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Sewing Room

fiberartist | Posted in General Discussion on

I want to transform a room in my house into a sewing room.  I have ideas for built-in drawers, etc.  I was told to hire an architect.  Do I really need an architect?  What sewing machine cabinets do you recommend.  Any to stay away from?  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get started?  Thanks. 

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  1. User avater
    VKStitcher | | #1

    Unless you have lots of $$ to spend and want to be featured in "Better Homes & Gardens" magazine, you don't need to hire an architect!  But you may need a carpenter for the built-in drawers and cabinets, depending on what your ideas are and how skilled you are with hammer and saw.

    Do a search on this forum for "sewing room", and you'll find lots of information--book recommendations, photos, and ideas.  A Google search will also bring up lots of sites on how to organize your room.  Think about what equipment you have, what types of projects you do, and make a list of things you'd like to have.  Then just play around with different layouts on paper and try to visualize what your sewing room will look like.

    As for cabinets, I use a computer table with a drop-down keyboard shelf for my sewing machine.  The machine bed is level with the top of the table, so I have a large flat surface for sewing.  I got the table at an office supply store, but haven't seen this type in several years.  I also have a Koala "Craft Center Pro" for cutting, which is about 34" high and has dawers and storage space.  This is one heavy and sturdy piece of furniture!  If I were looking for another sewing cabinet, I would consider Koala again.  There are several major brands of cabinets (Koala, Horn of America, Roberts Manufacturing), or you can make your own sewing/cutting/ironing centers using cabinet and drawer units from the home improvement store.

    You're bound to get more comments from others here.  Good luck, and have fun designing your sewing room!

    1. fiberartist | | #2

      Thanks for the tip on searching the forum.  I'm new to this and didn't think of it.   

      1. User avater
        VKStitcher | | #3

        Glad to help.  Welcome to the group!

  2. solosmocker | | #4

    Instead of hiring an architect, I would hire a kitchen designer. They are expert at room layout, efficiency, customizing work space, etc. I have a friend who is a well know kitchen designer in her state, published in mags and all, and I know from her that people in her profession love these types of different challenges. They can bring a lot to the table for you. Good luck and keep us posted on how it all goes.

    There is lots on this board and some great links within those threads.

    solo

  3. Ralphetta | | #5

    Unless the architect sews a lot, I wouldn't think they would be worth the money.  I would think a creative carpenter with whom you can communicate well, would be more valuable.

  4. Pattiann42 | | #6

    I agree with VK and the Better Homes and Garden scenario.

    Review what you have and how you would like to store it or position it in the room. 

    Do you want to sew in front of a window or with a surface against the wall for quilting.

    How many different machines do you have and how do you want each placed in relation to the other.

    Make a wish list of what you would like to add to the review.

    Don't make it so cozy that you never get up during the day - sitting all day tends to make me stiff.

  5. meg | | #7

    You might also enlist the services of a design/build contractor, you can get exactly what you need without paying high dollar for the architect (and then hiring a contractor to build it!).

    Are there seamstresses in your area who have had custom-built sewing rooms? They could help steer you in the right direction, too. Go visit every sewing room you can get into for ideas as well.

  6. sewchris703 | | #8

    I didn't use an architect for my sewing room.  I used a combination of pieces from a modular closet system, 2 6' banquet tables set in an L,  a 4-drawer filing cabinet for patterns, and a drafting table for pattern making and cutting.  I have one 5 drawer cabinet for thread and one tall 4 shelf cabinet (with the doors off) and one 4' wire rack with a clothes hanging rod underneath from the closet system that I got from Home Depot.  My smaller storage drawers and boxes are Sterilite from the grocery and drug stores.  The drafting table was a lucky find in the kitchen of the house we moved into last year.  My chair is an old office chair from the thrift shop.  So is the filing cabinet.  I haunt thrift shops and garage sales for usable items for my sewing room.

     

    Chris

  7. Catherin | | #9

    Hi,

    I went to the library and got several books, ended up buying "In the Studio with Judy Murrah" and love her ideas.  Some are very easily adapted to one's own room.  The bookshelves and set up I took and converted one of my rooms with my stamping and scrapbooking areas.  I suggest looking at her book before you decide. 

  8. stillsuesew | | #10

    If you have the money you could get an architect and a custom cabinet maker to get just what you want, but I personally think that is way over the top. There are hundreds of choices out there that you can use for a fraction of the cost. I have three low dressers with bookcases on top of them going almost al the way to my 9 foot ceiling. I also purchases 2 sewing machine tables with drawers from Clotilde and a low drawer unit from Ikea that is perfect for threads, tools, paints etc, that is the perfect place for my mini ironing board which is what I can use most of the time. Spend your money on a good chair and lighting. What fun to be able to start from scratch.

  9. HelgaPataki | | #11

    sewing/dressing/parlour room

    My sewing room is also a dressing room with parlour furniture.  Its true, it could be quite costly and by way of evolution, I can only obtain furniture that I get for cheap or free.  My sewing room gradually evolved into a cute room for dressing up and sewing and repairing and altering clothes.  I don't have real sewing furniture.  II have a dresser with mirrors all over the room, I use decorated craft quilt fabric for my ironing board and table, and fancy fabrics that i accidentally bought and can't use and made laundry bags out of them, or peg bags.  I upholstered an office chair with cute fabric and so on.  I also use cute and fancy fabrics and made covers for my sewing machine and serger.  My cutains rods are teacup hooks with the rod from a willow fence.  and I use fancy fabric over the rod like draping towel over a towel rack.  My curtains are fancy too because I accidentally thought something so cute and fancy that I hve no other use for.  I think you can welcome yourself into creating your own look for your dream sewing room, that could be filled with everything you like and this can be your unique special place. it doesn't have to be conventional.

  10. lou19 | | #12

    I have a good book called "dream sewing spaces" which has some great ideas for large and small sewing rooms

    1. HelgaPataki | | #13

      Public Library

      You can also check out the selection of books through the public library

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