FAST IDEAS for a new Butterfly Studio

Butterfly-

How exciting!!! I am a *very* strong believer in having a walk-in closet for fabric storage and thread racks. It protects all from light and dust and a lot of shelves inside the closet means wonderful storage opportunities for tubs of all sizes and arranging your fabric in colors or whatever suits you. A closet is the least expensive storage you can get and you can have shelves around all three sides and even around and over the door! Cabinets are expensive but a lovely alternative for storage. I'd have an entire wall of cabinets if I could afford it. As far as windows go- if money is no object I'd have a wall of windows over a wall of kitchen cabinets. Lots of space on top of the countertop and lots of wonderful natural light. The direction the windows face should be a big consideration for you- west or south windows could make your room very hot- even with a/c. I have NEVER had a sewing room with enough a/c to use it- comfortably- in the heat of summer and that's a big reason for building our next house. My sewing always produces a lot of heat between all the lighting and the steam iron- I want an ice cold room!

Lots to think about. And, electrical outlets??? Have one every 3-4 ft. and lots of different circuits so you don't load up in one area.

Good luck and have fun!

Leslie & The Furbabies > IF we get this house we have an offer on (closing will be Nov 8), I will get

B

In our last house we had a long wall and it was all windows except for

3ft at each end. The two middle windows slid back behind the two outer ones so we had a two window opening in the middle. When they were fully open it was just like being outside. I do miss them - now we only have one.

Power points? think of a number and double it! Have a friend who has one or two in the floor - no trailing wires to the middle of the room. You'd have to decide your room layout first tho.

When I built my playpen I found -

you cannot have too many power outlets, but don't have them all on the same circuit

one huge wall of built-in storage with adjustable shelves will hold more than lots of smaller areas around the room

daylight fluorescent lights with crystal cut covers give a great light for night work, but have your lights on separate switches so you don't have to turn everything on in a massive blaze of brightness every time you walk into the room (they're not cheap, but they are GOOD)

a big ironing bench (I have drawer units under mine for additional storage) you can walk around - or at least walk around three sides - is a blessing every quilter should have (with power outlets too of course)

try to position a SMALL desk for the PC where the screen will NOT face the windows (the small desk forces me not to let the clutter accumulate for too long)

leave open space in your plan, you will fill it with "stuff"

If you clad your columns (maybe with timber - you didn't mention size or composition) you can use them for extra storage by hanging rulers/tools/stencils so they can be seen

You also didn't mention heating/cooling. I have a heater and a split system a/c but I still love my two ceiling fans. I can run them on slow all year round (just reverse the direction) and keep air circulating and fresh.

And what about the floor covering? My first choice would be timber, but that brings with it care and maintenance that I cannot handle anymore. I have commercial carpet, but some would recommend vinyl.

For window coverings - I have quilts hanging from rings that slide across on timber poles atm. Check out -

have her book and I have large stained glass designs part made up for my windows one day. As to how many windows - I love windows and would have glass walls if I could. But every window costs you wall space and heat/cold loss. Do you need them for light? Then put in more lights and keep your wall space. One big window with a view should be enough.

So glad you have a new nest on the horizon!!

I want to climb in on the notion of more than one electrical circuit for your happy room. Part of my room shares a circuit with the dining room (good because it's rarely used), part shares with the kitchen lighting (good because I don't need to see in the kitchen if I'm sewing, well not much) and then the sewing room also has its very own circuit. That spreads the load around and it is one heck of a load. Irons, Otts, phone, pc,scanner, printer, monitor, SMs, clock, pencil sharpener, radio, tv, dvd, vacuum, serger, fan, friend sewing with you. I know you can't possibly be running all of them at once but it's just heaps smarter and safer to spread it around if you can persuade the electrician to do it. I'll be watching to see what flooring is loved best. Mine is ugly U-G-L-Y commercial vinyl tile. Easy care but I would enjoy something pretty in here.

So paint the tiles to look like quilt blocks! lol

Or buy the peel and stick tiles -- and a good utility knife.... and have at it! Buy a variety of colors/designs and have a quilt on the floor.

