Friday, April 03, 2009

From Here to There

From Here to There
 It all started with a desire to simplify and beautify. This very workable garage studio was cluttered, unsightly, and inefficient. I started by moving out the shelves that lined the walls. I found a LOT of spiders, and webs. The window sill was thick with webs, I don't even want to talk about. The window had shelves for gardening in front of it, and very little light came in through this window because the shelves were so packed with stuff. I also had a door on this wall, that I could not use because the bicycles were parked there. The tables here are made from some sliding glass doors I found- FREE!! The big support boxes held my leather chairs from Target. They are strong, just the right height, but I can't store anything under the table, and there is no leg room at all. The glass table is perfect for my wax pot though and for dyeing. So I began by moving out. I sorted everything into 4 categories: recycle, trash, donate, or keep. It took two days to get everything moved out. You are probably wondering how one person can accumulate so much stuff??? Maybe you are not wondering this. Maybe your garage looks as bad as mine, or worse?
 Then I started scrubbing the walls, sweeping the floors, cleaning the window, inside and out. The walls were absolutely gross! I couldn't imagine cleaning this workspace without a new coat of paint. And...while trying to open the door, I found out that if you have a deadbolt and you can't get it to twist open, by simply taking a pair of pliers you CAN actually twist the lock handle right off the lock!!! But the door still stays locked! Amazing but true! So that was my first $32. I had to buy another dead bolt, fortunately, I know how to install it.
Next step, priming the walls. This took another long and full day to paint, along with the shelves. But at least now it is starting to look good. Then, I did a long hard look at my keep pile of old paints. Would there be enough for this job? Certainly not of just one color, but that was okay. I did run out of paint, and had to buy another quart for the walls, the next $13, and a new paint tray, $5.
Okay, now it is starting to look good! I decide to give my big boxes to the kids and invest in an extra set of shelves for support for the glass doors. The shelves were $37. Along with another set of shelves (freed up from all the junk I got rid of) for the other door, I now have two working tables, with lots of storage space underneath, and I am ready to move the 'keep' pile back into it's new space.
One week and $87 later, I have a new, clean, beautiful, organized, efficient workspace. And I can park back inside the garage again. Only one thing now, I think the right side needs a clean up too! Still too much junk!!!

16 comments:

Allie said...

WOW. I should show my husband this. I don't think I've ever seen the back wall of our garage. He likes STUFF.
You did an amazing job - I love the blue paint.

lindacreates said...

I am impressed! Awesome job

Nola G said...

About 24 years ago I turned my garage into a studio. It was christened 'the garagio' (garage/studio) and that is what it has been known as ever since.

Helen said...

Way cool wall colour. Enjoy.

Laura Wasilowski said...

You are an inspiration to all of us with messy garages. And I love the lawn mower hiding in the back of the studio space. Is that how your cut your fabrics?

Michele/TextileTraveler said...

Wow, that's awesome, Kathy. I'm in Round Rock; will you come help me do mine? :-)

Ooh, Laura has an interesting idea--cutting fabric with a lawnmower! Now that would make an interesting class!

Kathy York said...

Oh Laura,
You are such a cut up!!

PaMdora said...

what a transformation! I was going to suggest buying some saw horses to hold up the doors, but then I got to the end of the post and saw that your shelves were a better solution. Like the wall colors too!

Warty Mammal said...

The car must go. It's taking up valuable studio space.

ann said...

GREAT JOB!
You have inspired me to tackle my work shop. It is filled with 'house work' tools, table saw, wood, shelves of nails, screws, and junk, more tools, etc. You get the idea. It is not heated in the winter. However, If I could clean out a garage full of 'stuff' slated for the house when [if] it gets finished, I'm sure I could use it for 8-9 months.

I love the idea of glass doors for painting and dying.

Thanks for sharing, ann

Linda Laird said...

Dear Kathy,
Great looking studio!! What a labor, but really well worth it.

Keep up the good work,

Linda Laird
QuiltArt list

jane dávila said...

What a pretty and inspiring space! The glass doors as work surface is brilliant. I used to have wood worktables with custom-cut glass tops when I was still a printmaker and loved them. Easy to clean up, always good looking, impervious to nearly everything.

Norma Schlager said...

It looks great! What an inspiration! I LOVE your new color scheme, too.

Jamie Fingal said...

Love the color for the walls - it is so you. What a major accomplishment. There may be hope for the rest of us. You Go Girl!

Margeeth said...

You did a great job. I don't own a garage, but if I did, it would probably be just as messy as yours was. I have this theory that the more space you have, the more junk you accumulate.

Vivien Zepf said...

What a great workspace! Organized and cheerful.