Getting my dream sewing studio
 

I'm still kind of in shock that this is all happening.

DH and I went on vacation in October, and when we got home I said I was glad to be home, just wished home was somewhere else. And DH agreed with me. So we decided to explore some options for moving much closer to where I work (I'm 84 miles from the office). We must have both been thinking about it but feeling the other wasn't interested - so we didn't bring it up.

Two criteria was enough room for my sewing (including LA) and a big garage for DH. We found a small house with a big 30x30 attached garage -with a full MIL suite above the garage.

The MIL suite has a big bedroom that is the perfect size for my LA, a nice walk in closet that is perfect for stash storage, a bathroom with a stack washer/dryer (if I wanted them), The other side is almost fully open, 17x27 - with some kitchen cabinets along the wall at one end. This is big enough I can even display my vintage sewing machines!

We put in an offer on Tuesday and it was accepted, with closing set for Dec 23rd. We aren't going to sell our current home until after we've moved out. We currently have a homestead with 40 acres so there is still going to be lots of downsizing.

We are moving to a small town (2,000 residents) so we figured it might take months to find a home that would be suitable, but it took two days. The home has been on a market a long time as not many people wanted something like that.

- after we got back from vacation and before deciding to move, I dug out a long time UFO crazy quilt and decided to finally get all the blocks made. It's a dream quilt I was making for myself but figured I'd never have a room to use it as I already have the perfect quilt for my current bedroom (burgundy and gold). But now that we are moving, my crazy quilt will be perfect for the bedroom in the new home!

I'm having a hard time sleeping at night, I keep waking up and thinking about how I'll put my cutting table and sewing machines - and part of me keeps thinking I'm just dreaming about a dream studio - not that I'm really going to have one.

Congratulations Cathy! Such an exciting time for you - creating your very own 'dream sewing studio' in such an accommodating space sounds like so much fun! I'm hopeful you'll keep this thread updated with your plans and progress. You create such beautiful work and now to be able to display it all along with your antique machines - sounds like a slice of heaven :)

Congratulations. Sounds like a wonderful space for a studio. And think of all the extra time you'll have in your studio now that your commute will be shorter!

If you are in the pre-wash fabric camp, or like to give your batting a quick tumble in the dryer to remove creases, you may want to consider keeping the stacking washer & dryer. So much more convenient than having to haul it all back and forth from the main house.

Wow! Congratulations! Neat that you found a place so soon, and closer to your work. What a thrill for you! Have fun organizing and planning!

Congratulations, sew very very exciting I can’t wait to see pics!

Congratulations! That sounds amazing! My husband and I talk periodically about moving to a smaller house with some acreage and a set up something like you have. We'd like more space for our cars and, of course, a quilting space for me. I really can't complain much. I have the front two bedrooms upstairs for my sewing and quilting so I have considerable room. But as we are getting older, it would be nice to have a one story house and room for a bigger garage for the cars.

Happy for you both. Best of Luck

Congratulations, just reading this made me smile! It truly sounds wonderful...wish you all the luck with the upcoming move and all the related *stuff*!

Congratulations on your new adventure and the move. It sounds so exciting for you and your DH to make the move. Best wishes as you coordinate everything.

Congratulations! So happy for you and enjoy your new home and new sewing studio

Macy, how exciting!!! I'm super happy for you and your husband! Can't wait to see pics. An 80 mile trek sounds terrible! You must be thrilled.

A new house is exciting. You never know until you start how fast a change can happen. DH and I moved three times in a year. We moved out of our house first to a rental so we would have time to find a perfect place. We found what we thought was the one, bought it, moved in and then three months later I stopped at an open house and fell in love. We bought that house, sold the other just a few weeks after closing on it, still have the original house and had the lease on the rental. We had stuff everywhere. LOL I'm still looking for things. Only one house now left to sell and we are done. I'm not moving again until it's to an assisted home.

Cathy so very happy for you and DH! It sounds like a perfectly amazing find for you both. I commiserate on the commute. Mine was not as bad as yours - only 60 miles each way - but that was long enough! And throw Christmas into the mix with a 12/23 closing date - you're going to be busy for sure! Enjoy.

Congrats! That all sounds wonderful and meant to be!

