A lower level guest room, off the main room, with two mirrored closets and very little lighting is where we started. We turned to a local kitchen design center for help. They worked hard to bring our ideas to life. We built on my last “Where I Love to Be” for my most current one.
In May of 2023, we made the decision to leave what we believed was our forever home. We wanted to move closer to our youngest grandchildren. We had never lived close to any of our grands when they were babies. We felt like this was our last chance. And identical twin girls? How often can we help out? To do that, we needed to be closer than an hour away. And so it began.
It took us 20 years to get our last place, a new build, exactly how we wanted it. We each had a studio. We knew it would take a while to make wherever we landed feel like home.
We found a beautiful home within the radius we were looking for and decided we could make it ours. First up was my studio.
My husband and his father designed and built my first studio. I don’t have a picture from when it was ours, but this was the next owners’ realtor photo, years later. You get the idea. It was a lower-level space. It had a 5′ x 6′ table filled with drawers. There was also a pantry-style cabinet for folded fabrics. I had a quilt on the wall and an ironing board that was never put away! I felt very blessed to have my own space. For all the years our kids were growing up, I had worked at the kitchen table!
When our youngest graduated high school, we moved from this house to a neighboring city. There, we found a new build with the opportunity to design my next great space.
I did a whole blog post on this one. Maybe you remember? Where I love to Be. This was a beautiful studio. It had a large window and a walk-in closet. A door led up to the garage, making it convenient to bring supplies in. It, too, was a lower level space, just off the family room. I designed it around the large floral artwork, my youngest painted for Mother’s Day the year we moved in. It was hard leaving here!
But the best was yet to come.
My husband worked with the design team at Kitchen West to make this latest incarnation the best yet! He knew exactly what I needed, we had the drawings for the last one and was able to make improvements.
We removed the double closets. Then turned it into another horizontal work surface. We all know you can’t have enough clean flat surfaces.
We built this space to transfer my walk-in closet baskets from my last space to here. They hold patterns, gifts, projects I’m working on and a spare basket to clear clutter.
The drawers contain wrapping supplies and my fabric color cards. There is one drawer of templates and rulers. Another one contains craft papers. Lots of shoe boxes of photos are stored there, too. I believe, eventually, this bench will end up being a place to work on photo albums.
I am still debating on the wall. Artwork vs a pin board for planning. I am looking at the Felt Right Acoustic Panels to use as a design element. I am a very intentional person so it could be a while.
Because of the room’s shape, my main work surface is now a peninsula. I am still rearranging drawers as I figure out each work station. I love having my books more readily available. The little drawer is perfect for tucking away my rotary cutters. It keeps them safe from nosy little fingers.
And there is that floral artwork helping to set the color mood, here, as well.
The vintage stained glass chandelier was my husband’s parents. We’ve been holding on to it until we had the perfect place. All the years it was in storage I thought its was blue. Recently I got it out and put it over a light bulb. I was shocked it was green. It matched this space perfectly! Cue the angels singing!!!
We cantilevered the work surface unintentionally creating space for my grandmother’s wood ironing board. It is from the 1930s and I use it daily. I also usually stand to sew. The backside, of this space, has one less cabinet on the end which is where I stand. You could also use these cantilevered spaces to sit, or lean on a stool to work. We added lots of power in the peninsular.
There is more storage here than I had planned! Room for lots more shoe boxes of photos. A drawer for tools and a cabinet for paper supplies and my irons. I love that we included a drawer for trash, on this side of the room, it makes cleanup a breeze!
The sewing place under the window also has a ton of storage. My favorite being the thread drawer my husband built the insert for!
Lots of storage and a nice balance of empty space to grow in to.
I have half as many Pantry style units as my last studio but I also have 1/2 as much fabric and twice as many scraps! There is a place for everything.
The large baskets hold backing fabrics and heirloom quilt tops.
The smallest tower of baskets cradles cherished scraps.
Given the collection of these bits and pieces, it’s clear that scrap quilting has long held a special place in my heart. I cherish it. However, I must admit that my attention has drifted in recent years. This is evident at my Quilts tab.
I don’t sit and sew a lot, but I do sit and study. Sit and unstitch and also hand sew. My husband, youngest daughter and her husband collaborated on a new chair to better fit the space and scheme. It has all the adjustments a person could want!
The Fern from Haworth is SO comfortable. They have done the studies to prove it!
I had previously used the competitor’s chair and can honestly attest to this one being better. My back never tires.
I could not have chosen better myself.
Watch for more details on the new quilted wall hanging.
I thought lighting was great in my previous studio and this room got an overhaul in that department, too. We added 18 overhead LED lights. It is daylight all the time!!!
We had the electrician on speed dial, to fine tune the lighting, as I started using the space!
And there you have it!
My new Favorite Place to Be!!!
I started out sewing for the public. My work ranged from upholstery to brides’ gowns. I also sewed for a young man who couldn’t buy clothes to fit. I spent time replacing thousands of zippers and hemming at least that many pairs of pants. It all allowed me to be a stay at home mom and a local volunteer. All while sewing at the kitchen table. Helping with homework, while sewing, and picking up and putting away, to cook dinner for five.
Now this space and all those in between. ..
It still awes me.
I am beyond grateful.
