make little cut-outs of all of the furniture you're going to have in the room that are all to scale. Start arranging them and that should help you figure out what sort of room size & shape you'll want. Don't forget to leave yourself generous walkways and a nice big wall space for a design wall! Don't forget to take the height of things into consideration as you plan - putting a tall cutting table in front of a low-silled window is probably not the best route, for example.

When you're doing your layout, think about steps you'll need to take - I mean how you will actually move around the room. Try to mentally put yourself in the room and walk yourself through making a quilt. Is your design wall in a sensible place compared to your sewing machine or are you going to have to cross the entire room over and over as you're assembling your quilt top? Do you have a pressing station near enough to your machine? Is your cutting table in a spot with good enough lighting?

Plan for a ton of storage!! The wall of closets/cabinets is a great idea, you will never regret having extra storage. Also since you're starting from scratch, think of clever outlet placement (such as perhaps in the floor or ceiling to reach any islands you're designing; or at counter-height and tied to a switch for an ironing station) Lighting - don't skimp on lighting!

I also like speakers that are installed in the wall; I don't care for TV in the studio but if that's your thing make sure to plan a space out for that, too. Do you want a PC in the room? Wifi is awesome but can be patchy and regular ol' cable is a lot faster; consider getting the house wired up with cables for internet. (I wish my house had this!)

Have fun!! I love planning rooms! And the more you plan, the happier you'll be. It's a lot easier to correct a problem when it's still made out of graph paper than when it's made out of walls and heavy furniture!

toverly

When DH was building a storage shed in the backyard a few years ago, my dad happened to call on the phone. When I told him what we were all up to that day and he found out what DH was doing, his comment rings in my head. "No matter what size he thinks he needs, double it!" I think it applies for this too. By the way, he was right about the storage shed, it only took putting things in to realize, it should have been bigger. Double would have worked.

michelleoc

I agree with what everyone else has said, go bigger than you think you will need. Where do you sandwich your quilts? Will you have an area large enough to do that? If not, make sure you have enough open space to lay out the project on the floor. LOVE the idea of hanging the batting close to a cutting table! Storage...Storage...Storage! Also, love the idea of having some non-sewing furniture so if someone comes in they have someplace to sit.

Good luck. We'd love to see pictures of what you decided to do.

Nammie to 7

If I had a whole wall of cupboard/closet doors I would make them all movable design walls. If they are sliding doors they need to be offset a little deeper than normal to accommodate the design walls.

wolph33

you are sew lucky.go big and hope you do not overfill it too soon,my rooms are so cramped