Congratulations!

fantastic way to go so exciting

Oh Cathy I am so happy for you. I can’t wait to see pictures. What a thrill for you and your DH.��

It's so nice to hear somebody with great news like this! Best of luck with your new home! :)

OMGosh Cathy, how exciting...I can understand why you would have trouble sleeping. There is so much to think about in a move like yours. I am happy for you and wish you all the best in your new home...and sewing space. : )

I am so happy for you Cathy. I find it incredible that you were able to find a perfect house and shop/garage for you and your husband. That is a dream and isn't something that is easy to find. Studies have shown that often we call it downsizing but we actually mean just rearranged. Happy Moving!

Wow lucky you. Congratulations. Maybe you could take before and after pictures for us all to see. I love pictures.

Congrats! You deserve this. We will be waiting for pictures.

Thanks everyone!

DH and I went and looked at flooring today. I'm leaning towards vinyl plank, and am waiting for a quote from one place. We'll do the install ourselves so that will save some.

Here are some pictures of the area I'll be converting. I'm going to leave most of the cabinetry as it it.

This room is 17' wide. There are three couches in the living room in this picture.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psxncbw0af.jpg

And looking back towards the kitchen and main entry.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psfx1yujih.jpg

My LA will go in the bedroom - don't need to make room for it in the "living room" area.

Lucky you, funny how things seem to work out. Best wishes in your new sewing studio - the worst part will be moving everything,

Thanks for the pictures. That will make such a nice studio.

Wow, things really happen fast sometimes, don't they? Very happy for both of you and hope when you're ready to sell your current home, that happens as quickly!

Must be meant to be - congratulations! Cant wait to see your dream come true!

You mentioned looking into some vinyl plank flooring - we have it and absolutely love it! We went with Mannington Adura Luxury flooring (high end vinyl planking). It wasnt inexpensive, but well worth it and we went with having it professionally installed because... hey, we’re getting older! We had it installed in 2016 and it looks just the same today as it did then! We have 3 high energy little dogs always zooming around the house so it was extremely important to us that the flooring could handle it and is easy care. Not intending to be a commercial for the floor here, but wished we knew somebody who had it just for reference since flooring of any kind is a considerable investment! Anyway, we’re happy!

Congrats on finding the perfect place for you and to have space for your la too.

Wow, it sounds like it will work out so nice and lots closer to work too? Closer to work means home sooner and more sewing time! Nice, can't wait to see the final play room!

So excited for you, Cathy. What a thrill to be "one on the same page" at the same time with hubby, and then find the perfect house when you least expected. It all just came together gracefully. i'd be finding it hard to sleep as well! You
will have so much to dream about now!

Congratulations, Cathy! It sounds perfect for you both. Boy, an 84 mile commute would do me in. Glad you will be able to get out of the car a lot earlier.

Leslie

AprilM - thanks for the info on the flooring. We looked at Pergo (the high end stuff) and I've had a hard time finding reviews on that product. Found lots of negative reviews on Pergo Laminate . . .

We looked at appliances yesterday, and DH keeps hinting that I could have my baking center up in the Studio. Not sure why he's saying that. Maybe he's worried I'll clutter up the main kitchen too much. I plan on storing a lot of my specialty cook and bakeware in the second kitchen cabinets, but would prefer not doing much actual kitchen work up there. Fine for making a light lunch if I've got a few sewing friends over for the day.

I have promised DH that I will not have any sewing machines anywhere other than my sewing Studio (I have over 150 of them right now), and other than room to park my car, I'm letting him do what he wants for the garage! And he also has the second bedroom in the main house for his use . So he better let me do what I want with my studio :)!

I have serious room envy. Congratulations on your new home. It's exciting to get something you have always wanted. Can't wait to see the final setup.

How fortunate to have found a home that meets both of your needs! Congratulations! Have fun in your new sewing areas!

Enjoyed hearing your happy story. Best wishes on the move.

Best wishes for happy quilting in your new home.

Sew exciting for you Cathy! I've thought if I'd live in a town, I would have a little sign out by the door..."Come in and sew with me." This sounds like the perfect place to have buddies over to spend the day!

You sewing space is going to be soooo nice.

I have kitchen cabinets, upper and lowers in my sewing room with a 90 " counter top, they are very nice. I keep a lot of quilt books and lots of sewing items in them.

Congrats, Cathy! What a great big studio to work in! There's room for everything. Sounds like a great big blessing landed in your lap. :thumbup: :o :thumbup: