Craft Room Re-Organization!

Hello All! 

Ok, so I am going to dive right in.... 

First, Happy Easter! 

(and because this is my blog and this is a free country) 

This is the day the Lord has made... let us rejoice and be glad!

So, I am sure you all know how much I love to organize. I mean, I think I like to organize about as much as I love to play with glitter... and you know how much I love me some glitter! 

So, recently I talked my Dad into helping me create an amazing home office and craft area. I needed lots of counter space and even more REACHABLE storage space. You crafters know what I am talking about.... if I don't see it and I can't reach it ... I don't use it. Thats a fact. So, I am constantly finding ways to make my collection of stuff accessible. My Dad and I talked about different layouts and ways we could go about mixing pre-made organizational storage units with some ol' fashion wood working. Our first stop was the Container Store... if you don't know about the Container Store, it's a home organization store that has every organization thing you could think of ... and a whole bunch of stuff you never knew existed but totally needed! But, the catch is... it's $$$$. So, we we're originally going just for some inspiration.

As a side note, I want to mention that if you are a heavy crafter like myself... it is so challenging to find furniture that is going to fit crafty stuff and works for the hobby. I'm sorry, but my stuff would never fit in a hutch.... and I live in San Diego where homes aren't brand new with built in craft rooms.. as nice as that would be... So, I was ready to spend some money... b/c lets face it.... I have been in this hobby for 10+ years and I finally need a room that fits my hobby/work life. 

Long story short... My Dad and I were sold on the container store and thought we could put in our own countertops and make this a totally custom hobby room. 

I'll show some photos .... give you some links... and give you an idea of pricing....just in case this might be just what you were looking for!

It's a U-shaped office desk... with two stand alone desks at either end. One desk is a stand up desk and one is a sit down desk.

The whole unit runs over 11 feet with the 

two desks being 3x6 (sit down) and 2x4 (stand up) 

It has a complete over the desk hanging shelve system... 

and baskets under the counter that run the length of the 11 feet. 

I am still hanging shelves and 'moving in' 

but here is another angle of the stand up desk. (above) 

The baskets and the counter are about 2 feet wide (a little less 22inches) and leave me a ton of space to work!

It's also the perfect standing height for me. (at about 3 and a half feet) 

Sorry for the blurry picture...

But, here is an idea of the storing space. 

So, in the end we bought the base units 

and the hanging unit at the Container Store.

You can find the system: Here

To give you an idea of price... we bought 6 base units 

and a complete hanging unit above and it was around $1,500. 

My Dad built the counter tops with oak plywood. 

(Using a clear polyurethane finish to make sure it would last) 

The countertop cost was around $250 

(for wood, paint, brushes, nails, a new saw blade, sand paper...etc.)

So, for around $1,750... 

I got a custom office/craft room that actually fits 

my stuff and is going to allow me a lot of room to grow! 

I know it seems like a lot for a room... but, I figure... how much stuff did I buy that I never used b/c I forgot I had it ... or didn't have the space to keep it out. (like several die cutting machines)???? 

This way... I'm actually USING what I buy... really! 

Here was the first card made in my *new* space! 

Hopefully you found some of this useful!

Thanks for sticking with me for this long winded blog post...

I have more big news soon and I have been collecting for my over-due 100th post give-a-way... it's going to be good!

Stay tuned~

Cheers, 

N.