My new furniture is in and I couldn't be happier. This post is a little late because I actually built everything and had in place about 3 weeks ago. But let me go back a bit and talk about what lead up to my new furniture arriving in my new crafting studio. I spent many days and evenings huddled over my computer planning the layout of my room using the Ikea floor planner. I measured the room, doors, windows (multiple times to be sure I had the correct sizes), and plotted it all into the Ikea room planner. I switched up the lay out so may times, I lost count. I ended up with 3 versions of the room. I knew I wanted one of the Skarsta sit/stand desks. They have 2 sizes and I really wanted the larger one, but no matter how I laid out the room, I couldn't get a layout I liked. I wanted to line 3 walls of the room with usable workspace and every time I tried to use the bigger sit/stand desk, I ended up with too much wasted or unusable space. Once I accepted it was not to be, I opted for the smaller version, which is not small at all and fits perfectly where I wanted it. My next choice was the Linnmon table top. I chose the largest one they offered which is just over 78 inches and at one end I have a set of Alex draws and at the other are the ordinary Adils table legs. This gave me a tonne of work space, room for my printer and storage underneath. The last addition to the room was the Hemnes desk with the added on hutch. I hemmed and hawed over this decision for a while for one main reason.....the cost. Purchasing this desk would put me $300 over my budget for furniture for the room. I was torn between staying on budget and purchasing a desk that I new I would be able to use for the rest of my crafting life. Originally I was going to use a Linnmon table table and legs and place shelves above it for additional storage. Once I looked at the Hemnes desk I loved the idea of having a desk that would perfectly house my computer and could be used to store more of the office and shipping supplies that I use. So after much contemplation I purchased the desk and decided I would make cuts to other areas of my Studio budget. I originally was going to purchase a new TV for my new space and that has been cut from the budget. I will make due without one for a while and eventually will put one an older TV in the room, but for now it has been moved to the wish list. I also decided that I could save money but using the Michaels cubes that I had in my old studio for storage of supplies. My old studio is made up off approximately 20 14 x14 cube that I arranged for storage and had made a desk out of using 4 cubes and a piece of board that was also from Michaels.
I live about 40 minutes away from the nearest Ikea in my area but we have a new shipping point nearby. I ordered everything online and then had it shipped to the shipping point. They emailed me when it was in and we drove 10 minutes to pick it up. It all fit in the bed of the pickup and made for a stress free trip home. Once there my husband asked who was going to build it. I think he was worried that my answer was going to be him....he hates building Ikea furniture. His problem is that he doesn't quite follow the directions and ends up frustrated. I told him this was going to be all me. It took me 3 days to build everything. I built one table a day. I put 2 together over 2 afternoons, before heading into work on the night shift. The Skarsta sit/stand desk was fairly easy and straight forward to build. I did need my son to help me at one point because you basically build it upside down and then flip it over. It's too heavy for 1 persons to pick up and flip but with my 15 year olds help it was a piece of cake. The next thing I built was the Alex drawers and Linnmon table and legs. This was super easy and didn't take too long. The final piece to build was the Hemnes desk and hutch. This took me the entire afternoon and into the evening. The only part I really had a problem with was putting the drawers into the desk. I had to get my hubby to do it because I just could not get it to fit properly. All in all, building all the furniture was fairly easy but I will stress this.... I followed the instructions closely. I looked at all the pictures to make sure I had the right pieces at the right time and built everything exactly as it was laid out in the instructions.
I think everything looks wonderful. I love the white furniture in my purple room. I still have my old wooden table in one corner for painting and messier stuff but it also fits perfectly in the room. I'm going to enjoy how clean it is right now because I know it won't stay clean for long. I added a video of the room so have a look and let me know what you think.
I have the best husband ever. He has painted my new studio in record time. He painted the ceiling, walls, trim and doors. My walls are this amazing colour of purple. It's called Amethyst Cream and it's from Benjamin Moore. I just love it, but then I am a fan of pretty much any shade of purple. All I need now is my furniture from Ikea which we are picking up today from the pick-up point in my area. I do have to work for the next few nights, so hopefully between working nights and trying to get some sleep I will be able to build 2 desks and a table. I have at last completed the 2 Raskog Carts that I purchased from Ikea. I think I should Ikea to sponsor my new studio ;) I was thinking of spray painting the carts but I'm not sure yet. I'm going to leave them this colour for now and then decided after I've lived with it for a while. https://youtu.be/Aio-Es9hcgM
Let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by.
Laura
I know it has been well over a year since I posted anything here, but as you well know, sometimes life gets in the way. I am happy to say that I am now refocusing and will be putting in more time in my studio. Speaking of my studio I am moving down the hall into new digs. My almost 16 year old son has decided that he would like to move his bedroom into the basement. He had his own little "man cave" down there that was once his oldest brothers bedroom. He moved into there with all his gaming systems a couple of years ago and bought himself a 50 inch TV by saving his allowance, Christmas and Birthday gift money. We purchased a futon for him so he would have somewhere to sit and then when he had his friends over one or two of them slept on the futon and we pulled out an air mattress if more sleeping area we need. Now he has decided to move his bedroom down there. I knew one day he would want to be down there, but it breaks my heart a little that there are now officially no little people in my house any longer, he is a teenager who wants some privacy. Where does the time go (heavy sigh...) Now onto the upside. I am moving my studio from the small 3rd bedroom in my house to the bigger bedroom beside it. Since my son has moved out I'm moving in !!!!!! I'm very excited about this....more space....more windows....better light....YES! I thought I would take you through the transformation from start to finish. We just started so this is as far as we have gotten so far. This is what the room looked like just after we moved our son out and downstairs. Our dog Oscar wasn't too sure or too happy about the changes that were taking place lol.
We started peeling the border off to see how easy it would be to remove. I'm going to miss this little boy border with it's fire trucks and antique toys. I should have saved a piece. Hindsight...its' 20/20
I'm also sharing a video I made. It's my first ever video so I apologize in advance for the shaky camera. Also don't judge me, you will see my current studio is an embarrassing mess but this also just shows you what a difference my new space will be and what organization and purging can do for a space. I can also do my spring cleaning. I'm planning on giving away or donating the things that I will be removing from my studio. I have a lot of friends that are teachers and they are always more than willing to take paints and paper off my hands.
https://youtu.be/85y1QmbVwLY
Thanks for coming by. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think.