(I always thought these tiles came up easily -- but I've talked to lots of people who say if you use a good adhesive (not just peel & stick) -- they stay stuck!

Kate in MI

Cheryl, will you please behave yourself? We're in a hurry here building Butterfly's dream room. (And I could paint the tiles like quilt blocks but who would come help me stand back up?) Poll

lol oh, I know that problem only too well

I want one like yours! :-)

Kate in MI

Perhaps use long handled brushes? >g< . In message , polly esther writes

Install way more power poinnts/outlets than you even think you are going to need! Make sure they are doubles and install a 4-way one where your compie is going to go.

Make sure that where you have your compie you will be facing the entry door so that you can't get snuck up on (ask me how I know) and many many windows to look out on that garden of yours!

Good luck and have fun!

We renovated (gutted basically) a 150+ yr old farmhouse and this is what I learned.

You need more outlets than you think. I would put a minimum of 2 along the long wall, and one on each short wall. You will have lights, irons, sewing machines, a computer and maybe a tv (with a vcr or dvd player) to plug in. See how quickly it adds up?

I adore windows. I would put in enough so I would have a grand view of things like roses. Maybe a bay window? you can easily put in three normal windows along that wall length and have room for shelves between. OH and I would make sure at least one of those windows has a window seat. If you are not sitting there, you can easily put a rocker next to it and use it as a lovely place to hand stitch. My window seat in my living room holds a light and is great to sit and stitch next to.

I am SO excited for you!! What a marvelous project. Paulette in WV with a SMALL very oddly shaped sewing room that is a DISASTER area

Hey - I already offered my services for paper-piecing, so why not "stander-upper"? (And those peel and stick tiles do not stick well - even with a good adhesive - if they are in a high traffic area...)

Sue > Cheryl, will you please behave yourself? We're in a hurry here building

Don't forget that not only can you put outlets in/on the floor, you can also put them in the ceiling...then you can't trip on them. (Unless of course you're happy-dancing on the ceiling!!!) Granted they'll be high up to get to, but just plug in things that you don't need to unplug that often...you can also put them on a switch so that you can just flip it on when you need power and off when you're done.

I whole-heartedly agree about the windows with storage counter/cabinets under them....an awesome way to store and work with natural light. The other thing about the bay/bow window (with or without a seat) is that you get more light for the opening. Oh, and don't forget the backs of your doors for storage as well. Nails to hang rulers with holes or those over the door clear "shoe" holders hold a lot of little things that you need to see quickly. (Come to think of it, those would work really well to hold fat quarters! Just roll them up and slide them in.)

Good luck Butterfly!!!

Sue in Ithaca

You also need to protect that design wall from too much light! What an exciting project. Roberta in D

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

Ms. B: You've been getting some clever replies on this. About the outlets: you do NOT have to have them installed at baseboard level. Go ahead and install them at about 4' ... so they will be OVER your desk/table, and EASY to reach!! If your west facing door is glass, it might make the room too hot in afternoons. Think about adding a covered patio or canopy outside that window. Lights? I have track lighting and am happy with that. We installed berber carpet last year. It is tight short weave, easy to maintain and comfortable underfoot. (It does NOT 'eat' pins the way plush carpet does.)

GOOD LUCK! PAT

Windows in the south wall...... not too many. And if you can get the ones that are designed to be energy efficient. South windows get lots of sun and that means heat in the summer. (yes that is the wall my window is in in my sewing room.) Outlets........ if I remember correctly, there is a type of outlet strip that allows multiple outlets in a single strip along the wall. And you might want to have them a bit higher than normal. If there is a possibility of needing/wanting power in the middle of the room consider either ceiling or floor outlets, perhaps by the pillars??? Do get UV filtered glass or coverings on the windows. You really do need it if you have many at all. This is known as the Valley Of the Sun for a reason..... Built in Closet/cabinets would be wonderful... if a closet you can use the wall space for pegboard too.

When are you going to need help with all this moving?? Looking forward to seeing you at Houston.

Pati, > IF we get this house we have an offer on (closing will be Nov 8), I will get

How exciting! Sounds lovely. Good luck.