Grace & Favor – A Life Worth Living

Tuesday, July 03, 2012



My sewing room is in our basement, its a large space but unfinished with the exception of the wall that my sewing machines are set up on.  This is a working space and I didn't want to spend the money to finish it years ago when we built the house as there were too many other places that needed help at the time.  Since then I've just become a custom to the "rustic" look and with everything at my fingertips I still see no need to throw $$$ at it to make it pretty.  So as I show you my latest project keep in mind this ain't pretty but it sure does serve the purpose it was intended for.

The wall that my sewing machines are on is about 14', I went down to our discount cabinet store and bought some basic light oak kitchen cabinet towers to put on each end of the wall, in the middle I got an 8' ready made length of kitchen counter top and installed it between the towers.  All I really needed, lots of storage in the towers and drawers underneath and a nice expanse of flat surface for my sewing machine, surger and of course Ms. Mangle .  I put in a rubber floor to help keep my toes warm in the winter and to make it easy to sweep up scraps of fabrics and pins, on the opposite wall which is 20+ feet long are shelving units filled with all my craft supplies ready to be pulled out when the mood strikes me.  The room has stayed this way for probably fifteen years.

A couple of months ago in one of those middle of the night sleepless "oh its your age honey" moments I decided to freshen up the cabinets by painting them white and to build a 12' long cubby cabinet connecting the two towers that would hold all my fabrics...and so it began.


The cubbies now stretch 12' from tower to tower and hold all my fabrics with room for more, I couldn't get a shot of the full length but I really do love the end result.



Again, I can't get the whole expanse in one picture so you'll just have to use your imagination to put the parts together.  Although the pictures are a little dark the white paint has freshened up the room considerably.


This large kitchen cabinet which I had Mr. Hubby put on casters so it can be moved around the room as needed holds all my wrapping supplies along with a top large enough to cut out fabrics when needed.

So there it is my freshened up sewing room.  The new cubbies have made a world of difference in the amount of space I now have, so next week I'll show you what I did with the found space.

17 comments:

NanaDiana said...

Well,let me tell you- my craft area is in an unfinished basement, too, and yours looks SOOO much better than my own- Yours actually looks pretty great to me! xo Diana

southerninspiration said...

just color me GREEN for all that lovely dedicated space to do crafts and sewing...and it's in the basement and out of the way. What a great thing......it's looking pretty darned good, Char!!
Suzanne

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

You look so organized. My sewing/craft room definitely needs to be re-done. Stopping by from Wow Us Wednesday.

Okio B Designs said...

What a great little space you have there! I split my craft room with my office. Hoping to make it just a craft room at some point. I love your space! Happy 4th. =)

Jeanine

Anonymous said...

Love your space. Love your shelves and the fact you have cabinets and drawers to poke your things into!
Happy 4th!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Designs on 47th Street said...

Char, your sewing spot is fabulous! How inspiring. I would love to be able to see all my fabrics and get to everything so easily. I love the little cabinet you found. What are you sewing next and how did I miss your last two posts??????
Happy 4th! Donna

Tricia said...

What a fabulous sewing space! You've incorporated a lot of great ideas here. I'm about to fix up a small room off the kitchen for sewing and crafting, and I will bookmark this post for future reference. Thanks for sharing!

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

What a great sewing space! Visiting from Wow us Wednesday. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-4.html Wishing you a grand day. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

On Crooked Creek said...

Miss Char,
My creative space is in the unfinished (lower level)basement, also! This past week, since I've had the time, I've been re~arranging to get more function in the space! The space hasn't worked the best for what I now need to do there since closing down my home business this January. I'm looking forward to having some "fun" in this newly arranged Studio One! Thanks for sharing how you gain more storage and for the photos of your creative space!
Fondly,
Pat

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Wow, what an amazing amount of working space. I love my craft-sewing room, but it is little. You've created an amazing space.

Debbie said...

Oh, I love it!! I am currently trying to find a space to make my own for crafting and (maybe) sewing. The white with the blue checks in yours would make me feel creative just to be in there!

And I realized how many posts I've missed here. I keep putting blogs on my sideboard, and they keep disappearing. I do NOT know what bloggy gremlin it is this time.

Trying again...

I don't like missing good posts!

Janro said...

That is so useful and attractive; thank you for sharing it with us. My sewing room has needed attention for months now.. pity you can't come and sort mine!=)

Gayle Page-Robak said...

The space you have created for your sewing passion is warm and lovely. Well done. I am now a follower of your blog and look forward to return visits. I invite you to join me as well on my blog at http://atastefultouch.blogspot.com
Hugs, Gayle.

Micupoftea said...

Hi there, Miss Char! Love the checks, love the organization! I spy your serger. I have one too but have not used it for awhile. Have a great week, sweetie~
Shawn

cathy@my1929charmer said...

I was intrigued to come over at look at your craft room. I am just starting the process of starting to do a makeover mine. I love the cubbies, and wouldn't of thought of that. I'm always looking for ways to add badly needed storage. Such a great sewing space. Sewing is in my heart. I wonder if you would share your great sewing room over at Sunday's Best going on now. (http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-39-par-tay/). Sure hope so!

cathy@my1929charmer said...

Hello Miss Char,

Tickled pink you share with us! I am also a retired lady, and enjoy crafting and mainly sewing. Sewing's always been my passion, I think largely because my Momma taught me how and we would sew together. I have been inspired by yours to get going on my! So glad you shared your creative inspiration with Sunday's Best! Hoping you come back to share!

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse