Building a new sewing room and would like advice and ideas

[foxieden]

I would like ideas on everybody's ideal sewing room arrangements, and any ideas would be welcome.  I can incorporate what I like from your ideas with my own idea of an ideal sewing room.

We are building a new addition which will include an enormous sewing room and library for me of about 26' by 15'.  I have been playing with plans for arranging a big cutting table in one area, and another area to be a U shaped sewing area for at least 3 sewing machines - Regular sewing machine, serger, and embroidery/sewing machine. 
That way I can sew and embroider at the same time.  I have also been planning a lot of storage areas for stash and supplies.  I want to have flooring that will be comfortable to walk on, yet smooth for easy cleanup of threads, etc.   At this time I am thinking of a thick cushioned vinyl floor.   (I have had wood floors and threads can get caught in the joints.)  Carpet is a definite no, as cleaning up threads, pins, etc. would be a real problem.

The library portion will probably surround the cutting table, and DH will be building all the bookcases.   John will also be able to build what I want in the sewing and storage areas, though I will be using some cheap desks while waiting.  (DH's woodworking shop 36' by 26', is also going to be in the new addition, and he will need to set up his area before he can do a lot of work in my area).  His workshop and my sewing room will be separated by a thick wall and 3/4 bath.

So, please give me all your opinions and ideas for an ideal sewing room.

Linda in AR (used to be Linda in Egypt)

[KellyLoftice]

Cushy vinyl can tear and dent.  I would not use that.  Even though it is very hard, the original and real linoleum would be ideal if you won't be moving things around without wheels.  It can scratch over time.  Stained concrete is also a hard surface but withstands the tauma of time.  Make sure you don't use one of those office chair mats because they can cause static electricity.

If you do alot of standing in one place, purchase one of the cushioned kitchen mats.  You can find them about 2'x6' at BedBathand Beyond or a  kitchen supply store.

As for the machine placement, I have my sewing (only ) machine at the bottom of the "U", my laptop to my right with the serger to the right of it, and my embroidery machine to my left.  The reason I have the laptop to my immediate right is that when closed, it is a flat surface between the sewing machine and the serger ( making more space for the project to go thru the serger ).  You can also put a small pressing board and your tiny presser on top of the closed laptop.

Under my cutting table I have two filing cabinets which hold the neccessities for hooping, for ironing, trims, glue gun stuff, etc.  There is ample space between the top of the cabinets and the bottom of the cutting mat to place my hoops and my light board.

 kelly

[Kay Ellen]

In my "dream" sewing room, I want a 3 section mirror somewhere and if you'll ever be sewing for others, perhaps some kind of a small platform area for them to stand on for you. I personally also want plenty of shelving to keep my stash out and on. Right now I keep it in plastic tubs to keep dust off it. But I just love seeing fabric out, so I want some type of a shelving that I could fold/keep fabric out on. 

Do you plan to have others over to sew in room your with you, or is it going to be mainly just you sewing for you? 

Kay

[albertkj]

Shelving for a stash.  

My sewing room has 2 large walkin closets (is designed as 2 bedrooms with the partition left out).  In those I put the kind of Closet Maid (can get from Home Depot) shelving that is adjustable, and you can store about any amount of weight on those that you can handle yourself.  

The support system starts with a horizontal bar along the top of the wall at ceiling level, which is screwed into the board that is normally up there as part of the framing behind the wallboard.  Then bars hang from those down the wall and are fastened down with one screw.  You can see the kind of thing I'm talking about here: http://www.closetmaid.com/main.cfm?classification_id=8

The picture shows the horizontal bar on the wall above the shelving but I put mine at the top where I could screw it into the framing all the way across without worrying about where to position the screw holes.

On those bars you can hang shelving in any conformation since it clips in with quite heavy duty supports and can be moved around if you want to reconfigure. You can switch from shelves to hanging at a future time also if you prefer. If you removed the shelving completely, you'd just have those metal supports running down the wall.

I wanted that kind of shelving to facilitate airflow (though I expect my stash blocks that pretty much).  I have never seen any kind of wood shelf that comes close to handling that kind of weight and this stuff was dead easy to install - did it all myself.  I also have a wall of the shelving in the 'project room' across the hall and it is filled completely floor to ceiling with boxes of paper - the only other thing that comes close to fabric in weight.


Kathryn

[Diva Linda]

I have the same shelving as Katheryn only I have the Closet Maid drawers.  They are  inexpensive and I did it myself.  You can see everything.  LindaD

[albertkj]

Oooh!!!  Love the drawers Linda.  I put mine in 9 years ago with the remodel and they didn't have them then.

Kathryn

[foxieden]

Thanks to you all for the imput, keep the idea's coming.  I have had the closet maid shelving in the last house we built in Pensacola.  I like it but actually prefer that the material is covered in some manner, I did get dust on some of my stash in the open wire shelving, though the possibility of putting them behind a wall of doors might work.

I love the idea of a 3 section mirror, like a dressing room where you can see all sides.  Possibly on doors, that have opposite openings, that would work well with a wall of doors covering shelving.

Since I am new to the area I will probably be the only one sewing there, at least until I can meet more people in the area.  However, I already have heard from my sister and Mother that they have sewing they want me to do, so a platform might be a good idea.  My sister does not sew; Mom is a great seamstress, but her health prevents her from doing much sewing.  (She made a lot of my clothes while I was growing up, she even made Dad some suits.  We would give her a picture of something we wanted and she figured out how to make it for us, and that was with no software) I got my love of sewing from her.

Thanks for your comments, keep them coming,
Linda

 

[albertkj]

Closet maid has closed cupboards also that go on that track - poke around the website.

Many years ago - (maybe about 30) - when I lived in NY State, I had a friend with a store, and she had a freestanding 3-way mirror where the side wings could be folded over the center section which made it really space effective.  Open it when you want to use it.  From her, I got the name of the company that sold them (unfortunately don't remember what it was but who knows if they'd even still be in business). I called them and ordered one like it, which was a whole experience itself since they were not used to dealing with anyone but store owners. Now you can google for it.  I found a similar one here but I'd call and make sure the wings fold closed.  

http://www.robertham.com/p-8503-triple-mirror.aspx

That was the only one I found that looked similar to mine.  I could have mounted mine on a wall by the center section, but frankly much prefer the flexibility of putting it where I want it.  It has now been in 6 different residences in an even greater number of rooms, and it is still with me.

Kathryn

[Kay Ellen]

Wow Kathryn, I LOVE that tri-fold mirror.  Don't have room in my current sewing room for it, but would love to have one someday.

I have a similar type of shelving, but my husband put mine in and it's solid shelving, from a place called the Container Store.

[foxieden]

Kathryn,  I like the trifold mirror as well, definitely something to keep in mind. 
Linda