cashs_mom

It's still a personal thing. You still haven't told us if you are building or revamping a space and what your size/$$$ constraints are. It makes a lot of difference. IMHO, if you are building and don't have constraints on size or $$$$, go big. You can always use extra storage and maybe a lounge TV area.

QuiltE

As already said, there is so much here that is unknown ... and personal!

What is perfect and right for one person, is so wrong for the next.

If I were you, I would start out with my dream list of what I want.
As you do your current sewing, laundry, etc. think as though you are working in your new space.
What is needed? Do you have a place to put this? or that?
What is the ideal layout/flow for YOU? etc. etc.
How many others would be using this space eg. just you? children? husband? etc. all affects what would be perfect!

I did this in planning serious renos to my former home, in particular for the kitchen, eating area and laundry. Once done and I lived with it, I had absolutely NO regrets, even though the one kitchen cupboard guy told me I was all wrong. Guess what? he did not get the job!!! Instead someone who was willing to work with me, and help perfect it did. In the end, there was very little change from what I had planned out.

Yes, we all may not be helping you "cut to the chase" as you want.
However, if you really want to have the no regrets later ... you really need to take the time and figure it out yourself!

Barb in Louisiana

I agree with the others. We cannot help you design a space when we don't know what you are designing for. Sewing and quilting is so generic. Give us a list of the items you have and their size. Then list the items you want and their projected sizes. Do you already have a room? Are you building or adding on a space? What size can you go up to? Do you have a large stash, or very little fabric hanging around? Do you want a place to store a lot of batting for your longarm, or are you going to buy when you need to quilt something? I really like Warm & Natural and buy it every time JoAnn's has it on sale for 50% off.

As to myself, I have a wood dining table as my sewing machine table. It isn't the best answer, but at least I have a lot of space on both sides. I can look out a window if I want to. My iron is in this room. My longarm is sitting in this room, along with all my batting and all my quilting thread in roll around plastic carts under the longarm. I, also, have my quilting rulers, which I don't know how to use yet and other miscellaneous stuff in a couple of roll around plastic drawer assemblies. I have a separate room for all my fabric and kits, (this covers 3 of the walls on storage shelves) as well as 2 other sewing machines, a serger and a large, 6 ft, cutting table. It's one of those plastic ones that people use as buffet tables or overflow tables and I have the risers to bring it up to a good cutting height. It's in the center of the room so that I can walk around it. I bought one of those really large, about 60 inches long cutting mats to go on top of the table. It's great. I, also, have machine embroidery thread and size 50 piecing thread, all in labeled storage boxes with handles that I got from JoAnn's, on another storage rack in that room. Does it really work for me? It's a lot better than what I had, which was an 11 x 12 bedroom, but I really want to have an area that will have a couch so that my husband can spend time with me there, instead of wanting me in the house. Do I know what the best arrangement would be? Not really. It's still a work in progress.

Sandygirl

Pls read the posts. You are not being helpful but you are asking for help. ...sigh.

ok I assume that you have a large finished basement with the washer and dryer and that is your open space filled will opportunity. Good luck.
sandy

love to sew

No, not the case, I guess I am dreaming. I was thinking if we build a new house and asked the architect for a sewing room. (last time I remodeled even thou I increased the space from what was planned by the architect and he looked at me like I was crazy, it wasn't big enough!) At the time I did not have a LA but was thinking about it and now I have one. So the LA is in a room off from the laundry room and I quilt and sew clothes (dresses for little girls for back to school clothing drive)therefore the serger. In another room where I also have my computer for my home office. (used for personal finance and small rental business) So I need to design a space for the LA, horn sewing table 64 x 38 with a 22 x 16 extending for the serger, horn cutting table 40 x 72 with both leaves up, bookcase 48 wide by 14 deep, another cupboard 48 wide by 20 deep and a rolling clothes rack for the dresses 30 wide x 20 deep.. I have the large ironing board from costco, but would like to get more like an ironing station I have seen posted here. So it is not just will it all fit but how it is arranged for best usage.

Sandygirl

A professional space planner will measure all of your furniture etc and map it out for you on a CAD program. They should work with the architect for building the space. Be prepared to answer TONS of inquiring questions. Make a LIST of your wants, needs, and dreams of how you want it too. What works with your current setup...what does not work. YOU have to put in a lot of input into the project. I did this for a living ( i lasted 2 years) and frankly..it is tedious...so I quit .

Collect photos of spaces that you like...make an folder and keeping adding to it.take notes...this is the kind of homework only you can do.

Sandy

love to sew

Yes, you are spot on that is what I will have to do. Do you know the best way to find a good space planner?

Sandygirl

I give up....good luck.
sandy

QuiltE

Sure, spend your money on a professional space planner and/or architect.
They can ask questions and take a lot of your time. But will they truly understand what you want? need?

However, keep in mind .... they are going to design it their way.
You have specifics that YOU want and they are not going to fully understand.
You know whether you work from left to right or right to left.
And what you need close at hand. What you need at the same time.
What you seldom need and could be stored away.
Also, what other things you may wish to add in the future ... eg. more machines? bigger machines? etc.

Why not save your $$$$$$$ and take the time to measure things yourself?
and sketch/graph it all out yourself?
and get what you want?

You have been given so many good and valuable suggestions as to how to DIY ... and sure, maybe pull in the pros after you have it figured out as to what you want. But if they do not understand sewing, quilting, seamstressing, etc ............. they will still never get it the way that YOU want it! And even if they do understand, it will still be that they think will work, and nothing to do with how you work and what you want.

Yes, it might take some WORK on your part .... but gosh darn, it just might get you what you want.
Of course, the downfall is that you won't have anyone to blame, but yourself!

QuiltE

Yup .... we are probably all wasting our breath! (.... and fingers!)